Shootingstars mentioned weighted blankets/vests, and that reminded me of an idea I had the other day. They use those weighted vests/blankets for Wyatt at school and therapy sometimes, but I haven't gotten one because of the expense and I've heard you can only spot clean them. I walked into Wyatt's classroom a while back and was shocked to see him wearing what looked like a bulletproof vest! Turned out it was a weighted vest. The weighted blanket that they used at Wyatt's speech place was a cute animal scene and really thick and quilted full of little tiny pellet-like things.
So the other day I was thinking again about weighted vests and how I would make one that could be washed. Not that I have a lot of time or inclination to sew, it takes me months just to hem a pair of pants sometimes...and then my skill level isn't that great, so I never want to work on anything expensive if my mom isn't available to fix mistakes. Anyhow, here is my idea: Pennies! I'm not sure if a completed penny vest would be heavy enough, but I suppose a child could always wear two or maybe the pennies could be stacked (but then it wouldn't be as good in the dryer to dry between the pennies). And of course, you would want to make sure the pennies were completely cooled after removing them from the dryer.
Of course, if you are worried about electromagnetic fields and things like that, you might not want your kid wearing a metal vest. I'm not sure about that kind of thing.
We have been thinking about
We have been thinking about this exact topic. My daughter is VERY girly and loves to try on clothes and admire her outfit in the mirror (at least she is typical in this department :-)
The vests at school look like something they would have Hannical Lecter in. It would be nice if you could attach weights to some regular clothing somehow.
FJH
http://AutismParents.NET
The one at therapy was
The one at therapy was donated, and made with beans. but I think pennies would be heavy enough once you ad it all up.
I would not make one with velcro. My son would constantly try to take the side apart. What I would do it sew up how ever many squares I would have in my quilt, like a little pillow case, all but a corner, then funnel in BBs and sew. Then I would line up the little bags and sew it into a larger blanket made of a thicker materal like something a soft couch or car seat would be covered in.
BBs, what a great idea for
BBs, what a great idea for weights! Certainly heavier than beans. Okay, here's my latest idea: Nickels! LOL. Some fancy moms might like to use old British pound coins or half-dollars. And the uber-rich could use rare 18th century Spanish doubloons recovered from ship wrecks and authenticated by credentialed historians.
Look what I
Look what I found
http://www.stride4autism.com/index.php?pr=Instruction_to_make_a_weighted_blanket_or_lap_pad
Poly pellets sound good, but
Poly pellets sound good, but it would be interesting getting those little suckers in place to sew them up. :) I wonder where you get them? And what do they mean by expensive?
Poly Pellets
Poly Pellets =)
http://www.batt-mart.com/site/490194/page/90969
$60 bucks plus shipping for
$60 bucks plus shipping for 25 lbs of foam pellets?! The pennies, BB's and nickels are looking very attractive right about now. You know, another good idea would be little hard plastic dollar store toys that the kids are tired of but that we step on all the time. We could sew little plastic firemen, dino's army guys to the outside of a vest for boys and big plastic jewelry for girls.
I may be wrong but I think
I may be wrong but I think they normally have sand inside.... but pennies
sound good =)