The science behind weighted blankets: what does the research say?

You sleep poorly, or your child just can't settle down in the evening, and somewhere you read about a weighted blanket: a blanket weighing a few kilos that is supposed to make you feel calmer. That sounds appealing, but does it actually work? You want to know what the research says.

Novaline specialises in weighted blankets, and we wouldn't be without looking closely at the research. We base our advice on that research, and we also tell you honestly when something has not been established or is still unclear. We also listen to our customers' experiences and feedback. By combining the two, we can give you the most targeted advice possible.

That's why we've compiled all the research we could find here: nearly thirty studies, the major reviews and what healthcare organisations think of them. This includes studies in which the blanket had no effect, because they are just as relevant.

The short answer

The evidence is strongest for anxiety and restlessness. Two large analyses from 2024, which combined the results of multiple studies, found a small to moderate effect in people with a mental health condition. The picture is more mixed for sleep: in some studies, people slept longer or more peacefully; in others, there was no difference.

Most of the research focused on people with a diagnosis, such as depression, ADHD, autism or dementia, and most studies were small. Do you simply sleep somewhat worse without a diagnosis? There is still little research confirming the effect. This is mainly because hardly any research has been conducted in that group. What our customers tell us is clear, though: many people notice positive effects. Read about their experiences in our reviews.

What are you looking for?

You don't have to read everything. Choose what suits you:

• You lie awake for a long time or sleep restlessly. Read about the Swedish study on insomnia and sleeping with depression.
• You feel anxious or tense easily. Read what research on anxiety shows and how it went in the hospital.
• Your child has ADHD or autism. Read about falling asleep faster with ADHD, the major Swedish ADHD study and the study of children with autism.
• You care for someone with dementia. Read what the blanket did for older people in a nursing home.
• You have chronic pain. Read the study on pain.
• You want to know first whether it is safe. Everything about weight, children, and who should consult a professional first can be found on the safety page.

How we compiled this overview

We read every source ourselves: the full publication where possible, otherwise the researchers' summary. Each study shows how the research was designed and what it found: effect, small effect, or no effect.

Here is a brief explanation to make the list easier to read. The strongest design is an RCT. In this type of study, randomization determines who receives the weighted blanket and who receives a light blanket or usual care. A non-randomized study might compare the same people before and after, while a registry study uses healthcare data.

Disclaimer: this overview was compiled by Koen Dolron, owner of Novaline. Koen is not a doctor, and this page is not medical advice.

Research by topic

The studies are listed by year for each topic, with a few sentences first explaining what they collectively show. "Source" links to the original publication.

Insomnia in adults

This is where most of the research has been conducted. In the two largest randomized studies, from Sweden and China, adults with insomnia had fewer sleep problems with a weighted blanket than with a light or regular blanket. The other studies found smaller effects or had no comparison group.

• According to a wrist monitor, people with chronic insomnia slept for longer uninterrupted periods with the blanket; the more extensive sleep measurement at home found no difference, and there was no comparison group. Ackerley (2015), Sweden, 31 participants. Non-randomized study · small effect · Read the summary · Source
• In adults with insomnia and a mental health condition, insomnia symptoms decreased much more over four weeks with a weighted blanket than with a light blanket. Ekholm (2020), Sweden, 120 participants. RCT · effect · Read the summary · Source
• A sleep researcher called the Swedish result impressive, but said it should first be replicated. McCall (2020), commentary. Commentary, not original research · Source
• After receiving a prescribed blanket, adults with a mental health condition used slightly less sleep medication (3.3% more people used none), but prescribed melatonin use increased. Steingrímsson (2022), Sweden, 1,785 participants. Registry study · small effect · Source
• People with insomnia fell asleep faster, but their breathing also faltered more often. There was no comparison group. Benbir Şenel (2024), Turkey, 26 participants. Non-randomized study · effect · Source
• People with depression and insomnia slept an average of 12.9 minutes longer per night with the blanket, but did not fall asleep any faster. Kristiansen (2024), Denmark, 45 participants. RCT · small effect · Read the summary · Source
• Adults with insomnia reported greater improvement in their sleep after one month than those who received a regular blanket. How often they woke up did not differ. Yu (2024), China, 102 participants. RCT · effect · Source

Anxiety in psychiatry

Anxiety decreased in most studies involving psychiatric patients. But only one study used randomization, the smallest one, and it found no clear difference.

