FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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General Questions
All about weighted blankets and how they work
Materials & Manufacturing
All about our materials and how our weighted blankets are made
Nappers & Napplings
All about our chunky-knit, weighted blankets
Huggets
All about our satisfyingly squashy knot pillows
Care Instructions
How to wash and care for your weighted blanket/Pillows
Payments & Shipping
What to expect with shipping or returning your weighted blanket
Cuddler
All about our ergonomic and soothing full-body pillow
General Questions
Science shows that sleeping under weight improves sleep quality, lowers stress, and eases anxiety – and when those things are better, everything’s better!
Here’s a breakdown of the science that lies underneath our cozy and calming Nappers:
- Activates the effects of Deep Touch Pressure (DTP)
- Increases serotonin to make you feel happier and more content
- Increases melatonin to lull you into blissful slumber
- Decreases cortisol to help reduce anxiety and stress
- Mimics the effects of ‘grounding’ or ‘earthing’
- Mimics the sensation of a warm hug
If you’re looking for more information, read our deep-dive into how do weighted blankets work.
The most significant health benefits of weighted blankets include improved sleep and reduced feelings of anxiety and stress. Many people with autism, fibromyalgia, post-traumatic stress disorder, restless leg syndrome, or sensory processing disorder have found sleeping under weight benefits their health.
If you’re curious about the science behind how weighted blankets ease anxiety, the simple explanation is that DTP helps your body naturally produce more serotonin (our happy hormone) and melatonin (our sleepy hormone) while at the same time curbing high cortisol (our stress hormone) production. Studies show that sleeping under weight cues the therapeutic effects of deep touch pressure (DTP), which leaves us feeling calmer and more relaxed.
Many people found using a weighted blanket for restless leg syndrome beneficial. The evenly distributed weight of our filler-free Nappers effectively cue the therapeutic effects of deep touch pressure to help treat this restless condition.
Most conventional weighted blankets aren’t particularly good for the environment. They’re primarily made from synthetic materials and filled with plastic pellets that weigh the material down. This not only makes them hot and uncomfortable but, most critically, terrible for our planet. At the end of their lifecycle, they’ll sit in landfills and never decompose. But not a Bearaby blanket.
Unlike conventional weighted blanket designs, we don’t use artificial fillers or plastic pellets to make our weighted blanket, only layer upon layer of our patented weighted yarn. Nappers are hand-knit from sustainably sourced plant-based fabrics to create a breathable weighted blanket, naturally bringing about better sleep and more calm.
Besides being awarded a coveted Red Dot Award for Product Design, another stand-out feature of our Napper is that they look just as good as they feel. Because self-care is something to be celebrated, we designed a weighted blanket that complements your couch – getting better sleep doesn’t have to mean compromising on style.
We found a way to layer organic cotton into a soft and chunkily firm yarn. We developed an innovative approach to building weight by hand-knitting layers to create the same amount of weight as traditional fillers, but more responsibly and effectively. It’s a technique that’s never been used before, and we even have a patent for it!
The knitted design, besides looking beautiful, actually serves an essential purpose. This innovative design allows for even weight distribution over your body and air to circulate in and around the weaves. So you can rest assured you’ll never feel overheated while you sleep, a common complaint from those using traditional weighted blankets.
If you’re using a weighted blanket for the first time, it’s important to allow your body to ease in and get used to the weight softly. We recommend using the Napper for less than 2 hours during the first three days. Listen to your body as it gradually adapts to the weight. It can sometimes take up to 10 days to fully adjust to sleeping under weight.
In general, it takes around three weeks to form a new habit, and the benefits of natural, deep sleep should build as you begin to form a routine and develop a sleep schedule.
The recommended weighted blanket weight is 10% of your body weight. For someone who weighs 150 pounds, your best bet is the 15 lb weighted blanket. For someone closer to 200 lbs, we recommend our 20 lb blanket.
If you’re in-between weights, we recommend to bump up to the higher weight option. Our Nappers are available in 10, 15, 20, and 25 lb weight options.
We also have an 6 lb weighted blanket, the Nappling, designed especially for kids.
To help you determine the weighted blanket weight best-suited to your wellness goals, take our 3-question survey here
Weighted blankets can help treat some common sleep disorders but sleeping under weight is not recommended for people with pre-existing medical conditions such as sleep apnea. Some of our customers with such conditions reported discomfort while sleeping under weight. If you have serious medical conditions, it is best to check in with your doctor.
