Sweden is uncertain, Canada is more positive: what healthcare organizations think of weighted blankets
In Sweden, you could get a weighted blanket through the healthcare system, until an advisory board recommended that the regions stop doing so. In this article, you’ll read what healthcare authorities in Sweden, Canada, the US and the Netherlands say about the blanket, and why they don’t agree with one another.
Through:Koen Dolron -
- Reading time: 8 min
Published: 13-10-2026 - 2026-10-13T09:14:25Z
Updated: 13-10-20262026-10-13T11:52:44Z
You are looking for information about a weighted blanket and come across two kinds of stories. On one site, you read that you could get such a blanket on prescription in Sweden; on another, that doctors do not recommend it. So you want to know what the authorities themselves actually say.
The story about Sweden is correct. According to advice from the Swedish healthcare regions, the Stockholm region spent 36.5 million kronor in 2019 prescribing weighted blankets. The same advice also explains why the council recommended that the regions stop doing so.
In Sweden, the healthcare regions consider the evidence too weak to pay for the blanket with healthcare funds, and the assessment institute SBU calls it a knowledge gap. A Canadian assessment report from 2025 recommends the blanket for better sleep, provided that you follow the safety rules. American neurologists see no reason to routinely recommend it for children with autism, but found no serious side effects. In the Netherlands, the Brain Foundation writes that some sleep aids, such as weighted blankets, showed some effect in studies using subjective measurements, often among people with mental health problems.
Those recommendations may seem to contradict one another, but they do not answer the same question. The Swedish no concerns who pays, not whether you may use such a blanket. Below, you can read what each country says and where the difference comes from.
Sweden: why healthcare should no longer reimburse the blanket
In Sweden, you could obtain a weighted blanket as a prescribed assistive device for many years, especially for sleep problems in children and young people with a neuropsychiatric disorder, adults with conditions such as depression or anxiety, and older people with dementia.
In November 2019, the medical council of the Dalarna region reviewed the research in a rapid literature review. Between 2010 and September 2019, the region had purchased around 16.5 million kronor worth of blankets. The council found only two studies involving children with sleep problems, both small and short, and the only randomized study, involving children with autism, showed no better sleep. There was therefore insufficient scientific evidence, and if there is any effect on sleep, the council says it is small. Its advice: wait with prescribing until more research is available.
In October 2020, the advice from the MTP-rådet, the Swedish regions' council for medical devices, followed. It advised the regions to stop prescribing weighted blankets with public funds, to pay for them only in scientific research, and to phase out existing provisions. The council weighed how serious the problem is, how large the effect is, and how reliable the evidence is. Sleep problems scored low, the effect was at most small, and the evidence was not very reliable.
The council itself adds that the advice concerns paying with public funds, "not the use of weighted blankets as such." According to the council, anyone who notices that the blanket works well can buy one themselves; the council considers the price affordable for most people.
The 2020 document is now marked as outdated, but the advice has not been withdrawn. The MTP-rådet page about weighted blankets contains an updated version from October 2022 with the same advice. The SBU searched for studies again for the council and found nothing that changed the conclusion. However, that version mentions that some prescribers see in practice that the blanket works for some patients. In April 2024, the council stated that the advice would remain in place.
In October 2025, the SBU, the Swedish institute that assesses healthcare, recorded weighted blankets twice as a knowledge gap: review studies show an uncertain effect, or are missing. One concerns children with ADHD aged 6 and older, and the other concerns adults with autism, each involving people who sleep poorly despite insufficient benefit from support with good sleep habits. Both state that more studies are needed.
On the autism page, the SBU also cites Socialstyrelsen, the Swedish national health authority. It is more lenient toward adults with autism who sleep poorly and for whom help with sleep habits was not sufficient: the evidence is insufficient, but practical experience suggests that the blanket improves sleep. It is important to try the blanket until it fits and then monitor how things go. You can read how prescribing worked in Sweden in our article about weighted blankets on prescription in Sweden.
Canada: recommended, under conditions
In Quebec, the research unit of CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale, a large regional healthcare organization, produced an assessment report in September 2025 on weighted blankets, vests, and other objects. The team reviewed research from January 2019 to April 2024 and retained 47 documents, including 33 original studies.
The report recommends weighted blankets to improve sleep in all groups, and also for anxiety in adults and older people. There is always a condition: you follow the instructions for use and the contraindications, and users know which adverse effects may occur.