• After lying under a blanket weighing more than 13 kilos, 63% of adults (apparently not patients) felt less anxious. Mullen (2008), US, 32 participants. Non-randomized study · effect · Read the summary · Source
• Anxiety decreased in 60% of patients on an acute psychiatric ward. Champagne (2015), US, 30 participants. Non-randomized study · effect · Read the summary · Source
• Among psychiatric patients who chose to spend 20 minutes under the blanket, anxiety scores and heart rate decreased; they did not decrease without a weighted blanket. Becklund (2021), US, 122 participants. Study without randomization · effect · Read the summary · Source
• Among hospitalized patients with an eating disorder, the difference in anxiety was too small to draw any conclusions. Ohene (2022), US, 23 participants. RCT · no effect · Read the summary · Source

Anxiety around medical procedures and in the hospital

This is the topic with the strongest studies. All five used randomization, and all five found less anxiety or a calmer heart rate with the blanket. The effect was small in children with cancer.

• Adults who had just started chemotherapy were less anxious during the infusion with the blanket. Vinson (2020), US. RCT · effect · Read the summary · Source
• With a weighted blanket before planned surgery, people scored an average of 26 for anxiety (on a scale of 0 to 100), compared with 39 without one. The blanket was also warm. Payne (2024), US, 148 participants. RCT · effect · Read the summary · Source
• During wisdom tooth extraction, healthy adults had a lower heart rate with a weighted vest followed by a weighted blanket than without them. Which of the two helped cannot be determined. Chen (2025), Taiwan, 40 participants. RCT · effect · Source
• Among children with cancer, anxiety around a chemotherapy infusion decreased slightly with the blanket, but how much of that was due to the blanket remains uncertain. Olson (2025), US, 26 participants. RCT · small effect · Read the summary · Source
• After 20 minutes under a 6.75-kilogram blanket, hospitalized adults' anxiety was 3.6 points lower (on a scale of 0 to 10) than with usual care. Rico (2026), US, 54 participants. RCT · effect · Read the summary · Source

Chronic pain

One study, and it did use randomization. People generally rated the pain as less burdensome, but how intense the pain felt at that moment did not change.

• Overall pain perception, combining pain and discomfort, decreased more with a heavy than with a light blanket. The intensity of pain at that moment did not differ. Baumgartner (2022), US, 94 participants. RCT · small effect · Read the summary · Source

ADHD

In the largest randomized study, children with ADHD slept a few minutes longer but did not fall asleep faster. Parents were more positive in a later study: for half to three-quarters of the children, they saw improvement in aspects they had found difficult beforehand.

• With the blanket, children with ADHD fell asleep about as quickly as children without ADHD. Hvolby (2011), Denmark, 21 children with and 21 without ADHD. Non-randomized study · effect · Read the summary · Source
• Children with ADHD slept almost 8 minutes longer with the blanket and were awake for almost 3 minutes less, but they did not fall asleep faster. Lönn (2023), Sweden, 94 participants. RCT · small effect · Read the summary · Source
• Children who used the blanket at least four nights a week had fewer sleep problems after sixteen weeks than children who hardly used it. Lönn (2024), Sweden, 94 participants. Non-randomized study · effect · Read the summary · Source
• According to parents, sleep onset and sleep duration, among other things, improved in 50 to 75% of the children for whom they had identified these as problems beforehand. Lönn (2025), Sweden, 45 participants. Non-randomized study · effect · Read the summary · Source

Autism

The only randomized study found no longer sleep duration. Children and parents did prefer the blanket. In Sweden, 81% of people with ADHD or autism who received the blanket through healthcare said they slept better because of it.

• Children with autism did not sleep longer or fall asleep faster with the blanket, but both children and parents preferred it. Gringras (2014), United Kingdom, 73 participants. RCT · no effect · Read the summary · Source
• Of the children and adults with ADHD or autism who received the blanket through healthcare services, 81% said it helped them sleep better. Bolic Baric (2021), Sweden, 85 participants. Non-randomized study · effect · Read the summary · Source
• People with dementia, anxiety, autism or an intellectual disability kept a prescribed blanket longer than others. Odéus (2023), Sweden, 4,092 participants. Registry study · effect not measured · Read the summary · Source

Children

The studies that specifically looked at children all involved children with a diagnosis: ADHD (Hvolby, Lönn), autism (Gringras) or cancer (Olson). A weighted blanket is not suitable for babies and children under 3 years old; more information is available on the safety page.

