A weighted blanket is a heavy therapeutic blanket designed to improve sleep, ease anxiety and treat sensory issues by distributing pressure on the body. To work effectively, occupational therapists suggest weighted blankets should be approx. 10% of the body’s weight.
To make up the additional weight, blankets are filled with glass or plastic beads sewn into layers of dense fabric. Suitable for both adults and children, they are available in different materials, weights and sizes to suit the individual.
In our case, we use premium glass beads that are packed into quilted pockets ensuring even distribution and perfect gentle pressure.
Weighted blankets work using deep touch pressure therapy (DTP) to regulate chemicals in the brain and rebalance the mood. Pressure points all over the body are activated when pressure is applied to them (much like a hug or a deep tissue massage) causing a release of calming hormones.
The snug, calming sensation you feel when you are being cuddled is exactly how a weighted blanket should make you feel.
Of course, it’s not magic; hundreds of human bioscience studies confirm that full-body deep pressure therapy will kick-start a surge of chemical reactions in the brain including an increased production of Serotonin, often called the happy hormone.
Want to know more about how weighted blankets work?
Serotonin is the key hormone responsible for making us feel good. Healthy levels of serotonin help us sleep, think clearly and digest food normally, all of which are core functions of the human body. Low levels of serotonin can heighten anxiety, depression, insomnia, low self-esteem and even cause poor memory.
The science behind feeling good is often overlooked. We’re often told that depression and anxiety stem from the way we think. However, the hormones in our body like serotonin, melatonin and cortisol have an enormous impact on our well-being and simple changes in your life can sky rocket your mood.
Melatonin is your biological clock; the hormone that controls your sleep cycle. During the day, your melatonin levels are low prompting your brain to stay focused and switched on. As the sun sets and it gets darker, your body starts to produce more melatonin which is why you feel sleepy at night.
Sometimes, bed time rolls around and you still don’t feel sleepy because your body hasn’t produced enough melatonin. Healthy levels of serotonin go hand in hand with your sleep hormones. Snuggle up into a Karmara weighted blanket to supercharge serotonin levels. Your sleep hormones will soon follow and let you drift off to dreamland.
The short answer is yes. Although weighted blankets do not work for everyone, for the majority of users snuggling into a weighted blanket is a very effective at-home therapy.
It takes time for Karmara weighted blankets to work their magic. Sleeping with additional weight on your body takes some getting used to so it's a good idea to slowly introduce the blanket into your routine. You should start to feel the positive effects of a Karmara blanket after using it for 10-18 days.
Yes, our Kids Weighted Blanket range is designed for children over the age of 5 who struggle to relax. If your child has Autism, ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder, OCD or just can’t settle down then a weighted blanket could make the world of difference. Please do not use an adult weighted blanket on a child; refer to the “How do I choose the weight of my blanket” FAQ for help choosing an appropriate weight.
For optimal comfort we recommend buying a weighted blanket that weighs 10 percent of your body weight (or as close as you can possibly get).
Some blanket lovers prefer a heavier or lighter blanket which is totally fine and entirely down to preference.
Choosing the right weight becomes particularly important when buying a weighted blanket for a child. We wouldn’t recommend going heavier than 10% in this case.
Young children under the age of 5, those who weigh less than 22kg or users who can’t lift the blanket without help should not use a weighted blanket.
Anyone with breathing, blood circulation, epilepsy or heart problems should also steer clear from weighted blankets.
If you have sleep apnea, breathing problems or any other chronic health condition you should consult your doctor before buying a weighted blanket.
Yes, all Karmara Weighted Blankets are washable. The Karma Snug range is wrapped in a gorgeous removable cover which can be washed independently. The Karma Comfort range can be washed as a whole blanket, as long as your washing machine’s max load weight can support the weight of your blanket.
Yes, you can sleep with Karmara weighted blankets safely providing you chose a suitable weight.
Sleeping with a weighted blanket can help your body feel grounded and secure increasing the quality of your sleep and relaxing those with anxiety, ADHD, RLS and Autism.
The relationship between sleep and anxiety is very well known and lack of quality sleep can worsen any issues significantly.
For the majority of our customers, the sensation of gently being held through the night makes it much easier to fall into a deep, undisturbed sleep restoring well-being and focus.
The beads fall to one side and bunch up in the corners in the majority of weighted blankets. This is particularly annoying when you are trying to relax after a stressful day.
Karmara Weighted Blankets solve this issue by using quilted pockets that are stitched evenly throughout the blanket. Each pocket contains up to 100 beads. These pockets ensure that our glass beads are evenly spread and the weight of the blanket is evenly distributed across your body.
There is a very common misconception that sleeping in a weighted blanket will have you waking up in sweats.
Blankets that are made using plastic beads or an unbreathable fabric are very dense and can cause you to become uncomfortably hot.
Karmara weighted blankets are made using breathable fabrics and gentle glass beads so that you can sleep comfortably during hot days.
To put your mind at ease, we offer two types of blankets. The Karma Comfort is a much gentler calming blanket that feels cooler to the touch when compared with our Karma Snug blanket which is a thicker and cosier blanket, perfect for those wintery evenings.
Karmara weighted blankets can help with a number of different health conditions including autism, ADHD, PTSD, insomnia, anxiety, stress , depression, SPD, chronic pain (e.g. fibromyalgia) and many more.
Click the links below to learn more about the condition specific benefits of using weighted blankets.
Click here to read the full answer on "are weighted blankets safe during pregnancy?"
We don’t recommend allowing your dog to sleep under a weighted blanket throughout the night.
However, whilst they are supervised weighted blankets have positive affects for nervous and uncomfortable adult dogs.
We recommend choosing a weight that is 10% of your dog’s body weight. They are a great calming tool for anxious and stressed dogs and are frequently used to calm them during storms and loud firework displays.
If your dog is a chewer or a young puppy, we do not recommend using weighted blankets, as the glass bead filling can be a choking hazard.
Karmara Blankets can be washed in a home washer. ALWAYS check that your washer can handle this amount of weight before doing so.
Weighted blankets are heavy (duh), you don't want to overload your home appliances without checking first.
Our Karma Snug range has a removable cover that can be washed seperately.
Please do not use a dryer as it may damage the fabric. When washing the weighted blanket at 30 ° C, lay the blanket flat.
- Wash at a maximum of 85 F.
- Wash on a cold gentle cycle
- Do not iron
- Do not tumble dry
- Lay flat to dry
Stains: Oops, it’s best to rinse them out when they occur. If you do find an old stain, run cold water over that spot, rub gently, apply a mild detergent, rinse.
Karmara Weighted Blankets are hand finished to the highest quality and designed for 5-star comfort.
Weighted with silent weighted glass beads, our blankets are designed to hug your body perfectly.
A breathable, 100% cotton cover helps circulate air away from your body keeping you at a just-right temperature night after night. All our weighted blankets & covers are Oeko-Tex certified (free from any harmful chemicals or toxins).
100% Organic Cotton
Biodegradable & Hypoallergenic
We offer free shipping across the UK. At this current moment in time we do not sell outside of the UK.
Every Karmara product is handmade to perfection once your order is placed, this can take us 3-5 days. Once your order is made, it will be shipped via DHL or UPS from Poland, Europe. You can usually expect your order to arrive in 10-12 business days once despatched.
Business days are Monday-Friday, excluding public holidays.
Please note,as a result of high volumes in the delivery network over the Christmas period, border delays and COVID measures that have been put in place by couriers, you may experience delays to your order.
Although we are doing everything we can to ensure orders arrive in a timely manner, delivery times are out of our control and we are unable to guarantee courier reliability.