I Know, It Sounds Crazy. Allow Me to Explain…
Last holiday season, I spent a week at my parents’ house. My dad—thoughtful gifter that he is—gave my mom a gorgeous weighted blanket from Bearaby, and I (much to my mom’s dismay) spent the entire trip snuggled up under it.
When I got back to my apartment in Chicago, I tried to order the exact same one (the Tree Napper in the color Amber)… only to find that it was already sold out. After that, I became obsessed. I think it was because I’d had the best sleep of my life while I crashed on my old childhood twin mattress. I checked the Bearaby website almost every day for three months, but unfortunately, it was gone for the year.
Once I realized I’d missed my chance, I ordered their bestselling Cotton Napper ($199-$279) in Evening Rose instead, which I LOVE… but there was something about that darned Tree Napper that I couldn’t get out of my mind.
I’ve patiently awaited the Amber restock for almost a year, so when I finally spotted it on Bearaby’s website a few days ago, I could not have bought one faster. While browsing, I learned that they also recently released a Warmables line ($69-$129) including a heated neck wrap, bottle, and lap pad. I grabbed one–okay, two–pieces from the collection. Last week, a big Bearaby box arrived at my door. I haven’t left my bed since.
So What Is Bearaby, Exactly?
Bearaby was founded in 2017 with the mission to make deep, restorative sleep possible for everyone while being kind to the planet, too. Bearaby now offers a full line of machine-washable weighted blankets and pillows in different weights, shapes, and sizes—all made from sustainable materials.
The product that started it all was their beautiful, hand-knit weighted blankets, which promote a calming, cozy sensation akin to being swaddled like a baby or wrapped in a big warm bear hug.
Apparently this is called Deep Touch Pressure, and it’s been scientifically proven to produce hormones that improve your mood, lessen stress and anxiety, and promote deeper sleep. If you’re interested in learning more, check out this blog post from Bearaby’s website on how deep touch pressure works.
So by now I’ve established that Bearaby is a kick-ass company. But why do their Nappers have such a cult following? After all of my browsing and research, I’ve got a good idea…
The Gorgeous Range of Colors
Spanning the three types of Napper (Tree, Cotton, Velvet) are 21 radiant hues. Between vibrant, earthy shades (like the Amber I love so much) to the neutral hues like Driftwood and Pebble Grey, anyone would have a difficult time narrowing down this vast selection to just one. That’s not to mention the limited-run color drops that Bearaby rolls out each season… I’ve already got my eyes peeled for this year’s holiday line-up.
From my many months of stalking Bearaby’s Instagram and website, I now know that there’s no way to tell just how quickly these shades will fly out of stock. This year, I’m not taking any chances–my philosophy is “buy now, think later.” If I decide I have too many blankets (unlikely) I’ll give some of my Bearaby purchases away as gifts… and my friends will feel forever indebted to me. Win-win.
Unbelievably Soft and Cozy
The look and feel of Bearaby’s buttery soft Nappers is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. My new Tree Napper is silky smooth and cool to the touch, so regardless of how cozy it is, I’ve never felt sweaty while snuggled up.
The combo of my new TENCEL™ blanket and last year’s pre-washed, 100% organic cotton blanket is sublime. For the first time, I’m actually excited about the frigid Chicago winter so I can cozy up with my game-changing blankets. My bed has officially entered its cocoon era.
Last But Not Least: Sustainability
As I mentioned, all of Bearaby’s products are designed with the planet in mind. The OG Napper (Cotton) is OEKO-TEX® 100 and Fairtrade International certified, which ensures the safety of the blanket’s production from beginning to end. As mentioned earlier, the Tree Napper is made with TENCEL™, a 100% biodegradable, eucalyptus-based material deemed “one of the most sustainable fabrics on earth.” Each Velvet Napper is made from a proprietary “eco-velvet” material, consisting of nearly a thousand ocean-bound plastic bottles spun into their silky signature fabric.
To top it off, Bearaby ships everything in recycled cardboard boxes with reusable canvas bags. This means I can sleep (even more) soundly knowing I’m doing something to help our oceans. In this day and age, it’s impressive to find companies who don’t just use “eco-friendly” as a branding tactic but weave sustainability into the fabric of their business.
250,000+ People Have Spoken
In addition to features all over the internet, from Architectural Digest to E! and Refinery 29, Bearaby has helped more than 250,000 happy nappers achieve the best sleep of their lives. According to their glowing reviews, everything Bearaby makes is expertly crafted, helps people sleep, and looks incredible in any room.
I was instantly sleeping more deeply than I have in years, falling asleep many times more quickly, and–most importantly–waking far fewer times and falling back to sleep instantly afterwards. This was a 60th birthday present, and I am sleeping like I did in my twenties. This is a magical, magical thing!”
— CK
But don’t just take their (or my) word for it. Bearaby offers free shipping and returns, plus a 30-day “try it” policy, so you can test it out yourself. In the unlikely chance that you’re not a fan, you can send it back, no questions asked. That said, I can almost guarantee that you’ll fall in love with Bearaby’s collection as quickly as I did.