Older adults and dementia

Three small studies with mixed results. The blanket was found to be safe in both randomized studies.

• After four weeks using the blanket, nursing home residents woke up less often at night and their quality of life improved. There was no comparison group, and 68 completed the study. Hjort Telhede (2022), Sweden, 110 participants. Non-randomized study · effect · Read the summary · Source
• In hospital patients with dementia and agitation, the blanket proved safe. Seven out of ten tolerated it for the entire session, and their agitation decreased. Fox (2026), Australia, 60 participants. RCT · effect · Source
• In residents with dementia and agitated behavior, the researchers found no measurable effect on sleep or behavior, although the blanket was safe. Dawson (2026), Australia, 14 participants. RCT · no effect · Read the summary · Source

How it works: melatonin and deep pressure

The idea behind the blanket is deep pressure: firm, even pressure that is thought to have a calming effect, a bit like a firm hug. How exactly this works in the body has not yet been directly studied much.

• In healthy adults wearing a weighted vest, not a blanket, the nervous system shifted more into a state of rest. Reynolds (2015), US, 50 participants. Non-randomized study · effect · Source
• In healthy young adults, melatonin before sleep increased by about 32% more under a heavy blanket than under a light one, over one night with each blanket. Cortisol, oxytocin and sleep duration did not differ. Meth (2023), Sweden, 26 participants. Randomized lab study · small effect · Read the summary · Source

What the major reviews say

Individual studies are often small. That is why researchers sometimes combine them in a review, or combine the results of multiple studies mathematically in a meta-analysis.

A 2020 systematic review by Eron and colleagues found eight studies. They concluded that a weighted blanket may be a suitable aid for anxiety, but there was not enough evidence for insomnia.

In 2024, two meta-analyses examined people with a mental health condition. Zhao and colleagues pooled eight RCTs involving 426 patients and found a small effect on anxiety. The pooled effect on insomnia, based on three studies, was not significant. Half of the studies had a high risk of bias, mainly because participants knew which blanket they had. No serious side effects were reported.

Wong and colleagues pooled nine studies involving 553 patients. Compared with a placebo, the blanket reduced anxiety symptoms, and four studies found better sleep. However, the studies were small and differed from one another. We did not find a newer meta-analysis focusing solely on weighted blankets.

According to a 2024 review article by Yu and colleagues, most studies show improved sleep quality; the authors call for larger and more rigorous studies. In 2025, Lönn and Odéus counted 38 studies, including 12 RCTs, with such different measurement methods that comparisons are difficult, especially for sleep.

The American Academy of Neurology's 2020 guideline on sleep problems in children and adolescents with autism found no evidence to recommend the blanket as standard practice. No serious side effects were reported, and it may be a reasonable option for some children.

What official bodies say

Sweden is critical. In 2019, the Dalarna region found the evidence insufficient to prescribe the blanket. In 2020, the MTP-rådet, the Swedish regions' council for medical devices, recommended no longer paying for it with healthcare funds. An updated version with the same advice was issued in October 2022, and the council confirmed it in April 2024. Note: this concerns reimbursement from healthcare funds, not whether you may use a blanket yourself.

A 2025 Canadian assessment report recommends the blanket for better sleep if you follow the safety rules, and describes the evidence as moderate. In the Netherlands, the Brain Foundation writes that studies in which people assessed their own sleep showed some effect, often in people with mental health conditions, and that it has not been sufficiently studied in healthy people. You can read all the positions in what healthcare organisations say about weighted blankets.

What we still don't know

To be fair, quite a few questions remain unanswered.

• Healthy sleepers and healthy children. Studies with healthy adults lasted no more than one night per blanket. There are no studies at all involving healthy children.
• The Netherlands and Belgium. We did not find a study from the Netherlands or Belgium.
• The right weight. No one has studied which weight works best or is safest. The 10% of your body weight is a rule of thumb and, according to the Canadian report, is not research-based. In the largest study of children with ADHD, the blankets weighed an average of about 19% of the children's body weight. To learn how to choose one yourself, read our article on choosing the right weight.
• How it works. The mechanism of action has not been established. One lab study found increased melatonin; serotonin, dopamine and endorphins have never been measured.
• Strong evidence. Most studies are small and use questionnaires, while participants usually knew whether their blanket was heavy or light.
• ADHD and autism. In 2025, Sweden officially registered the blanket as a knowledge gap for children with ADHD and adults with autism.

