Weighted blanket help.

[ShadeofViolet]

So I have ordered a weighted blanket for DS and it should be here in a couple of weeks.

When I was speaking to the portage lady about it, she said that he wasnt supposed to have it on all night, only for a certain period of it, but she couldnt quite remember specifics - does anyone know if thats right, and what the specifics are :)

It was recommended by our OT not to use the weighted blanket overnight. Once dd is asleep I take it off after about an hour or so. So all in all each night it is probably used for around 2/3 hours each night.

Some people do let their children use them all night but for us the purpose is served after an hours sleep. Dd isn't wakeful through the night so it's not an issue to remove it after she's been asleep for an hour. Her weighted blanket has a nice fleece underside and has been great for helping to settle her off to sleep. It stated on the website I bought it from that it won't cause overheating but it can. There have been a few occasions where dd has asked to take the blanket off because she is too hot and a bit sweaty. I think this is probably one of the reasons for not using them all night.

Our OT said to get ds used to weighted blanket and letting him decide when he's had enough. She also said the same about the weighted lap cushion and thing for around the shoulder. I think the idea is that he'd find that it is comforting and then decide to use more of it and 'take charge' of part of his programme.

Right now he just says he does not like it.

Our OT has recently had a bit of a panic about ds having his blanket on the bed at night. Apparently a little boy sadly died when his parents rolled him up in it but I don't know any details. I've tried taking ds's off when he is asleep but when he wakes up at 3am he starts searching the house for it so that didn't really work (and I was like a zombie) so it's back on the bed but folded over so it's just on his legs and feet. Tbh I think he was quite safe before anyway as he doesn't burrow down the bed like he used to so it was only up to his mid-chest, plus he is very strong and can push it off if he wants. In fact he found it one night and put it back on the bed very neatly, something I struggle to do!

I recently made a weighted vest for a MNer out of tshirt fabric and curtain weights. I'd be happy to quote for a blanket similar if you don't have time to make one yourself.

I had a load of blue material and cut two fronts and two backs, then hemmed the bottom and sewed the weights, which come as strings or little lead weights in a sort of fabric tube, in vertical parallel lines. Then I hemmed the neckline and covered it with lilac ribbon and a bow on the front. There's no reason not to do the same with polycotton or pure cotton, although I wouldn't recommend machine washing/tumbledrying.

I would be interesed in a blanket purple, how much would you be charging, inc postage?
would be for a 7y old boy.

It depends on the weight of your DS. I make mine approximately 5% of body weight, and the weights are sold by the metre, so the price depends on the amount of weight iyswim.

I have found 100g/m weights on t'interwebs for £1.65 per metre. So, for a blanket for an average 7y/o - 25kg - I would need 12.5m of tape. That's £20.63 of weight. 1m x 1.5m blanket = 3m @ usually around £4 per metre makes £28.63. Add a bit for my time, I reckon £50. Then postage by Royal Mail at that weight is: First Class £5.20, Recorded £5.94; Special by 1pm £8.65.

Does that sound reasonable??

Sorry, that's £50 total price, then postage on top. Not £50 for my time!!!