Select weighted beads and make sure to measure their weight accurately according to your child’s weight. Be sure to subtract the weight of the fabric or the blanket will be too heavy. Something we especially liked about the Baloo weighted comforter is its 100 per cent cotton exterior and interior and that it’s made with only natural and chemical-free materials. The result is a breathable, super-soft blanket that helps you adapt to changing temperatures for a comfortable night’s sleep. Most weighted blankets are designed for use by one person or, even if it’s a particularly big one, they usually won’t cover the whole bed. But the Baloo weighted comforter is designed to be large enough for sharing, snuggling and sleeping soundly under. You’re even likely to find one that will cover your entire bed, so long as it’s no bigger than a superking.

Size: 90 × 120, 100 x150cm or 110 x 170cm | Weight: 3 or 4kg | Filling: Glass | Removable cover: Yes Reasons to buy

Better Sleep for a Better You.

We might not buy a weighted blanket with the chief criteria being looks, but if we’re to happily use it often, it must suit the interiors of our home and match our tastes. If grey is your thing, most of the weighted blanket market has you covered, but for those who love a bit of colour or prints, Karmara is the brand for you. Another option is to have one placed on top of a lighter tog duvet, so you can easily remove one or the other as needed. In the winter, both together has the additional benefit of warmth and weight to help encourage a good night’s sleep. The verdict: Weighted blankets

Lots of weighted blankets are a bit too ‘cutesy’ for some kids’ tastes, but if you have a mini Marvel fan in your life, this might be the weighted blanket you are looking for. The cool design with webs and masks will appeal to superheroes of all sizes and there’s a range of matching and contrasting Marvel bedding available at John Lewis if you want to theme the room. If your budget doesn’t quite stretch that far, the TheaWellbeing blyss weighted blanket with cover is a fantastic value for money buy. For children, we love the Snoozzzy dinosaur weighted blanket.

4. Softest weighted blanket for kids: CosiHome Luxury Weighted Blanket

The Anjee weighted blanket is available in the following sizes; 90cm x 120cm 2kg 5lbs, 100cm x 150cm 3kg 7lbs and 100 x 150cm 4.5kg 10lbs which make it the perfect weighted blanket for toddlers and young children. Size: 105 × 155cm or 153 x 203cm | Weight: 3.2kg or 6.8kg | Filling: glass beads | Removable cover: Yes Reasons to buy The cotton is super-soft next to the skin and breathable for ultimate comfort, which our tester found helped them sleep much better than without the blanket. And we particularly like that this weighted blanket works just as well draped over the bed as it does in the living room on a chair or sofa. The design is gorgeous and comes in a range of colours, including a berry red, green, grey and blue. We were also impressed by the ethical production process that ensures every worker at each stage is paid a fair wage. The NHS offers more advice on how they can be safely used for children. How heavy or big should a weighted blanket be for kids? My daughter has one as she is very anxious right now and wasn't sleeping. It's definitely helped.” Circleorsquare Our verdict

They are made with a weighted material filler like plastic pellets, poly pellets, or plastic beads. The weight and material vary depending on the size of the user and the design of the blanket. The weight of the blanket is designed to mimic a therapeutic technique called deep pressure stimulation. This technique uses hands-on pressure in the form of squeezing or holding to calm the nervous system. A weighted blanket essentially mimics the relaxing feeling of a firm, warm hug. Remember, this blanket is for a child. As you probably know, children have a tendency to create a mess. Make sure the blanket is machine washable. Even if your child isn’t prone to spills, it’s worth having a blanket that is easy to wash.

How heavy or big should a weighted blanket be for kids?

Henderson recommends practising deep belly breathing when using a weighted blanket, to help activate our “rest and digest” response. “The mind’s focus is then on the sensation of the blanket and the breath, not any thoughts that had been racing beforehand, meaning it can also be used as a mindfulness tool when used in this way,” she explains. What is the science behind weighted blankets? Recommendations for each body weight range are based on current users’ general opinions and preferences. Sleepers should not interpret these estimates as an exact science, as what feels right to one person may not feel right to another. You may also find that the material and fill of the blanket play a role in how comfortable it feels and how hot it sleeps. Size: 101 × 78.7cm | Weight: 1.2kg | Filling: micro glass beads | Removable cover: No Reasons to buy We recommend talking to your doctor before using a weighted blanket if you live with one of the following: If you’re looking for a bit of a luxury feel and a standard of craftsmanship that will stand the test of time, the Kids Weighted Blanket from Gravity Blankets is handmade in Europe from 100% certified cotton and features a weighted filling of fine, evenly distributed glass beads. The blanket comes with a cover that’s designed to be either ‘summer’ or ‘year round’ so you can choose which you prefer, and the fact that this is removable makes it a more practical choice for laundering.

Some people prefer the lighter feel of a duvet, says Henderson, and she suggests using something you already have at home to evaluate if the sensation of sleeping under a weighted blanket is for you. “Using a few large bath towels on top of your duvet can give you a good alternative feeling of how the weighted blanket might feel before you invest in one.” This pretty but neutral weighted blanket comes in a calming shade of grey, with white stars and would look as at home in a kids’ bedroom or downstairs on the sofa. It’s made of five layers, which give it a super-soft, comfy feel: a layer of hypoallergenic microbeads, two layers of polyester wadding, a cotton top layer and a 100% microplush bottom layer. The weighted feel and tactile surface gives a feeling of calm and restfulness to help your child relax and sleep more easily. It comes in two weights - 2kg and 3kg - to cater for both younger and older children. It’s important to talk to your childs doctor or health professional before using a weighted blanket to ensure you recieve the correct advice for your situation. It’s generally safe for adults to sleep with a weighted blanket every night – in fact, our tester now sleeps under their Simba blanket at all times. Starting slow can be a good idea, though.Create an indoor fort where you keep the blanket. By making a special, quiet place, you will encourage relaxation. Size: 48"x78” or 60"x80” | Weight: 5 and 7kg | Filling: Glass micro sand beads | Removable cover: No Reasons to buy Weighted blankets are typically filled with thousands of tiny glass beads that apply light pressure to the user. This pressure can have a soothing, calming effect on the body, says Nichola Henderson, a holistic life, self-development coach and wellness specialist. That’s not to say that weighted blankets are suitable for children over 1 years old. Infact you should not use a weighted kids blanket for any child under 15KG’s. By using this as a rule and going by the average growth and weight progress during a childs development. Because weighted blankets need to be around 10% of your child’s body weight it can be really hard to find one for younger or very small children. While weighted blankets aren’t recommended for under threes, two year olds could use them in a supervised way during the day. This aden and anais version solves that problem of not being able to find something light enough. At just 1.2kg this weighted blanket is really lightweight and gives just enough pressure to calm a small child.