You’ve heard about weighted blankets and think you might want to try one. But you’re prone to overheating and wondering ‘are weighted blankets hot?’
Or perhaps you have an autistic child who has trouble sleeping, but live in a warm climate. Is there such a thing as a weighted blanket for summer?
Let’s face it, no child (or adult) wants to wake up in a sweat and most women over the age of 50 (or so!) are looking to avoid hot flashes, not encourage them!
So will a weighted blanket make you hotter than ever?
Not necessarily, no.
Weighted Doesn’t Necessarily Mean ‘Hotter’
A common misconception with weighted blankets is the association of weight with ‘hot’. Whilst weighted blankets are, of course, heavier than regular blankets, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are automatically hotter.
However, some weighted blankets can be hotter (or cooler) than others depending on a few factors.
The good news is, it’s still possible to enjoy the benefits of a weighted blanket if you’re prone to over heating or intend to use a weighted blanket in summer or a hot climate.
Let’s look at how…
5 Tips To Help You Stay Cool Under a Weighted Blanket
1 – Opt For a Cool ‘All Season’ Weighted Blanket
If you think a regular weighted blanket may be too hot for your needs, consider a COOLMAX® weighted blanket from Weighted Comforts. The blankets have been specifically designed to accommodate the needs of hot sleepers, those in hotter climates, or the menopausal among us struggling with night sweats!
Made from a mix of cotton and COOLMAX® polyester, the Weighted Comforts blanket helps move moisture away from the body to keep you cool and sweat free. The fiber structures still provide warmth on colder days though, so you don’t need to worry about getting too cool either. The blanket is washable, dries quickly and goes through a tufting process to ensure a soft and smooth feel.
The blanket consistently gets 5* reviews from customers and you can usually get a 15-20% discount on your first order via the Weighted Comforts website.
Check Out The COOLMAX® Weighted Blanket.
2 – Opt for lightweight 100% cotton or bamboo viscose
Many weighted blankets are made from fleece or minky. Whilst these materials are cosy and sensory to the touch, they’re not natural fibres.
This means they don’t breath well and will trap body heat under the blanket. This isn’t ideal in summer, if you’re sensitive to heat, like to sleep at a certain temperature or suffer from night sweats.
So for a cooler option, consider a weighted blanket made from 100% cotton or bamboo viscose.
As a natural fibre, cotton breathes well, allows excess body heat to release more efficiently and adjusts better to the temperature of the room.
Bamboo viscose, although a semi manmade fabric, is also naturally breathable and helps wick moisture away from the skin. This allows moisture to evaporate into the air more quickly, helping to prevent dampness and aiding better temperature control.
Try the YnM ‘Cooling’ Weighted Blanket for a bamboo viscose weighted blanket that’s designed specifically for warm sleepers.
Or if you prefer 100% cotton, consider Mosaic Weighted Blankets or check out reviews for one of these blankets with cotton covers.
3 – Look for blankets with high quality poly pellets
If you opt for a weighted blanket containing plastic poly pellets, choose a blanket with high quality pellets such as 100% virgin polypropylene. According to SensaCalm these pellets tend to remain cool, so long as your room remains cool.
Higher quality pellets also tend to dry faster than lower quality polypropylene ones, which may hold moisture and lead to mould and bacteria growth.
Try Good Knight for a well rated weighted blanket with plastic poly pellets and cotton cover. A number of reviews agree that these blankets don’t make them too hot at night.
4 – Consider a summer weighted blanket
If you live in a warm climate or are prone to kicking off blankets in a furious sweat, you could find the answer in a dedicated summer weighted blanket.
The Yorkville Weighted Blanket is a popular option – designed to keep you cool all year round, Yorkville blankets are filled with micro glass beads covered with a lightweight cotton sheeting, so it doesn’t trap heat.
Reviewers state the blankets offer all the sensory benefits of a thicker weighted blanket, whilst not making them too hot. Yorkville offer blankets in a number of sizes, making them suitable for children and adults.
Check out the Yorkville Weighted Blanket5 – Try a ‘Snuggle’ or Sensory Compression Sheet
A weighted sheets offers similar sensory input to a weighted blanket – but through tension, rather than weight. More lightweight than a blanket, weighted sheets also trap less heat.
Usually made from a mix of breathable cotton and a more stretchable material such as spandex, weighted sheets fit snugly over your bed and wrap firmly around your body, creating gentle sensory pressure.
Weighted sheets can be a good option for use during the summer, or for people living in hotter climates. They may also be a good choice for people with restless leg syndrome, as, if you want to, you can use the sheet solely on the bottom part of the mattress.
Popular weighted sheets to try include the Yorkville Snuggle Sheet and Fun and Function’s Snuggle Sheet.
If you live in Europe, based, the sheets above may not be available to ship, so you might want to check out these sensory compression sheets on Ebay.
Are Weighted Blankets Hot? Closing Thoughts
Many children and adults find weighted blankets an enormous help with sensory disorders, anxiety and sleeping issues.
But if you live in a hot climate or are sensitive to heat, you might wonder if weighted blankets are too hot to handle.
However, don’t fall into the trap of assuming that ‘weight’ automatically means ‘hot’. You can still enjoy the benefits of a weighted blanket, without breaking into a sweat, by considering a:
- suitable 100% cotton blanket
- all season weighted blanket such as the COOLMAX®
- a more lightweight snuggle or sensory compression sheet
- a weighted blanket designed for summer/all round use, such as the Yorkville Weighted Blanket.
Stay cool and comfy!
Thanks for this post. I have heard that weighted blankets are also helpful for people with Alzheimer’s dementia, who become agitated. Your article is timely because many people probably assume that a weighted blanket isn’t appropriate in the summer (or for people who are “hot sleepers”). You’ve provided some good tips on finding a weighted blanket that won’t make someone overheat.
Thanks Laurie.