Weighted Blanket, You Say?

As a kid, I loved bedtime. I know that sounds odd, but there was just something about the feeling of being all tucked into bed safe and sound.

That feeling has carried well over into adulthood. I adore having my sheets tucked tightly to this very day. The night I most look forward to is the night following a bed linen change. When those corners are tucked in and I can snuggle into a bed cocoon – nothing like it. My insomnia won't always allow me to drift off in bliss, but at least I can enjoy the feeling of settling into a bed that brings me comfort.

I like the feeling of weight on my legs

I am not sure when or how it started. Maybe it's just one of those things that makes me me, but I really prefer to have my legs and feet completely covered all night. Not only that, but I like the feeling of having weight across my legs as I try to fall asleep. I may not stay in that position all night, but I find comfort in the tucked-in sense it provides.

Over the years, I have made sure to keep additional quilts and blankets on hand to place across my feet and lower legs. These folded bed covers have become lovingly known as "foot-weight." All jokes aside, even on my best nights when insomnia decides to cut me a break, I can't fall asleep without this bulk of extra material in just the right position. As I am so particular about the way I settle into bed, it's no wonder that as these quilts and blankets slide to the floor during the night, I find myself slipping back into consciousness – exactly where I don't want to be.

Weighted blanket? What’s this?

A few months ago, I began mulling over the idea of a weighted blanket. I know, I know! You probably started screaming it at the screen back up there in paragraph 2, right? I'm not sure what took me so long to latch onto the idea.

Looking back, it seems like it should have been a no-brainer for me. Maybe it was sheer numbers. All of the ones I ran across weighed around 20 to 30 pounds. I wasn't sure I wanted to commit to something that heavy. In addition, most of the blankets I saw were pricey. Not looking to spend a fortune but still curious, I continued my search.

The perfect match for me

Bingo!

Finally, and quite by chance, I stumbled upon a weighted blanket in a local discount store. It wasn't too big or too small, and it wasn't too heavy or too light. (Goldilocks would have been so proud of me.) A twin weighted blanket weighing in at just 15 pounds was a perfect match for me. Placed neatly across the foot of my bed, it provides the perfect amount of weight to both give me peace and stay in place all night.

I am still waking up periodically and struggling mentally with falling asleep – that likely won’t change. However, I am not waking up due to my own inability to lie comfortably in bed. I am angry with myself for not searching more extensively for this little gem sooner. This weighted blanket may not be the solution to all my sleep problems, but it is definitely a bright spot in my dark sleepless nights.

Are you using a weighted blanket? What has your experience been like? Let us know in the comments!