The Comfort Of Blankets: Why We Need Them To Sleep

Many people find it challenging to fall asleep without a blanket, even in hot weather. This phenomenon can be attributed to several factors, including habit, comfort, and temperature regulation. From childhood, we associate blankets with comfort and bedtime, and this association continues into adulthood. The weight and warmth of a blanket provide a sense of security and reduce anxiety, making it easier to relax and fall asleep. Additionally, our core body temperature drops during the REM stage of sleep, and blankets help maintain our temperature, preventing it from dropping too low and disrupting our sleep.

Blankets are a bedtime routine staple, signalling to our body that it's time to sleep

The feeling of being tucked in and wrapped up in a blanket can also provide a sense of security and safety. This may be because, as children, we would cover ourselves completely when we felt afraid of the dark. So, when we felt afraid, we would wrap ourselves up in a blanket, creating a magical getaway that fought our fear and made us feel protected. This feeling of safety can stay with us into adulthood, so that when we are under our blankets, we still feel that sense of protection.

Additionally, the weight and warmth of a blanket can be comforting and soothing. The pressure from the weight of the blanket can create a calming effect, helping to promote relaxation and reduce anxiety. This is especially true of weighted blankets, which have been found to improve sleep quality, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and decrease physiological indicators of stress.

Blankets are also essential for regulating our body temperature while we sleep. As we fall into a deep sleep, our body loses its ability to regulate temperature, so a blanket helps our body adjust and maintain the temperature we need. Our core body temperature drops during the REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep, so a blanket can help to keep our temperature from dropping too low and disrupting sleep.

Overall, blankets are a crucial part of our bedtime routine, providing comfort, security, and temperature regulation to help us fall asleep and stay asleep.

They regulate our body temperature, which drops during sleep

Our body temperature is at its lowest point a couple of hours before we wake up in the morning. During sleep, our body temperature drops for roughly 5 to 6 hours during an 8 to 9-hour sleep period at tiny increments before it settles. This is a natural process that helps the body conserve energy and redirect some energy to systems in the body that still have work to do, like the digestive system.

Our core body temperature is linked to our circadian rhythm, which makes us sleepy or alert depending on the time of day. Circadian rhythm is tied to temperature, and a drop in core body temperature happens right before sleep. Our temperature continues to fall throughout the night, and sheets and blankets keep our body temperature from dropping too low and waking us up.

During the REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep, we lose the ability to regulate temperature, so a blanket, sheet, or duvet can help keep our temperature from dropping too low and disrupting sleep. If we cover ourselves completely with blankets, body heat will get trapped under the covers, which will wake us up because we are getting too hot. Therefore, thermoregulating blankets and sheets are the best options to maintain the right sleep temperature.

During hot weather, our covers can work against us. Even a sheet in hot weather traps the heat against our body. When we are already warm, it drives the temperature up further and creates an under-the-covers steam oven. Because the natural drop in body temperature right before sleep is a cue that it is time to sleep, temperatures that are too warm trick our brain into thinking it is time to be active, not rest.

So, if we don't use blankets or sheets during sleep, our body temperature may drop too low, or we may get too hot, both of which can disrupt our sleep.

Blankets aid in stress and anxiety reduction by increasing serotonin levels

Serotonin is a chemical that acts as a neurotransmitter, carrying messages between nerve cells in the brain and throughout the body. It plays a crucial role in regulating mood, sleep, digestion, wound healing, bone health, blood clotting, and sexual desire. Maintaining optimal serotonin levels is essential for overall physical and psychological well-being.

The use of blankets, especially weighted blankets, has been linked to higher levels of serotonin. The heaviness of the blanket provides deep pressure stimulation, activating the parasympathetic nervous system and increasing serotonin levels. This increase in serotonin has a calming effect, promoting feelings of relaxation and reducing stress and anxiety.

Weighted blankets can simulate the feeling of a hug, triggering a surge of "feel-good" hormones such as serotonin and dopamine. This physiological response helps individuals feel grounded and relaxed, which can lead to improved sleep quality. Research has shown that individuals using weighted blankets report better sleep, reduced stress, and lower anxiety levels.

