Weighted Blankets?

[LimeSlice]

What is the purpose of a weighted blanket? I think I get it, but Im not sure...
Where do the weights go, on the top of them or around the edges of the blanket?

[~Saram~]

We use a weighted blanket as my son has autism and one of the coinciding issues is what is called sensory processing disorder. If you think of your five senses, sight, taste, hearing, touch etc these kids expereince information through their sense organs differently. They might under feel it or over feel it so a child with a hypersensitivity to touch might not like to be touched a child with hypo sensitivity seeks firm pressure and deep pressure. We also look at two extra senses that of proproceptive and darn it I've forgotten - basically the feelings of spinning/heights/being verticle/horizontal and the feelings registered by their ligaments and tendons - basically how their body moves and receives information from their muscles about how they move.

A weighted blanket is designed to apply about 10% of a childs body weight to calm or fill a sensory need such as deep pressure. My son currently uses wheat bags on his lap or his fav on his head :-) God love him

[LimeSlice]

Thanks Sarah That makes a lot of sense - something I wouldn't have thought about.

[Lulu]

I've put some rice into old stocking legs and tied knots along the way to keep it even, then sewed in one lot across the bottom of the cot blanket cover, and will put another 2 across her chest area.
The rice shouldn't escape then. She is in a big bed but the cot cover is just the right size to get all the right places.

Geez, they are expensive online! It didn't take much to make this one up, thank goodness.

Her ears are very, very sensitive too, and it seems she can't lie still horizontally - I hope this helps, I'm starting the new bedtime routine this week.

[HotI]

are her ears sensitive in terms of hears noises that others don't/don't worry others? If this is the case, you can try ear plugs. ear plugs you can still hear stuff, but can drown out the white noise.

I have a neuro condition and have at times hyper stimulated limbs. Feels like neurons are waving in the air. You can get really expensive 'second skin' outfits, but tubal bandage does a similar thing. Just by having the bandage firm on the skin, it reduces all the sensory input.

[~Saram~]

Thanks Kate - that is really interesting to hear it from your point of view.