A study from Halmstad University has used sleep monitors to demonstrate that the use of Novista’s soft weighted blankets significantly improves sleep in children with ADHD. The study included 94 children aged 6–14 and showed that weighted blankets effectively increase total sleep time, reduce the number of awakenings, and improve overall sleep efficiency.
Study Methodology
The study used a randomized controlled crossover design, which means that all the children tested both a weighted blanket and a control blanket for four weeks each. The order was randomly assigned. Sleep was objectively measured using an actigraph (sleep monitor) that the children wore overnight. Data from the sleep monitors was analyzed alongside information from a daily sleep diary and questionnaires completed by both children and parents.
Results: Children with ADHD sleep better with weighted blankets
The results show that the use of weighted blankets improved total sleep time for the entire group of children, with the greatest improvement observed among children aged 11–14. Another significant finding in this study was that weighted blankets were shown to effectively reduce the number of nighttime awakenings and improve sleep efficiency (Lönn et al., 2023a).
Difficulty falling asleep in the evening and waking up during the night are the most common sleep problems among children with ADHD, which underscores the relevance of these findings. If children’s restlessness and subsequent sleep problems decrease during the evening and night, the entire family may experience improved functioning and overall well-being. Improved child and family functioning with the use of weighted blankets was confirmed in interviews with children (Lönn et al., 2023b) and parents (Larsson et al., 2021).
Conclusion: Sleeping with a weighted blanket leads to better sleep
In summary, the randomized controlled trial shows that the use of a weighted blanket effectively increases total sleep time, reduces the number of awakenings, and improves overall sleep efficiency in children with ADHD. In addition, the results showed that weighted blankets were particularly beneficial for children aged 11–14.
The study used soft, fiber-filled comforters from Novista of Sweden AB.
Facts About ADHD and Sleep Problems
ADHD affects approximately 6 percent of children in Sweden (source: the National Board of Health and Welfare), with various negative consequences for both the child and the family. Sleep problems are very common among children with ADHD, and it is estimated that 25–50 percent suffer from them as a result of their ADHD diagnosis (Sung et al., 2008). With just over 2.4 million residents aged 0–19 (source: Statistics Sweden), there are currently between 36,000 and 72,000 children who have both ADHD and sleep problems.
Explanations
Total sleep time = The total amount of sleep time from falling asleep to waking up
Wake-up times = The total amount of wakefulness that occurs after a defined time of falling asleep until waking up
Sleep efficiency = The ratio of total sleep time to time spent in bed
References
Larsson, I., Aili, K., Nygren, J.M., Jarbin, H., & Svedberg, P. (2021). Parents’ experiences of the impact of weighted blankets on children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and sleep problems—a qualitative study. Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18, 12959. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182412959
Lönn, M., Aili, K., Svedberg, P., Nygren, J., Jarbin, H., & Larsson, I. (2023a). The efficacy of weighted blankets for sleep in children with ADHD – a randomized controlled crossover trial, Journal of Sleep Research, e13990. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.13990
Lönn, M., Aili, K., Svedberg, P., Nygren, J., Jarbin, H., & Larsson, I. (2023b). Experiences of Using Weighted Blankets among Children with ADHD and Sleeping Difficulties. Occupational Therapy International, 1945290. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/1945290
Sung, V., Hiscock, H., Sciberras, E., & Efron, D. (2008). Sleep problems in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Prevalence and the effect on the child and family. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 162(4), 336–342. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.162.4.336
