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Original poster

I am reporting back about the weighted blanket!!

58 replies

hereidrawtheline · 12/03/2009 20:24

Well as you all know the last weeks/months have been really hellish for us. Now while I am not saying the dark ages are totally over, we have had one major step in the right direction and seeing as how you all listen to me moan a lot I thought I shall share the good as well.

On some of your advice, DH and I invested bought in a weighted blanket without having ever seen one in the flesh after that horrific night of 6 hour long meltdown through the middle of the night. It was £100 from here - we got DS the trucks & trains pattern with royal blue fleece lining.

They took a long time to deliver and I suspect but am not sure might have forgot out order, because we sent an email chasing the delivery and the very next day they sent an email profusely apologising but saying they were making it that day and shipping it first thing the next morning (next day delivery which is what you pay for)

(By the way not having a moan about them, I am just telling you the full story!)

So it arrived and DS was excited about looking at it but not touching it. It slept on the floor next to his bed each night. Then gradually it moved to the foot of his bed. Then yesterday, on a whim, I just picked it up, and confidently lay it on top of him as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He sort of gasped, and then smiled, and said "I love my special blanket!" (that is its name) And kept talking about how great it was -

RESULT - He went from waking every hour then up for good anywhere from 2-6 am to sleeping straight through from 8-6 except waking up at 12 for a drink!!!! NOT BAD!!! The only thing at all that changed was this blanket. Everything else is the same. It was amazing. I just had to tell you as its the first whole nights sleep in as long as I can remember!

I know its early days, LOL well, today is just Day 2 but I had to say - BUY ONE!! They rock!

OP posts:
cory · 12/03/2009 20:25

Oh, I'm really pleased to hear this! I hope this is the start of many restful nights.

Original poster
hereidrawtheline · 12/03/2009 20:30

Thank you! We just tucked him in, he is totally full of beans at the moment it took ages to get through the routine and get out of his room but he is now safely under The Special Blanket giftfromgod so I am doing a couple of little things on line then taking another sleeping pill and going back to bed!

I meant to say I was chuckling to myself earlier (lying in bed, mind you) about the wonderfulness of The Special Blanket, and I thought, I do wonder if the whole idea is just to put something so heavy on them they cant be bothered to try to sit up! LOL

No really I understand the theory behind it, but it is very heavy!! I feel as if I nailed him to his bed, but result!! He loves it!! He cant stop saying how cosy and warm and comfy he is!

OP posts:
5inthebed · 12/03/2009 21:12

Thats an excellent result! I hope his good sleeping continues.

Widemouthfrog · 12/03/2009 21:18

Great! Glad he is finally using it and it is working .

We have one of these too - my DS doesn't like to sleep with it but it reduces meltdowns spectacularly. He will now fetch it himself when he is upset.

RaggedRobin · 12/03/2009 21:33

fantastic! hope it works long- term.

misscutandstick · 12/03/2009 22:00

how absolutely wonderful!!!

I had heard how great these can be, but what a truly miraculous night!!! I really am keeping everything crossed that it continues to give such comfort, mentally you've won the battle and i think thats more than half job .

so pleased for you

catski · 12/03/2009 22:10

So glad the Special Blanket is proving a success. Your description of your son's reaction to it was just lovely.

Hope you get many more good nights sleep coming your way!

TinyC · 12/03/2009 22:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

drlove8 · 12/03/2009 23:11

, glad its working! my dd loves hers(red- its her colour).am thinking about getting a weighted belt or scarf for when she's out and about!

4nomore · 12/03/2009 23:28

This is so interesting. My son loves to wear his backpack all the way home from school even though it weighs a ton - he won't let me take it off of him. Now I'm wondering if he'd like a weighted shoulder pad or even a blanket? Thing is, until he was nearly three he wouldn't tolerate any cover over him at all, can anyone tell me anything to guide me? I know these babies cost a fortune and I can't afford to buy one just to see but I I personally find the idea of a heavy cover strangely appealing (always liked the lead bib at the dentist).

drlove8 · 12/03/2009 23:39

i tried out dd with a microwave beanie( hot water bottle substitute),as a scarf to see if she liked it ....they are similar but smaller.a good indication that it would work with dd was that she always dragged a baby quilt about and would wrap herself in it.

4nomore · 12/03/2009 23:44

Thanks drlove, that's inspired me. I have a really heavy pillow full of some kind of grain or something - I'll see what he makes of that

amber32002 · 13/03/2009 06:41

4nomore, you can also get weighted vests that the children can wear all day, and some really love it.

Being a person who can't sleep under a light cover, I'm SO glad the weighted blanket worked. They just so comforting for many of us...and the manufacturers are very good at reminding parents of the safety aspects of using them these days, too.

misscutandstick · 13/03/2009 06:49

HIDTL - i was just wondering how lasts night went?

milou2 · 13/03/2009 08:18

Well, I think I will be ordering one of those weighted blankets for DS2. He can take 2 hours to settle to sleep at night. If it doesn't appeal to him, then maybe I'll love it!

