As a mom I’m always trying to find ways to help my kids with their difficulties. Every mom does, right? My kids just happen to have Aspergers so their difficulties are different than the average child.
Part of the issues for kids on the spectrum is sensory issues. Touch, taste, smell, sound and site. They are more sensitive to one or all of the senses. Computer boy has been overly sensitive since he was a baby. We had a few years where we couldn’t even touch his hair without him freaking out. Sound and light have always been a problem for him. We used to travel with his sheets because he couldn’t stand the feel of anything else.
He grew out of some of it, but he still can’t stay in the house if any smell is too strong AND he can’t stand elastic around his waist, he is the skinniest thing ever but he wears size 14 underwear. And he has a hard time sleeping, he usually gets up around 3 (I know because that’s usually when I go to bed) and can’t get back to sleep.
Lego boy was never overly sensitive, but he’s always liked enclosed spaces. We used to find him asleep in his closet, door closed, or even under the bed! He finds it soothing. In kindergarten he practically lived in a body sock. Lately he’s been overly excited and hard to calm down so we’ve been trying EVERYTHING we can.
The reader never had sensory sensitivities, but she has a lot of ADD issues. I don’t think she’s SAT through a complete dinner since… EVER. She sits half on the chair ready to jump up at a moments notice, and has since she was a baby. She usually gets up a few times during a meal AND a few times at night bouncing around the room.
So what can help? We hate drugging our children, I mean I’m grateful for modern medicine and I will use it as a last resort, but I’m nervous to use drugs on children. I don’t think the research has been going on long enough to really test the effects long term and how it effects their growth.
The reason Weighted blankets work is because it’s Deep Pressure, like a firm hug or swaddling. It helps with sensory overload, reduces anxiety, stress and frustration.
The effect of Deep Pressure Touch Stimulation (DPTS) can be similar to a full body massage, relieving aches and pains in muscles and joints. For children or adults that don’t like to be touched this is a great option (personally I’d take the massage but the idea of a massage would have the opposite effect on my husband).
DPTS helps release Serotonin in the brain, which naturally calms and soothes. So it can help calming a child down even in the midst of a major freak out. And even when they aren’t having a melt down it can help with sensory perception, helping them deal with normal day to day anxieties or social situations.
And finally Serotonin transforms into Melatonin, and Melatonin is what helps us feel tired and go to sleep, or re-fall asleep when waking up in the middle of the night! Our kids have difficulty falling asleep and they’ve been taking melatonin for years (under the supervision of our Pediatrician of course).
ANYWAY, so we were anxious to try it and were thrilled to get a medium blanket in the mail to try out. Our main focus was Lego boy so we got one to match his weight (you get the blanket to match the child’s weight) but we also tried it with Computer boy and The Reader over the last few months.
Okay, all those reasons are why I wanted to try it, but it sounds too good to be true, could it really help? What did we think of it when we finally tried one out? We’re totally sold! In fact I’m going to let the two older kids each pick out their own fabric and design their own now!
Computer Boy slept better the nights he got to use it and The Reader actually sat through a meal! (She’s still getting up and jumping all night, hoping getting her her own the right weight will help with that) After watching the Temple Grandin movie my oldest told me she wanted her own hug machine, we can’t do that but this is a great, more manageable, option.
Honestly my husband wants one for night too and I totally have restless leg syndrome so I want to try it as well! My college roommate hated listening to me rub my legs together all night, how cool would it be if this helps that, maybe I’ll get more than 5-6 hours of sleep a night!
Here is a list of diagnosis/issues/syndromes that a weighted blanket as been shown to help:
- ADHD/ADD
- Anxiety
- Aggressive Behaviors
- Aspergers/Autism
- Bi-Polar Disorder
- Brain Trauma Injuries
- Cerebral Palsy
- Epilepsy
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Insomnia
- Restless Leg Syndrome
- Sensory Processing Disorder
Any sound familiar to you? I’m thinking Christmas for the WHOLE FAMILY right here! Have I sold you all yet?
I have some GREAT news, The amazing team at Comfort Weighted Blankets is giving away a small, 4 lb. weighted blanket!
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Tara
I think this blanket would help my son a lot – thanks so much for posting this!
Cindy
I would love to try one for my daughter. She has a lot of anxiety and is often restless, kicking her blankets off at night. I wonder if this would help her. I would also be willing to try one for me. Thank you for this opportunity!
Tara @ Keep Moving Forward With Me
My son is the exact same way about his pants, strong smells, certain lights, etc. I’ve been wondering if a weighted blanket would help when he got overwhelmed!
Ashley
My son could benefit from a weighted blanket because he has a sensory disorder.
Kesha
It would be warm and comforting when I was not around
Michelle
I’ve been thinking about getting my daughter (4yo) a weighted blanket! We recently found out she has sensory processing disorder & I know she would benefit from it. She’s constantly wiggling & trying to get more input into her brain. I know she’d benefit in a million ways if she had a weighted blanket! Thanks!
