OK from reading what the other moms with SID kiddos have had to talk about here on the board I'm pretty darn sure that a slide/flare up in Dd1's SID issues is behind the current problem I have on my hands.
Ling story short she has been going through blankets and sheets like they are going out of style. Her complaint is that they make her feel like spiders are crawling on her and that's not a good combo with a kiddo who is deathly afraid of *all* spiders to the point of panic attacks. Then pair that with her temporarily being off of her melatonin (sp?) and it makes for lots of no sleep fun! (it's currently a little after 5am CST and all but two of the family are now wide awake. *sigh* nope correction all but one of the family is awake Dd1 just decided to wake Ds up.)
The search feature doesn't work very well for me can anyone tell me what the weighted blanket formula is, roughly? I know that there has been mention of X amount of weight for the blanket per X amount of weight per the child but for the life of me I can't remember what it is.
Thanks! Today I'm going to ask MIL if she will help keep an eye out for fabric and filler on sale. Plus I need to get a bethroom scale so that I can figure out how much Dd1 actually weighs.
TIA


The "formula" is 10% of your child's current weight plus one pound. My son, for example, weighs 33lbs., so we got him a 5lb. blanket to account for growth so he won't outgrow it so quickly. :D
You can get poly beads at Michaels, I hear.


Thank you Finch!
I've been having fun explaining to Dh about what I've heard you all talking about with the what's and why's on how kids with sensory issues can feel like that and not really have it happening. I'm thinking that I'm going to make a weighted lap blanket at the same time to see if that will help Dd1 with 'school' time as well.


Thank you Finch!
I've been having fun explaining to Dh about what I've heard you all talking about with the what's and why's on how kids with sensory issues can feel like that and not really have it happening. I'm thinking that I'm going to make a weighted lap blanket at the same time to see if that will help Dd1 with 'school' time as well. :lol You should have him read either The Out of Sync Child or Raising a Sensory Smart Child, they're good at explaining it. :)
Glad I could help!


The lap blanket is a good idea for school too. I really need to talk to Andy's teacher about that one, but she is so unbelieveing about all things ASD, blech.
If anyone is crafty here is a project I made for my DS when he was 2 1/2. It was a weighted blanket pal. I used Poly Beads to fill a removable weighted section and it attached via snaps to a blanket doll I made. The weight helped calm him while he sat and we could tie the arms like a cape to help him while he played. (he could get really wild!)
Pictures (remember these are pretty old, lmao)






Kristine those pictures are great! What would you recommend for someone who needs the weight but has plastic allergies? The poly beads won't do for my neighbor's child (I'm doing some research for her).
Thanks,
Kelly


I've heard of rice or dried beans being used, but, you can't throw those in the washer and should put them into a insert that can be removed before washing.
HTH


thanks paganmum :)


Not a problem. :)


I'm making my son a weighted vest and blanket in the next few days but I have to use rice since I don't have a car to get to a Michaels. We tried a vest out at his IEP eval this morning and he seemed to respond well to it.


My first ones I made were filled with rice, which is why I made them with the snap off weighted section. I also experimented with zippers and such as well. At the time I was going to sew and sell them to other mamas but I got sidetracked and haven't gone back to that plan, yet, lol.


Kristine,
If you could make one with organic materials and no plastic at all. I would so buy one from you for my neighbor friend. Her kids are extremely chemically sensitive and allergic to plastics and both have SI issues and they share a weighted vest that is falling apart :(
feel free to pm me if this is possible.
Kelly


Hey, My DS's teacher just requested one for school so I'll be making it within the next couple days. I'm going to make an updated one that is less "baby-ish" for him since he is 6 years old now. When I make it I'll take pictures of the process and post them and directions for anyone who is interested.
Kelly, I'd love to make one for your neighbor but I don't have access to organtic type materials here. We're in a really small town with no good resources for that type of thing. After I post the directions of the alternative version, if its not something you guys think you can do, maybe we can work something out if you are able to get a hold of supplies. :)