There is more research on the way. Five new studies are still underway, and recruitment was still ongoing in all five on 12 October 2026 (ClinicalTrials.gov). Each study states when the main measurements are expected to be completed.

• Denmark: 340 children with ADHD will receive either a weighted blanket or a sham blanket that looks the same but is not heavy. March 2027 (NCT06194162).
• Denmark, same hospital (BEAD): an ordinary shop-bought blanket for 100 children with ADHD, without a comparison group. April 2027 (NCT07588659).
• Denmark: 672 young people aged 16 to 24 with sleep problems sleep under one of two types of blankets for four weeks. December 2026 (NCT07181577).
• United States: a heavy blanket versus a light blanket in 160 veterans with chronic pain. April 2029 (NCT05963607).
• Sweden: the weighted blanket compared with standard melatonin treatment in 200 children with ADHD receiving routine care. Runs until 2034 (NCT06808425).

As soon as these studies are published, we will update this page.

What we see among customers

This is not research, but personal experience.

Our customers rate Novaline 4.6/5, based on 247+ reviews. Read Celine's story to learn how it was for one customer. Would you like to discover what a weighted blanket can do for you? You have 100 nights to try it, so you can get used to it at your own pace.

Who a weighted blanket is not suitable for

A weighted blanket is not suitable for babies and children under 3 years old. American pediatricians and the U.S. consumer safety regulator advise against weighted blankets for babies, and VeiligheidNL does so for babies who are starting to roll over. If someone cannot push the blanket away themselves, use it only under supervision. Do you have sleep apnea or another breathing condition, heart or circulation problems, or epilepsy, or are you pregnant? Consult your doctor first. All guidelines are listed on the safety page.

Sources

Studies

• Ackerley, R., Badre, G., & Olausson, H. (2015). Positive Effects of a Weighted Blanket on Insomnia. Journal of Sleep Medicine & Disorders, 2(3), 1022.
• Baumgartner, J. N., et al. (2022). Widespread Pressure Delivered by a Weighted Blanket Reduces Chronic Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. The Journal of Pain, 23(1).
• Becklund, A. L., Rapp-McCall, L., & Nudo, J. (2021). Using weighted blankets in an inpatient mental health hospital to decrease anxiety. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 19(2).
• Benbir Şenel, G., & Karadeniz, D. (2024). Interim analysis of a prospective polysomnographic study of weighted blankets in patients with psychophysiological insomnia. Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 34(4).
• Bolic Baric, V., et al. (2021). The effectiveness of weighted blankets on sleep and everyday activities. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 30(8).
• Champagne, T., et al. (2015). Evaluating the Safety and Effectiveness of the Weighted Blanket With Adults During an Inpatient Mental Health Hospitalization. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 31(3).
• Chen, H.-Y., et al. (2025). Effect of deep pressure input on autonomic regulation during wisdom tooth extraction. Journal of Dental Sciences, 20(2).
• Dawson, S., et al. (2026). The feasibility and efficacy of weighted blankets as a sleep intervention for people with behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. Geriatric Nursing, 73, 104269.
• Ekholm, B., Spulber, S., & Adler, M. (2020). A randomized controlled study of weighted chain blankets for insomnia in psychiatric disorders. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 16(9).
• Eron, K., et al. (2020). Weighted Blanket Use: A Systematic Review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(2).
• Fox, A., Tomkins, E., Valcovich, M., & Ballard, E. (2026). Evaluating the Safety, Feasibility and Acceptability of Weighted Blankets in Acute Care for People With Dementia. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 82(4).
• Gringras, P., et al. (2014). Weighted blankets and sleep in autistic children: a randomized controlled trial. Pediatrics, 134(2).
• Hjort Telhede, E., Arvidsson, S., Karlsson, S., & Ivarsson, A. (2022). Weighted Blankets' Effect on the Health of Older People Living in Nursing Homes. Geriatrics, 7(4), 79.
• Hvolby, A., & Bilenberg, N. (2011). Use of Ball Blanket in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder sleeping problems. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 65(2).
• Kristiansen, S. T., et al. (2024). The efficacy of ball blankets on insomnia in depression in outpatient clinics. Journal of Sleep Research, 33(6), e14238.
• Lönn, M., et al. (2023). The efficacy of weighted blankets for sleep in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Sleep Research, 33(2), e13990.
• Lönn, M., et al. (2024). Changed sleep according to weighted blanket adherence in a 16-week sleep intervention among children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 20(9).
• Lönn, M., et al. (2025). Parents' perceptions of sleep problems in children with ADHD when using weighted blankets. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 32(1), 2538474.
• Lönn, M., & Odéus, E. (2025). Outcome Measures in Evaluation of Weighted Blankets: A Scoping Review. Occupational Therapy International, 2025, 3663534.
• McCall, W. V. (2020). Paying attention to the sleeping surface and bedclothes. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 16(9).
• Meth, E. M. S., et al. (2023). A weighted blanket increases pre-sleep salivary concentrations of melatonin in young, healthy adults. Journal of Sleep Research, 32(2), e13743.
• Mullen, B., et al. (2008). Exploring the Safety and Therapeutic Effects of Deep Pressure Stimulation Using a Weighted Blanket. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 24(1).
• Odéus, E., et al. (2023). Weighted blankets for sleep problems: prescription, use and cost analysis. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 30(2).
• Ohene, R., et al. (2022). Assessing the Impact of Weighted Blankets on Anxiety Among Patients With Anorexia Nervosa and Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76(6).
• Olson, J., et al. (2025). Effects of Weighted Blankets on Anxiety for Pediatric Oncology Patients During Outpatient Chemotherapy Infusions. Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nursing, 42(3).
• Payne, D. R., et al. (2024). Effect of Weighted Blanket Versus Traditional Practices on Anxiety and Pain in Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery. AORN Journal, 119(6).
• Reynolds, S., Lane, S. J., & Mullen, B. (2015). Effects of Deep Pressure Stimulation on Physiological Arousal. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 69(3).
• Rico, C., et al. (2026). Weighted Blankets to Reduce Anxiety in Hospitalized Patients. American Journal of Critical Care, 35(5).
• Steingrímsson, S., et al. (2022). Weighted blanket and sleep medication use among adults with psychiatric diagnosis: a population-based register study. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 76(1).
• Vinson, J., Powers, J., & Mosesso, K. (2020). Weighted Blankets: Anxiety Reduction in Adult Patients Receiving Chemotherapy. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 24(4).
• Wong, S., et al. (2024). The effect of weighted blankets on sleep quality and mental health symptoms in people with psychiatric disorders in inpatient and outpatient settings. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 179.
• Yu, J., et al. (2024). The effect of weighted blankets on sleep and related disorders: a brief review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15, 1333015.
• Yu, J., et al. (2024). Effect of weighted blankets on sleep quality among adults with insomnia: a pilot randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry, 24(1), 765.
• Zhao, Y., et al. (2024). Safety and effectiveness of weighted blankets for symptom management in patients with mental disorders. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 87, 103104.