The report describes the evidence as moderate and never strong, because the groups, measurement methods, and quality of the studies differed too much. For children, the blanket appears safe for short-term use, and the studies reported no serious side effects. According to the report, the familiar 10% rule is not based on research. Regarding sleeping under the blanket, it notes that British and American guidance advises against this; the Canadian position is that you should first consult a healthcare professional.
United States: not routinely recommended for autism, no serious side effects observed
According to the guideline, there is no evidence to routinely recommend weighted blankets. If a parent asks about one, the doctor should explain that the research found no serious side effects and that the blanket may be a reasonable non-medication option for some children. This judgment is based on one study in which children aged 5 to 16 slept under a weighted blanket for two weeks and under a regular blanket for two weeks. The only side effect was a skin rash lasting two days in one child, which may have been caused by the blanket. You can read more about that study in our summary of weighted blankets and autism.
The Netherlands: nothing in the primary care guideline
We did not find an official Dutch position on weighted blankets. In March 2024, the Brain Foundation mentioned them in an article about sleep aids. Research using subjective measurements found some effect for some of these products, for example because they have a calming effect, often among people with mental health problems. Whether they also help healthy people has not been sufficiently studied. They may be useful for people who experience tension or stress around sleep.
We did not find weighted blankets on Thuisarts.nl or in the NHG Guideline on Sleep Problems for general practitioners. On October 12, 2026, we checked the pages on Thuisarts about poor sleep, ADHD, autism, anxiety, and dementia, and searched the full NHG Guideline. For persistent insomnia, the NHG Guideline recommends behavioral treatment, with relaxation exercises, stimulus control, or sleep restriction. The fact that the blanket is not included therefore does not mean that general practitioners advise against it.
Where the sources disagree
The biggest difference is between Sweden and Canada, mainly because they ask a different question. The MTP-rådet decides whether healthcare should pay for an assistive device with taxpayers' money. In that case, the seriousness of the problem and the cost of the blanket matter, and the council wants to see an effect that can be measured objectively, for example with a wrist-worn movement sensor. In the randomized studies reviewed by the council, one British study involving children with autism and one Swedish study involving adults, there was no difference in those measurements. The fact that people said they slept better was considered only an indication, because participants can often tell whether they are lying under the heavy or light blanket.
The Canadian report asks how to use the blanket safely and meaningfully in healthcare. It also takes people's own experiences into account and was able to use newer research: studies up to April 2024, including Swedish studies from 2023 and 2024. The Swedish advice from 2022 looked at studies up to August 2022.
What these sources do not say
None of these authorities advises adults against using a weighted blanket themselves.
The Canadian "recommended" is based on moderate evidence. It does not say that the blanket works for everyone.
We know little about people without a diagnosis who sleep somewhat worse. The Brain Foundation says this has not been sufficiently studied.
The 10% rule for the weight is a rule of thumb, not a research finding.
What you can take from this as a reader
Do you want to try a weighted blanket because you sleep poorly? None of these authorities advises against it. Make sure you can remove the blanket yourself. A blanket is not a substitute for treatment. Do you have a diagnosis, take medication, or have breathing or heart problems? Then consult your general practitioner or treating professional first. You can read how heavy the blanket should be in our article about choosing the right weight.
Is it for your child? A weighted blanket is not suitable for babies and children under 3. For older children, around 10% of body weight is the rule of thumb, and your child must be able to push the blanket away independently. More information is available on the safety page. You can read what the research itself shows in the overview of the science.
Sources
Region Dalarna, Medicinska rådet (2019). Treatment with weighted blankets for sleep problems. Rapid review, November 19, 2019. Link
MTP-rådet, Regionerna i samverkan (2020). Product group: weighted blankets for sleep complaints/sleep problems. Recommendation, October 20, 2020 (marked as outdated; updated on October 25, 2022, confirmed on April 9, 2024). Link
SBU (2025). Weighted blanket, compared with no treatment or another treatment, for children with ADHD and insomnia and insufficient effect of support for good sleep habits. Knowledge gap, October 8, 2025. Link
SBU (2025). Weighted blanket, compared with no treatment or another treatment, for adults with autism and insomnia and insufficient effect of support for good sleep habits. Knowledge gap, October 11, 2025. Link
Grenier, J., Lawani, M. A., Caron, D., & St-Jacques, S. (2025). Therapeutic use of weighted blankets, vests, and other weighted objects among different client groups. UETMISSS, CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale. Link
Williams Buckley, A., et al. (2020). Practice guideline: Treatment for insomnia and disrupted sleep behavior in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. American Academy of Neurology. Neurology, 94(9), 392-404. Link
Brain Foundation (2024). The benefits and drawbacks of sleep aids, March 7, 2024. Link
Checked on 2026-10-12.
