Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

Yes! Baloo Living's weighted blankets and linen sheets, pillowcases, and duvet covers are certified by OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, 23.HUS.50992, Hohenstein.

Setting the standard for textile safety, from yarn to finished product. Every item bearing the OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 label has passed safety tests for the presence of harmful substances.

Our certificate can be verified using the oeko-tex.com label check.

Are Baloo products made with 100% all-natural materials and plastic-free packaging?

Yes. Baloo is the only quilted weighted blanket on the market made with 100% cotton throughout, with no polyester linings or filling, and lab-tested lead-free glass microbeads.

Our linen sheets, pillowcases, and duvet covers are certified by EUROPEAN FLAX® Standard. European Flax® is the guarantee of traceability for premium linen fibre grown in Europe -- a natural and sustainable fiber, cultivated without artificial irrigation and GMO free.

Our products ship in plastic-free packaging, and we eliminate plastic use throughout our supply chain wherever possible.

Is Baloo cool enough to use year-round?

Heavy doesn't have to mean hot, when you choose a weighted blanket with breathable fabrics and fill. Baloo weighted blankets are made from 100% cotton, so most people find them cool enough to use year-round. The feeling is similar to adding two cotton sheets to your bedding.

What size would be best for me? 

Start here, with our interactive sleep quiz!

Baloo weighted bedding sizes range from our 9lb / 4kg Mini, all the way up to our Super King Comforter, so there's a perfect size for everyone.

Whether you're looking for a weighted blanket to use on a sofa or a bed, alone or with a partner - we'll help you find our best recommendation with our interactive Sleep Quiz. 

How do I use and adjust to my new weighted blanket? 

Your new weighted blanket may feel surprisingly heavy when it arrives. That's normal! If you'd like to ease into using it, here's what we suggest:

• Start by using your Baloo on your lower body for the first few nights, then raise it up to your chest.
• You can also try using it for small increments of time on the sofa at first.
• Give yourself one or two weeks to adjust to the new sensation.
• Over time, your body will adjust to the feeling of the added weight while you sleep. You'll continue to receive the benefits, even when you stop noticing the weight.
• We offer a 30-day window for returns and exchanges, to give you time to really experience the effect of sleeping with a Baloo weighted blanket.

Why are there no glass beads in the edges of the Weighted Comforter? And which side is the "top?" 

Because of the unique design of our Weighted Comforter, the weighted area is actually asymmetrical. There is one side that is weighted all the way to the edge, which is designed to lie at the head of the bed, where it will cover your body while you sleep. The other three sides are filled only with cotton batting, and are meant to go along the sides and foot of the bed.

We indicate this weighted edge with small white tags that are sewn into the very top seam. The edge with the tags should be placed at the head of your bed, near your pillows.

Though larger in size overall, the weighted area of our comforters is very similar to that of our weighted blankets. We center the weighted glass beads only in the area that rests on top of the bed, since that's where you will actually feel the sensation on your body. The benefit of this design is that there's less weight pulling off the edge of your bed, and less excess weight overall.

How should I clean my Baloo weighted blanket? 

Baloo weighted blankets are designed to be machine washable and dryer safe. We recommend washing the blanket by itself, using cold water on the gentle cycle and drying on low heat. Please wash one blanket at a time. 

Due to the variety of washing machines on the market, please check your model for its specific capacity before washing your blanket, and keep in mind that the blanket will weigh more when wet than dry. We recommend taking the king size blanket and all weighted comforter sizes to a commercial washer. If you are unsure of your machine's capacity, we recommend using a commercial machine.

Our blankets dry surprisingly quickly, so they don't need a long dryer cycle; we suggest checking on them after 20 minutes. Please do not dry clean or iron, as it will damage the blanket. We do not recommend using bleach.

How do I attach my duvet cover to my weighted blanket?  

• Turn the cover inside out
• Arrange the cover flat on top of the blanket
• Tie each of the loops tightly onto the cover
• Starting at the open end of the outer cover, pull the cover right side out, and bring the blanket along
• Once the cover is right side out, the blanket should be aligned inside.

More Information about Weighted Blankets

What is a weighted blanket?

A weighted blanket is designed to add a gentle weighted pressure to the body, which can soothe and calm the body and mind. Sizes and weights can range; smaller, lighter blankets for children can weigh as little as five pounds, while larger blankets can weigh 25 pounds or more. The weight typically comes from tiny glass or plastic beads that are sewn into pockets in the blanket. (At Baloo, we use only 100% glass beads - never plastic!)

The added weight has been shown to have therapeutic properties that calm anxiety, ease insomnia, reduce stress, improve sleep, and encourage relaxation. One of the most significant benefits of using a weighted blanket is deeper, more restorative sleep.

