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 Velvet 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 Tree Napper—made from eucalyptus—is their most cooling option, but I ended up settling on the coziest, plushiest option…
From the get-go, the Velvet Nappers caught my eye. Their rich, metallic sheen makes them even more visually stimulating (which is saying a lot, because I could stare in awe at the hand-knit loops of these blankets for days). I loved the idea that this comforting blanket could be something I display, something to make me smile, and not just something to hide under my comforter or behind the couch.
Here’s where that Earth-friendliness comes in. While silk-based velvet is resource-draining on both the production and maintenance ends, Bearaby uses “eco-velvet” which is made by spinning ocean-bound plastic into fabric. To put it in industry standards: their velvet is 100% upcycled and Fairtrade International certified. Learning about the sustainable quality of the Velvet Napper gave me the green light to go ahead with my purchase guilt-free.
Bringing My Velvet Napper Home
Although Rose Quartz is apparently their bestseller, I was set on the stunning White Opal. My next decision was which weight to get. Experts say that a weighted blanket should be about 10% of your body weight, so I snagged the 15lb option, which was $249.
While it definitely was an investment, a year later, I can confidently say it’s one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. Regardless of the dreary weather outside, my Bearaby is a beacon of bright white light—even in “the season of the sticks.” I mean, c’mon, look at it…
The day that my Velvet 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 Velvet 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 Velvet Napper never gets too hot, thanks to the open-knit pattern. And because there’s no “artificial filler” inside, only the fabric itself, the weight is always evenly distributed.
Also, lest we forget, it’s velvet. Need I say more? The fact that I landed on that fabric for my own Napper was meant to be, I’m sure of it. The shimmery material feels luxe without being too over-the-top. It makes my house look like the pages of Architectural Digest.
Nothing But Love for Bearaby (and Zero Regrets)
My Velvet 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 Velvet 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 Velvet 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.