We offer a 30-day return policy to allow our customers the flexibility to try our blankets and find what works best for them.
When it comes to the quality of our materials and the people involved in hand-crafting our products, we have a ‘no compromises’ policy and don’t offer any discounts. We use only the best organic materials, practice sustainable, closed-loop manufacturing, and pay everyone involved fairly and promptly. This way, we’re offering our Napperhood community high-quality products made to last.
We do offer a payment plan through Paybright that allows you to split your purchase into monthly installments at no additional cost or interest. We also offer free shipping throughout the contiguous US.
The short answer is, maybe! There are a lot of nuances to insurance policies in general, and the topic of weighted blanket coverage is no different. It often depends on what state you live in, what type of insurance you have, and the medical equipment it covers. Check out our blog post Are weighted blankets covered by insurance? for more guidance.
It’s safe to share your Napper with your pet but never let your fur baby bury itself under a weighted blanket unsupervised or unattended. The full weight of your Napper could be too heavy to absorb on its own, especially for a small or mid-sized pet, so make sure you’re keeping an eye on any four-legged family members cuddling with your Napper.
Because our Nappers are hand-knitted with open loops that allow a constant supply of air flow, there is minimal risk of suffocation even if your dog accidentally gets stuck underneath one of our weighted blankets. Also, because our Nappers get their heft from fabric layers, should your pet decide your Napper looks like a comfy new chew toy and accidentally damages, there are no small beads or plastic pellets that can spill out and pose a choking hazard.
Bearaby is in Canada! We’re proud to be based in Toronto, and offer free shipping nationwide.
Our Cotton Napper, Travel Napper, and Nappling are made from organic sustainably farmed cotton and are also MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX certified.
Our Tree Napper is the ideal weighted blanket for hot sleepers. It’s made from Lyocell, better known as Tencel, a sustainable fabric made out of wood pulp from trees that are grown and replaced on specialized tree farms in Austria in a sustainable process. The process uses ten times less water than conventional fabrics! Our Tencel comes from eucalyptus wood pulp, making it extra cooling and completely biodegradable.
Our GRS-certified Velvet Nappers are made from ocean-bound plastic, preventing 900 plastic bottles from polluting our oceans.
The Melofoam™ in our Huggets is GOLS-certfiied, meaning that it’s free of any harmful chemicals or pesticides. The manufacturing process is zero waste, and the materials in our Huggets are so natural, they’re fully biodegradable and compostable.
All of our products are Fairtrade International certified, meaning that they’re kind to the people that make them as well as the people that use them.
Our organic cotton is sustainably farmed in India. We’re committed to using 100% organic cotton because it makes a better life for the people who grow it and makes a better product for the people who use it. It also saves 90% of the water used in conventional farming methods.
We also use third-party verification to ensure that our raw materials meet international standards for organic farming. Our Cotton Napper, Travel Napper, and Nappling are made from organic sustainably farmed cotton and MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX, as well as Fairtrade International certified.
Our Tree Nappers are made of Tencel, a soft and sustainable fabric made out of wood pulp, which is sustainably milled in Austria.
Our Velvet Nappers are made from ocean-bound plastic, preventing 900 plastic bottles from polluting our oceans.
Our Huggets are filled with Melofoam™, which is made from sap tapped directly from avea trees in Sri Lanka. The sap is collected in coconuts and gently steamed to form a solid foam. Our natural rubber foam is GOLS-certified, which means it’s completely organic, socially responsible, environmentally friendly, and traceable through every step of the supply chain.
Our sustainable material are spun into our patented yarn and knitted into blankets in thoughtfully selected South Asia locations – with the majority knitted in India. We also note the manufacturing place on the label of each Napper.
All our weighted blanket are hypoallergenic and carry OEKO-TEX certifications – this means none of our products contain any harmful substances, artificial chemicals, or pesticides and are produced in environmentally friendly facilities.
We’re proud to say Bearaby is a zero-waste company. We’ve committed to a zero-plastic production line from the start, which means you won’t find any plastic wrapping or excess packing materials coming to your doorstep when you order one of our weighted blankets.
We’re doing our part by eliminating single-use plastic and only shipping our Nappers to customers in 100% organic cotton bags, rather than using environmentally harmful and non-recyclable plastic packaging. These linen bags are designed to be reused and repurposed.
