# The dangers of quilts and blankets?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-quilts-and-blankets/173100>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 5, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-quilts-and-blankets/173100 "2003-05-05T01:31:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Never\_to\_be\_Queen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Never\_to\_be\_Queen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Never_to_be_Queen)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-quilts-and-blankets/173100/1 "2003-05-05T01:31:32Z")

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I like to sleep under quilts, blankets and sheets even when the weather is warm. I never pull them all the way over my head though, because I am afraid of smothering. Should I continue to leave an air hole 🙂 or could I still breath if I slept buried under a quilt or two? (I am in good health with no breathing problems.)

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**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-quilts-and-blankets/173100/2 "2003-05-05T02:23:31Z")

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I do the same thing. If I’m uncomfortable in my sleep or need mre air, I pull the blanket down withoput even waking up. You’re in no serious danger. I hope.

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**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-quilts-and-blankets/173100/3 "2003-05-05T03:44:10Z")

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My experience is that you will unconsciously remove your blankets if they are causing trouble. I frequently find that I’ve kicked off my covers because of overheating.

Unless you’re rolling up in your blankets to form a tight cocoon that binds your arms, then sticking your head under your pillows, I don’t think you have anything to worry about.

I will add that my sister’s chihuahua has been known to sleep under the covers against her side, completely buried, with no problems. That’s under multiple blankets.

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**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-quilts-and-blankets/173100/4 "2003-05-05T06:38:29Z")

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You could split the difference and buy a thermal blanket. They’re like yarn with a wide, porous weave, but very warm nonetheless. No smother danger there! But AFAIK, no one has ever smothered under a good old-fashioned quilt.

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**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dangers-of-quilts-and-blankets/173100/5 "2003-05-05T23:40:38Z")

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IMHO, no, nope, not ever. OTOH, I have a hard time seeing how anyone could suffocate that way anyhow. I remember way back, about the tenth time I’d seen the old guy-in-a-hospital-bed, evil-person-smothers-them-with-a-pillow thing. I couldn’t believe it even then; I tried really hard to smother myself with a pillow, but decided that unless it was stuffed with plastic shopping bags, there was no way it was gonna work. 😃