🔼: [[🕯️ Grounding]], [[🛠 Self-Soothing]] # Weighted Blanket [[On Tools, Skills, and Practices...]] Use: [[🛠 Self-Soothing]], [[🕯️ Grounding]], [[⭐️ Sleep]], [[💡 ADHD]] Weighted Blankets [[🦮 How to Improve Sleep|Improve Our Sleep]] by helping manage [[💡 Anxiety]], making it easier to both fall asleep and stay asleep, helping both children and adults with [[💡 ADHD]] or who are on the Autism Spectrum, and reducing tossing and turning. The recommended weight is typically 10%-15% of a person's body weight, but it's largely preferential, though it's probably best to use one with a cotton cover rather than something synthetic. ### Back End Weighted blankets are effective because they provide constant afferent stimulation, which lowers our heart rate, increases [[💡 Serotonin (5-HT)]], increases [[💡 Dopamine]], increases [[💡 GABA]], lowers [[💡 Cortisol]], and reduces seizures. > [!Warning] > A weighted blanket may be unsuitable for people with certain medical conditions, including chronic respiratory or circulatory issues, asthma, low blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and claustrophobia. Experts also recommend that people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) avoid using weighted blankets, because the weight of a heavy blanket may restrict airflow. Though there are some weighted blankets specifically designed for children, infants and toddlers should not use weighted blankets as they run the risk of becoming trapped underneath.[^1] [^1]: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/bedding-information/weighted-blanket-benefits