This blanket didn’t work for me, but I think it could for you.
As a disabled mom with spinal stenosis, cerebral palsy, and diabetes, I’m well acquainted with the term known as “painsomnia”— which is to say I can’t sleep easily at night because of pain related to my disabilities and ailments.
So, when Bearaby was nice enough to send me a new weighted blanket to test out, I was very hopeful. Could this be the miracle cure to my painful nights of tossing and turning for hours on end?
Made from some of the softest cotton weave in a net style, the Napper is sold in the 15- to 25-pound range and available in seven beautiful colors, ranging from a light white and soft pink to a dark blue. It’s also warm and gentle to the touch. I can tell the blanket is very well built, as it passed my rugged drag and drop and tearing tests with ease. (Not that I went at it with a knife or anything!)
Caring for it is also easy. It’s machine-washable using the delicate or permanent press cycle with cool to warm water, no more than 86ºF (30ºC). Bearaby suggests laying it flat to dry to avoid stretching the materials.
Ultimately, cutting to the chase, I don’t think the 20-pound version of the Classic Napper is for me. I think if I used a 15-pound or even 10-pound blanket I would have more success. I quite like the concept, but the blanket is about 10 pounds too heavy for my comfort.
The blanket has netting with holes large enough for a small child’s fist to fit through, but it retains warmth really well. I found myself inexorably throwing it off after several minutes every night.
And while the blanket wasn’t painful, it increased the discomfort from my spinal stenosis quite a bit. Despite all its comforting and gentle design, the heavy blanket just didn’t suit my old pain-ridden body very well.
I also have social anxiety, and the weighted blanket didn’t help calm me down so much as suffocate me. Not that it caused me to panic or anything — it was quite the opposite in terms of reading of the couch, for example.
My 8-year-old son, who has ADHD, also enjoyed the blanket but eventually found it too heavy too. I have a feeling if he could use a lighter version every night he might go to sleep faster.
Ultimately, I think this blanket is marketed for younger people who are generally healthier than I am. If Bearaby had a 10-pound blanket I’d probably be a customer. The blanket they sent me to review is very sturdy, very well built, warm, and soft but just too darn heavy for me to be comforting for my health.
Note: I did find an off-label usage for this wonderfully heavy blanket as a foot rest. I have peripheral neuropathy in my feet, which is a burning or “electric shock” sensation that can keep me awake all night. The Napper for my diabetic feet has made a comfortable nonmoving surface for my toes to dig into at night while helping keep them from suffering too much pain. What a relief!
If you don’t find it comfortable, Bearaby has a 30-day return policy, so you’ve got some time before you commit. The company offers three types of blankets, including the Sleeper, a comforter, the Napper (which I tested), and a plant-based version of the Napper called the Tree Napper. Prices range from $199 to $279 for all the blankets. They also offer Sleeper covers for the comforter blankets starting at $89.
P.S. You should know that Healthline, not Bearaby, has compensated me for a review, and this definitely is my honest opinion. Thanks for reading!
Mari Kurisato is a LGBTQi Native American disabled mom living with her wife and son in Denver, Colorado. She can be found on Twitter.