All of our Nappers are hand-knitted, so both size and weight can vary slightly. Our Napper is designed for a single person, and depending on the weight of the blanket, the dimensions are:
10 lb Weighted Blanket - 40' x 64'
15 lb Weighted Blanket - 40' x 72'
20 lb Weighted Blanket - 45' x 72'
25 lb Weighted Blanket - 48' x 72'
It’s simple: if you like it cozy, usually don’t get overly hot at night, share the bed with a furry friend, and you want a Napper you can use all year round – the Cotton Napper is for you.
If you tend to sleep hot and often find yourself waking up feeling a bit sweaty every night – the Tree Napper is your new best friend.
Our original knitted weighted blanket is made from organic, sustainably-farmed cotton. Our cooling weighted blanket is made of Tencel, a fiber made from the wood pulp of trees grown and replaced on specialized tree farms. Our Tencel comes from eucalyptus wood pulp, making it extra cooling and completely biodegradable.
On our blog, you can read more about the cool benefits of the tree-fabric Tencel.
We steer clear of using any artificial materials, and all our blankets have an open-looped design to increase airflow, making all our Nappers 100% natural and breathable.
Because Tencel is slightly more cooling than Cotton, we usually say that our Tree Napper is perfect for hot sleepers. Our Cotton Napper is a better fit if you’re looking for something a little more cozy but still breathable.
Our Nappers can be used both day and night, whatever works best for you! We’ve been fortunate to get some great reviews from our customers that use it in bed every night and from fans who just use it on the couch as a naptime buddy.
In bed, try and layer your Napper on top of a thin sheet or comforter for extra warmth.
For adults, we found the 10% body weight rule generally applies, but when it comes to children, studies show that between 10–30% of body weight is preferred. Many young children gravitate towards a higher blanket weight. See what your child feels comfortable with, and increase the weight if it feels right.
Our Nappling weighs 6 lbs, and this weighted blanket works well for children between ages 4-14.
Using a weighted blanket for a toddler poses safety risks and we do not recommend using our weighted blanket for very young children.
Yes, your Nappling was hand-knitted with love and is machine washable! We recommend that you wash separately in cold or lukewarm water (max 30 °C), selecting either the delicate or permanent-press cycle. You should then tumble dry the Nappling on low heat. Use a gentle detergent and best to avoid fabric softener or bleach.
Weighted blankets are safe for children aged four years and older. Using a weighted blanket for a toddler or a baby poses safety risks and we do not recommend using our weighted blanket for very young children.
Kids can use weighted blankets in a variety of ways:
- During nap time
- During night time
- Draped over his/her lap when doing homework
- Pull out a Nappling when your little one needs some downtime – Napplings pair great with a book on the couch!
Read our helpful article on how to use a weighted blanket for kids for more detailed information.
We recommend using a weighted blanket with your child gradually and helping them to understand what the pressure feels like, little by little. Try it on their lap during storytime and explain that the blanket helps the mind calm and the body relax. During bedtime for the first few nights, you can start with the blanket on their legs only to help them get used to it. Over time, cover their body up to the shoulders, and their sleep quality will hopefully improve.
Read our helpful article on how to use a weighted blanket for kids for more detailed information.
If your child tends to be a sensory-seeker and has difficulty sleeping, a weighted blanket can be the perfect tool to help them calm down and naturally find better sleep over time.
Here are a few things to look for when considering using a weighted blanket for kids:
- Loves sleeping or lying under piles of blankets or heavy comforters
- Enjoys crawling into tight spaces or behind furniture
- Has difficulty relaxing and sitting still – even after a lot of physical activity
- Has difficulty focusing or attending to a task
- Likes to play rough, sometimes crashes into things on purpose, always jumping on the couch or bed
- Can be described as very physical or “wild”
Our magical Huggets are designed to look good while helping you feel good! The three available sizes all bring their own benefits:
- Our smallest Hugget works like a spongy stress ball, massaging reflex zones while your mind finds rest. Its palm-sized shape makes it easy to keep on-the-go stress relief close at hand.
- Our medium Hugget is gently weighted and perfect for rolling, hugging, squashing, or keeping anxious hands busy among its chunky loops. It’s a perfectly chic couch-buddy, ready to deliver therapeutic stress relief whenever you need a hug.
