When our youngest son started having problems adjusting to being in preschool for the first time, his teacher and my husband and I discussed many different ideas for helping him to adjust to his new environment. Some worked, some didn’t.
However after a few months, she discovered that he liked a weighted blanket they had in his classroom. I had heard of weighted blankets, but had never thought of using one on a toddler. I didn’t even realize that they made them in toddler size and weight. The only ones I had seen in stores were adult sized and weight.
She sent the one from the classroom home during Spring Break for us to try at home. What a difference it made! If we had him lay down with the blanket on him up to his elbows with someone laying down next to him, he would start to calm down immediately. It would usually take between 10-20 minutes like this for him to fully calm down, but this was WAY better than the 30-40 minute screaming tantrum.
There are many types of weighted blankets out there, so it is important to chose the one that works best for the user. Weighted blankets weigh anywhere from five to 30 pounds. The ideal weighted blanket is 10 percent of your ideal body weight.
Weighted blankets may help with:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder,
- Sensory Processing Disorder,
- ADHD,
- Insomnia,
- Anxiety,
- Stress.
Weighted blankets provides gentle pressure that has been proven to release several different chemicals into your body including: oxytocin, melatonin, and serotonin. These chemicals relax the body, reduce stress, and induce a general feeling of happiness and security all without the aid of vitamins or medication.
When purchasing a weighted blanket, there are several things you should consider in addition to the weight and size.
The first thing to consider is the material weighing down the blankets. Most companies use pellets, discs or beads of polypropylene plastic, glass or steel. There are even blankets that use rice or barley.
Another thing you’ll want to consider is how the blanket distributes the weight. If the beads are allowed to move freely throughout the blanket, all the weight can end up at one side. You’ll want to find one that uses pockets or grids that distribute the weight evenly throughout the blanket.
Weighted blankets are made from many different types of fabrics. Be sure to choose a fabric that you like, especially if your or your child has sensory issues. If you choose a material that is too rough, it could cause irritation. The one we bought has a semi-course texture, but comes with a very soft cover.
You’ll also want to find a blanket is machine washable or has a cover you can place over the blanket. Make sure you check with the vendor to make sure their blankets can be washed at home or if they need to be taken to a dry cleaner.
We purchased a blanket that came with a cover to place over it. The cover is machine washable and has ties inside that keep the blanket in place.
Also not all weighted blankets are designed to be used as sleep aids, so be sure to check with the manufacturer before purchasing if this is what you intend to use it for.
We bought ours online from Amazon – a link is below to the one we use. Some are very expensive, others are more manageable. The one we found was the same as the one the teacher sent home with our son to test, and fairly affordable all things considered, so we were pleased with that.
Amazon link to Weighted Blanket.
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