Did a weighted blanket help?

[Thing1Thing2]

NAK

I'm wondering if anything will help my fidgety DS with SPD settle down for naps and nightime.

We cant really afford the extra expense of a weighted blanket, but if it would help him, we will find a way to work it into the budget. Wondering if anyone with experience can let me know if it has worked for you. Also if anyone knows where to find an inexpensive one that would help too.

[goobergrl6]

Nope. We tried to use one once during the sensory evaluation and he FREAKED! He did not like feeling trapped I don't think. 

Lisa

[Thing1Thing2]

I think my DS might freak too! He doesn't like any sort of heavy comforters on him, so I'm not sure if the weighted blanket would feel the same.

Just wish I could help him to stop jumping and fidgeting so that he can calm down for bedtime.

Any ideas?

[Village Mama]

You could try a little weighted lap pillow to see if he likes things with extra weight. My fidgety son likes to put one on his head! Think of something like a magic bag thingy.... the ones you can heat up in the microwave? We find them at thrift stores all of the time. For us , it was a good indicator when he enjoyed that type of pressure. Both of my boys really ended up enjoying the weighted blanket.

[Roar]

It was a HUGE help. Fantastic. If your child doesn't like deep pressure though it may not be good for him.

We made our own with sheets and polypellets. It was inexpensive and just an afternoon. If you have a sewing machine or a friend who might help you with her machine it isn't that big of an undertaking.

[Tigerle]

We tried beanbags on our DS and he immediately said they were too heavy. He always hated the pressure stuff at OT too (be rolled up in a mat and stuf like that). He liked having a warmed-up cherry pit pillow on his stomach though. So far, lying down with him, sticking his feet between our legs, throwing a heavy arm over him and just generally providing as much contact as we can has helped most. We also put the bean bag at his feet so there isn't an empty bed there. For now, one of us still makes the time for it every night, and we hope we can gradually wean him off. Sometimes he just appears to need to "talk himself out", too and sometimes he needs a stern "no more talking, no more fidgeting or I do not believe you do actually want to sleep and I'll leave you to fidget"  talk (this has only worked for the last year or so, before, that threat used to freak him out, but he can handle it now and has learned he does have some control). 

[crunchy_mommy]

One thing that tends to help us is a lot of very active play immediately before bed (jumping on the bed, rolling around, airplane rides, flips, etc.) It's so counter-intuitive to me because I really need a lot of wind-down time myself, but somehow all that movement calms him. I haven't tried a weighted blanket (too expensive) -- I have found DS likes his feet uncovered and usually no blanket too. He likes to be cuddled for a few minutes and then he rolls away & goes to sleep. He also does best if I keep the lights bright all evening and then turn them off (no low lighting to wind down by). He needs to talk a lot, but I try not to respond to him -- "I am going to stop talking now, so if you ask me a question I won't respond anymore." He's started being scared of the dark, though, which is putting a wrench in things...

[insidevoice]

A weighted blanket is actually a pretty easy sewing project if you have some very basic comfort with a sewing machine.  The sleeping bag idea works well for us as well but it's a different sort of input.  

Also, hanging a hammock for sleeping in can work out well for kids who need  movement and pressure. 

[APToddlerMama]

If you want to try it to see if it helps, you could take a big pillow case, sew about five vertical lines in it.  Then you fill the bottom with whatever weight you want (we used those little glass stones from Target), a couple of inches.  Then sew a horizontal line to keep them in.  Fill again a few inches.  Sew again.  Fill again, sew again.  I made one in less than an hour for DS and it was pretty cheap too.  If he likes it you could make a bigger one. 

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by BonnieNova 

I think my DS might freak too! He doesn't like any sort of heavy comforters on him, so I'm not sure if the weighted blanket would feel the same.

Just wish I could help him to stop jumping and fidgeting so that he can calm down for bedtime.

Any ideas?

You could try a "mummy" style sleeping bag.

http://www.google.com/search?q=child+mummy+sleeping+bag&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

I'd also consider brushing and joint compressions.

Wilbarger Brushing Protocol: Who Can Do It?

Google: occupational therapy brushing program

[Thing1Thing2]

NAK - DS actually asked me for a massage last night before bed, and I think it helped. We used to give him massages every night, but he didn't seem to enjoy them and there was always alot of fidgeting and squirming when we applied pressure. Funny that he is suddenly asking for a massage.

The OT he's been working with has also taught us how to apply pressure to his chest and back and rub downward. He has always squirmed during that as well. I'm going to try that again tonight at bedtime and see if it helps.

I think I'm going to try the idea about the pillowcase with the glass beads mentioned by APtoddlermama. It seems easy enough to make, even though I'm no expert at sewing.

Emmeline, the OT has mentioned "brushing" a few times to us. I think she started that with DS last week. It might be good for us to try it at home as well. Thanks for the info.

Crunchy Mommy, my little guy likes to talk at night too. But to me, I feel like it's more "obsessing" than talking. last night he went on and on about which toys he wants us to buy him at the store. When he would finish his list, he would start all over again and go on about the same toys. I will have to try the "mama is going to bed now" thing and see how he does.