Research has shown that a weighted blanket can help decrease 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. That’s where weighted stuffed animals come in. They’re lighter, more portable and cuter. The best part? 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.
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. 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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The best weighted stuffed animals
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. 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.
Editor’s pick
NBC Selected editorial operations associate Jem Alabi says this Hugz weighted stuffed animal has become an emotional support toy for 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). “I find that her weight and softness help ground me, making it easier to focus. 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. 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.” 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. 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.
Best for kids of all ages
One of the most popular weighted stuffed animals brands, Warmies offers dozens of weighted stuffed animals in various sizes, weights, styles and characters. For example, Warmies has a weighted elephant, frog, cat and more. The brand also offers a junior line, which includes smaller weighted stuffed animals that could be a good option for younger kids. Each stuffed animal is filled with flaxseed and dried lavender to promote relaxation, according to the brand. You can also place them in the microwave and freezer.
NBC Selected commerce editor Bethany Heitman bought a Warmie’s junior rainbow dinosaur for her 4-year-old daughter to use before 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. “Then, she snuggles with it while we do story time and she almost instantly calms down.”
Best machine-washable
Hugimals’ weighted stuffed animals have a removable pouch of non-toxic glass beads that give it heft. You can easily remove the pouch and machine wash the plush cover whenever you need to. In addition to Darby the Bear, Hugimals sells other weighted stuffed animals like Charlie the Puppy, Frankie the Cat and Harper the Pig. 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. The brand sent me the koala to test and I was impressed by its overall construction. It’s plush enough to feel cozy, yet firm enough to sit up on its own. The fabric exterior is soft against my skin, too. 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.
Best heavy weighted stuffed animal
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. The stuffed animal is filled with glass beads that don’t make any sound as they move, according to the brand. Because of the heavier weight, it may not be suitable for small children.
Best budget weighted stuffed animal
This weighted stuffed turtle weighs 4.5 pounds and is filled with small 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. The animals are machine washable and can be placed outside in the sun to dry, according to the brand.
Best weighted stuffed animal alternative
Feel silly snuggling up with a stuffed animal? Bearaby’s Hugget — an NBC Selected Wellness Award winner — provides a nice 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. 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 (ACA). It is also available in two sizes — medium or large.
What are the wellness benefits of weighted stuffed animals?
Similar to weighted blankets, research shows that the benefits of weighted stuffed animals center around something called deep pressure therapy, which involves asserting gentle pressure on the body 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 Dr. Alex Dimitriu, a board-certified psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. With this in mind, best way to see if a weighted stuffed animal could work for you is to try one.
How to shop for a weighted stuffed animal
If you’d like to invest in a weighted stuffed animal, consider the following criteria when shopping:
- Weight: Most weighted stuffed animals weigh between one pound and 5 pounds. If you are buying a stuffed animal for yourself or another adult, choose one based on your personal preference. However, if you are shopping for a child, you’ll want to select a weight that they can easily pick up on their own, says Schneeberg.
- Fabric type: The whole point of a weighted stuffed animal is to cuddle with it, so look for options made from fabric that’s soft and non-irritating against the skin, says Dimitriu. The material should also be breathable so it doesn’t make you too warm, he says.
- Additional comforting benefits: Some weighted stuffed animals can also be used as a heating or cooling pad to be even more soothing. Usually, this means the stuffed animal or a removable piece can be put in the microwave or freezer. The stuffed animal will usually retain that temperature for only a short amount of time, says Schneeberg.
- Return policy: Weighted stuffed animals make a great gift for yourself or loved ones, but if the weight doesn’t wind up feeling quite right or there’s another issue, you’ll want to be able to return or exchange it.
Frequently asked questions
Weighted stuffed animals are a playful riff on weighted blankets, says Schneeberg. They typically clock in between one pound and five pounds, and are often filled with materials like dried flaxseed, beads or layers of fabric to get their heft.
Though anyone can use a weighted stuffed animal, they tend to be geared towards children because they are smaller than weighted blankets and can be hugged or placed on your lap for a calming effect. 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.
Because they are heavier, 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. For this reason, they can also be good for the elderly or adults who may not have the strength to maneuver a heavier blanket.
Meet our wellness experts
At NBC Selected, 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.
Why trust NBC Selected?
I am a reporter at NBC Selected who writes about a range of wellness topics, including stories on wedge pillows, anti-snoring devices, slippers, sleep masks and sunrise alarm clocks. For this article, I interviewed two experts about weighted stuffed animals and rounded up highly rated options, as well as those NBC Selected staff tested.
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