Considering buying a weighted blanket

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Aaroona

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#275663 2-Sep-2020 20:04

As the title suggests, I'm considering buying a weighted blanket to see if it'll help improve my sleep.

Was wondering if anyone here has used one/uses one?

Also has anyone purchased from therapyblanket.com.au or calmingblankets.com.au?
They seem to be running a decent special at the moment for their bamboo blankets, so am considering them.

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7948 posts

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#2555941 2-Sep-2020 20:08

I was talking to someone about these last week, and one of the things I learnt was to be careful of what the weighted material is as different types can apparently be difficult to wash.

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snnet

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#2555946 2-Sep-2020 20:29

Before exploring the blanket have you considered why you aren't sleeping well? For me, I was waking up very early and I could get up fine but it was only when I went away with someone they were concerned about what happened when I was "sleeping", so I went to a sleep clinic once referred by my doctor and found, after a sleep study, I had sleep apnea due to narrow airways. I would stop breathing 104 times per hour on average (almost twice a minute!) and always felt extremely tired no matter how much extra sleep I thought I got... is your experience similar?

Are you waking at all sorts of hours, needing to go to the bathroom a lot every night? All symptoms, aside from the snoring and abdominal pain from the sudden inhale of air when you can't breathe, over and over! There are more tells as well

Just a thought!

Aaroona

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#2555961 2-Sep-2020 20:43

snnet:

Before exploring the blanket have you considered why you aren't sleeping well? For me, I was waking up very early and I could get up fine but it was only when I went away with someone they were concerned about what happened when I was "sleeping", so I went to a sleep clinic once referred by my doctor and found, after a sleep study, I had sleep apnea due to narrow airways. I would stop breathing 104 times per hour on average (almost twice a minute!) and always felt extremely tired no matter how much extra sleep I thought I got... is your experience similar?

Are you waking at all sorts of hours, needing to go to the bathroom a lot every night? All symptoms, aside from the snoring and abdominal pain from the sudden inhale of air when you can't breathe, over and over! There are more tells as well

Just a thought!

Thanks for the info. I will check in with my doctor again to see what they suggest. I had brought it up once before and they seemed to think it was environmental, but I don't agree, given I've lived in a few different places (city center all the way to rural), he also didn't think it was apnea, but will ask about a sleep study.

I am a very light sleeper, have been for as long as I can remember, often waking at least once or twice a night. But I don't get up ever and generally fall back asleep within 10 minutes or so.

Aaroona

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#2555963 2-Sep-2020 20:44

RunningMan:

I was talking to someone about these last week, and one of the things I learnt was to be careful of what the weighted material is as different types can apparently be difficult to wash.

Good call. The one I am looking at in particular (from therapyblanket), the cover is machine washable and the blanket is hand-washable.

BlakJak

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#2555968 2-Sep-2020 20:51

My wife got one not too long ago, and then my daughter commandeered it.
Was really surprised at how heavy it is.

Both wife and daughter sleep a lot better with more blanket-weight on them.

No signature to see here, move along...

Aaroona

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#2555969 2-Sep-2020 20:53

BlakJak:

My wife got one not too long ago, and then my daughter commandeered it.
Was really surprised at how heavy it is.

Both wife and daughter sleep a lot better with more blanket-weight on them.

Interesting! What did they find improved? Not waking up at random times? getting to sleep faster? just generally better quality sleep, waking up feeling refreshed?

eracode

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#2555970 2-Sep-2020 20:56

From a baby through to later-adult years I was a chronically bad sleeper. Now I’m retired and thankfully have a stress-free life and (I think as a result) I now sleep exceptionally well. Nevertheless I have been interested in these products for some time just because I like the idea. I don’t like health fads or snake-oils but the health benefits of these things seem to be real.

I did some superficial research a few months ago and main differences I saw were (a) glass beads as fill v. plastic, and (b) washable v. non-washable v. those that have a washable cover like a duvet.

Also the weight that you should get is determined by your body weight.

I’ll watch this thread with interest.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

BlakJak

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#2555971 2-Sep-2020 21:00

Aaroona:

BlakJak:

My wife got one not too long ago, and then my daughter commandeered it.
Was really surprised at how heavy it is.

Both wife and daughter sleep a lot better with more blanket-weight on them.

Interesting! What did they find improved? Not waking up at random times? getting to sleep faster? just generally better quality sleep, waking up feeling refreshed?

The weight of the blanket delivers a psychological effect, it makes you feel safe and it can reduce external stimuli... reducing external sensory inputs can deliver a more peaceful sleep.

