Are weighted blankets hot?

Everyone loves to snuggle for a good night’s sleep. But if you like to sleep alone, you might struggle to find something that provides you snuggly feel. What better option than a weighted blanket supporting your body and relieving you from pressure and anxiety?

For cold sleepers, that is not a problem, but for hot sleepers, they might feel claustrophobic underneath. But the question remains the same, do these blankets make you hot?

Are there any materials that prevent that from happening? What steps can be taken to avoid overheating? To find out more, read till the end.

Do Weighted Blankets Make You Sweat During Sleep?

They are heavier than a normal blanket. However, whether they are hotter or not than a normal blanket is another discussion. Normally the heat retention in both kinds is pretty much the same.

So, what makes the difference apart from weight? The difference is the material type used in filling the blanket and the fabric. If heat retaining materials, like wool, polyester, etc., are used in filing your weighted blanket, it will make you sweat at night.

Similarly, a hot sleeper can enjoy it if it has cooler ingredients. Cotton or rayon-filled blanket will provide the same level of calmness and warmth, but they won’t make you sweat in the middle of the night.

How does Overheating Affects Sleep?

The purpose of sleeping is to rejuvenate the internal body systems from day-long wear and tear. The human body retains heat from different sources. So at night, when you go to sleep, a cool body temperature helps to repair your body effectively. That’s why most mattress manufacturers add cooling gel layers to their mattresses so that your body can cool down (check the top rated mattresses).

Many studies show that insomnia is directly related to the body’s temperature. Further, most insomniacs have a high body temperature. Keeping all that in mind, your sleep will affect if you retain too much heat on an already hot body. You’ll get sweaty at night and feel more restless. If this condition is consistent, then there is a chance that your anxiety level will get high, and you will get further complications.

Knowing your body type and external climate before buying your blanket is essential. A weighted blanket will make you extra warm at night if you retain more body heat. Furthermore, in summers, the climate is already warm, and using a heavy blanket might not be the best option (also check the best selling bed sheets for summer).

The crux is that your body should get cool before you sleep to stay calm and comfortable throughout the night (also check the most comfortable mattresses).

Factors Making Blanket Hot

For such a blanket to retain heat, the mixture of fabric and filler is the deciding point for a quality blanket. Let’s see these two in detail.

Fabric

A weighted blanket’s first contact line with the skin is the fabric of its outer cover. Selecting the right fabric material for the cover will define the heat retention property of the blanket. It is better to use a cool and breathable material.

There is a huge collection of fabrics that you can select from to avoid extra heat from your blanket. Get the feel of royalty with the silky soft touch of Minky and the voguish feel of Tencel or Lyocell. The best part of these fabrics is that they feel smooth on your skin and keep an accurate level of ventilation.

Cotton and bamboo fabric is the best option if you like organic touch to your blanket cover. Both are naturally lightweight and breathable materials. Pure cotton fabric is popular in warmer regions because it absorbs sweat.

Filler

Fillers of your blanket can base on a fabric material like wool or polyester or maybe beads or pellet. Beads or pellets put the weight on your blanket for the extra soothing effect. Selecting the right weight material according to your sleeping habit is important.

If you don’t like heat retention in your blanket, then micro glass beads are the right weight selection for your blanket. These beads can shape themselves according to your body type so that you can get complete relaxation. Further, they also allow good ventilation to avoid unnecessary heat retention. Besides the glass beads, plastic-based fillers retain the body heat inside the blanket.

Weighted Blanket Materials to Avoid

No one likes to get extremely hot at the cost of comfort. A weighted blanket can get hot. However, too much heat retention will disturb your sleep. Polyester-based weighted blankets should be avoided at all costs, especially if you are a hot sleeper. This material is water-resistant, and there is minimum breathability in it.

A polyester blanket will make you suffer, especially in the summer season. Your body heat and the heat retention of the blanket on a hot summer night will increase your anxiety level and make you sweat badly.

Best Fabrics for A Weighted Blanket for Hot Sleepers

Hot sleepers need consistent coolness from their bed and surroundings. A hot sleeper cannot stand a single drop of sweat while sleeping. However, this doesn’t mean they cannot enjoy the comfort of a blanket.

