What I discovered
In subsequent research of weighted blankets currently on the market, I discovered a variety of fabric, fillers and sizes available that can accommodate the majority of consumers.
However, I also found that blankets are often being marketed for couples or to fit across a full, queen or king size bed. Fundamentally there is nothing wrong with the quality of these blankets, the construction materials etc.
I was bothered, however, by the lack of education surrounding how weighted blankets should be used. In almost every instance, retailers properly recommend that blankets be 10% of a person weight. What is overlooked is that this 10% weight is for:
- an individual
- and should have the majority of the weight on the individual.
Although the couple/queen size blankets look nice aesthetically, users are not getting the full benefit of the blanket weight. They are either sharing the weight with their partner, or it is simply on the bed. Let’s say you are 150 pounds. By all accounts and recommendations from occupational therapists, your blanket should be 15 pounds. If you purchase a queen size blanket that is 15 pounds – you are at most only benefiting from 7 1/2 pounds of the weight. Are you then getting all the benefits possible?
First, it was important to develop a blanket that would have maximum opportunity to help users. Second, my background in health care and with my son ignited my passion for best practices. Consequentially, I decided to develop a product for best practices, not current trends. For those preferring to opt for the 5% of body weight lower end of the recommendations, it is still best practice that this weight not be shared. Either way, approximately 48″ wide is ideal.
Statistics
As I final note, when researching different conditions that people have who may benefit from weighted blankets, I complied some national statistics. I looked at both Canada and the United States to see what percentage of the population could potentially find relief from their symptoms. Below you will find the statistic researched with links to the data.
| Chart data collected by Fun-R-We Creations & Co. Ltd. | Canada (Population 37, 173,439) | USA (Population, 328,342,465) |
| Insomnia | 23.8% | 35% |
| Anxiety | 3-5% | 18% |
| Depression | 4.7% | 3.1% |
| Hypertension | 23% | 33% |
| Daily Stress (high) | 21-23% | 33% |
| ADHD | 5-12% | 5% |
| Restless Leg Syndrome | 5-10% | 5-10% |
| Fibromyalgia Pain | 3% | 3% |
| Chronic Pain | 18.9% | 20% |
| PSTD | 8% | 8% |
| Panic Disorder | 1-2% | 3.1% |
| OCD | 2% | 2.3% |
| Autism | 1.5% | 1.5% |