Chances are you’ve heard about the potential benefits of using a weighted blanket — for example, research has found that they can help decrease anxiety and help with insomnia. Looking for something a little lighter, more portable and, let’s face it, cuter? Weighted stuffed animals are the answer. Less cumbersome than their blanket counterparts, weighted stuffed animals 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.
We talked to experts to learn what you should know about weighted stuffed animals before buying one. We also rounded up a handful of options to purchase for yourself or a loved one, regardless of their age.
SKIP AHEAD The best weighted stuffed animals to shop
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While shopping for weighted stuffed animals, experts recommend considering the following factors.
- Weight: Most weighted stuffed animals are between one pound and 5 pounds, experts told us. Adults can choose a weight based on personal preference, but if you’re shopping for kids, select a weight that they can easily pick up and carry independently, says Schneeberg. Weighted stuffed animals typically weigh less than weighted blankets — which start around five pounds and can go up to 40 pounds or more — and are smaller.
- Fabric type: People tend to hold their weighted stuffed animals close to their bodies, so prioritize buying options made from fabric that’s soft and non-irritating against the skin, says Dr. Alex Dimitriu, a board-certified psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. The material should also be breathable so it doesn’t make you too warm, especially while you’re sleeping, he says.
- Easy to clean: Because weighted stuffed animals are designed with something to make them heavy like fabric or beads, many are not machine-washable and cannot be fully submerged in water. You should be able to spot-clean them, so be sure to read product descriptions to learn how. Some weighted stuffed animals are designed with removable covers you can throw in the wash.
- Heatable or freezable: Some weighted stuffed animals double as heating or cooling pads to be extra soothing. In that case, either the stuffed animal or a removable piece can be put in the microwave or freezer. But be aware that weighted stuffed animals won’t necessarily retain those temperatures for long periods of time, says Schneeberg.
- Return policy: Weighted stuffed animals make a great gift for yourself or loved ones, but there’s always a chance you’ll need to make a return or exchange. Make sure you’re aware of the brand’s return policy before you checkout.
To recommend the weighted stuffed animals, we found options that align with expert guidance, are highly rated or are from brands we’ve previously covered. We also included a weighted pillow as a weighted stuffed animal alternative that adults may prefer. Some of the brands below offer weighted stuffed animals in multiple styles, so if you’re looking for something specific, like a certain color or character, be sure to browse the full selections online.
Warmies Black and White Cow
Warmies’ cow is filled with flaxseed and dried lavender to promote relaxation, according to the brand. You can place it in the microwave to warm it up, or stick it in the freezer to make it chilly. It’s one of many weighted stuffed animals Warmies offers — you can also purchase a weighted sloth, bear, lion or shark, for example, plus animal wraps and pairs of hugging animals.
Weight: 2 lbs. | Dimensions: 13x8x6 in.
Hugimals Charlie the Puppy Weighted Stuffed Animal
Hugimals’ puppy is weighted with a removable pouch of non-toxic glass beads, so you can machine wash the plush cover as needed. Beyond Charlie the Puppy, Hugimals sells other weighted stuffed animals like Emory the Elephant, Quinn the Koala, Frankie the Cat and Sam the Sloth.
Weight: 4.5 lbs. | Dimensions: 20x8x6 in.
Hugaroo Weighted Lap Pad Puppy
This puppy is designed to rest across your lap while you’re in bed, sitting in an office chair or laying on the couch. It’s filled with microbeads and covered in hypoallergenic polyester fabric. The stuffed animal’s outer cover and weighted insert are machine-washable.
Weight: 3.6 lbs. | Dimensions: 29x8 in.
Brease Weighted Green Dinosaur Stuffed Animal
The weight of this triceratops dinosaur is distributed across six zones so it offers even pressure no matter how you hug or snuggle with it. The stuffed animal is filled with glass beads that don’t make any sound as they move, according to the brand.
Weight: 5 lbs. | Dimensions: 25.2x7.87 in.
Bearaby Elli Elephant
Bearaby’s weighted stuffed animals are filled with Terraclay, a biodegradable material, and covered in a soft cotton knit fabric. They’re available in three characters: Elli Elephant, Remi Rabbit and Benji Bear. All of the brand’s weighted stuffed animals have large, plush, extra heavy paws that you can squeeze like a stress ball. They’re also machine-washable.
Weight: 3.5 lbs. | Dimensions: 16.75x8.75 in.
Bearaby Hugget
Bearaby’s Hugget — a Select Wellness Award winner — is a great weighted stuffed animal alternative for adults. 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. The weighted pillow is made from Melofoam, a plant-based material, and is covered in an organic cotton fabric. Bearaby’s Huggets are also approved by the American Chiropractic Association.
Weight: 0.5, 1 or 3 lbs. | Dimensions: 4 in. (small), 8 in. (medium) or 11 in. (large)
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Frequently asked questions
“Weighted stuffed animals are a riff on weighted blankets,” says Schneeberg. They usually weigh between 1 pound and 5 pounds, and they can get their weight from materials like dried flaxseed, beads or layers of fabric.
Weighted stuffed animals are smaller than weighted blankets, so they cover less of the body and you can hold them on your lap or sleep with them (usually with your arms wrapped around them), experts told us. While anyone can use a weighted stuffed animal, they’re geared toward children: Weighted blankets are often too large and heavy for kids to maneuver by themselves, while weighted stuffed animals are smaller, lighter and similar to other toys they may already have at home, says Dimitriu.
Like weighted blankets, the benefits of weighted stuffed animals center around deep pressure stimulation, which uses gentle pressure to induce feeling safe, cozy and calm. “They both provide pressure the same way a hug, massage or baby swaddle would,” says Schneeberg. And while people anecdotally say weighted blankets and weighted stuffed animals make them feel less anxious or stressed, as well as help them sleep, there’s no hard research supporting one or the other, says Dimitru. In the end, it’s a matter of comfort and personal preference. So if you’re curious about weighted stuffed animals, they’re worth a try, experts told us.
When introducing weighted stuffed animals to children, be conscious of how you do it, says Schneeberg. If kids use weighted stuffed animals to help them fall asleep every night, for instance, they may become reliant on them at bedtime, otherwise known as a sleep onset association, she says. Kids want consistency with their bedtime routine, and a disruption like having their weighted stuffed animal taken away — if it gets lost or you can’t bring it on a trip, for example — may cause them to have trouble sleeping.
Yes, it’s safe for adults and kids to sleep with a weighted stuffed animal, as long as they can move it by themselves, experts told us. For example, a child should be able to pick it up and carry it easily. One exception is babies younger than 1 year, who should have an empty crib. Do not put stuffed animals of any sort near them, says Schneeberg.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Lynelle Schneeberg is a licensed clinical psychologist and assistant professor at the Yale School of Medicine. She’s also a fellow at the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and author of “Become Your Child’s Sleep Coach: The Bedtime Doctor’s 5-Step Guide, Ages 3-10.”
- Dr. Alex Dimitriu is double board-certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine. He is the founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine and BrainfoodMD.
Zoe Malin is an associate updates editor at NBC Select who covers sleep, including stories on wedge pillows, anti-snoring devices, slippers, sleep masks and sunrise alarm clocks. For this article, she interviewed two experts about weighted stuffed animals and rounded up highly rated options, NBC Select staff picks and products from brands we’ve previously covered.
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