Although their popularity appears to have exploded recently, weighted blankets have actually been around for decades in the medical community. Originally used to treat anxiety, it was noted that a heavier blanket often calmed users and helped them sleep more soundly. However these benefits aren't limited to those seeking help with a specific medical need; weighted blankets are now beloved by many for their help with general relaxation and comfort, as well as relief from stress, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, and even PTSD.

Baloo's unique construction and double-quilted stitch pattern helps to create an even distribution of the weight across the entire blanket. Our design prevents “pooling” of the weighted glass beads and allows them to contour to the body, creating a hug-like sensation that is calming without being restrictive. We also use a premium cotton exterior and cotton batting inside the pockets, for a soft, luxurious feeling.

How do weighted blankets work?

For many, weighted blankets are a powerful, affordable tool for self-healing. Weighted blankets work by energizing your body’s natural ability to respond positively and effectively to stress. The gentle pressure of the blanket mimics the sensation of deep touch pressure (DTP; also commonly written as deep pressure touch). DTP is shown to have therapeutic effects on the body, specifically our parasympathetic and sympathetic systems, both of which form part of the nervous system.

The parasympathetic is often called the “rest and digest” system and is responsible for conserving energy and slowing the heart rate. The sympathetic is our “fight or flight” system, triggered in stressful situations. DTP affects each of these systems differently:

It increases parasympathetic activity, thereby slowing down the heart rate and calming the nervous system.
It decreases sympathetic activity by decreasing cortisol (stress hormone) levels, pacifying your fight or flight response, and relaxing the body.
Consider the body’s biological response to being nervous: increased heart rate, shortness of breath or hyperventilation, increased sweat production, plus countless other internal and external signals. These are reactions triggered by the built-in alarm in our nervous system. Many of us already have a subconscious toolkit of natural responses to these changes:

deep or mindful breathing techniques, meditation or visualization, mindful relaxation of our muscles, counting sheep, or even talking a short walk or doing a routine task. In much the same way, deep touch pressure can help us regulate our body’s chemistry naturally and promote calmness and balance—inside and out.

Deep touch pressure also encourages the brain to release certain neurotransmitters that have an overall calming effect on the body. DTP encourages the production of serotonin, known as the happy hormone, which regulates our mood and plays an important role in our feeling of wellbeing. Serotonin also leads to melatonin production, which is what controls our sleep/wake cycles, thereby helping to balance our sleeping patterns. All of these chemicals work together to relax the nervous system, reduce anxiety, and stimulate healthy, restful sleep.

In order to create the effect of DTP, a weighted blanket should cover you and contour to your body. The body’s reaction to the comfort and pressure of the blanket isn’t just superficial; the weighted blanket mimics a hug, which floods our bodies with positive response signals. Studies show that this sensation helps reduce blood pressure and slows the heart rate.

The chemical and physical reactions to deep touch pressure provided by weighted blankets work in perfect physical and physiological harmony. Once wrapped in the comforting hug of the weighted blanket, energy and stress levels decrease, mood-boosting hormones increase, and the body relaxes naturally.

For further reading on the research behind weighted blankets, please feel free to explore the articles linked below:

• NYTimes: Weighted Blankets for Sounder Sleep?
  A Swedish study found that men and women with depression or other mental health ills slept better when using the popular therapeutic aids.
• Abstract from the Journal occupational Therapy in Mental Health
  Exploring the Safety and Therapeutic Effects of Deep Pressure Stimulation Using a weighted Blanket.
• Abstract from the Journal of Complementary Medicine
  The biologic effects of grounding the human body during sleep as measured by cortisol levels and subjective reporting of sleep, pain, and stress.

Who should not use a weighted blanket?

Although weighted blankets are generally safe, there are important factors to consider.

Weighted blankets should never be used on infants or small children under the age of four. For older children, you should provide adult supervision, especially at first; and always be sure that the child is strong enough to remove the weighted blanket if needed. You should always ensure that your child does not sleep with the weighted blanket over their face. When in doubt, speak with your child's pediatrician, especially if your child suffers from skin allergies, blood circulation issues, epilepsy, or heart or breathing problems.

For adults, a weighted blanket will often help you get a good night’s sleep; but if you are considering using a weighted blanket in combination with treatment for a medical condition, it’s important that you talk with your doctor to ensure you use the correct size and weight, as well as the appropriate duration of use.

If you have diabetes, difficulty breathing (including sleep apnea, asthma, or COPD), blood pressure issues, or poor circulation, we recommend speaking with your physician before using a weighted blanket. If you have claustrophobia or cleithrophobia, a weighted blanket may not be right for you.

Finally, if you have arthritis, especially in your hands, then it could be uncomfortable to lift or move a weighted blanket.