History of the weighted blanket

1970
While weighted blankets are relatively new, deep touch pressure research dates back to the 1970s during which occupational therapist and neuroscientist Dr. Anna Jean Ayres began her research on Sensory Integration theory.

The term’ sensory integration’ refers to how your brain processes and responds to information from the environment through your eight senses. Deep touch pressure is used to help regulate sensory integration.

1965
While visiting her aunt's farm, Temple Grandin noticed how the cattle in the squeeze chute calmed down immediately after being released. Deep pressure from the chute noticeably calmed the cattle as they passed through. When she was a college student, she wondered if she could create a similar machine that could help her own hypersensitive. This led her to invent the hug machine in 1965.

1970 - 1990
They used heavy blankets with patents in pediatric care units; they tested various materials over the years, patents often got too hot or bulky.

1997
The daughter of Keith Zivalich put a beanie baby on his shoulder. He instantly noticed how calming the pressure felt and wanted to make an entire blanket with the same deep pressure feeling. His wife, Lynda, sewed many prototypes until they found the perfect design. 2008 they sold the first weighted blanket. their family business has been making weighted blankets ever since and has been using the same Los Angeles factory for 21 years.

1998 -2016
In both the United States and United Kingdom, parents and caregivers designed and made weighted blankets for their loved ones on small home machines. Keith Zivalich created an online store and entered the e-commerce world selling custom made weighted blankets. Small business started creating weighted blankets, many business owners were part of the autism community and or had mental/physical health conditions themselves.

2017
Weighted blankets go mainstream, as new competitors and pop up shops come into the market, getting their blankets from China at extremely low prices. Constructing of weighted blankets changed in order to be manufactured on large industrial machines. Extra fabric, polyester padding and single layer stitching changed how blankets worked and created safety issues. Blankets now had a quilted inner and cover outer with zips and ties to hold the blanket in place.