Weighted Vest...He hates it!

[blessed.mommy]

 Is there anyway I can get my DS to wear his weighted vest? Everytime I try to get him to wear it, he screams and cries and eventually takes it off. I think he wore it for a total of 2 minutes today. It was purchased by the public school and almost seems a lil big for him. Shouldn't it be close body fitting? Not form fitting, but it seems to fall of one shoulder. 

[The artist]

Just throwing it out there, but maybe you could see if there were a time you guys could visit the police station and get a tiny tour. The policeman or woman could show him their special vests that they wear to protect them, how they work out with weights to give them big muscles, and how cool your son's vest is - how much it's like their own. I bet they have police stickers to put on it would love to help you talk him into it. Worth a shot perhaps.

[OTMomma]

If your son is only 3, it maybe that they purchased him the smallest size they could, and that it is still too big.  Can you use safety pins to adjust it some, so that it fits better?  Another thought- can you try doing some deep pressure activities before you put it on him?  Like tight hugging, jumping up and down, rolling on the floor,  or if this makes no sense, ask the therapist that gave you the vest to show you how to do join compressions on him. 

Actually, if he wears it for 2 minutes today, 3 minutes tomorrow, and keeps increasing by just one minute each day, its OK- in a month he'll be wearing it for 30 minutes!  And 30 minutes is a long time for a 3 year old.  I'm not sure what the goal is for how long the therapist recommended he wear it- 2 times a day for 15 minutes may be a more realistic goal for him to be doing in a month.

Hope this helps a bit!

[blessed.mommy]

Originally Posted by The artist 

Just throwing it out there, but maybe you could see if there were a time you guys could visit the police station and get a tiny tour. The policeman or woman could show him their special vests that they wear to protect them, how they work out with weights to give them big muscles, and how cool your son's vest is - how much it's like their own. I bet they have police stickers to put on it would love to help you talk him into it. Worth a shot perhaps.

This sounds like a great idea. I'm not sure if he'd understand it..but it sounds fun! Like a field trip!

Originally Posted by OTMomma 

If your son is only 3, it maybe that they purchased him the smallest size they could, and that it is still too big.  Can you use safety pins to adjust it some, so that it fits better?  Another thought- can you try doing some deep pressure activities before you put it on him?  Like tight hugging, jumping up and down, rolling on the floor,  or if this makes no sense, ask the therapist that gave you the vest to show you how to do join compressions on him. 

Actually, if he wears it for 2 minutes today, 3 minutes tomorrow, and keeps increasing by just one minute each day, its OK- in a month he'll be wearing it for 30 minutes!  And 30 minutes is a long time for a 3 year old.  I'm not sure what the goal is for how long the therapist recommended he wear it- 2 times a day for 15 minutes may be a more realistic goal for him to be doing in a month.

Hope this helps a bit!

Thanks so much. This sounds like a great plan and makes a lot of sense to ease him into wearing the vest.

[Rose-Roget]

I'm just curious whether it's meeting his sensory needs if he hates it that much.  Unfortunately, things that work for some, or even most, kids don't work for all kids.  I'd talk to his OT. 

Maybe a weighted lap pad would work better.  Or a tight-fitting, stretchy t-shirt (like Sensational t-shirts).  I don't know your child, but there may be some work-arounds here to get to the same desired effect. :)

[Polliwog]

Or something around his neck.

[KCMichigan]

I had a 3 yr old (now 5) that had the same initial reaction....but (like brushing therapy) she grew to ask for it. She STILL sleeps with a weighted blanket for sensory reasons.

It took some initial getting used to and we had an increase in behaviors at first- I was frustrated, but the OT said it was normal. After a few weeks she would put it on herself.

Brushing/compressions were the same way. Resistance at first, but then asking for the brush and/or squeezes.

Now at 5, we use tight clothes (leotards) under her regular clothing and /or  her weighted blanket (on her lap or when sleeping).

We did therapudic listening (twice) and she never really got used to it and fought it. That was tough- but it DID seems to help.

I would gradually increase the time and also pair it with something pleasurable (for our DD it was a snack) so that it is a positive experience. I , also , would as about alternative therapies--- brushing, tight clothes, wraps (we wrapped DD legs/arms in ace bandages for sensory reasons), heavy work, etc if he does not adapt to the weighted vest.

[blessed.mommy]

Thanks ladies. :) I'm going to talk to his OT tomorrow and see what she says. We tried a lil bean doggie that you wear around your neck. He didn't like it, but would take it to bed with him. He doesn't like the best, (did ok with the brush techniques/compressions).

I'll check out the t-shirts too.

[briannas auntie]

I have seen on Samons Preston website they have weighted lap pads that are shaped like an aligator or dinosaur (I can't remember).  He might like that better.