Do you remember last March when I wrote a post about weighted blankets being used for children with Sensory Processing Disorder? A wonderful thing happened as a result. Two readers emailed me and offered to make blankets for my children — can you believe it?
Heidi lives in western WA and she made a blanket for Eby using flannel remaining from making pajamas for her brothers years ago. Eby loves the whales, polar bears, and penguins. I got to meet her and her two sweet children when I was in the Seattle area last week.
On the way home from Seattle, I met up with Anna in Ellensburg. She made a blanket for Dimples with bright polka dot fleece and a silky blue backing. Anna also has two sweet children and, much to Honeybee’s delight, she brought her little girl along with her. My girls love babies!
Both Heidi and Anna filled the blankets with plastic beads measured out to the appropriate amount. The weight of the blankets are calculated based on the child’s weight and since Dimples (at age 8) and Eby (at age 5) weigh nearly the same amount, both blankets are approximately seven pounds.
It has gotten quite hot here, so I was a little bit concerned that the kids wouldn’t like the blankets at first. But they both love them — I find Eby covered with his each morning; he must wake up during the night and pull it over himself.
The best description is that the blanket feels like a nice hug — a pleasant weight/pressure.
The blankets are both beautiful and I feel very blessed by Heidi and Anna’s kindness. Thank you for blessing my children in this way; may the Lord return your generosity to you many times over.
Has anybody else tried a weighted blanket yet? I would love to hear from you.
~Lisa
What is the bead per child pound formula? I'd love to make one sometime after I find time to remember who I am.
Hi Kerrie, I don't remember the amount. I'll try to look it up, but Heidi, or Anna, if you read this, could you reply and let us know? Thank you!
Those are really cool! Do you have to use a certain type of material?
I LOVE Dimples blanket…..dots are my fav!
They are even better in real life! The weight of the blanket is interesting when you hold it. Eby's blanket is flannel on the front and a soft, silky fabric on the back. Dimples' blanket has a cute polka-dot fleece front and a satin blue backing.
It seems like it was one pound of weight for ten pounds of the child's weight plus one pound. So if your child weighs 40 pounds, your blanket should weigh 5 pounds. To get Eby's blanket to weigh 7 pounds, I used 6 pounds of the pellets, and the fabric made up the other pound.
And Lisa, it was a blessing to me to be able to make it for Eby. :)
Thank you, Heidi. I'll let you know if I'm coming through your town sometime again. It was great visiting with you.
6 years later, Elliot (11!) still sleeps with his nightly. He actually needs a heavier one, but I've been lazy about making it. No longer it—it's a September project.
That is great to hear. I hope my kids love theirs that much.
Ever since I heard about weighted blankets, I've thought *I* would like one! I love heavy covers, even when it's hot I feel like I need to be covered.
What a sweet thing for two friends to do.
I have not used them before but I have two with Sensory Processing Disorder and would LOVE to have a couple. They are so expensive and I am not crafty enough to make them myself.
I have a 12 year old wonderful autistic grandson. I made him a weighted blanket with rice, and then his mom asked me to make a weighted vest for middle school. When he is out of sorts or in a total meltdown blanket is wonderful. i took an old vest and made pockets on the inside and it works very well.
Do these moms sell on etsy? Avi has terrible insomnia lately (and several pending diagnoses). I think this would perhaps help him at night and after school when he needs to "settle" and adjust to the new environment after the stimulation (and sometimes dysregulation) of the day….
- Jennifer
I mentioned this to both Heidi and Anna, and they both laughed a little nervously. I think there is a great need — anybody?
Where could I get a pattern so I could ask my MIL to make one?
Ashley, there is a link to a pattern on the original post as well as some comments that might be helpful.
http://www.onethankfulmom.com/the-daily/sensory-p…
I hope your MIL will make one for you!
My kids love them! We have used them with the Autism/FASD crew since January and it's helped on some of those really bad days. And in case you were wondering….that unidentified bad smell in my room? It was an affected child crawling under mybed to pee. What is that? Marking or hiding, intention or embarasement? Or maybe just plain boy weirdness!
Dorothy, sometimes I have the hardest time separating out what is kid stuff and what is sensory issues, PTSD, or some other unique thing about my kids! I'm glad to hear your kids love their blankets. Where did you get them?
Ohhh, I've been looking around for these too. I have a two year old and a three year both with sensory issues. One is over-sensitive and the other is under-sensitive. Yikes.
I made one for my 3 year old granddaughter who has terrible tantrums. I found the poly pellets on line, made a "liner" from muslin (an old curtain) with 40 pockets, then divided the pellets into each pocket so the weight is evenly distributed. I made a blanket size envelope of cute print cotton and sewed the weighted liner in it, then channel quilted between each row of pockets vertically. I put tags of satin, flannel and grograin ribbon in the seam at the top when I sewed it closed. The whole thing is washable unlike the rice or buckwheat filler. The only caution is that when channel quilting your needle can hit one of those pellets and break.
Mrs. D, thank you for sharing how you made your granddaughter's blanket. What a blessing to have you for her grandmother!
Is there a link to complete measurements/pattern/directions? My girls could make this for a few of our kiddos. :) Thanks for sharing!
If you go to the original post, you will find a link to a pattern put out by the Linus Project. The comment below, from Mrs. D., has some great instructions as well. I'm sure the blankets your girls make will be a great blessing.
http://www.onethankfulmom.com/the-daily/sensory-p…
I used cherry pits and would not recomend it in fact I am chaning it. They are way to noisy and not as comfortable.
Kathrin, thank you for the feedback. I remember when you made yours and the cherry pits seemed like a great idea. It's good to know you would choose something else. What do you think you are going to try now?
Hi,
Can they be bought?
I don't have time to do one, nor am I any good at sewing but would love to buy one.
Thanks,
Teresa
Teresa, I believe there are websites that sell them. Can anybody recommend a favorite sensory store?
Teresa, I have bought mine at weightedblanket.net. We're on our second blanket now with Daughter #2. I am saving the first blanket because I have daughter #3 on the way and I am not sure if she will need it or not. She does have sensory issues but I am not sure if she will benefit from using a blanket yet or not. Anyway, I like that this company has an option to trade in your old blanket for a partial payment/credit on a new one. She then allows people to buy the used ones at a reduced price if you cannot afford a new one. I like that tons because they are a bit expensive ($100-$140 for the sizes I have bought so far). For my family, the expense was worth it because it helps my daughter SO much!
Beautiful! Isn't it wonderful how the body of Christ ministers to us in such a flesh-and-bones way?
I noticed SO many people asking for how two links. I am going to make one for my SPD 7 year old son and I found this great resource. This has multiple how two links, as well as an excellent source for poly pellets: http://www.craftpellets.com/How_to_Make_your_own_…