Weighted blankets for kids are blankets that normally weigh between 3 and 15 lbs. They usually have pockets with glass beads sewn into them to add weight. This weight gives a child a sense that they are being hugged and has a calming effect for many children.

Weighted blankets used to be a tool limited to therapists and psychiatry clinics, but are now used by adults and for children with ADHD, autism, sensory processing disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or dealing with anxiety, trauma, depression, or insomnia. Some researchers believe that deep pressure from the blanket, evenly distributed across the child's body increases the production of serotonin. Serotonin is responsible for:

• Mood stabilization
• Feelings of well-being and happiness (low levels are linked to depression)
• Helping with sleeping, eating, and digestion

Researchers are studying the link between low serotonin production and anxiety, autism, and ADHD. Serotonin is also instrumental in the body's production of melatonin, the sleep hormone.

Lap Pads and Weighted Stuffed Animals

A variation on the weighted blanket is a lap pad or weighted stuffed animal. Your child may associate a weighted blanket with sleep, and weighted blankets aren't designed for use when sitting up. But there are times when your child could use a calming influence, such as:

• Study time
• Car rides
• Traveling in an airplane
• During dinner
• During reading time/quiet time
• Thunderstorms

These can be a great way to reduce stress levels for you and your child.

There hasn't been a lot of research on the effects of weighted blankets on children.

One study published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy concluded that the wearing of weighted vests (which apply pressure to the wearer similar to a weighted blanket) showed significant improvement in attention span, speed of processing and responding, as well keeping the children with ADHD on task.

Another study published in Occupational Therapy in Mental Health showed that deep pressure stimulation from a weighted blanket can help reduce autonomic arousal, which is responsible for the symptoms of anxiety. However, according to Dr. Cristina Cusin, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, "Blankets may be of help for anxiety or insomnia." But just as swaddling works for some babies and not others, weighted blankets won't be a miracle treatment for everyone.

A randomized controlled trial was conducted in London, England, that studied the effects of weighted blankets on autistic children between 5 and 17 years old. The weighted blanket didn't help the children fall asleep faster, sleep longer, or wake less often. However, the weighted blanket was favored by parents and kids and was generally well-tolerated.

Research published in the Nordic Journal of Psychiatry involved 8 to 13-year-olds with ADHD, studying their sleep with a ball blanket. A ball blanket is a type of weighted blanket that has balls that are approximately the size of tennis balls sewn into pockets of the blanket. Researchers concluded that it was a relevant and effective treatment for reducing sleep latency (the amount of time it takes to get to sleep). It also reduced awakenings during the night.

There have been rare tragedies where children have been trapped inside a weighted blanket. A 9-year-old with autism died rolled up in a weighted blanket in Quebec, and a 7-month-old infant. Dr. Temple Grandin, a pioneer in the study of deep touch and autism, says that weighted blankets shouldn't be used on children under 7 or 8 years. If your pediatrician gives you the green light for a weighted blanket for your child, make sure that you're using a light blanket that they can easily move themselves.

Dr. Cusin recommends that people with sleep apnea (or other sleep disorders), respiratory problems, or other chronic medical conditions shouldn't use weighted blankets. Weighted blankets may also cause problems for children with asthma or claustrophobia.

The general rule is 10% of your child's body weight, but weighted blankets shouldn't be used for children under 2 years old. You should speak to your pediatrician about your child using a weighted blanket.

There have been rare tragedies where children have been trapped inside a weighted blanket. A 9-year-old with autism died rolled up in a weighted blanket in Quebec, and a 7-month-old infant. Dr Temple Grandin, a pioneer in the study of deep touch and autism, says that weighted blankets shouldn't be used on children under 7 or 8 years. If your pediatrician gives you the green light for a weighted blanket for your child, make sure that you're using a light blanket that they can easily move themselves.

Dr Cusin recommends that people with sleep apnea (or other sleep disorders), respiratory problems, or other chronic medical conditions shouldn't use weighted blankets. Weighted blankets may also cause problems for children with asthma or claustrophobia.

We used several criteria for evaluating our top choices:

• Pocket size: cheaper blankets tend to have larger pockets because there's less stitching involved. Larger pockets result in the beads or filling inside shifting more, resulting in less even distribution of the pressure on the user.
• Fabric quality & feel: low-quality fabrics don't give the sleeper a sense of comfort that a softer, higher-quality blanket will. Fabric quality is measured in grams per square meter (GSM). A high GSM count will give a blanket a velvety feel.
• Look: most people want a weighted blanket that looks good on the bed or couch.
• Stitching: some blankets don't reinforce their stitching, resulting in the beads leaking out of the pockets.
• Bead material: plastic beads don't weigh as much, so you will need more to create weight in the blanket, resulting in a bigger blanket. Glass beads are non-toxic, smaller, and make less noise when you move.
• Return policy: higher-quality blankets tend to have better warranties and return policies.

Some other criteria that you should consider:

• Washing: some blankets can only be hand washed and/or hang dried, which may be inconvenient for some people. And some blankets are in 2 pieces, one is the blanket, and the other is the cover, which may have to be washed separately.
• Color and size options: all of our top choices offer kid-friendly designs.

• 4.6 stars with over 1,700 ratings.
• The 5 lb blanket shown here is 36" x 48".
• Available in 6 sizes and several weights.
• Silica blend inside of small diamond-shaped pockets are held in durable and dense stitching. The small size creates less movement of the contents and the stitching makes leaks less likely.
• Machine washable; a removable duvet cover is highly recommended.
• 30-day guarantee and 8-year free mending.

• One side is minky (100% polyester), which is warmer and feels like fleece, and the other side is bamboo, which is cooler
• Available in 5 lbs, 7 lbs, 10 lbs, and 12 lbs
• 36" x 48" and 41" x 60"
• Filled with non-toxic and quiet glass beads
• Available in blue constellation and grey chevron
• The cover is machine washable

• Charley is a 5 lb stuffed animal that's great for car rides, plane rides, study time, or any other time that your child could benefit from a calming influence
• 21" x 21", his weight is distributed among 12 sections
• 180-day warranty
• Lead-free, phthalate-free, nonflammable, approved for child's safety by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission
• Reinforced stitching
• Hand-washable
• Includes 2 travel bags: a PVC tote bag and a drawstring backpack