Written by Koen Dolron, owner of Novaline. Koen is not a doctor and Novaline does not provide medical advice: this page is intended as information. The page summarizes official advice and guidelines, which you can read yourself via the links above. Are you unsure whether a weighted blanket is suitable for you or your child, for example because of a medical condition or medication? Consult your general practitioner or treating professional first.
Safety first: our bedding carries the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certification. This means that every component - from the fabric to the zipper and filling - has been tested for harmful substances and is 100% safe for your health.
Free from harmful chemicals
Strictly tested by independent institutes
Better for your skin and health
Did you know? Products used directly on the skin, such as bedding, must meet the strictest OEKO-TEX® requirements (product class I).
That way, you not only sleep better, but also more peacefully!
Het deken is mij aangeraden via een buur. Hij sliep er zalig onder maar ik had er mijn bedenkingen bij. Toch nam ik het risico en gebruik het nu gedurende een week. De eerste 5 minuten is het wennen, maar daarna voel je het gewicht niet meer en slaap je beter dan voorheen. Heb geen spijt van mijn aankoop.
Hoi! Wat geweldig om te horen dat de deken zo goed voor je werkt en dat je er beter door slaapt. Bedankt dat je je ervaring deelt, dat waardeer ik zeer! Groetjes, Koen
Ik raadde als arts zelf al langer het verzwaringsdeken van Novaline aan voor mijn patiënten bij stress en slaapproblemen, maar ik had het echter zelf nog niet uitgeprobeerd. Ik bestelde het voor mezelf in een periode waarin ik door omstandigheden zelf last had van angsten en hierdoor minder goed sliep. Ik kreeg van patiënten meestal goede feedback over het deken, maar toen ik zelf de voordelen ontdekte, raad ik het echt aan iedereen aan. Ik slaap nu in 1 stuk door tot aan de wekker, waar ik voordien toch 3x per nacht wakker werd. Ook de angsten in de ochtend zijn een stuk minder heftig aanwezig. Het deken geeft een gevoel van veiligheid en geborgenheid. Ik slaap alvast niet meer zonder!
Wat geweldig om te horen, Karen! We zijn blij dat onze dekens zo een positieve invloed heeft op jouw slaap en dat van je patiënten! Dat is een erg mooi compliment.
- Koen
Dit is mijn derde verzwaringsdeken en qua kwaliteit is dit absoluut de beste van de drie!
Ik ben voor Novaline gegaan omdat ik op zoek was naar een kleine verzwaringsdeken met hoes, die alleen natuurlijke materialen bevat en geen polyester.
Als volwassen vrouw van 1,70 m en 50 kg heb ik gekozen voor een kinderverzwaringsdeken van 5 kilo. Uit eerdere ervaringen weet ik dat ik mijn voeten graag vrij wil hebben. Een grotere deken is daarom voor mij onhandig.
Ik ben er ontzettend blij mee! Overdag lig ik er tijdens het rusten onder en ik voel direct meer kalmte. Wat een genot. Ook de bamboestof voelt heerlijk aan op de huid.
's Nachts werkt de deken helaas niet voor mij, omdat het gewicht tijdens mijn slaap mijn vecht-of-vluchtreactie activeert. Dit kan natuurlijk een kwestie van wennen zijn.
Voor nu ben ik in ieder geval ontzettend blij met de deken om er overdag onder te rusten. Soms vouw ik de deken zelfs twee keer op, zodat ik een soort verzwaringskussen heb dat ik op mijn borst en buik leg. Ook dit geeft me veel kalmte. Het voelt een beetje alsof je een knuffel krijgt van je huisdier, alleen loopt deze deken niet weg wanneer hij buiten een vogeltje hoort.
Ik heb een prikkelverwerkingsstoornis en de deken helpt mij oprecht om te kalmeren.
Qua kwaliteit vind ik dit echt een topdeken. Ze bieden ook de mogelijkheid om de deken te retourneren of te ruilen en geven advies.
WhatsApp
@novaline_dekens
@novalineverzwaringsdekens