For a hot sleeper, the ideal blanket is filled with breathable materials like micro glass beads, and the cover is made in a cool fabric like cotton or rayon.

Another option is to get a weighted blanket with a cooling layer. These blankets regulate your body temperature to keep it cool so you can enjoy a good night’s sleep. If you need warmth in the winter without compromising the breathability of your blanket, remove the upper layer.

Staying Cool While You Sleep

Besides the fact that weighted blankets are hot, this is not entirely true in some conditions. We know that the heat retention of this mattress is correlated with the filling and the fabric.

But that’s not all.

External factors play a vital role in keeping you cool throughout the night.

The temperature of your bedroom, your mattress selection, the mattress base, and the prevailing season. These are a few factors you should consider to keep you cool all night. As a formula for a cool, comfortable sleep, you must wear night suits made of breathable material. Your bedroom temperature should be lower than the outside temperature.

When all of this is accurate, a breathable, weighted blanket will be the cherry on top of your perfect cool sleep (also check 10 amazing cooling mattress toppers).

Are Weighted Blankets Suitable for Kids?

Naturally, kids have higher body temperature than an adult. This higher temperature directly relates to their higher energy. In that case, exposing your child to a full hot blanket might not be the best idea. Further, kids have sensitive skin, and you should avoid any fabric that can trigger a skin allergy. Moreover, if your child has a disturbed night’s sleep, he might get sick or cranky.

The solution is to get a breathable fabric-weighted blanket for your kids. Secondly, get the blanket with a removable cover to judge your child’s response to the blanket. The best solution is to get the blanket specifically made for kids. It will weigh according to an average weight of a kid, plus it will avoid any material harmful to them.

How to choose Weighted Blankets for Hot Sleepers?

If you are a hot sleeper, the best blanket for you will be the one with a breathable fabric cover and fillings with cooling factors. You don’t want to sacrifice snuggle at the cost of getting hot. For you, comfort is being cool throughout the night to recharge your body.

The extra heat won’t hurt you if you suffer from cool sleeping. Materials retaining some heat will be the ideal choice for you. However, you will feel uncomfortable with extra heat retention and no air passing while sleeping.

Key Takeaways: Weighted Blankets and Their Temperature Impact

The Temperature Paradox of Weighted Blankets

While weighted blankets are cherished for their snugness, their temperature effect is a mix of material choice and external factors. Contrary to general belief, they don’t inherently cause overheating.

Material’s Role in Heat Retention

The primary factor determining a weighted blanket’s warmth is its material. Wool or polyester-filled ones tend to increase body heat, while cotton or rayon variants maintain a moderate temperature, ensuring comfort without excess sweating.

Body Temperature’s Relation to Sleep

A cool body temperature is synonymous with a restful sleep. Overheating can disrupt this, leading to sleep disorders like insomnia. This highlights the importance of choosing a weighted blanket that complements your body’s natural temperature tendencies.

Decoding Fabric and Filler Choices

Fabrics such as Minky and Tencel provide smoothness and ventilation. Organic choices like cotton are renowned for breathability. In terms of fillers, micro glass beads are cooling, while plastic-based fillers retain more warmth.

Guidelines for Hot Sleepers

For those who tend to feel hotter, it’s imperative to avoid materials like polyester in weighted blankets. Instead, fabrics like cotton, rayon, or those with cooling layers are recommended.

External Factors in the Sleep Equation

Your sleep temperature isn’t solely reliant on the blanket. Room temperature, the type of mattress, and even the season play a significant role. Keeping the bedroom cooler than the surroundings and opting for breathable nightwear can optimize sleep.

Children and Weighted Blankets

When considering weighted blankets for children, one must factor in their naturally higher body temperatures and sensitive skin. Blankets specifically tailored for kids are the best choice.

Conclusion

These blankets are a great source of comfort for you. But the important thing is, how do you get comfortable? A blanket with cool fabrics is ideal if you are a hot sleeper. On the contrary, comfortable heat retaining blanket is what you need if you are a cool sleeper.

By reading the article till the end, you know now what materials to avoid when buying your weighted blanket from getting it extra hot. Further, compromising your sleep and comfort is not a suitable thing to do.