- Our largest Hugget weighs 3 lbs and makes a great lap cushion or bed companion, delivering the calming benefits of gentle weight while you cuddle up.
Our Huggets are about as natural as it gets. They’re filled with our satisfyingly squashy Melofoam™, which is a responsive foam made from sap tapped directly from rubber trees in Sri Lanka. The sap is collected in coconuts and gently steamed to form a bouncy, breathable foam. It’s a completely zero waste process that’s so natural, our knot pillow are fully biodegradable and compostable. Melofoam™ is GOLS-certified, which means it’s completely organic, socially responsible, and traceable through every step of the supply chain.
The outer shell of our Huggets is made from our supersoft GOTS-certified organic cotton for our Classic collection and silky-soft Lenzing-certified TENCEL for our Limited Edition collection. We are committed to using only 100% organic cotton from India as it makes a better life for the people who grow it, and a better product for the people who use it. Organic cotton also uses 90% less water than conventional farming methods, so it’s kinder to the planet, too.
We don’t recommend machine washing your Hugget, but it can be easily spot-cleaned to keep your snuggle companion in tip-top condition.
All of our Huggets are designed for functional wellness as well as home decor. Our 3 lb Large Hugget is the best knot pillow to cuddle in bed. Our 1 lb Medium Hugget is the best option to rest on your lap while lounging on the couch. Our smallest Hugget is perfectly sized for use as a palm-sized stress ball.
Our Huggets are ready to delight your senses in the 5 colors of our signature Cotton Napper: Moonstone Grey, Asteroid Grey, Cloud White, Evening Rose and Midnight Blue.
Our Cotton Napper, Travel Napper, Tree Napper, and Nappling can all be washed in the washing machine.
Our Velvet Nappers are a little more delicate and better suited to light use. We recommend dry cleaning your Velvet Napper, and rolling it up to keep it in tip-top shape for many naps to come.
If you are washing a Cotton Napper, Travel Napper, Tree Napper, or a Nappling, here are a few important tips for machine washing:
Do:
- Check the weight capacity of your washer and dryer (remember, blankets are heavier when wet!)
- Wash separately in cool water
- Select the delicate or permanent-press cycle
- Use only gentle or mild detergent
- Tumble dry on low heat (please note it may take more than one round for your Napper to dry completely)
Don’t:
- Use fabric softener or bleach – it could harm the natural fabric
- Use a top-loading machine or a machine with an agitator – it’s harsh on the hand-knit structure
- Hang your Napper up to dry – it’ll stretch out the lovely loops!
Always check your washing machine’s weight capacity because while our delightfully heavy blankets are great for deep sleep, they can be a bit weighty for washers and dryers! It’s essential to check beforehand if the washing machine and tumble dryer model you have can bear the full weight of your blanket.
Read more: How to wash your weighted blanket.
If you have a Cotton Napper, Tree Napper, Travel Napper or Nappling, we recommend tumble drying on low heat, keeping in mind that it may take two or more drying cycles to air it out completely.
Never hang your Napper up to dry – it’ll stretch out all those tightly woven loops.
If you have a Velvet Napper, we recommend dry cleaning to ensure the delicate eco-velvet fabric stays wonderfully soft and in tip-top shape for many naps to come.
We don’t recommend machine-washing your Huggets, but it can be easily spot-cleaned to keep your snuggle companion in tip-top condition.
We recommend spot-cleaning your Hugget with a clean cloth and warm water. Dab marks gently with a damp cloth to remove dirt, and soak up any excess water with a clean dry cloth. Leave to air dry.
Our Fast Shipping option is always FREE and takes 6 - 10 business days. We also offer Faster Shipping, which takes 3 - 5 business days, at a charge of CAD 9.99. Overnight shipping is another option and charged at CAD 29.99
All our shipping options are available across all Canadian provinces
Shipping timelines are applied after your order has been processed. If you place your order before 12 noon EST, it will typically be processed within 1-2 business days
We do not ship internationally for orders placed on bearaby.ca, but you can order on bearaby.com for US delivery. A selection of our products is available for international delivery through our retail partner Nordstrom on nordstrom.com.
We can help you change the shipping address provided your item hasn’t been shipped yet. Please contact us at hello@bearaby.ca to get this changed.
We understand that sometimes things don’t work out as planned. That’s why we offer a 30-day return window.
