The Weighted Blanket

Having a daughter with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), life can be quite challenging. Anywhere from tantrums, obsessive-compulsive behaviors and a very strong personality to a kind-hearted, homebody that wants to snuggle on the couch and talk about life dreams. Sometimes it can feel like a whirlwind and it can feel like you just don’t know what to do at the right time to do anything…doesn’t make sense right? Well…either does your child suffering day in and day out with SPD. If you have a child with SPD, the first privilege you have is figuring out what makes them tick and what makes their day run smoothly. You figure that out and you have won the first half of the battle.

I remember pegging my little one early on as a “difficult” one. In fact, I am pretty sure I said it in front of her many times. Looking back, it makes me shudder at the thought. Honestly, the person who was being “difficult” was me. I was not willing to take a deep look into myself and figure out the best way to raise my daughter who was clearly suffering with how this whole “life” thing works. Honestly, once I figured out how to make her environment less stressful, there was an immediate change in certain behaviors she exhibited. One of those changes I would like to share with you.

“Have you ever heard of a weighted blanket?” a friend asked me. I hadn’t and the look on their face told me that I needed one of them. She then went to explain that a weighted blanket provides deep pressure input and can be used as a calming tool. The calming effects have been found to decrease activity level, increase focus, and improve sleep. Lap pads and “lap snakes” are similar tools but are smaller in size and more commonly used during seated tasks. They can be placed either on the child’s lap or shoulders.

There are thousands of weighted blanket options available; performing a Google search yields over 1,000,000 references. If you’re feeling crafty, you may want to explore making a weighted blanket or “lap snake” on your own. Below, a link is provided for making a weighted blanket and instructions for sewing a “lap snake.”

https://sensationalbrain.com/tips/how-to-make-a-weighted-blanket/

Precautions: The weight ratio of the blanket should not exceed 10-15% of the child’s weight. It recommended that you begin with 5% of the child’s weight and make adjustments based on the child’s responses. Make certain that the child is able to remove the blanket easily, the child’s head is not covered and that the weight is evenly distributed throughout the blanket. The blanket should be introduced while the child is in a calm state and it should not be forced if the child presents with an adverse reaction.