Additionally, serotonin levels play a role in regulating body temperature. During sleep, our body temperature naturally drops, and blankets help prevent the temperature from dropping too low, allowing uninterrupted sleep. This temperature regulation is particularly important during hot weather, as blankets can create a cozy microclimate without trapping excessive heat.

In summary, blankets, and specifically weighted blankets, aid in stress and anxiety reduction by increasing serotonin levels and creating a calming and relaxing environment for improved sleep. This effect is likely due to the deep pressure stimulation provided by the weight of the blanket, which has a positive impact on the body's serotonin production.

They create a microclimate, a barrier that prevents temperature changes from disturbing sleep

Blankets are an essential part of our bedtime routine. Even on hot nights, most people find it difficult to sleep without a blanket. One of the main reasons for this is that blankets create a microclimate, a barrier that prevents temperature changes from disturbing sleep.

Our body temperature is linked to our circadian rhythm, which is often referred to as our "body clock". Our core body temperature drops during the REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep, which is when we lose the ability to regulate temperature. This is a natural process that helps the body conserve energy and redirect it to other systems, like digestion.

Blankets help to maintain our body temperature by creating a microclimate. They act as a barrier, preventing the surrounding factors that cool down our body from affecting us as much. This helps to ensure that our body temperature doesn't drop too low and wake us up.

During hot weather, however, blankets can work against us. Even a sheet in hot weather traps the heat against our body, creating an "under-the-covers steam oven". This can drive the temperature up further, tricking our brain into thinking it's time to be active, not rest.

To combat this, it is recommended to use thermoregulating blankets and sheets, which can help maintain the right sleep temperature. These types of blankets and sheets are designed to keep us cool without losing the sensory benefits of a thicker blanket. Bamboo blankets, for example, are cozy yet still move heat away from the body.

In addition to the temperature-regulating benefits of blankets, they also provide a sense of comfort and security, which can help reduce anxiety and promote better sleep. The weight and warmth of a blanket can be comforting and soothing, creating a calming effect and helping to promote relaxation.

Overall, blankets play a crucial role in creating a comfortable sleep environment, and their absence can disrupt our sleep quality.

Blankets provide a sense of security and safety, stemming from childhood

Blankets Provide a Sense of Security and Safety, Rooted in Childhood

The use of blankets has been ingrained in us since infancy, with most of us associating blankets with comfort, relaxation, bedtime, and sleep. This association is so strong that it has become a habit, and breaking it can be challenging. The feeling of being "tucked in" or "wrapped up" provides a sense of security and protection, which can be especially comforting when facing common childhood fears, such as the fear of darkness. This sense of safety and comfort can help reduce stress and anxiety, making it easier to fall asleep and improving overall sleep quality.

The weight and warmth of a blanket can create a calming effect, stimulating the release of serotonin and oxytocin, which are "feel-good" hormones that promote relaxation and feelings of happiness and calmness. This is particularly true for weighted blankets, which have been found to improve sleep quality, reduce anxiety and depression symptoms, and decrease stress indicators. The heaviness of the blanket creates deep pressure stimulation, which can increase serotonin and dopamine levels, positively impacting our mood and sleep quality.

The use of blankets is also tied to our bedtime routines and habits. Our bodies have been trained to associate the act of covering ourselves with a signal that it is time to sleep. This is known as a "sleep onset association" or a "cue" for sleep. When we go to bed and pull the covers over us, our brain receives a clear message that it is time to relax and prepare for sleep. Breaking this habit or disrupting our routine by sleeping without a blanket can make it difficult for our brain to relax and fall asleep.

In summary, blankets provide a sense of security and safety, stemming from childhood associations and habits. They trigger feelings of comfort and relaxation, reduce stress and anxiety, and serve as a crucial cue for our bodies to prepare for sleep. This strong association between blankets and sleep, formed during our childhood, makes it challenging to break the habit of sleeping with a blanket, even in hot weather.

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