Jessica
I think this would help calm my daughter down. She gets really frantic at nap time.
Kimberly
I’d like to win this for my niece. She has anxiety issues and I think this would help her calm down.
Heather
I have a little guy who I think could really benefit from a CWB. Thanks!
Lindsey (Cafe Johnsonia)
I’m so excited to learn about these! I think it would really help all of my kids – even the one not on the spectrum. Off to read more on their website. (Crossing my fingers!)
Joy
My little guy can be restless and very easily dysregulated. I have wondered if sensory interventions would help. My eldest is always wound up, and has trouble relaxing, so he might benefit as well…
Rebecca U
I have heard about these before, but had no idea all the things they help with. I suffer from anxiety and would be interested to see if the blanket would help me.
rachel
my son has Adhd, would be great to try with him!
Dezi A
I have a 2 year old who loves cudding and has a hard time sleeping if he can’t feel someone next to him. It’d be fun to see if this could help him.
Sheila Sjolseth
This is exactly what we need to use for our 5 year old. Thank you!
Bonnie P
Sounds very interesting, thanks for the chance.
Mariam Togora
My grandson is very restless in his sleep. Thanks
Doris
I have 2 rowdy toddlers, so needless to say, this blanket would do them a world of good!
Eric
My nephew with attention deficit disorder could use it. Thank you
Cher @ Designs by Studio C
How comforting it must be for them! So glad it works!
Carrie
I can’t believe a blanket would do all of that! That’s really neat!
Randi Cook
This would be great for my daughter who can’t keep the blanket on through the night.
Camille Reheisse
We purchased our first CWB last year and LOVE it! Cute Cheveron and blue minky. My little boy loves it and have washed it a bunch and it’s still perfect. We would LOVE another one!
Kirsten
One of my dearest friends has a 4 year old with a sensory processing disorder, among other yet to be determined things. She sleeps with him at night, every night, because he has panic attacks and wakes up screaming. The dad couldn’t handle it and took off. Needless to say, she is one tired single-mama. My friend has looked at these blankets but cannot afford them. Winning one for her would totally make her night, and her day.
Erin Ellis
This would really help my toddler as I find that holding and slight pressure really helps to calm her. I am very interested in giving one of these blankets a try. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.
Erin
fairyfractal at gmail dot com
Dixie Mason Williams Bllue
Hoping this would give my Autistic grandson some calming in stressful situations.
Kim @ 2justByou
My son has severe eczema and anxiety. He still wakes up at night because of itching, and then can’t go back to sleep. So this might just help him sleep through the night.
Thank you for such an amazing review and a chance to win one of these blankets.
Kim @ 2justByou
PS – Link up your giveaway at my Great Giveaways Linky here: http://www.2justbyou.com/p/giveaways.html
There’s even a linkup for Low-Entry. =0)
Stephanie
These would be very helpful in my specieal education preschool classroom! I have students with sensory issues and it would be great.
Patricia Downarowicz
For the classroom, weighted vests work well!
Ashlee
agreed! wish our school could afford more
Jackie
Would love to try this on a student with bipolar disorder.
Sarah
My kids both have trouble staying seated. Would love to see if this works!
Kirsten
I would love to find something to help with my restless leg syndrome!
Lauren G
It would help my son. He has high anxiety and I hope this would comfort him 🙂
Jessica w
I think it would help comfort with anxiety!
Debbie Jackson
I would like to try it for my restless leg syndrome. I had not heard of its benefits for my condition.
Nichole M
I have three kiddos who could use this!
Julie
It would help my daughter who suffers from anxiety
thanks
Megan
My son has anxiety and potentially autism (waiting on assessment). This might help with transition times.
Constance
I think this might be a wonderful thing for my grandson who is on the autism spectrum and has ADD. Thank you so much for sharing your experience!
Kelli
Thanks for sharing. 🙂 I personally sleep way better in the winter because of all the weight from the multiple blankets on my bed. I would love to check these out!
Ashlee
My husband is the same way, I’m the person who sleeps with just a sheet year round (and a heater on) but I have to compromise since my husband likes the blankets!
Mary lynn Martin
I think weighted blankets would help older adults with dementia.
Kari
Girl, you sound like the most patient mother in all the land! I’ve been noticing some sensory sensitivity with my little one lately. Smells, especially! And sleep? ha! Never. :/ She’s very hyper active…everyone just laughs and says she’s a wild child, but I’d love for her to be able to relax a little…for her own sake. I have pretty severe adult ADD, so I get it. I’ve heard about these blankets but didn’t realize that they helped with so many different issues! I’m definitely going to give it a try for my daughter! Thank you!
Ashlee
you are so welcome! I was amazed how many things they helped too! but they really really do!