[Ell-Bell]

I'm making a weighted blanket for a 6 year old. I need some help with the logistics. I was planning on making it 6 pounds. Should I distribute that throughout the whole blanket, or would that just be wasted over the edges where it won't be over her body? Would an unfilled border be good? Also, how large are the squares? Just wondering if I enclose the beads in like 4x4 inch squares that would be enough, or if it would be lumpy. Maybe I should make the squares smaller.

Any advice?

 

[twilight girl]

I have no answers, only questions! I would like to make one for my 6.5 year old. How do I make it? I actually have a smallish duvet and cover that I could use for this, I would just need to sew weights onto it, and then put the duvet cover over it.

What does one use for weights? I can also make a blanket from scratch ... I just don´t know what to use for weights.

And what is a good weight (#) to use?

 

[twilight girl]

found this:

http://www.fraser.org/tip_sheets/weighted_blanket.pdf

 

[Ell-Bell]

That's a complicated one!

It looks cool, but I'm going more simple- making it this way: http://mommysews.blogspot.com/2007/0...d-blanket.html I'm using poly beads (you can get them at the craft store near the stuffing...) because they are washable. They're expensive, though! $8 for 2 pounds.

 

[chantald]

I made one that was 6lbs for my son. I did it so that it had squares in it to hold the beads and I did distribute the beads evenly throughout to make 6lbs.. as he often would lay under the sides and not the middle.

It cost me nearly as much in materials ($50 in materials alone) and a whole lot in time (a week of sewing when I could) as the one I just ordered from Salt of the Earth weighted products. That came recently, an 8lb one..love it!

 

[emamum]

sorry... whats a weighted blanket?

 

[jewelsJZ]

A weighted blanket is literally a blanket with weights sewn into it to provide pressure for kids who need that type of sensory input. Very comforting and calming to them. There are also weighted vests and lap pads.

 

[BellinghamCrunchie]

6 pounds seems awfully light. I made a 15-pound one for my 2 year old. But I guess it depends on how its spread out.

I used rice because it was much cheaper, and made a cover that could be removed and washed.

I did 3 x 4 inch squares - the longer height for each square made it easier to sew that last seam once the rice was inside (got to have room to squish the filling out of the way of the sewing needle) - seemed to work fine.

I made pockets all the way to the edge and didn't leave a border. Either way seems fine. What I liked about having it filled all the way to the edge, though, was that I could fold it over and have it evenly twice as heavy. But I guess you could still do that.

 

[twilight girl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BellinghamCrunchie 6 pounds seems awfully light. I made a 15-pound one for my 2 year old. But I guess it depends on how its spread out.

The site I linked to above said this:

You will need fill equaling approximately five percent of the child's weight, not to exceed 15 percent.

 

[Mahre]

I am making a weighted blanket for my son. Everything I have read says to make the blanket 5% of the body weight and to distribute the weight evenly. It does take a long time to make! I bought poly pellets off ebay and spent $20 on 10lbs. After all that work I am not going to use rice that will take on moisture over time and spoil and difficult to really clean blanket. It is a LOT of work. I found a lot of research on how to make it on the internet. I am excited to get it done for my son to try!