Weighted Blanket for Insomnia?

I've always preferred weighty bedclothes, blankets in preference to duvets and I've always slept well too.

What I sleep between are two merino wool blankets, one underneath and a large one on top as well as a feather quilt then a large quilted bed cover over the lot. I don't need a hot water bottle nor an electric blanket.

The blankets get dry-cleaned each year and last for years given the initial outlay/cost.

I don't have a weighted blanket but I do put a heavy cover on top of the duvet because I do sleep better. It isn't just about being warm, there's something comforting about the weight imo.

No wonder some people can't sleep if there's no weight of bedclothes covering them. I've never owned a duvet. Why would I with a feather quilt ?

Some people don't wear enough clothes either, then they wonder why they've got aches and pains as they age.
There's a lot to be said about the old vest in the winter months as keeping warm steers away all the ills.

I'd rather be cosy and warm than bother about fashion wearing flimsy clothes and end up crippled with arthritis.

I read an article some time ago about weighted blankets for autistic children, helping with their sleep so some research has gone into it. Also as long ago as 60 years mums whose babies didn't sleep well were advised to put another light blanket on their sleeping babies late at night.
I think the overheating thing came in then and the advice was changed.

I can see that working, we’re a sheet and blanket couple, and as winter approaches and I pile on more blankets, I sleep better, I like the weight, I find it comforting.

EllanVannin, many of us face being “crippled by arthritis” because we have serious health problems. Total nonsense to suggest we didn’t or don’t wrap up warm enough. One of the friends who visits with rheumatoid arthritis is the need to keep Warner than anyone around you. My maternal grandmother was teased for wearing a fur coat on the beach - I’m very like her in many ways, including sharing my life with RA

Watching with interest as I suffer from insomnia - I’ve often seen these weighted blankets advertised and wondered if they actually work.

There’s absolutely no evidence whatsoever to suggest that arthritis (of any type) is linked to not wearing enough clothes. Really, people should get their facts straight before posting.

I love the weight of a heavy duvet or blankets but have never really stopped having hot flushes at night and would cook. I have window open and 4 tog duvet all year round. I would love to try a weighted blanket if it was heavy without being too hot. I have RA. Bizarre to think you catch it through having the "wrong " bed linen.

I dithered about getting one for ages, as £200 and upwards is a lot to gamble on something that might not work; but recently got one from Costco for about £40.

If you aren't sure if it will work for you, it might be worth getting one of those. They only come in one size (6.5kg) and one colour (grey); but they do have a removable and washable cover.

I suppose it's what you're used to. I grew up in a house with no central heating, before 'continental quilts' were a thing although I had a nice eiderdown that was on my mother's bed when she was a child.
I have weighty bedding. A patchwork quilt on top of blankets (wool). I made the quilt myself. The blankets were my grandmother's. She loved a good Witney blanket. I don't have the radiator on in the bedroom, ever, and the window is always slightly open. If it's really cold I have a lovely Welsh blanket (one of those tapestry-type patterned ones) that I bought in a junkshop in Aberystwyth in the late seventies. It far cost more to get dry-cleaned than I paid for it, I remember that much.
My kids preferred duvets and I have a duvet and a fitted bottom sheet on the guest bed. So much easier to make a bed with one of those, admittedly but I love my flat sheets and blankets. Hospital corners!

I like a cold room and a warm bed; but I can't bear being tucked in. I remember having my tonsils out as a child, and the nurses used to pin us down with bedsheets, and I was panicked.

My mum asked them to leave to top sheet loose; but they wouldn't hear of it, and all these years later, I still can't sleep unless I can get my feet from under the bedclothes.

I like a cool room, and a light duvet. When I say light, I mean in weight, not tog rating. The one I have on my bed is 10 tog, which I recently changed from my summer 4.5 tog.

My 9 year old autistic grandson tried a weighted blanket, he liked it, but it didn't change his sleeping habits.

An update - my weighted blanket arrived yesterday, and for the first time for many years, I slept solidly for 8 hours. I don't even sleep as long as that with a sleeping pill. I am thrilled with it.

I did a great deal of research. The cheap ones are not worth having - the beads used to weight the blanket collect down one end or the seams split and you get beads all over the bed, or you have to pay extra for a cover.

The one that came out on top was Koala (not the most expensive) Not sure if I am allowed to say any more. Koala is the one I bought and it has 30% off during October.

It's very early days but I am over the moon with the result.

That's brilliant Sparklefizz and hopefully it will continue to work for you. I was about to buy one when we recently moved but I have slept a bit better with a new bed and new duvet so far.
Or maybe it's just quieter here at night, or maybe it's our new no work lifestyle, or maybe it's because the dog now joins us on the bed ...... who knows??? Good luck!

Thanks for the update and great to hear it’s worked for you

I can’t bear overnight heated bedrooms, closed windows or being tucked in. I make my bed up loosely with heavy linen sheets that I find in vintage markets (v hot wash and line dried first) plus one or two cotton blankets.
As the weather has grown chillier this week I noticed I wasn’t sleeping as well so added another heavy cotton blanket and oh the difference - the weight is SO comforting and I am sleeping through to 7am again.
Have been thinking about a weighted blanket with a removable cover as this would be much easier for regular to laundering than a blanket - too much under paw to shut the cat out!

Fabulous My new weighted blankie has a removable cover.

Iam64, not forgetting that arthritis can be caused by a virus too so it's vital to keep the joint/s warm along with the rest of the body to help it to heal. 40 years ago and out of the blue, my right knee swelled up to the size of a football----synovitis was diagnosed and the GP at the time told me to exercise it as much as I could, so I cycled a lot but I also made sure that I had pure wool next to my body when I went to bed----hence the merino covers that I began to buy.
At one point I was using a stick ! 79 now and I don't need one

Thankfully I avoided my knee having to be drained of fluid as in time the problem went as quickly as it had appeared. I'm sure the arthritic problem could/would have spread if I hadn't have looked after myself.

Synovitis can spread to all the joints and the finest material that can be used for such arthritic conditions is merino wool because it breathes and allows the moisture from your body to escape instead of remaining causing dampness next to your body which is what causes joint pain in the first place.

You know that cold weather doesn’t cause viruses?

My blanket is an early Christmas present to myself - thank you Santa !

I recall reading an article that suggested bed socks for insomnia. Something to do with maintaining core heat. Cheap enough and worth a go for sufferers?

Just to say that I also researched them, and tried a friend’s Gravity one, and the Costco one I mentioned is just as good. The beads don’t sink at all, and I found it every bit as comfortable as the Gravity blanket. The only problem for some people would be that it only seems to come in size medium, so if you are lighter or heavier than that it might not be suitable.

Urm I've tried everything else, including bedsocks, herbs, Qi Gong, yoga, EFT, hypnotherapy, relaxation CDs, no screen time after 8 pm. blah blah blah.... but I agree - start with the socks.

The Koala blanket website suggests you use a blanket which is approx 10% of your body weight - it's not just a guessing game but science.

My blanket cost £116. I've probably already spent more than that on things that didn't work over the years.

Just looked at those and I see you can wash them. I have asthma and even with a cover I wash my duvets.