Relieve Your Anxiety: Bearaby Cotton Napper Review

We purchased the Bearaby Cotton Napper so our writer could put it to the test. Keep reading for our full product review.

As someone who has first-hand knowledge about anxiety, I’m always looking for natural calming remedies and ways to get a good night's sleep. Many items promise to do the trick, and one of the most popular suggestions is weighted blankets. The Bearaby Cotton Napper is a top choice among them. 

But do weighted blankets work? I do not want another (really heavy) blanket stacked up in my linen closet gathering dust. Weighted blankets can reduce anxiety. So, I put the Bearaby Cotton Napper up against the ultimate test—my racing mind and anxious, tense body.

The Bearaby Cotton Napper came neatly wrapped in a Bearabay-branded canvas sack. When I opened it up, I felt its high-quality construction. The organic cotton was spun into an open-knit design that was soft and beautifully dyed. I chose the Evening Eggplant color: a deep, bright purple that stood out against my gray couch. It looked great as an accent piece; it was considerably more extensive than a typical throw blanket.

I performed my first function test while lying on the chaise lounge of my couch. I laid down, pulled the blanket from my toes up to my chest, and made an effort to relax into the moment—with no scrolling through my phone or working on my laptop. Almost immediately, I felt my body calm down, and some of my tension was released. It wasn’t a sedative effect; it was more of an “ahh” feeling that lasted the entire time I had the blanket wrapped around me.

My next test was using the blanket overnight while I slept. After spending a couple of days using the blanket on the couch, I took it upstairs to my bedroom and set it on top of my velvet comforter. Similar to the couch experience, I felt an immediate sense of calm wash over me. I was able to drift off to sleep pretty quickly. I tend to toss and turn, and this was true even with the weighted blanket on me. But when I woke up and felt the weight, I had a sense of comfort. It helped me get back to sleep faster and stay asleep longer throughout the night.

The weighted blanket is made from organic cotton that is GOTS, STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX, and Fairtrade International certified. I appreciated the weight being evenly dispersed despite the numerous times I switched positions. It didn’t get bunched up or need any significant adjustments when I moved. It hugged my body and quickly fell right back into place.

The only thing that I didn’t like about the blanket is that it doesn’t have a warm and cozy feeling that is common with microfiber or velvet blankets. Its cotton, open-knit design feels comforting and calming in its own way, but it doesn’t make you want to curl up on a cold day with a book and a cup of tea. If you want the best of both worlds, Bearaby offers a Velvet Napper that’s softer than the original cotton design.

The material and weave are likely a positive aspect for hot sleepers since they're more breathable than other types of blankets.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do weighted blankets work?

Known as “deep pressure therapy,” weighted blankets add extra weight to the top of your body to simulate the hands-on pressure you would feel with a long hug or serious cuddle session. According to Penn Medicine, weighted blankets are more than just a fad, and they can help with four common conditions: anxiety, sleep disorders, ADHD, and autism.

How do I choose a weight?

As a general rule, choose a weighted blanket that’s about 10 percent of your body weight. If you weigh 150 pounds, opt for a 15-pound weighted blanket. If you weigh 200 pounds, choose a 20-pound weighted blanket. If you fall in the middle—say you’re 170 pounds and the Bearaby Cotton Napper only comes in 15- and 20-pound options—you can choose the heavier option.

How do I wash the Bearaby Cotton Napper?

The Bearaby Cotton Napper is machine-washable. Wash it separately in cool water on a gentle or permanent-press cycle. It can also be machine dried on low tumble. Bearaby recommends taking the 25-pound blanket to a professional cleaner since the weight can damage your washing machine over time. Keep in mind that the blanket already starts at 15 to 25 pounds (and gets considerably heavier when wet), so moving it from the washer to the dryer can take some muscle.

Competition: Bearaby Cotton Napper vs. Gravity Blanket

The Gravity Blanket is one of the most popular weighted blankets. When you're choosing a new blanket, it helps to compare the two side by side: As far as looks and color options go, the Bearaby Cotton Napper wins hands down, but if you’re looking for a weighted blanket that’s also warm and cozy, the Gravity Blanket has a leg up. 

Unlike the Bearaby Cotton Napper, which has a looped design reminiscent of an open-knit blanket, the Gravity Blanket comes in a microfleece duvet cover that’s warm, soft, and plush. The cover comes off, which also makes it easier to clean.

The Bearaby Cotton Napper is available in three sizes, while the Gravity Blanket offers a fourth, heavier option—35 pounds—and is suitable for use on a king-sized bed. The Bearaby ranges from $249 to $279 for its three sizes, and the Gravity Blanket costs from $195 to $255 for its four choices. The price points are not far off, so ultimately, the choice comes down to the material, look, and feel that you prefer.