If it sounds too good to be true, don’t take our word for it: We spoke to sleep experts to find out exactly how cooling weighted blankets work, what to look for when buying one, and then rounded up 10 of the best options on the market. “As far as how they work, it’s thought that weighted blankets provide deep pressure stimulation, which activates the parasympathetic, or ‘rest and digest’ part of the nervous system,” says Nishi Bhopal, M.D., a psychiatrist specializing in sleep medicine. “When the parasympathetic nervous system is activated, it reduces the heart rate and calms the muscles, which helps you feel more calm and relaxed.” In terms of the cooling aspect, certain weighted blankets are made with temperature-regulating technology and/or breathable materials, designed to keep heat from staying trapped under the covers. When choosing the weight of your blanket, naturopathic sleep doctor Catherine Darley, N.D., says it should be no more than 10% of your body weight. If you’re buying the blanket for a child, make sure they are older than 2 and they can easily lift and maneuver the blanket by themselves. To help you take the guesswork out of it, we rounded up 10 of the best cooling weighted blankets out there, based on fabric, price, and more: While a great pick for hot sleepers, this blanket isn’t going to be super warm on its own, so your child may want to use a second blanket for warmth. Choose from three weights and two sizes—one of which is the largest weighted blanket size we’ve seen yet. The blanket has a zipper closure, which turns out to be a lot easier than a typical button and tie style. While this option is a bit on the expensive side, it gets a lot of praise from shoppers for its effectiveness and durability.
