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In this post we’ll look at the 7 most common types of weighted blanket fillings, so you can decide which one is likely to suit you best.
If you’re familiar with weighted blankets you’ll know they contain extra filling to make them heavier than a regular blanket.
This additional weight provides extra sensory input on the body of the user; something many people find decreases anxiety and improves sleep.
But what are the fillings in weighted blankets made of and how do you know which one is right for you?
In A Hurry?
Micro glass beads are currently the most popular weighted filling. Here are our top picks for glass bead filled weighted blankets, as well as bulk glass beads for homemade weighted projects:
Top Blanket Pick: Quility Weighted Blanket
Top Budget Blanket Pick: YnM Weighted Blanket
Top Loose Glass Beads Pick: Roly Poly Micro Glass Beads
Read on for more info and the full list of weighted blanket fillers.
1 – Micro Glass Bead Fillings
Micro glass beads are currently the most popular and common weighted blanket filling.
Considered high quality due to their smooth edges and consistent shape, micro beads are usually considered the most ‘luxurious’ weighted filling, as well as the smoothest and ‘quietest’ (i.e. glass beads don’t rustle about).
A bit like grains of sand or sugar, they’re much smaller than the ‘pebble’ like plastic poly pellets, which were traditionally used as a weighted blanket filler when they first emerged as a sensory tool used by occupational therapists.
Although generally a little more expensive than plastic poly pellet fillings, glass beads are heavier, which means you need less of them.
Due to their tiny size and weight, glass beads sit very densely inside a weighted blanket, which allows the blanket to lie more smoothly on the body than blankets filled with a bulkier filling. This ‘density’ also makes the blanket thinner and flatter and, for many people, less ‘clumpy’. This often makes glass beads the best option for highly sensitive people.
Glass beads are highly durable, hypoallergenic and odourless and the most popular weighted filling of choice for most people.
You may want to keep in mind that there have been some reports of cheaper glass beads containing lead. So always look out for hypoallergenic, non-toxic glass beads (a quality weighted blanket should contain these).
You’ll also find some commercially made weighted blankets, supplemented with a cotton or polyester fill, to provide extra padding and protect the beads.
What We Like:
- Lay smoother on the body, than ‘clumpier’ weighted fillings
- Considered the most ‘luxurious’ and ”quietest’ weighted filler
- Long lasting and washable (check product details to be sure)
- Avoids using plastic
- Avoids initial odour sometimes associated with plastic poly pellets
- Hypoallergenic.
Take Note:
- Some reports of bead leakage, so check product reviews/warranty details
- Beads sometimes shift to sides of blanket, making distribution uneven – generally speaking though, more pockets = better the weight distribution.
Where To Buy Them
For a weighted blanket containing micro beads, try one of these:
For loose micro beads, in various bulk sizes, try these or see this guide.
2 – Plastic Poly Pellet Fillings
Plastic poly pellets were historically the most traditional filling used in weighted blankets.
A bit like tiny pebbles, they’re usually made of polypropylene plastic, which is a type 5 plastic and generally considered safe and toxic free.
When buying (or making) a weighted blanket, opt for the best quality poly pellets you can, such as 100% virgin polypropylene. Also check the pellets are washable/suitable for dryers, as not all poly pellets have a high temperature rating.
If you’re highly sensitive or sensory avoiding, poly pellets ‘may’ be a little over stimulating, as they are bulkier than glass beads and may rustle a bit when they move around inside the blanket. If so, look for blankets with a thicker casing/padding or consider glass beads instead. On the flip side, if you something more tactile (sensory seeking), the slightly ‘lumpier’ feel of poly pellets may serve you better.
Keep in mind as well, if you’ve got a keen sense of smell, new plastic can sometimes give off an initial odour; however this can usually be rectified with a good airing.
What We Like:
- Long lasting and usually washable (check product details to be sure)
- Usually made of polypropylene, a plastic generally considered safe.
Take Note:
- Made of plastic, so not recyclable or eco-friendly
- May give off an initial odour (usually rectified by a good airing)
- Extremely sensitive/sensory avoiding people may find stimulation of poly pellets too intense
- Pellets can sometimes clump at sides of blanket, making weight distribution uneven. Check reviews/product details for more info.
Where To Buy Them
Mosaic Weighted Blankets use plastic pellets in their weighted blankets and are considered one of the top rated weighted blanket manufacturers in the US. Mosaic Weighted Blankets are exceptional quality and US made. They also now ship to UK and Europe (shipping rates apply).
If you’re going down the homemade route, try these popular plastic poly pellets.
3 – Nano Ceramic Bead Fillings
Whilst not nearly as common as their glass counterparts, you will occasionally see nano ceramic bead fillers used in commercially made blankets. Blankets using ceramic nano particles sometimes make claims about the advanced nanoparticle ‘technology’ without really explaining what this means.
So from a buyer’s point of view, ceramic nano particles are made from tiny particles of ceramics, mixed within a solution and gel to form the nanoparticle. Yawning yet? Well, the good news is, the resulting material is so small it is considered to have no flaws. Ceramic nanoparticles also contain a high percentage of air, so are very light. They are also very strong and flexible, which makes them more durable than some lower quality weighted filling materials.
As well as durability, nano ceramic beads are often cited as being more comfortable than glass beads because they seamlessly blend together (rather than clumping or falling to one side), creating a more balanced weight distribution.
If you very sensitive to touch you may find a nano ceramic bead blanket beneficial as the beads are so small you are unlikely to feel them.
