The problem with weighted blankets

Post Reply New Topic

Here's instructions for making a weighted blanket.

Weighted Blanket

Well, the eight pounds of beans felt really good (it just covered my chest and up to mid thigh and my shoulders (because it wrapped around so well). I thought I had done okay, and didn't see any real reason to make it any bigger (except that when I turned, I wasn't sure if it would turn with me. I was going to add on another piece, since I made it in a few hours, or just it on top of a few blankets. However, when I put that on top of a few blankets for the first time something was too HEAVY! I'm not sure how much weight was on my chest, but was hard to breathe.

It's supposed to be distributed over the length of the entire blanket. Which would be why it didn't work out so great. Learn from my mistakes, fellow WPers!

Thanx cat. I've seen that one floating around the net, but it has those darn pockets. I'm not sure what the use is for them if you're using the poly beans and you're an adult (meaning you don't need to remove them for washing, you aren't growing, and won't need to adjust the weight).

Please don't hijack the thread with OT discussion. Create your own post. Thanks.

As for the poly beads, I've found that a two pound back is roughly around $7 online. I'm not sure how much I would have to get for a blanket. I weigh around 120lbs. Which means I should have around 12 lbs of weight. I would also want a sheet plus a blanket under the weighted one so I wouldn't have to feel the weird lumps. That would have to be factored in.

If I got four bags for eight pounds of poly beads, then that would cost around $28. I'm guessing that the entire blanket would weigh around ten pounds, but I'm really not sure how much a normal blanket weighs. Perhaps I should weigh my blankets first before I go to blow my money on this crap so I have a better idea.

I probably have posted this before but I recommend getting the Coleman Below 40 sleeping bag which unzipped fits into a Full Queen Duvet. It is heavy and you don't need to have the heat on in your bedroom this winter if you use this.

I just used to surround myself with so many soft toys I couldn't move... did anyone else do this as a kid?


Somehow I don't think I could get away with it now I'm all big and 'grown up'.

The Coleman below 40 sleeping bag weighs 4 lbs. I think a weighted blanket is supposed to be 10% of your body weight.

I bought one, a double size, and I made a mistake, so I want to warn you - I wish I hadn't bought one that big! I'll never be able to wash it, and I doubt that dry cleaners will be glad to see it either.

What I should have done was got 2 weighted blankets, and zip them together. Or maybe even 4.

And was it worth it? yes!! ! Oh such luxury, such beautiful sleep.

hmm...weighted blankets?

I've never heard of them, so I dunno that much. I'm pretty much the opposite, getting stuck under heavy blankets tends to give me cramps in the middle of the night (but I probably don't get enough potassium)

May have to look into this some..though I tend to go in the opposite direction, with a body pillow.

Just an update. I weighed all my blankets and realized I'm sleeping under about 17 lbs. Plus I wanted to add a little bit more. That REALLY surprised me.

I bought 5 yards of fleece that weighs 4-5lbs. I bought 8lbs of poly beads. So, my blanket should be around 12-13lbs when done. I spent around $50 on materials.

I'm at least half way through making it. I'll never make another one though. Ugh, it sucks to make and it's so awkward. I couldn't get my fabric pencil to work until this morning because I wasn't pushing down hard enough, so my seams are very much NOT straight. I would suggest using PLAID if anyone is making one, because you can just use the lines from the fabric and don't have to worry about that. I'll post more when I'm done and let you know how it goes.

And to the poster who mentioned the sleeping bag...the reason I'm making a weighted blanket is so I don't overheat. It gets hot under all the blankets I'm under now (unless it's chilly outside). Then when I need to get up and go to work, I end up snuggling under the covers and sleeping late.

Not good.

I don't want it to be hot for the summer either. So...that's why I'm making one.

I always have to have covers pulled over me - even in the summer. I always took it to be more of a feeling warm and cozy thing - could it be I like the weight? I never really thought of it.