- has your experience of having a weighted blanket been a positive one? Do you think it has helped? In particular, has anyone found that it has helped with parasomnias eg night terrors)?
It helps with calming and grounding but does not make flashbacks or nightmares go away. It can help lessen the feeling of hypervigilance.
The only negatives I've experienced are related to my hypermobility and chronic pain. On the nights my pain is really bad, I can't tolerate the weight even if I need it. Also, it's occasionally caused dislocations in my sleep BUT even a light bed sheer can do that so it's not a reason for me to not ever use one. Just some days are worse than others.
- am I looking in the wrong places and they are available for a lot less money than I have seen?
Honestly, £200 is a bargain. I'm American and my adult sized blanket was less than $150 a decade ago. The same one from the same place costs more now. And that cost really only covers the cost of materials and shipping, the labor is practically free. The filling is simply THAT expensive. To make it on your own might save you £50 but you don't have the skills to make it worthwhile. It's better to save up what you can and buy one.
- has anyone made their own? If so, was it straightforward or tricky? (I have zero sewing skills/experience and don't relish the idea of making one but if it's something I might be able to do myself at the fraction of the cost, it's something I can think about) Are there any particular instructions or online videos that you followed, which were very straightforward and clear that you'd be willing to share?
There are videos on YouTube on how to make them but you really need sewing skills and the filling is still expensive.
If you're really desperate, you can try the duct tape method. Fill multiple ziplock bags with rice or beans and duct tape them together and then add another layer of duct tape on both sides for durability. Use on top of your bedding. It is not the best solution but it is A solution. Very time consuming and sticky.
- is the weight you go for just a matter of personal preference?
Personal preference. If you do the duct tape method you can experiment with various weights for yourself. Start at 10% of your body weight and add more as needed.
- does it make you hot? Are heavier ones hotter than lighter ones? I want to use it in bed and getting too hot is something that I've identified as making a night terror more likely to happen. So I don't want to have a weighted blanket to help me relax and sleep well and then it triggers unwanted night time activity because I get too hot!
It's more like a bed sheet and adjusts to your body temperature. It doesn't make you any warmer than you already are. Great for summers where you can't tolerate a blanket but still need one for comfort. In winter the filling gets cold and takes some time to adjust to your temp.
- what are your experiences of different fabrics? Again, is fabric choice just a matter of personal preference and what you personally like the feel of? I guess some fabrics might be cooler/hotter?
Personal preference. I've tried silky fabrics and they're too weak. They rip, stretch, and snag. But they feel awesome. Cotton is really a gold standard. Some people use microfiber or furry fabrics but those get warm. Some will use suede but again, warmth. Cotton is light, breathable, and diverse in pattern. If you need it really soft, ask the maker to launder it with softeners a few times before sewing.
