Weighted Blankets:
The Ultimate Use Of Calming Input
For A Restful Sleep
Weighted
blankets are one of the most effective tools for helping those difficult to
calm down, high-energy sensory kids.
Does your child have a difficult time unwinding,
relaxing, and calming his/her body for sleep? Then, weighted blankets may be
just what "the doctor ordered!"
These
blankets come in a variety of sizes, colors, styles and weights and can be used
for toddlers through adults.
Do you or your child find yourself shaking your
feet/legs, piling stuffed animals, pillows or layers of blanket/comforters on
top of you, or enjoy sleeping in a mummy-type sleeping bag to drift off to and
get a good night's sleep? Is it hard to get your body to relax and in a
comfortable position for sleep?
Then
weighted blankets can help!!
Children or adults with sensory processing
disorders, particularly with tactile or proprioceptive dysfunction, have a need
for the deep pressure input weighted blankets provide.
Children
with excessively high energy levels find these blankets or weighted lap pads
soothing for bedtime or throughout the day. They can bring one to school for
quiet times. They can wrap them around their shoulders or whole body, or place
them on their lap during deskwork and reading times for the extra calming deep
pressure input their bodies crave.
Weighted blankets are a simple solution to what
often appears to be complex attention, calming, or sleeping difficulties.
Give your child the input he/she needs and watch
"miracles" happen.
Once
you try one, you will never believe there was a time you attempted to survive
without one!
You
see, one of the most commonly used and "prescribed" therapeutic
interventions in the Occupational Therapy world is the use of weighted products
and treatments that involve what we call "heavy work", proprioceptive
input, and deep pressure. The therapeutic use of weight and "deep
pressure" to the muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments allows the central
nervous system to better interpret and integrate both tactile (sense of touch)
and proprioceptive (sense of movement, body position, and pressure) input.
This
therapeutic concept and particular treatment is used in schools, clinics,
homes, and communities world wide. The use of weight and deep pressure is at
the core of almost all OT treatments for SPD. It is safe, effective, and can
make enormous differences in these children! Their families rejoice and daily
life becomes more tolerable, physically calm, and emotionally regulated.
Specifically, weighted products are used for
several reasons with children who do not properly process sensory
stimuli/input. The 3 main reasons are:
1. to improve body awareness
2. to calm and improve attention and focus
3. to decrease sensory seeking behaviors
For
many children and families, weighted blankets are "life-saving"
devices. With weighted
vests, blankets, neck wraps, and lap pads, a child who...
...self abuses, may stop.
...can't fall asleep without excessive help, or
stay asleep, may FINALLY get the proper rest.
...can not stand or sit still long enough to
learn or complete a task, will.
...is constantly touching other people and/or
breaking things, may stop.
...exhibits acting out, fearful, or aggressive
behaviors when certain sensory stimuli is presented, may not.
...is distracted and unorganized, may become
focused.
...throws tantrums when in loud, busy, public
places, may become calm.
...can not successfully transition from one
activity to another without distress, may finally be able to.
Think
about it; from the very first minutes we enter this new loud, bright, bustling
world, we are instantly soothed by pressure as a nurse tightly swaddles us in a
blanket. This is PROVEN to be comforting to a vulnerable, undeveloped nervous
system. This is what we also are trying to achieve!
As
older children or adults with SPD, we may still need to be tightly wrapped to
calm our over aroused nervous system down. Let me give you an example... did
you know this even works well for individuals with mental illness (and probably
undiagnosed SPD to boot)? Full body restraints are exactly what a person may
need to calm themselves down, therefore they "act out" (consciously
or unconsciously). I have literally been told by teenagers in locked wards that
they purposely behave in away that gets them put into full body
wraps/restraints because it "feels good" and they "finally feel
in control". The deep pressure is what they need to feel
"normal" and/or grounded. With the restraint/wrap, the calming effect
their nervous system needed washes over them.
But, I
say... why WAIT until it gets to that point? Weighted products are all
about PREVENTION... being proactive BEFORE we see the behavior! In these cases, "pressure" is good! Deep pressure will
calm and soothe an over-aroused, disorganized, or "fearful" nervous
system. Why put a child in a restraint, discipline him for something that is
not his fault and he can't control, or give him medicine when it may not even
be necessary (or helpful)? We want you to know, there ARE other options!
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