When the weather is ghastly outside, there’s nothing like snuggling under a blanket on the sofa. Weighted blankets are becoming increasingly popular thanks to their calming effect.
Yet while adult weighted blankets are not suitable for children, weighted blankets designed specifically for kids can help reduce anxiety and aid sleep.
What is a weighted blanket?
A weighted blanket is a blanket that has a filling inside that makes it feel heavy. You can get different weights of blankets (more on this later). These blankets should create an even pressure across your body, which stimulates the release of serotonin and melatonin and reduces cortisol. Serotonin is a hormone which boosts mood, while melatonin helps you regulate sleep. Cortisol is a stress hormone.
Weighted blankets probably aren’t going to solve all your stress and anxiety woes. But used as part of a roster of treatments, they can help. Those with autism and ADHD have also found weighted blankets have helped restlessness and promoted calmness.
What weight of blanket should I get for my child?
Children are not as good at regulating their temperatures as adults and therefore are prone to overheating. So you want to be sure the blanket you pick is not going to be too heavy or hot for them. It’s recommended you choose a weighted blanket that’s between 5-10 per cent of their body weight. And they’re not recommended for children under three.
A blanket should allow for comfort and movement. You don’t want your child pinned to the sofa in one position.
What else should I look for in a weighted blanket for kids?
Let’s face it, kids are messy. You want a blanket that either has a removable cover or one that can go in the washing machine in its entirety (check the weight limit of your washing machine).
We found cotton blankets to be more breathable, but often the polyester ones are more fleecy and plush. So you will want to check your child likes the texture and also that the fabric isn’t going to make them a sweaty mess.
Other than that, the print – many are grey, presumably as they blend with almost any interior. But some kids’ weighted blankets have fun designs. Get your child involved in the choosing of the design and they are more likely to want to use it.
Best weighted blankets for kids at a glance
- Best overall: Aeyla kids weighted blanket - £49, Aeyla
- Best for skin-friendly softness: Slientnight Wellbeing kids weighted blanket - £33.74, Wayfair
- Best for quality: Little Blanket Shop weighted blanket for kids - £35, The Little Blanket Shop
- Best for duvet alternative: Remy The Junior weighted blanket - £109, NOTHS
- Best for fun patterns: Happy Linen Company kids weighted blanket - £40, Happy Linen Company
- Best for cosmic comfort: ROSMARUS 2.2kg Kids Weighted Blanket for Children - £33.99, Amazon
- Best for travel: Cosi Home Luxury Weighted Blanket for Kids - £54.99, Amazon
- Best for bedroom accessorising: Sivio Weighted Blanket for Kids - £34.99, Amazon
- Best for ultra-plush softness: Silentnight Wellbeing Kids Weighted Blanket - £31, Silentnight
Shop the best weighted blankets for kids below
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Aeyla kids weighted blanket
Best: overall
We were so impressed by this weighted blanket from the moment we opened the outer packaging. It comes in a kid-friendly, fun gift box. There’s even a little activity book inside the box, which is such a nice touch.
The sleep companion itself is fine fleece on one side and cool, smooth cotton on the other. This is great as your child can choose between textures. The filling is glass microbeads that are almost imperceptible when you use the blanket, unlike some others we tried in testing. This means it feels hefty but not lumpy.
You can wash the whole thing at 30º in the machine, which is very handy indeed when messes predictably occur. At 100x150cm, it’s one of the most generous blankets in our round-up and it comes in 2kg or 3kg.
Buy now £49.00, Aeyla
Slientnight Wellbeing kids weighted blanket
Best for: skin-friendly softness
Okay, we'll hold our hands up, we were pretty jealous of this blanket. It’s made from plush fabric on both sides, making it extremely tactile and, dare we say it, strokable. At 3kg as standard, it’s a good midweight for kids of all ages over three - and the 100x150cm dimensions make it a pretty generous size, too.
Perfect for either being tucked up in bed underneath or for snuggling on the sofa in front of the TV, the whole thing is 100 per cent polyester, so it’s not the most breathable. Something to bear in mind if your child is prone to overheating at night.
