If a child is struggling to breathe, is floppy or will not wake, or their skin, lips or tongue look blue or grey: call 999 now. Colour changes are harder to see on brown and black skin, so check the palms, soles, lips and tongue. If you are worried but it is not an emergency, call NHS 111. In Northern Ireland use your GP out-of-hours service.

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Weighted blankets: safety

The rules that are not optional, and where two NHS services disagree.

The short version

  • Only with guidance from an occupational therapist. Never for a child who cannot remove it unaided. Never as a restraint.
  • No more than 10% of your child's body weight. It must not cover the head or neck, or hang over the sides of the bed.
  • Stop immediately if there is difficulty breathing, nausea, raised temperature or any sign of discomfort.
  • Two NHS services disagree about whether night-time use is acceptable at all. Evidence that they improve sleep is limited, so read both before deciding.
  • Do not use a weighted blanket with a baby. Clear-cot advice excludes weighted or bulky bedding for all babies under twelve months.

The rest of this page explains where this comes from. You do not have to read it tonight.

About 2 minutes to read

Weighted blankets: safety

Weighted blankets are heavily marketed to families of disabled and neurodivergent children. The evidence they improve sleep is limited, and there are real safety rules.

If you use a weighted blanket, these are not optional

  • Only with guidance from an occupational therapist. Cerebra says they "have very little evidence base and can be dangerous if not implemented correctly, so these should only be ever trialled with guidance from an Occupational Therapist".
  • No more than 10% of your child's body weight (NHS Borders, adapting Royal College of Occupational Therapists guidance).
  • Never for a child who cannot remove it unaided, whether the difficulty is physical, learning-related or anything else.
  • Never as a restraint. Stated in terms by NHS Borders.
  • It must not cover the head or neck, and it should not hang over the sides of the bed.
  • Stop immediately if there is difficulty breathing, nausea, raised temperature or any sign of discomfort.

Two NHS services disagree about whether night-time use is acceptable at all, and you should know that before deciding. NHS Borders sets conditions, including that the blanket "is removed when your child or young person is asleep". Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust "does not endorse nor advocate the use of weighted or compressive products", says the child must be supervised at all times, and says they are "not to be used for longer than 20 minutes which would prohibit lengthy night time use". Oxford Health also lists contraindications including respiratory or cardiac problems, epilepsy, serious hypotonia, and skin or circulatory problems. UK caution follows a 2008 Canadian coronial report into the suffocation death of a nine-year-old autistic boy.

For babies under 12 months this is already settled. The Lullaby Trust's clear-cot advice excludes "weighted or bulky bedding" for all babies. Do not use a weighted blanket with a baby.

Where this comes from

Last checked 1 August 2026. This page is general information, not medical advice. If you are worried about your child, speak to your health visitor or GP.