Provided you haven’t washed your weighted blanket or Cuddler Cover yet and your shipping address is within the contiguous US, you can return your product. For Cuddlers, medium and large Huggets, as long as the branded label is still attached to the product, you have the original packaging, and your shipping address is within the contiguous US, you can return your Hugget.
To start a return click here.
We charge a processing fee of CAD 19.99 when returning a Cuddler, Cuddler Cover, Napplings ( 6 & 8 lbs), Medium and large Huggets, 10 lb Napper and Travel Napper. For 15, 20 & 25 Nappers processing fee of CAD 24.99 and CAD 34.99 when returning a 30 lb Hugger, 35 lb Hugger, Pupper Pod & Napigan.
Please note that gift cards and the small Huggets are not exchangeable and non-refundable.
If you’re not completely in love with your purchase, we offer a 30-day exchange window on all our products. Provided you haven’t washed your Napper yet, and your shipping address is in Canada, you can exchange your purchase for a different item – please contact us at hello@bearaby.ca to help facilitate your exchange.
Please note that gift cards and the small Huggets are not exchangeable and non-refundable.
Both shipping and return shipping are free, but in the case of a returned product, we do charge a CAD 19.99 when returning a Cuddler, Cuddler Cover, Napplings ( 6 & 8 lbs), Medium and large Huggets, 10 lb Napper and Travel Napper. For 15, 20 & 25 Nappers processing fee of CAD 24.99 and CAD 34.99 when returning a 30 lb Hugger, 35 lb Hugger, Pupper Pod & Napigan. This charge helps us cover the inspection and processing fees at our warehouse and fulfillment facilities.
Please note that gift cards and the small Huggets are not exchangeable and non-refundable.
We currently accept all credit card and Paypal payments. We also offer a monthly payment plan through Paybright.
If you’d like to change or cancel your order, please email us at hello@bearaby.ca or get in touch via this contact form. Unfortunately, no orders can be canceled once they are already processed and fulfilled by our warehouse.
A body pillow helps to alleviate pressure and tension throughout your body by supporting you all over. It holds the weight of your limbs, head, or body as you rest on it, which takes the stress off your joints and helps to reduce back, neck, and joint pain.
Body pillows can provide a lot of comfort to pregnant people, helping them to get comfortable at night, and they’re also great for keeping you still, so they’re a good option for restless sleepers, too.
You can use the Bearaby Cuddler at night or during the day, and experiment with different ways of cuddling up to see what feels the most comfy! You can wrap our long body pillow around you and use it to prop you up while you’re sitting, hug it close to your body, put it under your knees, or gently rest your head and top arm and leg on it while you sleep. It’s a great body pillow for side sleepers and works brilliantly as a pregnancy pillow. It also gives excellent full-body hugs on demand!
Our Cuddler is about as natural as it gets. It’s filled with satisfyingly squashy Melofoam™, which is a responsive foam made from sap tapped directly from rubber trees in Sri Lanka. The sap is collected in coconuts and gently steamed to form a bouncy, breathable foam. It’s a completely zero waste process that’s so natural, our Cuddler is fully biodegradable and compostable. Melofoam™ is GOLS-certified, which means it’s completely organic, socially responsible, and traceable through every step of the supply chain.
The outer shell of our Cuddler is made from our supersoft GOTS-certified organic cotton. We are committed to using only 100% organic cotton from India as it makes a better life for the people who grow it, and a better product for the people who use it. Organic cotton also uses 90% less water than conventional farming methods, so it’s kinder to the planet, too.
We don’t recommend machine washing the inner foam of your Cuddler, but you can wash the Cuddler cover cold with mild detergent and tumble dry low. Do not bleach.
The Bearaby Cuddler is designed for functional wellness as well as home decor. It’s great to lounge with during the day, to use as a back support while you sit on your bed or couch, and it’s also fantastic for sleep. The best way to use it is the way that suits you best!
Every Cuddler full-body pillow comes with a white organic cotton cover which is removable and washable.
Our 100% cotton body pillow cases will help to keep your Cuddler clean, supportive, and stylish for as long as possible
There are no rules about how often you should wash your Cuddler cover, but feel free to pop it in the wash to clean off any spills or stains, or whenever you feel like it could use a refresh. Keeping your body pillow cover clean will help to protect the pillow inside. Always follow the washing instructions on the label to keep your cover in ship shape!
Every Cuddler comes with a white organic cotton cover which is removable and washable.