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Weighted pillows provide an answer to an important question: what if you could hug your way to sleep?

But how exactly does any of this work?

A woman asleep in bed with her head on a pillow

So to ensure you have a truly dreamy sleep, check out our guide to thebest mattressesandbest pillows.

What is deep pressure therapy?

The calming effect of DPT can potentially help yousleep when stressed.

A woman sleeps soundly while hugging a giant teddy bear

Lets dive in a little further.

Were all taught about the five senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch).

Mikey explains that it’s this sense that’s stimulated when a weighted pillow presses against you.

A man sits at his desk, squeezing a stress ball to produce the effects of deep pressure stimulation

You need someone around who’s free to engage in a five minute hug session, for a start.

This is where the weighted pillow comes in.

Heavier than your usual cushions, weighted pillows press down on the body, engaging your sense of proprioception.

A man waking up in bed after a good night’s sleep

This floods the body with feel-good hormones, helping soothe stress and anxiety.

Weighted pillows also work by using a distraction technique.

Giving a weighted pillow a tight hug helps redirect stress into a physical outlet.

Kinda like the foam smiley face you keep by your desk to squeeze during a particularly frustrating meeting.

“So if the hand has a stress ball, the body should have one as well.

Weighted blanket or weighted pillow?

Thebest weighted blanketsare a popular choice for creating a cozy and calming sleep setup.

Weighted pillows and weighted blankets both operate in similar ways, but they do have their unique advantages.

Mikey claims the weighted pillow can provide the perfect hug which, honestly, sounds pretty fantastic.

Of course, the weighted blanket has its own pros.

For a start, you’re able to wrap it around yourself.

While the weighted pillow is versatile, it isnt really a replacement for a non-weighted pillow.

And if you do tuck it under your head, you wont be able to appreciate those weighted properties.

For the former, choose a weighted pillow.

For the latter, a weighted blanket.