No signature to see here, move along...

timmmay

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#2555979 2-Sep-2020 21:16

Have you done all the basics for helping sleep? No screens for at least an hour before bed (kindle is ok, phone / laptop / TV is not), a room that's warm but not hot, doing something calm an hour before bed, etc. Google "sleep hygiene" for more.

My Mum has sleep apnea as well. Needs a machine to help her sleep properly. Only discovered that when she was in her 60s, always woke up tired.

mudguard

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#2556002 2-Sep-2020 21:58

I've always slept better with heavy blankets. I assume it was because I grew up down south and thicker duvets were needed. I absolutely cannot sleep when it's hot (I live in Auckland) with just a sheet. Even when I travel for work I will turn the air con onto cold so that I can use the extra blankets/duvets.

timmmay

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#2556057 2-Sep-2020 22:27

Also caffeine can have a massive effect on sleep quality. Cut out it completely, over a couple of weeks, starting by reducing evening / afternoon consumption. Half life in the body is about 6 hours, so if you drink coffee at 9am you still have 1/4 of it in your system at 9pm.

Geektastic

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#2556061 2-Sep-2020 22:43

I usually sleep with just a duvet.

In the very cold part of the year, I add either an alpaca blanket or an Icelandic wool blanket on top. The wool blanket is much denser and noticeably heavier than the alpaca fibre one which is soft and almost fluffy but very warm still. It needs to be cold though before I can tolerate that.

I have never heard of a weighted blanket before - why does it need to be weighted rather than just made of thicker wool?

networkn

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#2556065 2-Sep-2020 23:03

snnet:

Before exploring the blanket have you considered why you aren't sleeping well? For me, I was waking up very early and I could get up fine but it was only when I went away with someone they were concerned about what happened when I was "sleeping", so I went to a sleep clinic once referred by my doctor and found, after a sleep study, I had sleep apnea due to narrow airways. I would stop breathing 104 times per hour on average (almost twice a minute!) and always felt extremely tired no matter how much extra sleep I thought I got... is your experience similar?

Are you waking at all sorts of hours, needing to go to the bathroom a lot every night? All symptoms, aside from the snoring and abdominal pain from the sudden inhale of air when you can't breathe, over and over! There are more tells as well

Just a thought!

May I ask, if it's not too personal (even PM is fine) what you did to "solve" your issue?

eracode

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#2556085 3-Sep-2020 05:28

This is the article that originally aroused my interest:

https://www.cnet.com/health/weighted-blankets-how-they-work-the-best-ones-to-buy/

The claimed benefits are not just psychological - there seem to be real chemical or hormonal benefits too. The idea appeals to me even on just a simple physical level.

CNet periodically runs stories like this - I believe some of the brands they discuss are available here:

https://www.cnet.com/health/best-weighted-blanket-for-2020-layla-gravity-bearaby-and-more/

Also a DIY approach:

https://www.cnet.com/health/how-to-make-your-own-weighted-blanket/

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

snnet

1377 posts

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#2556087 3-Sep-2020 05:40

networkn:

May I ask, if it's not too personal (even PM is fine) what you did to "solve" your issue?

I was referred to the NZ Respiratory & Sleep Institute by my doctor and I booked an overnight sleep study with them, they attached all sorts of sensors to me. They told me not to worry if i hear a quiet whirring in the night it would just be the camera moving around in the room when they controlled it. I mention this because it's the loudest PTZ camera I've ever heard haha and I lay there thinking "I am NEVER going to fall asleep here" but apparently I was out within 10 minutes

All the sensors picked up the data they needed including how often I stopped breathing, they woke me after a few hours and put me on a CPAP machine and compared the test results with me in the morning. With the machine the events got down to about 20 per hour instead of 104. I had a consultation with a sleep physiologist who advised continued use of the machine, discussed my narrow airways and talked to me about surgery options which admittedly I have not pursued at this time

It is annoying wearing a mask and using that machine, and on the odd occasion I don't wear it because I'm passed out too fast. I've had dreams since I have used the CPAP machine (undiagnosed, prior to this I couldn't remember dreaming for the previous 5 years when asked!) on the nights I've not worn the mask, telling me I am hitting REM sleep now without the aid of it so I'm hopeful I don't have to go thru surgery to fix it. I have medical insurance but it only covered 80% of the bills, so excluding the $3k machine and mask it set me back about $3000 - $4000. I was a little miffed at this considering my first consultation with a sleep physiologist, they googled things they probably should have known right in front of me. But long long story short I am a lot better now and people aren't afraid of talking to me in the morning anymore. When I view my sleep reports from my machine, the events it counts have gone right down to averages as low as 1.5/hr

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