You've heard about all of the sleep benefits you can get from using a weighted blanket. While they sound calming and snuggly, you might wonder whether weighted blankets make you hot.
You don’t want to choose between sleeping cool and getting the deep pressure stimulation of a weighted blanket. Luckily, you don’t have to. In this article, we’ll show you how a heavy blanket’s materials affect your sleeping temperature and other steps to avoid overheating at night.
At a glance:
Are Weighted Blankets Hot to Sleep Under?
The fabric and filler of a weighted blanket determines whether or not the blanket traps too much heat. While weighted blankets are heavy by definition, they’re not necessarily hotter than an average blanket.
Unlike an electric heated blanket, weighted blankets don’t have heat settings, or any way to generate heat. So you'll want to choose a weighted blanket that can balance your body heat and keep you comfortable.
Many weighted blankets on the market use warmer fabrics and poor-quality materials, which hot sleepers should avoid. Let’s look at how to identify which fabrics lead to comfortable sleep and which lead to overheating.
Fabric
The number one factor that can contribute to a hot blanket is its outer fabric. While other weighted blankets can be made with several kinds of fabrics, such as cotton or polyester, a cooling weighted blanket must be made with extremely breathable material.
For a cozy yet breathable blanket cover, look at a super soft Tencel or Lyocell fabric. They are soft and luxurious but still allow the right level of airflow to keep you comfortable. Other warmer but still breathable fabrics are Sherpa and micro mink.
You also could choose a bamboo or organic cotton cover. The natural materials pull moisture away from your body, which keeps you from experiencing night sweats. They also have higher breathability, which helps them give you better sleep.
At Hush, we use 100% organic viscose bamboo fabric for the outer cover of our weighted blanket, and the inner layer is made with a luxurious microfiber material. Every part of the Hush Iced 2.0 ensures superior airflow.
You may even want to consider a removable duvet cover-style weighted blanket or a 2-in-1 combo blanket. It’s reversible and features breathable cotton on one side and a warmer fabric on the other. Hush Blankets have a machine washable cover or hand washable cover, which makes them easier to care for.
Fillers
Weighted blankets have fillers that make the blanket heavier than regular quilts. The filler material can also determine if weighted blankets are hot and will also dictate your comfort level.
Cheaper weighted blankets use plastic fillers like poly pellets, but these trap body heat and restrict airflow. With this type of plastic pellet filler, your body heat builds and you wake up from being too hot.
On the other hand, micro glass beads are small enough to conform to your body, hugging your shape and soothing you as you rest. The micro glass beads also allow for better airflow, which helps keep you more comfortable.
Premium quality weighted blankets like the Hush Iced 2.0 take it up a notch and use glass sand, which is smaller than micro-sized glass beads. They make our weighted blankets less bulky than others. Sand also dissipates body heat more effectively than glass beads, ensuring you stay cool and get a good night’s sleep.
Layers
Several companies promote the fact that their cooling weighted blankets are made with a lot of layers.
Unfortunately, this is nothing but marketing hype created to disguise the use of inferior quality fabric. Those added layers are only there to hold the weighted material in place and prevent it from falling apart.
An ideal cooling weighted blanket is made with breathable fabric, which will allow you to sleep comfortably during the night.
The Hush Iced 2.0 uses premium quality viscose bamboo fabric that is extremely breathable, durable, and long-lasting, without those additional layers that make it hot.
Weighted Blanket Materials to Avoid Getting Too Warm
If you’re too warm at night, falling asleep won’t be your only challenge. You might even wake up during the night and sleep restlessly throughout the night.
Maybe your current blankets make you hot, or perhaps your natural temperature makes you overheat at night. Some people just run warmer, or have periods of higher temperatures, like women who are perimenopausal and having hot flashes.
Whatever the reason, if you're a hot sleeper, there are certain fabrics you should avoid at all costs. Weighted blankets warm you up when their fabric isn’t breathable, trapping body heat.
Make sure your weighted blanket cover doesn’t contain polyester-based fabric. Unlike materials like bamboo, they aren’t breathable.
Flannel is great at retaining heat, so hot sleepers should avoid it as well. Fleece is extra soft to the touch, but if you sleep hot, it’s likely it will leave you with night sweats.
A good rule of thumb is if a material is designed to keep you warm in cold weather, it’s likely not a good choice if you’re a person who sleeps hot.
Best Weighted Blanket Materials for Hot Sleepers
Look for moisture-wicking and naturally breathable materials like microfiber, bamboo, and cotton. (Bonus: Each of these materials is super-soft.) They are known for their comfort and breathability, which can help your body regulate your temperature while you sleep.
The moisture-wicking properties of these fabrics keep you cool and comfortable by moving the sweat away from your skin.
Look for a cooling weighted blanket when you’re shopping. These blankets are designed with premium fabrics and fillers that work to trap less heat and keep your body temperature regulated.
You can even remove the outer cooling layer of the weighted blanket if you need to bundle up on a chilly fall night!
The best cooling weighted blankets are still a high enough percentage of your body weight to lull you into a deep and restful sleep.
Are Weighted Blankets Hot for Kids?
It depends on your child’s needs and the weighted blanket itself. If they have autism combined with sensory issues that cause them to be anxious or hyper-sensitive to changes in touch or physical comfort, you should choose carefully.
One easy fix is to purchase a weighted blanket with a removable cover. You can start by having your child sleep under just the inner blanket first. Then, when they sleep soundly for a few nights in a row, they can graduate to sleeping with the cover on.
You’ll also want to purchase a weighted blanket that’s made specifically for kids. An adult weighted blanket will be too heavy for a child. The blanket should be around 10% of your child’s body weight, and about 36x48 inches.
How to Stay Cool Throughout the Night
The answer to the question “Are weighted blankets hot?” may be no, but if your bedroom and bed are hot, you still may not sleep well. Keep your bedroom anywhere from 60 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal sleep. If you can turn on an air conditioner or fan to keep the temperature low, you'll feel more comfortable.
Your medications, pajamas, and even your mattress could also make you warmer during the night. Making sure you’re setting yourself up for sleep success with these bedroom factors will make comfortable sleep easier:
- Take a shower in cold water before you go to sleep. It will lower your body temperature and prevent you from feeling hot under the covers.
- Wear the least amount of clothing that you can when you sleep. We won't judge you if you wear none at all.
- Switch on the fan or the air conditioner if possible.
- If any appliances produce heat inside your room, turn them off at night when you sleep.
- Try not to drink any hot coffee, hot tea, or alcohol before you go to bed. Hot beverages and alcohol tend to increase your body temperature and will make you sweat when you sleep. Instead, try a glass of water before you turn in for the night.
Once your bedroom is at the right ambient temperature and your clothing and mattress are not too warm, a weighted blanket that is made of breathable fabric will give you the pressure you need to relax and help you sleep comfortably through the night.
The Best Weighted Blankets Keep You Comfortable
With a high-quality weighted blanket or weighted throw blanket, you don’t need to wonder, “Are weighted blankets hot?” By pairing a weighted blanket with the right filler and a top-grade, super soft, and breathable moisture-wicking fabric, your blanket can deliver on all fronts.
A Hush Iced 2.0 cooling weighted blanket is a great way to stay comfortable while you sleep. And the 100-night money-back guarantee means you aren’t committed until you see it works. Get one today so you can experience the many benefits of using a weighted blanket and staying cool and comfortable all night. Great sleep is around the corner!
