When is it better not to use a weighted stuffed animal?

For many people, a weighted stuffed animal brings a pleasant moment of calm. To use it comfortably and safely, it helps to know when it does not suit you. With some health problems, weight on your body can be a risk, and some people simply find pressure unpleasant. Below you can read when it is better not to use a weighted stuffed animal, when to ask for advice first and which signs tell you it is time to stop. The general rules are in are weighted stuffed animals safe.

Good to know beforehand: there is no research yet on the safety of weighted stuffed animals themselves. The advice below comes from occupational therapists, doctors and care organisations, and it is about weighted blankets and other weighted aids. A stuffed animal of 1 to 2 kg is lighter and does not cover your body. Still, the same points apply, especially if you place the stuffed animal on your body or fall asleep with it.

When is a weighted stuffed animal not suitable?

There are two situations in which we advise against a weighted stuffed animal.

If you cannot push it away yourself. This applies to babies and toddlers, but also to adults with little strength, a serious physical disability or reduced consciousness. Almost all guidelines name this as a condition. A British care organisation lists children who cannot remove the aid themselves because of a physical disability or a learning disability among the reasons not to use it. See also weighted stuffed animals and babies.

If someone does not want it. If someone pushes the stuffed animal away, even without words, that is a clear answer. A weighted stuffed animal is always an offer, never something you force on someone.

For which health problems should you ask for advice first?

With the problems below, a weighted stuffed animal is not necessarily ruled out. Do talk to your GP, your treating doctor or an occupational therapist first, so you know where you stand.

Breathing problems, such as asthma or COPD. Occupational therapists in Quebec and Alberta, a British care organisation, the RCOT (the British professional body for occupational therapists) and the Dutch aid guide Vilans Hulpmiddelenwijzer name breathing problems as a reason to be careful. The American Cleveland Clinic and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) also advise people with breathing problems to avoid weighted blankets.

Sleep apnoea. The AASM and the Cleveland Clinic name sleep apnoea as a reason not to use a weighted blanket. A Dutch neurologist points out that pressure on your chest can make sleep apnoea worse. A Dutch knowledge site about dementia also advises against using weight if you snore or have sleep apnoea. If you snore loudly or your breathing stops while you sleep, have that checked first.

Heart and blood vessel problems or poor circulation. Occupational therapists in Quebec and Alberta, British care organisations and the AASM mention heart and circulation problems. The Cleveland Clinic mentions serious heart conditions and diabetes.

Epilepsy. Here the sources contradict each other. Occupational therapists in Quebec and Alberta and British care organisations name epilepsy as a reason not to use a weighted aid. A British charity specifically mentions epilepsy that is not under control. The Vilans Hulpmiddelenwijzer, on the other hand, actually names people with epilepsy as a target group for the weighted blanket. So always talk to your neurologist or GP first.

Low muscle strength or unusual muscle tone. Occupational therapists in Quebec mention severe hypertonia (very tense, stiff muscles), their colleagues in Alberta extreme hypotonia (very floppy muscles) or weakness. The key question is always the same: can you put the stuffed animal aside yourself?

Fragile skin, wounds or allergies. Occupational therapists in Quebec mention skin problems and allergies, and a British care organisation mentions wounds and damaged skin. The RCOT and the Vilans Hulpmiddelenwijzer also ask whether there are skin conditions that could get worse.

Reduced alertness due to illness or medication. If you are very drowsy from sleeping pills, calming medication or an illness, you may not notice in time that something is wrong. The RCOT and the Vilans Hulpmiddelenwijzer mention this as a point to watch.

Painful joints or fractures. The Vilans Hulpmiddelenwijzer points out that pain from, for example, a worn hip or knee can get worse. Canadian occupational therapists also mention broken bones.

Pregnancy. The AASM advises against weighted blankets during pregnancy, and Canadian occupational therapists name pregnancy as a reason to weigh things up carefully. We did not find a medical guideline. If you are in doubt, talk to your midwife or GP.

What if pressure does not feel pleasant?

Not everyone likes weight, and that is completely fine. Some people are sensitive to touch and find pressure on their body unpleasant or even painful. Others get a closed-in, trapped feeling from it. Canadian occupational therapists mention claustrophobia and trauma as reasons to be careful. The RCOT and the Vilans Hulpmiddelenwijzer also ask about psychological factors, such as an eating disorder or a risk of suicide.

You can see this in research too. In a Swedish nursing home study with weighted blankets, just over a third of the residents stopped because the blanket felt uncomfortable. In another Swedish study, one participant stopped because the blanket caused anxiety. A stuffed animal is much lighter, but the principle is the same: what reassures one person can feel stifling to another.

If you feel more restless with a weighted stuffed animal rather than calmer, that is not a failure. It simply does not suit you. Read more about weight and painful memories in weighted stuffed animals for PTSD and trauma.

Which signs tell you it is time to stop?

British and Canadian care organisations name a number of clear signs. Remove the stuffed animal if you or someone else:

• has difficulty breathing or feels short of breath;
• gets too warm or starts sweating;
• feels sick;
• is in pain or gets irritated skin;
• changes skin colour;
• becomes anxious, restless or, the other way round, very drowsy;
• pushes the stuffed animal away or turns away from it.

With children and people who find it hard to express themselves, pay close attention to what you see. Restlessness, turning away and crying count just as much as words.

What applies to older people and in care settings?

Older people often have less muscle strength, more fragile skin or take more medication. In that case, choose the lightest weight and make sure the person can always put the stuffed animal aside themselves. A Dutch knowledge site about dementia writes that it must always be possible to take a weighted blanket off freely; otherwise it counts as coercion. If someone pulls it off, remove it straight away. Read more in weighted stuffed animals for older people and weighted stuffed animals and dementia.

Who can you ask for advice?

If you have questions about your health, you can always turn to your GP or treating doctor. An occupational therapist can look at whether a weighted aid suits you and help you use it comfortably and safely. For children, you can go to your health visitor or child health clinic, your child's doctor, or the person at school who coordinates extra support.

If you want to see the pros and cons side by side, read the pros and cons of a weighted stuffed animal. You can find all safety topics under safety.