Weighted blankets offer deep pressure stimulation, a form of touch pressure that feels like a firm hug, a massage, or swaddling. Deep pressure stimulation has been found to calm adults and children with insomnia, anxiety, autism, high blood pressure, attention difficulties, and more.
The underlying science on weighted blankets is called deep touch pressure (DTP). DTP is about gently applying pressure to the body to increase the release of serotonin, just like a warm hug. This is where a weighted blanket may help. By applying firm but gentle pressure, a weighted blanket delivers all of the benefits of a hug without forcing unwelcome or unpleasant body contact with another person, all through the night, allowing a person to sleep soundly through the entire night.