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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Weighted blanket for baby

52 replies

Thisisnotataste · 16/12/2020 22:03

Our DD is just over 1year and still won't fall asleep unless she has someone's hand on her chest. (Longer rant on a previous thread!)
But has anyone tried a weighted baby blanket? Are they safe? I can find lots on sale but I can't find anything about whether they are safe for 1 year olds.

OP posts:
Original poster
Thisisnotataste · 16/12/2020 22:30

Or maybe not... Confused

OP posts:
Original poster
Thisisnotataste · 16/12/2020 22:31

BTW I've voted myself as being totally unreasonable. Just one of those start of the night thoughts that obviously wasn't thought out properly. Weighted blanket def a no.

OP posts:
Hangingwithmygnomies · 16/12/2020 22:36

I have a weighted blanket for my ASD 10 year old but definitely not recommended for a 1 year old as they have to be able to remove it off of themselves and even the lighter ones are heavy. They're also not recommended for young children to use all night. You could maybe make a bean bag type rectangle bag of polybeads (like those used in teddy bears as they tend to be washable) and either velcro/sew onto the inside of a grobag/sleep bag at the position your hand would normally be?

rookgizzardpie · 16/12/2020 22:37

So unsafe

slipperywhensparticus · 16/12/2020 22:39

Have you tried a proper cotton blanket? They come up a bit heavier might be a case of all over reassurance

CorianderQueen · 16/12/2020 22:39

I was gifted one as an adult... they're heavy... really heavy

Bumbastic · 16/12/2020 22:41

Ok glad you said its a definite no. A child died from weighted blankets, i know what a weighted blanket is, i bought one for my dc and dp. It is unsafe for a child under 5 in my view.

Hangingwithmygnomies · 16/12/2020 22:42

For a weighted blanket to work properly it should be 10% of the persons body weight + an extra 1lb or 2 which is why it's not recommended under a certain age as will be too heavy for them to get out from under

Hangingwithmygnomies · 16/12/2020 22:44

@Bumbastic

Ok glad you said its a definite no. A child died from weighted blankets, i know what a weighted blanket is, i bought one for my dc and dp. It is unsafe for a child under 5 in my view.
Agree, I don't allow my 4 year old touch his brother's or even the lighter lap pad
Redwinestillfine · 16/12/2020 22:48

Babies definitely should not have a weighted blanket. I don't think even the companies seeking them recommend for under 3 year olds (and personally I think you'd need to be very careful then). Yes it's a bit of a pain to sit there with hand on their chest to get them to sleep but it is really not for long and if there's the slightest chance the blanket would do them harm is it worth the risk. There's no reward for the baby. Gro bags are great. I do sympathise op, getting them to self settle can be brutal Flowers

Whenwillitstop1 · 16/12/2020 22:50

God everyone is being very rude and condescending! Perfect parents aye. Op i had a similar thought for my 1 year old as he is the same but wasn't sure if they would be safe.

DianaT1969 · 16/12/2020 22:52

There are wheat bags that can be heated up and are sold as useful for cholic. I'm not sure they are safe to leave unsupervised though. There is one which is a belt. That might mimic the feeling of a hand as it is warm. Again, you'd need to check the safety instructions. It would be cool if she wakes up in the middle of the night unfortunately.

VestaTilley · 16/12/2020 22:57

Not safe. Far better to try sleep training (pay for a proper sleep consultant).

Thickhead · 16/12/2020 22:57

Christ, no.

Hangingwithmygnomies · 16/12/2020 22:58

How is everyone being rude? I wasn't being rude and definitely not a perfect parent, I was just passing on the advice given to me by my son's occupational therapist

SameToo · 16/12/2020 22:58

Please do not use a weighted blanket, or a glove filled with crap or a wheat bag!

Please look at The Lullaby Trust website for good advice on sleeping. I know it’s hard when you need to sleep, but all these options sound far to risky for a baby.

SameToo · 16/12/2020 23:00

@DianaT1969 the advice is that you don’t even warm the area a baby will lie in. Please don’t advise people to put heated wheat bags on them.

DianaT1969 · 16/12/2020 23:06

@SameToo - point taken, but they are merchandised as baby products and I did say I doubt they are safe to leave unattended, including the cholic belt. I wasn't recommending them to be left unattended

BornOnThe4thJuly · 16/12/2020 23:16

@SameToo Do you know why they say not to warm the cot? The health visitor told me to put a hot water bottle in for a bit before putting DC down, it never seemed to make a difference so I only tried it a few times.

DianaT1969 · 16/12/2020 23:27

**colic not cholic! Spell check keeps changing it as I post.

Ultimateblends · 17/12/2020 10:26

@Whenwillitstop1

God everyone is being very rude and condescending! Perfect parents aye. Op i had a similar thought for my 1 year old as he is the same but wasn't sure if they would be safe.
Not one person has been rude to op!

Op has even just said herself, nope not a good idea, just one of those thoughts!

My guess is op is tired, abit fed up and desperately trying to find out how to overcome this situation.

We have all been there! We have all had ideas that afterwards we think... errrr, no.

I think pretty much all the posters on here realise how op was thinking/feeling and no judgement in the replies! Except to say, the idea wasn't a good one & things will get better?!

SameToo · 17/12/2020 10:43

@BornOnThe4thJuly apologies, the advice is to not leave them with water bottles or electric blankets etc. That stay warm. I think warming the area to transfer the baby is ok but you wouldn’t want it to hot as they can overheat easily.

goopsoup · 17/12/2020 10:46

I'm not sure why its scary... its not going to be heavy! Just heavier than a normal blanket

I guess because if it covers her face she may not be able to get it off easily.

Comefromaway · 17/12/2020 10:46

DD (asd) has a weighted blanket, the correct weight for her body weight.

I really would NOT recommend them for a child under 3 (I actually think 2 is too young still).

welshladywhois40 · 17/12/2020 10:48

Comforter that smells of you or your t shirt she can snuggle into?