Buy now £33.74, Wayfair
Little Blanket Shop weighted blanket for kids
Best for: quality
This blanket feels incredibly well made. It comes in a premium gift box and you can also get it personalised - although this does cost an extra £15. The removable, washable cover is a gorgeous grey-cloud print, but there are sailboats or rainbows to choose from too.
On the other side is luxurious quilted soft plush, which feels super snuggly with a silky texture to combat any potential sensory processing issues your child may have. Made from 100 per cent cotton, this blanket has seven layers, with non-toxic glass beads providing the weight. These are sewn into internal pockets so the weight is evenly distributed.
The dimensions on this are 90x120cm for younger children (both in the 1.5kg and 2kg weights), which our (very tall) five year found didn’t cover his toes. It also comes in 100x150cm in a 3kg weight for older children, though.
Buy now £70.00, The Little Blanket Shop
Remy The Junior weighted blanket
Best for: duvet alternative
We liked that this blanket had a distinct duvet feel to it, rather than a blanket. At 120 x 180cm, it feels big enough for older children. While we tested the 3kg blanket, suitable for 3-7-year olds, there’s also a weightier 5kg blanket for 7-12 year-olds.
The soft, quilted cover comes in three non-offensive pastel shades and it looks as good draped over a sofa as it does in a child’s bedroom. The weight here comes from non-toxic glass beads. Thanks to the larger size of this blanket, it somehow feels a bit heftier than others. It’s certainly too heavy for a young child to heft around the house.
Buy now £109.00, NOTHS
Happy Linen Company kids weighted blanket
Best for: fun patterns
Our child gave this a double thumbs up as they loved the glow-in-the-dark space-themed cover we opted for. But you can also choose from a huge range of covers for your blanket – fish, dinosaurs and tropical cats, it’s all there for the taking.
The cover is machine washable at 30º and is made from a polycotton blend. The insert is filled with non-toxic glass beads sewn into the pockets in the quilting. This blanket comes in three weights – 1.3kg, 2.3kg and 3.3kg. All of them are 90cm x 120cm, which won’t entirely cover older children unless they want to curl up underneath it. This is a really fairly priced option.
Buy now £40.00, Happy Linen Company
ROSMARUS 2.2kg Kids Weighted Blanket for Children
Best for: cosmic comfort
If your little one is finding it tough to stick to a regular sleep schedule, a weighted blanket can help calm stress and anxiety. Rosmarus's blanket acts like a giant hug and is available in three weights and sizes to best suit your child. The cotton-covered quilt is covered in a lovely illustrated space-themed print while a glass bead filling ensures weight is evenly dispersed.
Buy now £33.99, Amazon
Cosi Home Luxury Weighted Blanket Suitable for Kids & Children - 3.2kg
Best for: travel
This weighted blanket uses nine layers of weight distribution to ensure your child gets the deep, quality sleep they need for another day of play and learning. The double-sided cover can be used on the bed, sofa or even in the car for long trips and is breathable, staying cool in the summer and cosy come wintertime. Best of all, you can sling it in the washing machine when it needs a wash. It even comes with a carry bag so you can pack it for slumber parties.
Buy now £54.99, Amazon
Sivio Weighted Blanket for Kids
Best for: bedroom accessorising
Available in dinosaur blue or unicorn pink, this 2.3kg weighted blanket is designed to brighten up your children’s bedroom while providing a delicate and subtly calming effect. Weighing around 10 per cent of your child’s body weight on average, Silvio offers a cosy and breathable weighted blanket which is suited for fidgety kiddos. Machine-washable and crafted from 100 per cent polyester, just make sure that your little one is able to tuck themselves in and pull off the blanket all by themselves.
Buy now £34.99, Amazon
Silentnight Wellbeing Kids Weighted Blanket
Best for: ultra-plush softness
A 3kg option designed to offer gentle pressure, this child-friendly weighted blanket features a Sherpa fleece underside for supreme comfort all night long. Featured in a muted, grey hue which will blend seamlessly into any bedroom decor, Silentnight’s weighted blanket is perfect for tweens in particular.
Buy now £31.00, Silentnight
Verdict
We were so impressed with the Aeyla blanket. Everything from the packaging to the finish on the blanket is premium. It’s also large enough to cover most kids, if they so wish.
If the Aeyla is a bit of a stretch in terms of price, the Silentnight blanket offers excellent value for money.