Guidelines and safety resources

• American Academy of Neurology, Williams Buckley, A., et al. (2020). Practice guideline: Treatment for insomnia and disrupted sleep behavior in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Neurology, 94(9).
• American Academy of Pediatrics (2023). Letter to the CPSC and ASTM International about weighted products for babies. June 15, 2023.
• Grenier, J., Lawani, M. A., Caron, D., & St-Jacques, S. (2025). Therapeutic use of weighted blankets, vests and other objects for different populations. UETMISSS, CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale.
• Hersenstichting (2024). The benefits and drawbacks of sleep aids. March 7, 2024.
• INESSS (2012). Weighted blankets, vests and other objects for children: information, warning and safety precautions.
• MTP Council, Swedish Regions in collaboration (2020). Product group: weighted blankets for sleep disorders/sleep problems. Recommendation, October 20, 2020 (updated on October 25, 2022, confirmed on April 9, 2024).
• Region Dalarna, Medical Council (2019). Treatment with weighted blankets for sleep problems. Rapid review, November 19, 2019.
• Royal College of Occupational Therapists (2023). Weighted blankets for children and adults: A guide for occupational therapists.
• SBU (2025). Weighted blankets for children with ADHD and insomnia. Evidence gap, October 8, 2025.
• SBU (2025). Weighted blankets for adults with autism and insomnia. Evidence gap, October 11, 2025.
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Safe Sleep: Cribs and Infant Products.
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (2022). Recall of Target's Pillowfort children's weighted blankets. December 22, 2022.
• SafetyNL (2022). Is a weighted sleeping bag or blanket suitable for babies? Blog, September 30, 2022.
• West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Integrated Community Paediatric Services. Use of Weighted Blankets.

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 for informational purposes. The summaries are based on the original publications, 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 GP or healthcare provider first.