The idea of snuggling up with this insanely high quality, gorgeous blanket all season has me *hyped*
When you’re young, it’s considered normal to have a comfort stuffed animal/toy/blanket that you tote around everywhere and derive unparalleled joy from. Then you get older and things get more stressful, and somewhere along the line people assume that you don’t want (or need?) such novelties anymore. But I recently hit my one year anniversary with a Tree Napper from Bearaby. After months of long nights spent lounging and feeling held, I can confidently say that the two of us beg to differ. You’re never too old for a blankie.
First Things First: What’s Bearaby?
Bearaby is a company founded on the mission to make great, restorative sleep possible for everyone. They do all of this while supporting the planet, but more on that later. Bearaby crafts beautiful, hand-knit blankets, and other sleep accessories that promote a calming, cozy sensation akin to being swaddled like a baby or wrapped in a big (bear) hug.
If you’re looking for professional testaments to back up Bearaby’s products, there’s no shortage. They have accolades in every corner of the media, from big-time publications (the New York Times, Business Insider,Travel + Leisure) to popular TV shows (Only Murders in the Building, the Sex and the City reboot). They also have an impressive collection of awards, including the Sleep Foundation’s Best Weighted Blanket Award, a Reddot Design Award, and Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Award.
Not to Make Things Heavy…
Bearaby is known best for their weighted blankets, which harness the sensation called Deep Touch Pressure (DTP)—a fancier way to state the near-universal fact that it feels really soothing to be hugged. Beyond feeling good, the sensation of human touch is critical to our well-being (many studies have drawn this conclusion). So DTP from weighted blankets acts as a stand-in for the affection of an actual human, because let’s face it: we don’t always have (or want) someone around for that purpose. At least, I don’t.
Similarly to human touch, DTP has been clinically proven to produce hormones that improve your mood, lessen stress and anxiety, and promote deep, restorative sleep. (I only know this because I did a bunch of research on it after my last break-up, when I needed a hug like never before). In fact, I first stumbled upon Bearaby in the wake of a break-up. It was a particularly frosty December day, and I felt more alone than ever. The aforementioned investigation led me to the world of weighted blankets, and after comparing tons of brands and options, Bearaby hooked me.
My First Impressions of Bearaby
Beyond their stellar reputation in the industry, I was first drawn to Bearaby’s products because they’re beautiful. Seriously, stop reading and take a look at this link. Bearaby offers 3 different fabrics and up to 8 colors of weighted blankets that range from $199 to $279, depending on which option you choose. The Cotton Napper is the OG Bearaby blanket, and the Velvet Napper is made of luxe eco-friendly (you guess it) velvet, but I went for their eucalyptus-based option: the Tree Napper.
From the get-go, the Tree Nappers caught my eye. First, I fell in love with the Tree Napper-exclusive colors. Then, I learned that the fabric is the most cooling (great for hot sleepers like me). Pair all that with the hand-knit loops of these blankets, and that’s a recipe for falling in love. I’ve had other weighted blankets before, but I was excited by the idea that my napper could be something to display, not just to hide under my comforter or behind the couch.
Here’s where that Earth-friendliness comes in. While most weighted blankets are weighted, in part, by low-quality filler fabric, the Tree Napper relies on plant-based TENCEL™ Lyocell, which is made by spinning eucalyptus fibers into fabric. In addition to being completely biodegradable and Fairtrade International certified, TENCEL™ is moisture-wicking and cool-to-the-touch. Learning about the sustainable quality of the Tree Napper gave me the green light to go ahead with my purchase guilt-free.
Bringing My Tree Napper Home
Although the color Almond is apparently their bestseller, I was set on the deeper brown of Cocoa. Now that it’s one year out, I can confidently say that shade is one of the best decisions I ever made. For one thing, the color is neutral but unique. It has a warming visual presence (despite its cooling properties) and I love that. My next decision was what size and weight to choose. Experts say that a weighted blanket should be about 10% of your body weight, so I snagged the 15lb Cocoa Tree Napper, which was $279 total.
The day that my Tree Napper arrived, everything changed. I’m aware of how dramatic that sounds, but let me explain. I’ve always been a bit of an anxious person (even as a child, I had six stuffed animals for comfort instead of just one). The second I get underneath my Tree Napper, my stress and anxiety melts away, and I’m wrapped up in a cocoon of coziness. Plus, it helps me fall (and stay) asleep.
On top of all that, I love how it’s both cozy and breathable. I have friends who complain that their own non-Bearaby weighted blankets are too heavy and/or hot, and that the weighted filling shifts around… which sounds the exact opposite of relaxing. My Tree Napper never gets too hot, thanks to the open-knit pattern. And although its weight is warming, the TENCEL™ was not designed to trap it. Finally, because there’s no “artificial filler” inside, only the fabric itself, the weight is always evenly distributed.
I’ve never known myself to get so excited over such an otherwise simple item. My Tree Napper feels like an artistic piece centered in my room, equally satisfying in how well it feels, looks, and works. In short, this blanket is my new fail-proof way to elicit on-demand comfort. It doesn’t matter what I’m doing at home… signing onto a Zoom, watching a show, trying to fall asleep.
Nothing But Love for Bearaby (and Zero Regrets)
My Tree Napper gives me the comfort that I need, when I need it. Isn’t that what we were searching for as children, carrying around our teddy bears and blankets and soft loveys? If I needed a hug (or 6) back then, I most certainly need some now. When I’m at home, my Tree Napper is always but an arm’s length away. And if it’s not, then I run and grab it. Because a blanket *this good* is worth keeping around.
One last thing: the support that you get from Bearaby as a customer is amazing. All orders over $50 ship free, and in the *highly unlikely* scenario that you want to exchange or send back any products, they accept free returns. Plus, I paid for my blanket in installments with Afterpay, which was a huge help. Bearaby’s Tree Napper has been a much-needed reminder that I will never age out of life’s best experiences, and I could not recommend it more.