Are Weighted Blankets Effective?
Over the years, there has been much anecdotal experience of users who purport that a weighted blanket helped to relieve physical pain, improve sleep, and reduce anxiety. Unfortunately, there has been little research conducted on weighted blankets. Below are some recent studies that showed that participants that used weighted blankets had less insomnia, reduced fatigue, reduced anxiety, less depression, improvements in sleeping through the night, and getting to sleep more quickly.
Using weighted blankets in an inpatient mental health hospital to decrease anxiety - ScienceDirect
Positive Effects of a Weighted Blanket on Insomnia (jscimedcentral.com)
However, as with all strategies and interventions, weighted blankets may not work for everyone. There was one study conducted on autistic children suggesting that the weighted blankets did not provide any benefit. However, both parents and children in this study favored weighted blankets, even in the absence of any scientific benefit.
The bottom line is that what few studies we have were conducted on small groups, and more studies suggest weighted blankets can be helpful as a therapeutic intervention than not. However, more studies are necessary to be fully confident in this conclusion. In the interim, it’s an intervention parents’ can try to achieve a therapeutic effect on their child. My personal experience is that both of my children benefited from the deep pressure stimulation provided by their weighted blankets.