Same question from me, how was last night?

Original poster
hereidrawtheline · 13/03/2009 08:35

LISTEN UP EVERYONE

ASD - NIL

WEIGHTED BLANKET - 2

Last night DS was asleep by 9, a little later than usual but that was because he was so manic it took longer to get through the routine. As soon as we got the blanket on him and said goodnight - that was it. He slept through the night. Didnt wake ONE SINGLE TIME. And this morning - he didnt wake til 7:15. Holy shit. Still, the only thing in his life that has changed is this blanket. It is truly the only variable. I can not praise it highly enough, try it. It is a lot of money but I am soooooo glad we got it. I have to say as well a dear Aunty of DS's contributed to the cost of his as DH and I are spending a small fortune on stuff for him at the moment.

His blanket is the 9 lb one and he is a very big 2.7. I think he weighs nearly 40 lbs if that helps. I wouldnt want any smaller for him now that I have seen it - it covers him properly and makes him feel all snugly and cosy and tucked in.

HOORAY!!!!

OP posts:
5inthebed · 13/03/2009 08:52

Excellent news! I am seriously thinking of getting ds2 one of these now.

lingle · 13/03/2009 09:12

"ASD - NIL

WEIGHTED BLANKET - 2"

bubblagirl · 13/03/2009 09:25

oh thank you for getting back to us to let us know i will consider getting ds a blanket now you have had some luck

luckily ds sleeping is starting to regulate again now 3 mths of no sleep at all we deserve the rest but will get one as he does wake often through the night and wont sleep in own bed still so this could be what he needs

im relly happy its worked for you and ds xx

porgie · 13/03/2009 09:47

congratulations on your sleep, bet you feel a bit delirious and giddy now!
was wondering if this was the cheapest place you had found?
we have put a double duvet in a single cover, which has kind of worked, am reluctant to buy one in case he doesn't like it!
how big are they, he likes to be totally covered!

streakybacon · 13/03/2009 09:51

Really good to hear that the weighted blanket is working its magic!

The woman who makes them is a good friend of mine and very knowledgeable on the subject of propioception and sensory sensitivity. I can vouch for the quality of her blankets - she works really hard to make sure they're the best they can be.

Original poster
hereidrawtheline · 13/03/2009 10:15

bubblagirl I must admit I was thinking of you when I posted this as I promised you I would let you know if they were worth the money - my advice is, that they are!

porgie - we did shop around on the net a fair amount but this seemed the best place. Firstly they are recommended by the NAS so I felt they would be reputable. Secondly they were on a par with the other most reputable one, price wise, but they had a much bigger range of fabric choice. And as DS is so fussy about the sort of things he will accept and wont I really appreciated that. The other company we were looking at looked great but they only did plain colours - for an adult I think that is probably better, classier etc but for DS the trucks & trains thing makes it fun and exciting and something to be shown off to family when they come around - and he DOES show it off proudly!!! I have to say - when we bought it we bought it out of desperation but I did have post-buying angst - what if it doesnt work etc

I would say, if your DC doesnt take to it, then sell it on ebay. You will take a loss but a lot of other parents will see it as a bargain and you will get some of your money back. Or just hang on to it. Your DS might not like it now but might in 6 weeks time. But I am willing to bet that if you think the double duvet in single case is even remotely helpful then this will work wonders for you. I really couldnt say enough how much of a change in DS I have seen in the last 2 days. Not to mention myself! I am soooo much less stressed and able to have a sense of humour again, something I was definitely losing.

streakybacon - I can see why you vouch for the quality - having seen DS's it is very well made. It looks every inch worth the money I paid for it. It feels lovely as well, DH and I are jealous!!

everyone read this bit!!! ---

The other thing DS, DH and I all like about it is that what weights it down is like beads or something in there evenly, rather than weights at the corners like some other blankets I have read about. So when you move it it makes this lovely sound like waves on the ocean. It is so relaxing and soothing. I really couldnt praise it highly enough.

OP posts:
TinySocks · 13/03/2009 10:56

Wow, this sounds extremely positive.
Can I ask, how much does it weigh??
DS sleeps through the night now, but wakes up so early (today it was 4:45).

I can see this company making big profits, they're going to get orders coming out of their ears.

thanks for sharing!

Original poster
hereidrawtheline · 13/03/2009 12:17

It weighs 9lbs

It is great! He is hopefully falling asleep under it now for a nap!

I swear I dont work for the company or anything LOL but really the blanket is damn good value for money! Would buy it again a dozen times over. I really cant say that about all the money I have wasted on tat for DS.

OP posts:
troutpout · 13/03/2009 12:27

that is blardy brilliant hidtl