weighted blankets: are they worth the money?

[niminypiminy]

Ds1 (AS) has proprioceptive problems (has DCD as well) and often gets insomnia. During the really cold weather I put an extra blanket on his bed and he rolled himself up in it. Now it's warmer but he still wants the blanket and is getting really hot at night. So, my question is, ladies, would a weighted blanket be a good investment? They are £££ so it would be really helpful to know if they're worth it before I spend all that money.

thanks

The weighted blankets are pretty thick and warm, too. DS1 likes his on just his feet when it's warmer, though.

I made ours, photos here, and it cost around £20 all in, including a weighted lap pad.

It has made a real difference for DD, and she sleeps with it every night.

I considered this, but ended up buying fleece sleeping bag which worked really well. He can unzip it from the feet if it is too warm.

I was going to say, make one; the difference between what they cost to make and what they are sold for seems pretty steep to me. Possibly you could make a summer one out of some sort of mesh that would retain the "beans" but let heat escape?

Lou that weighted blanket looks great. What did you fill it with? Did you work from a pattern? I have visions of myself trying to make one and the filling going all over the floor and my hair going greyer than it is already... But good to know that it has helped. I'm hoping if we got one it might help when ds1 has insomnia which is quite often.

niminypiminy I filled it with pre-expanded polystyrene beads (the ones that people use for baby reborn dolls). They are non-toxic, and washing machine/tumble dryer safe.

Materials
Weighted blanket
2 x single matress protectors from Ikea (£2.50 each)
1 quilt cover for single bed (£6)
Pre-expanded polystyrene beads.

Method
1.Decide size of blanket. Cut matress protector to length, then use off cut to make extra width. Sew together to form finished blanket size.
2.Repeat with 2nd one.

1. Sew protectors together on 3 sides, leaving one of the shorter sides open.
2. Turn quilt cover inside out, and sew onto mattress protectors on 3 sides.
3. Turn the whole thing right-way in, so that you have the mattress protectors inside the quilt cover.
4. Mark lines down the length of the blanket 4-inches (10cm) apart.
5. Mark lines across the width of the blanket 4-inches (10cm) apart, forming squares.
6. Calculate 10% of your child's body weight, and add 1lb (454g). This is the total weight of your blanket.
7. Weigh the blanket.

10. Take the weight of the blanket away from the total of 8. This is the weight of beads needed. 11. Count how many squares are on your blanket (number of squares on long side x number of squares on short side). 12. Divide weight of beads by number of squares. This gives weight of beads per square. 13. Sew a line of stitching up each line on the long side of the quilt, creating long columns. 14. Weigh out beads into a pot for each pocket in the width of the blanket. Fill each column with beads, making sure they reach the bottom of the blanket (I used a plastic tube with a funnel taped onto the end). 15. Sew across the first line at the bottom end of the blanket. 16. Repeat steps 14 & 15 until you reach the top of the blanket. 17. Turn the edges of the open end inwards, and sew a hem line. 18. Congratulate yourself.

Weighted lap cushion
Materials
1x Pillow protector from IKEA (£1.49)
1x Pillow case from argos (part of set)
Beads

Method - as for blanket. Trim to size desired. But calculate 5% of body weight for total weight of cushion. Personal preference, but I made mine with 'Oxford pillow case' edging, which simply means sew 1inch around the edge of cushion before marking and sewing pockets.

Cost-wise, I paid £6.50 for inners, £6 for the duvet set, and £4.50 for the beads, plus £3 for thread, so total cost for both items is £20.

Fantastic, thanks Lou. I'll get my sewing machine out and give it a go.

Quinny1, how incredibly rude!

You'll find that weighted blankets are sized at 10% bodyweight plus 1lb.

The crucial things are that a) the weighting is secure to avoid injury to the child.

b) The weight is evenly distributed throughout the blanket to give consistent feedback to the proprioceptors of the body.

Weight2goblankets use poly beads, and use chambers. Additionally, you will read that the owner of weight2goblankets started her business after making her son a blanket.

What I am suggesting is no different to what the owner of that company did. She simply then saw a market and went for it.

Quinny1, are you going to declare your interest in seeing niminypiminy spend over £100 on a blanket from weight-2-go-blankets, when she could make her own for under £20??

You really should point out when you post that you are the sister of the lady who runs weight-2-go-blankets.