Weighted blankets continued to increase in popularity in the special needs community, and several companies began creating product lines throughout the early- and mid-2000s. After receiving a Cease and Desist from the makers of Beanie Babies that same year, he settled on the name the "Bean Blanket." Keith Zivalich created the "Beanie Blanket," an early iteration of a weighted blanket, around 2000. The first official study of weighted blankets as an avenue for deep-touch pressure occurred in 1999, when Tina Champagne, an occupational therapist, began researching them as a coping device for individuals in the broader special-needs community. Some of the earliest research into the form of deep-touch pressure that weighted blankets use took place in 1992, when an American scientist with autism, Temple Grandin, invented the Hug Machine and used it to study the calming effects of deep-touch pressure in patients with autistic disorder. Additionally, there is a very real placebo effect when it comes to insomnia symptoms, which will need to be accounted for in future studies. However, medical experts also note that more research is needed into this area, as there is not yet enough evidence to prove that the products are helpful with insomnia. Other studies have indicated that weighted blankets may reduce anxiety and, as a result, allow the wearer to fall asleep more quickly. When following the mentioned weight recommendation, if the weighted blanket weight doesn't feel right, it is much more likely for the blanket too be too heavy than too light.Īlthough early research indicates that weighted blankets may be an appropriate therapeutic tool when it comes to reducing anxiety, reviews of current medical literature note that research in this area is sparse. The blanket should also cover the body from the toes to the chin. A weighted blanket should be about 10% of the person's body weight: this feels appropriate for about 97% of the people. The main concern when considering a weighted blanket is to choose the appropriate weight because if the blanket is too light, it will just feel like a normal duvet, if instead, it is too heavy, it may feel uncomfortable. Weighted blankets are just one of the many tools occupational therapists use to provide "deep-touch pressure," a form of physical stimulation that, according to experts, may help individuals regulate their emotions and behavior. Specifically, weighted blankets are used in a type of occupational therapy called " sensory integration therapy," which helps people with autism or other mental conditions focus on sensory experiences. Weighted blankets are used in occupational therapy in an attempt to help individuals improve their emotional and physical regulation.
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