What We Like:
- strong and flexible making them very durable
- may help to create a more balanced weight distribution
- lay smoothly on the body
- beads are so small you are unlikely to feel them.
Take Note:
- Not as readily available as other weighted blanket fillings
- May be more expensive.
Where To Buy Them
For weighted blankets containing nano ceramic beads check out this popular Degrees of Comfort Weighted Blanket (at time of writing, UK version contains glass beads).
Nano ceramic beads don’t yet appear available to buy loose.
4 – Grain or Dried Bean Fillings
If you’re a keen sewer and plan to make your own DIY weighted blanket, organic materials such as dried beans, or grains, such as rice, barley or corn are also popular weighted fillings.
Whilst many people, who make their own homemade weighted blankets, choose to use these materials due to their low cost, you won’t see these weighted fillings used in commercially made weighted blankets.
Whilst bulk bought grains or dried beans are inexpensive and likely to work out cheaper than glass beads or poly pellets, the problem with organic materials such as rice is that they are porous. This makes them unsuitable for washing, as they won’t dry well, encouraging bacteria and mould.
Consider as well that, whilst a grain, such as rice, has an indefinite shelf life when kept in an airtight container, when exposed to air, it can ‘go off’.
Brown rice that has gone rancid will give off an odour and grains may also attract insects, such as rice weevils.
What We Like:
- Inexpensive and easy to source
- Common filling used in homemade weighted blankets.
Take Note:
- Porous, making them unsuitable for washing
- Grains, such as rice, may attract weevils or ‘go off’.
Where To Buy Them
You can, of course, get dried beans and grains from most supermarkets or health food stores. Buying them in bulk, or online, usually works out cheaper.
5 – Aquarium Gravel or River Pebble Fillings
Whilst aquarium gravel (or pebbles!) may not seem like the most obvious filling for a weighted blanket, they are both used as a filling in some homemade weighted blankets.
As they’re heavier than other fillings, you’ll need less of them, making it another more inexpensive option.
Gravel has sharper edges than other fillings though, making it harder on the fabric than other smoother fillings. Pebbles or gravel will also feel lumpier on the body than other weighted fillings.
Keep in mind as well, pebbles and gravel also don’t contain heat well, which could make the blanket feel cooler than blankets with alternative fillers.
What We Like:
- relatively cheap and easy to source.
Take Note:
- sharper edges (gravel) may tear fabric
- feels lumpier on the body
- don’t retain heat well.
Where To Buy Them
You can easily buy aquarium gravel and river pebbles online or from an aquatic store. You can also buy river pebbles from some craft stores.
6 – Steel Shot Fillings
Steel shot beads are another quite popular filling used in DIY weighted blankets. Steel shot beads are larger and heavier than micro glass beads or plastic poly pellets. So a weighted blanket filled with steel shot beads will be thinner, as you’ll need less beads to reach the required weight.
The thing to keep in mind with steel shot beads is that they’re heavy. This can feel quite lumpy on the body, as well as cause a rustling sound when they move about inside the blanket. For homemade blankets, you can use some polyester fill or cotton padding to make these potential issues less noticeable.
The weight of the steel beads also means they’re more likely to fall into the corners of the blanket’s ‘pockets’, leading to less even weight distribution.
On the plus side, steel shot beads are washable and the larger size of steel beads means you’ll less likely to experience bead leakage through the stitching.
What We Like:
- bead leakage is less likely
- very hard and durable
- washable.
Take Note:
- likely to feel ‘lumpier’ on the body due to size and weight
- ‘noisier’ than other weighted blanket fillings
- not the best filling for even weight distribution
- not particularly cheap.
Where To Buy Them
You can buy steel shot online on places such as Ebay. Or try an engineering supplier.
7 – Sand Fillings
Sand is another quite common weighted blanket filling you’ll often see used in homemade weighted blankets.
Sand is relatively inexpensive and also easy to buy.
However, weighted blankets filled with sand shouldn’t be washed very often, if at all. Sand is very difficult to dry and you’re likely to end up with big clumps of sand and uneven weight distribution.
Another point to consider is that sand particles are extremely fine, which means you’ll need to contain it well inside the blanket to avoid leakage. However high your thread count, this isn’t easy to do unless you first contain the sand in plastic pouches before inserting and stitching them inside the blanket’s ‘pockets’.
Keep in mind, as well, that sand is one of the most consumed natural resources on the planet and, believe it or not, becoming quite scarce.
What We Like:
- Inexpensive and easy to source
Take Note:
- not really suitable to wash
- extremely fine, making leakage more likely
- becoming an over consumed natural resource.
Where To Buy Them
You can buy bags of sand online or try your local DIY or garden centre.
Conclusion
Micro glass beads and plastic poly pellets are the most common weighted blanket fillings.
Whether you, or your child, opts for a ready made blanket filled with poly pellets, or glass beads, really comes down to personal choice, but either will work effectively as a weighted filling.
If you plan to make your own weighted blanket, poly pellets and glass beads are both relatively easy to buy online.
If you plan to use a more inexpensive weighted filler, keep in mind porous or organic materials, such as sand, grains or dried beans, won’t wash well. Grains and beans will also start to naturally decompose over time and may even attract insects. This will shorten the life of the blanket dramatically.
And weighted fillers, such as steel shot or pebbles, whilst more durable are quite heavy and may prove quite ‘lumpy’ unless a suitable padding or fill is used in the blanket.
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