Weighted vests / blankets

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Registered: 04-07-2003
Weighted vests / blankets
8
Mon, 01-30-2006 - 7:41am

Have any of you tried the weighted vests or blankets with your children? What was your experience? Are there certain children that benefit more from them than others (for instance, do children with higher or lower functioning autistic problems benefit more or less)? Do these weighted vests/blankets target certain behaviors? They're expensive enough that I don't want to waste money we don't have, but they sound like they could be potentially beneficial.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
Mon, 01-30-2006 - 11:37am

Haven't tried either. I wanted them to try the weighted vest at school but they didn't want to fork out the $ and tried a weighted backpack instead. I personally don't think its the same. The backpack had minimal success. We were hoping to get more focus/less distraction.

At home both the kids sleep with multiple blankets at night kind of giving the weighted blanket effect.

samantha

Samantha
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Registered: 02-24-2004
Mon, 01-30-2006 - 11:57am

I haven't gone that route, but have tried the weighted shoulder things that you can warm up in the microwave....Jack wasn't that interestd (but he's only a 36 pound 4yo, so that may have been too much for him)

One thing that has been successful for us is the traditional waist trimmers (elastic that stretches around waists). We have to wrap it around him a couple of times, but he loves it and it keeps him centered/relaxed for about 2 hours at a time!! It only cost us $10...and it supplies the deep pressure that he craves. He wears it for about 20-30 minutes at a time so he doesn't get desensitized (it will lose it's effect)

They sell them at stores in the exercise sections and they have smaller sizes at my therapy doo-dads sight of choice: the therapy shoppe (dot com).




Edited 1/30/2006 12:36 pm ET by mom2jacknsam
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Registered: 05-16-2003
Mon, 01-30-2006 - 12:33pm

Our OTs recommended "squeeze" (rather than weighted) vests. Jack has one at school and I bought one for home. I am told that it makes a difference for him, in short spells of about 20-30 minutes it helps him attend to learn. It's only used sporadically (otherwise the child gets used to the feeling and it does no good).

Jack has sensory dysfunction in that he under-registers. So the vest helps with that. I would guess that it's often used for that (e.g. you wouldn't use it on a kid who OVER-registers!)

I tried my friend's DS' weighted blanket and it was kinda' neat, I must say! Really cozy.

HTH,
Cathy

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Registered: 04-11-2003
Mon, 01-30-2006 - 12:38pm

I've been really wanting to try some compression thingy for Kyle. I've been eyeing the compression shorts they sell in the sports aisle to give a try. I never thought of the waist trimmer things.

Samantha

Samantha
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Registered: 02-24-2004
Mon, 01-30-2006 - 12:43pm

I bet he'll love it!! I tried one on a whim and Jack's answer to it was "oooooh! That feels good!!"

It gives compression to his whole torso area since he's such a little guy :o) He actually brings it to us now, when he wants it, which is such a huge step for our family!!

(and you can't beat the price)

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Registered: 03-28-2003
Mon, 01-30-2006 - 2:10pm

Those waist trimmers sound great! I'm going to stop by the site and check it out. I made a weighted blanket for my daughter. She didn't use it. At school, they tried the weighted vest which didn't seem to do much for her. They also let her take a break by putting a weighted lap thing on her. I think taking a break did more for her than resting something on her lap.

However, what she does at home is wear loose clothing and then stuff them with pillows and blankets and then rocks or bounces slightly on her bed. She does not allow anyone to see her doing this, but I know, of course. We just pretend we don't know she does that. This is not something she can do at school obviously and wouldn't do anyway due to her embarrassment. I think maybe the squeeze feeling is just the thing to go for as opposed to the weighted thing and maybe can be discreet enough so she can use this at school.

Thanks for this!

LR

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Registered: 06-25-2003
Mon, 01-30-2006 - 10:28pm

I do recommend you speak with an OT if you can, because there can be some risks; - especially if your child has low tone.

We always thought Peter would benefit from a weighted vest, but he is SO low tone, the OT was afraid it woudl impact his posture.

We tried a pressure vest -cost me $78, and he hated it. I quite like it, tho!

Weighted blankets: again these are expensive, and not recommended to sleep with -especially for a low tone child (can interfere with breathing by compressing the chest). I have SID and I used to sleep with a weighted blanket, but it aggravated my bad back, so I switched to those heavy cotton blankets. That is what I use with the kids too - one blanket folded into four, is nice and conforting, much cheaper and more attractive than a weighted blanket and even saves a little on my heating bill, because I can turn the heat down a couple of degrees in their room (not im my room or poor DH will freeze!)

HTH

-Paula

-Paula

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Registered: 04-07-2003
Tue, 01-31-2006 - 8:38am
THANK you all!!! We'll have to try the multiple blankets and the compression and see whether either works before investing in something more expensive. I appreciate your feedback!