way to simulate weighted blanket without having one?

[caedmyn]

My 22 month old DS is not special needs but he is very, very, very active and it's darn near impossible to get him to settle down at night for bedtime. I have tried about everything under the sun with little success, and now I'm wondering if maybe a weighted blanket might help. Does anyone know of a way to simulate a weighted blanket or is there any way to determine if one would likely help him? I'll sew him one if it'll help but at 35 weeks pregnant I really don't want to invest the time or effort into making it without having some idea whether it would help or not.

[SpottedFoxx]

A weighted blanket can be anything from just a heavy weight blanket to a specialized blanket with specializes materials added internally to give it extra weight.

If you child doesn't have a sensory issue, I can't imagine using a weighted blanket will help.

Do you have a solid bedtime routine? Do you allow TV before bed (it can ramp up a child making it difficult to relax)? Is there something causing distraction (outside noises)?

Having a solid, consistent night time routine helps children to settle down. For us it's... bath, book, music (same CD - baby einstein lullabies since he was a newborn) and bed with a few minutes of snuggles.

Cut TV watching at least an hour before bedtime.

White noise helps block out distractions. We have an air purifier that makes a nice quiet hum.

Good luck

[texmati]

i have trouble sleeping, and I like to have a couple blankets on me-- you can find really heavyweight cotton blankets at stores (especially with fall coming up.).

It drives DH nuts because then I like to have the fan on.

[Mackenzie]

Originally Posted by texmati

i have trouble sleeping, and I like to have a couple blankets on me-- you can find really heavyweight cotton blankets at stores (especially with fall coming up.).

It drives DH nuts because then I like to have the fan on.

there are many very heavy feeling non weighted blankets...

and to the fan... drives my spouse bsc...

[mysticmomma]

Do you have an Asian or African market near you? Can you look online for woven blankets? My dad brought one home from mexico and it is heavy but not too hot. I love to have it on me when I'm not feeling well. The pressure is like one long hug.

[Village Mama]

We have shrunken a wool blanket from the thrift store, folded it in half with a folded regular sheet or flannel sheet sandwiched in between... then I place it all in a twin or toddler bed sized duvet cover sewn to size. We do have one wonderful weighted blanket that was gifted to us, but sometimes the boys both need thier own.... so that is what we rigged up! We use the same technique to make heavy draft stoppers between the used rooms and the cold rooms in winter... when taking it down in the spring it just seemed like the perfect weighted blanket alternative!

[caedmyn]

I'll check out our blanket stash and see if I can find a nice heavy one.

I have tried various bedtime routines but he is on the go so much that they don't really do any good. Even if I can get him to sit on my lap and read a couple of books, if I put him down for a second after that he's racing down the hall, or bouncing on the bed, or sliding down the stairs...he's just perpetual motion. We don't have a TV and we do use a fan in the bedroom.

[SpottedFoxx]

You can also stack a few blankets inside of a duvet cover for weight. Just make sure the room is cool as it's not good to get overheated when sleeping and could just make for more sleeping issues.