How Weighted Blankets Work 

And why you should get one!  

“Have you tried a weighted blanket?” they say. “It might help you sleep better,” they say. “Relax, maybe you need a weighted blanket.”  

It seems like the most adamant advice-givers in our lives are recommending weighted blankets these days.  

• Having trouble falling asleep? Try a weighted blanket. 

• Having trouble staying asleep? Try a weighted blanket.  

• Feeling stressed out? Try a weighted blanket.  

Weighted blankets are a current craze. But how do you know you aren’t just falling for the latest fad but finding a product based on science? And how do you find one that works best for you? 

It all starts with touch. 

Physical touch has the power to provide a calming connection and assurance. It can be provided in various ways — whether through a swaddle, hug, or massage, the sensation of touch can help a person feel comforted (Chen, 2013). This feeling is what weighted blankets and wearables aim to do by mimicking the pressure of human touch.  

A good weighted blanket can provide the right amount of input to tell your autonomic nervous system that you are safe and able to relax. When this message is sent from your brain to your body, your heart rate and breathing begin to slow, signaling to your body that it is safe. This is known as rest mode (“4 Ways,” 2022). 

When a person is aroused, their breathing and heart rate increase, also called “flight or fight.” A hyper-aroused state of being can cause a person to be wide awake, alert, and even worried (“4 Ways,” 2022). Weighted blankets may help combat these things when a person is over-alert and in need of a more calm, comfortable state of being.  

The Science Behind the Comfort 

Deep Touch Pressure (DTP) input was coined by Temple Grandin, whose animal science research led her to develop a squeeze machine initially designed to help individuals with autism (Grandin, 1992). The term DTP now has broad-reaching implications for the rest of us who need a tool to help us enter a relaxed state.  

Everyone can benefit from DTP!  

DTP is delivered when a weighted blanket or wearable meets 3C requirements: 

• Conforms to your body’s natural curves. 

• Compresses gently and evenly across the surface of your body. 

• Constantly contacts more touchpoints on your body without bunching, twisting, or falling to gravity. 

For any weighted product to provide DTP, the weight must be evenly distributed across the surface of the products. In other words, it doesn't matter how heavy a product is; it matters how it delivers the weight. At CapeAble, that's where SmartWeight® Technology comes in. 

SmartWeight® Technology — where advanced scientific design meets optimal comfort.  

CapeAble weighted products incorporate the 3Cs required to deliver DTP through its weighted blankets and wearables. It does this through SmartWeight Technology, engineered using a 2-inch grid.  

Each pocket within the grid contains an equal amount of weight every 2 inches, creating contact with more touchpoints on your body, which helps allow you to receive just the right amount of input so you feel connected, safe, and regulated.  

SmartWeight Technology also helps to reduce bunching and the “bean bag effect” that could occur with uneven weight distribution. With even weight distribution, one can enjoy the feeling of a secure hug while still having the freedom to move.  

The benefits of weighted blankets and wearables. 

SmartWeight Technology is designed to hug every curve of your body and provide increased contact and consistent weighted pressure—all to optimize the benefits of DTP and create an improved state of well-being and comfort.  
 
CapeAble SmartWeight Products may help to:    

• Provide relief for sensory issues 

• Reduce stress and anxious feelings 

• Prepare for a restful, sound sleep by activating “relax” mode 

Why you should try a weighted product. 

So when they say you should try a weighted blanket, they might actually be on to something. With the latest knowledge of neuroscience combined with SmartWeight Technology, CapeAble Weighted Products has something to offer everyone.  

Whether you need a SmartWeight blanket to help you sleep through the night, a wearable to keep you regulated as you go about your day, or a magnetic focus fidget to keep you concentrating, check us out.  

What are your questions? 

We value your feedback! Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below. Our team loves to answer questions and help you find a weighted product that’s right for your individual needs.  

Please like, share, and follow us if you found this post helpful.  

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DISCLAIMER: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA or FTC. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition. 

References 

4 Ways Weighted Blankets Can Actually Help You. PennMedicine.org. Published March 24, 2022. https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2022/march/weighted-blankets#:~:text=A%20weighted%20blanket%20uses%20%E2%80%9Cpressure,depend%20on%20the%20person's%20needs.  

Chen, Hsin-Yung & Yang, Hsiang & Chi, H.-J & Chen, Hsin-Ming. (2013). Physiological Effects of Deep Touch Pressure on Anxiety Alleviation: The Weighted Blanket Approach. Journal of Medical and Biological Engineering. 33. 463-470. 10.5405/jmbe.1043.  

Grandin T. Calming effects of deep touch pressure in patients with autistic disorder, college students, and animals. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 1992;2(1):63-72. https://doi.org/10.1089/cap.1992.2.63.