7 weighted blankets for kids that may help with sleep, anxiety, and sensory issues

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• Though research remains limited, many people anecdotally report that weighted blankets help with stress, anxiety, sleep, and sensory issues.
• These popular blankets aren't just for adults. Several brands make high-quality weighted blankets for kids, too.
• The smaller dimensions and lighter padding are perfect for kids' bodies — or if you're on a budget, they also work as nap blankets for adults.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against the use of weighted blankets for infants. Please consult your pediatrician before allowing your child to sleep with a weighted blanket.

Weighted blankets, it seems, aren't just a passing fad. For the past couple of years, they've been a popular way to relieve stress and tension and help people fall asleep.

And, following the success of standard, adult-sized weighted blankets, many brands now offer ones designed specifically for children.

Kids' weighted blankets are smaller and lighter, and they come in fun colors and patterns. They can also include marketing claims that the deep pressure touch they provide may help children with autism spectrum disorders.

So far, there has been limited research on whether weighted blankets — for children and for adults — actually live up to these claims.

That being said, Dr. Nekeshia Hammond, a psychologist based in Brandon, Florida, has worked with families who found them helpful.

"The most important thing about weighted blankets is for people to understand they are not a cure for mental health conditions," Dr. Hammond told Insider Reviews. "[However], many people have found them to help with symptoms, especially sleep, anxiety, attention difficulties, and sensory issues."

Hammond still recommends weighted blankets, "with the caveat that the results do vary."

While the following weighted blankets are designed for children, they can also be an affordable hack for:

• Anyone who wants to try a weighted blanket without splurging (some can cost hundreds of dollars)
• Anyone who wants a cozy nap blanket that's not so difficult to carry around the house
• Smaller adults who may find that full-sized weighted blankets provide too much pressure

Children's weighted blankets generally weigh between five and 12 pounds (compared to 15 to 25 pounds for the adult version), so they provide a nice trial experience for adults considering an investment in a full-sized weighted blanket.