Research has shown that a weighted blanket can help decrease anxiety.
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blanket → show → anxiety
And while it can be a good option if you’re lounging on the couch or in bed, it’s not exactly the easiest item to move around with.
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it → lounge → bed
That’s where weighted stuffed animals come in.
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animals → ’ → ?
They’re lighter, more portable and cuter.
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They → ’re → ?
They offer similar calming benefits and are a great option for kids, although anyone can use them, says Lynelle Schneeberg, a licensed clinical psychologist and assistant professor at the Yale School of Medicine.
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Schneeberg → offer → Medicine
I spoke with experts to find out what you should know about weighted stuffed animals — including what research actually says about the benefits and what to know before buying one.
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research → speak → one
I also rounded up a handful of highly-rated options to purchase for yourself or a loved one, some of which NBC Selected staff members tested.
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members → round → which
The weighted stuffed animals below come in multiple styles, so if you’re looking for something specific, like a certain color or animal, browse the websites of the various brands.
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you → weight → brands
To come up with this list, I relied on recommendations from NBC Selected editors, as well as highly-rated options that meet the criteria provided by our experts.
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that → come → experts
Editor’s pick
NBC Selected editorial operations associate Jem Alabi says this Hugz weighted stuffed animal has become an emotional support toy for her.
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animal → say → her
“I like to carry her on my hip while walking around and I wrap her around myself while working at my desk,” she says (the brand sent her a sample to test).
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brand → like → sample
“I find that her weight and softness help ground me, making it easier to focus.
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it → find → me
The office can get pretty cold, so I love that I can put her in the microwave for a couple seconds to make her warm.
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her → get → seconds
When summer comes, I can’t wait to put her in the freezer for a while and snuggle with her while sleeping to help cool me down as a night sweater.”
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I → come → sweater
Alabi says the highland cow shed a lot when it came out of the box, so she recommends using a sticky roller to remove excess fuzz before using it.
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she → say → it
She has the standard size weighted stuffed cow that’s 3.8 pounds and 10 inches tall, but if you want something smaller, Hugz makes a mini version that’s 2.2 pounds and is 8 inches tall.
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that → have → version
One of the most popular weighted stuffed animals brands, Warmies offers dozens of weighted stuffed animals in various sizes, weights, styles and characters.
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Warmies → weight → sizes
For example, Warmies has a weighted elephant, frog, cat and more.
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Warmies → have → elephant
The brand also offers a junior line, which includes smaller weighted stuffed animals that could be a good option for younger kids.
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that → offer → kids
Each stuffed animal is filled with flaxseed and dried lavender to promote relaxation, according to the brand.
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animal → stuff → brand
You can also place them in the microwave and freezer.
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You → place → microwave
NBC Selected commerce editor Bethany Heitman bought a Warmie’s junior rainbow dinosaur for her 4-year-old daughter to use before bed.
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daughter → select → bed
“If my daughter is having a hard time settling down for the night, I’ll pop this dinosaur — she’s named it Sparkles — in the microwave for a few minutes,” says Heitman.
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Heitman → have → minutes
“Then, she snuggles with it while we do story time and she almost instantly calms down.”
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she → snuggle → time
Best machine-washable
Hugimals’ weighted stuffed animals have a removable pouch of non-toxic glass beads that give it heft.
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that → stuff → heft
You can easily remove the pouch and machine wash the plush cover whenever you need to.
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you → remove → cover
In addition to Darby the Bear, Hugimals sells other weighted stuffed animals like Charlie the Puppy, Frankie the Cat and Harper the Pig.
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Hugimals → sell → Charlie
They also have a newer option called a Hugaround, which has long, weighted arms that you can wrap around you to mimic the feeling of a hug.
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you → have → hug
The brand sent me the koala to test and I was impressed by its overall construction.
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I → send → construction
It’s plush enough to feel cozy, yet firm enough to sit up on its own.
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It → ’ → own
At 4.5 pounds, I felt light pressure on my legs when I placed the weighted stuffed animal on my lap, but it would still be manageable for kids to tote around.
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kids → feel → lap
The weight of this pink axolotl is distributed across six zones, so it offers even pressure no matter how you hug or snuggle with it.
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you → distribute → it
The stuffed animal is filled with glass beads that don’t make any sound as they move, according to the brand.
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they → stuff → brand
This weighted stuffed turtle weighs 4.5 pounds and is filled with small beads.
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turtle → stuff → beads
The brand also makes smaller animals that weigh a pound, which is a good choice for young children and larger animals that weigh five pounds.
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that → make → pounds
The animals are machine washable and can be placed outside in the sun to dry, according to the brand.
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animals → place → brand
Bearaby’s Hugget — an NBC Selected Wellness Award winner — provides a nice alternative.
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Hugget → provide → alternative
I own one and hug it whenever I’m lounging on the couch, plus I keep it out in my living room at all times because its knot design doubles as a piece of home decor.
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design → own → decor
The weighted pillow is made from Melofoam, a plant-based material, and is covered in an organic cotton fabric.
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pillow → make → fabric
Bearaby’s Huggets are also approved by the American Chiropractic Association (ACA).
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Huggets → approve → Association
…and 27 more, not listed.
The Aporia
