What's the deal with weighted blankets?

Restless sleepers know that the bedtime struggle is real. They've tried everything from meditation apps to white noise machines in their efforts to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. But could the trick to better sleep lie with your blanket choice?

Those who swear by weighted blankets think so. True to the name, these are heavy blankets (usually from 10-25 pounds total) that are filled with pellets that help distribute weight evenly across your body while you sleep. The thought is that this weight mimics the pressure of being held, which helps release anxiety to let you fall asleep faster. Some studies, including a 2015 one from the Journal of Sleep Medicine and Disorders, back this up. The research found that weighted blankets did in fact provide a "beneficial calming effect" for those suffering from insomnia.

While they've been gaining popularity recently, weighted blankets have been around for a few decades now in the occupational therapy field, where they've been used as aids for children on the autism spectrum. They're even the basis for products such as Thundershirts, which help your pup stay calm during thunderstorms, fireworks shows or other anxiety-inducing events.

There are a few things you'll want to consider if you're shopping for a weighted blanket of your own. It's recommended that you buy a weighted blanket that's about 10 percent of your body weight, if you're an adult. Another major factor is cost, as these blankets usually don't come cheap.

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