Do Weighted Blankets Help Those With ADHD?
Do you have ADHD or struggle to concentrate? Here’s why cozying under a weighted blanket may help.
Bearassentials
ADHD can cause restlessness and difficulty sleeping, which, in turn, can make it even more difficult to concentrate.
Weighted blankets have been scientifically proven to support people with ADHD by helping them to focus, wind down, and enjoy a restful night’s sleep.
When choosing a weighted blanket, it’s important to find a blanket that suits your style values, and temperature preferences, and also delivers the right therapeutic weight.
Did you know?
People can begin to exhibit ADHD symptoms between the ages of three and six years old, The average age of diagnosis is seven, but many adults are diagnosed later in life
ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) makes it difficult to concentrate, and can cause hyperactivity and impulsiveness in some individuals. ADHD can make it difficult to see tasks through to completion, make you feel restless or overwhelmed, and affect your sleep quality at night.
Why Sleep Is Important for People with ADHD
25% to 50% of people with ADHD also suffer from sleep problems. These can include:
- Sleep-disordered breathing: A condition that includes heavy snoring, apnea, and episodes of partial or complete airway blockage during sleep.
- Restless leg syndrome: A condition that causes you to have an uncontrollable urge to move or kick your legs due to a tingly sensation in the legs when sleeping or lying down.
- Circadian rhythm sleep disorder: A condition that prevents person’s sleep-wake pattern from synchronizing with the environment’s light-dark cycle.
- Insomnia: A condition that makes it hard to fall or stay asleep.
- Narcolepsy: A neurological disorder causing a person to have excessive daytime drowsiness and sudden sleep attacks.
Generally, lack of sleep can lower energy and impact your mood, focus, behavior, and memory. For people with ADHD, it can worsen hyperactive and inattentive symptoms, and make it difficult to manage your condition effectively. That’s why it’s important to find ways to improve sleep – and a weighted blanket can help.
What Is a Weighted Blanket?
A weighted blanket helps to reduce stress and bring about relaxation through the magic of deep touch pressure (DTP). DTP is the act of applying an evenly distributed, firm-yet-gentle weight on your body It feels like a comforting hug, and is proven to stimulate the release of serotonin - the happy hormone - to help you feel calmer, naturally.
What Are the Benefits of Weighted Blankets for ADHD?
People with ADHD can find it hard to focus and may struggle to fall and stay asleep. There are several ways a weighted blanket can help people with ADHD.
A weighted blanket calms the body
Weighted blankets can have a calming effect on an overactive nervous system. The gentle pressure from a weighted blanket naturally inhibits the production of cortisol, the stress hormone, which can help to calm the hyperactivity and nervousness associated with ADHD.
A weighted blanket improves focus
A study revealed that children with ADHD showed 18% to 25% improvement in on-task behavior while wearing a weighted vest, which also delivers Deep Touch Pressure, just like a weighted blanket.
If your child has difficulty concentrating or if they have been diagnosed with ADHD, our children’s weighted blanket, The Nappling, may help them to concentrate or relax. Our kid-friendly loops are perfectly sized to wrap little ones in a relaxing hug, delivering a moment of calm after a long day at school.
A weighted blanket helps with sleep
ADHD has been associated with difficulty sleeping. Weighted blankets stimulate the release of melatonin, the hormone that helps you to fall and stay asleep. A study found that a weighted blanket reduced the time it takes to fall asleep from 70 to 30 minutes. A separate study of parents of children with ADHD yielded the same results, showing that weighted blankets help kids, too!
What Is the Best Weighted Blanket for ADHD?
A weighted blanket should weigh around 10% of your body weight. If you’re in-between weights, we recommend choosing the heavier option. Once you’ve picked your perfect weight, there are a few other factors to consider:
- Breathability: Stay cool, calm, and blissfully comfy with a cooling weighted blanket that supports airflow around your body.
- Sustainability: Feeling good shouldn’t come at the expense of the planet. That’s why our weighted blankets are sustainably sourced and 100% filler-free.
- Style: Anything you bring into your home should deliver joy on every level, so your weighted blanket should look good, too!
Are weighted blankets safe for children?
Weighted blankets are absolutely safe for children older than four years old, provided the blanket is breathable and an appropriate size. If you’re looking for a weighted blanket for kids, The Nappling is specially designed for little ones.
Our children’s weighted blanket is available in a 6 lb (36”x48”) and 8 lb (40”x60”) weight. When choosing a weighted blanket for kids, we recommend choosing a weight that is approximately 15% of your little one’s body weight. If you’re choosing between two sizes, we recommend the heavier option.
The Nappling has chunky-knit loops that are smaller and closer together to hug little ones close. It’s breathable and delightfully soft, and helps to bring about calm, improved focus, and a peaceful night’s rest.
