Re: Off topic - weighted blankets.

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathi,

My son has DD, and at one time his OT suggested a weighted blanket. Yes they

were pretty expensive. But she suggested making one. (I never got around to

it and now he doesn't need it). She said to use any heavyweight

material...maybe even an old blanket. and fill it with beans or something for

the weight...Sounds strange but Just a suggestion..LOL

Rhonda

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 09/06/2001 11:38:46 AM US Mountain Standard Time,

kathie0553@... writes:

> I have looked in the Southpaw catalog, and I've found

> the weighted blanked, 30 " by 58 " for $72.00. My

> question is two fold, first has anyone had luck with a

> weighted blanket in similar situations? Second, has

> anyone found one for cheaper, or a way to make their

> own? $72.00 seems a bit expensive to me.

>

> Feel free to contact me directly, at

> kathie0553@....

>

I made my son's weighted vest and a weighted 'boppy' type thing. I am making

him a weighted blanket as soon as I can get to the store to get more stuffing.

For the vest, I took the sleeves off an old denim jacket. I opened up the

waistband and filled it with those " Poly-Pellets " that you get from Walmart

or craft stores for weighting down dolls. A friend had used BB's, but they

rust when you wash it, so don't do that. I sewed up the hole that was left

and VOILA. I think it was supposed to equal 5% of the child's body weight

in determining how much weight to add.

For the Boppy thing, mine is HUGE, so that you can use it as a nest or curl

it up for a seat.. I found one similar online for $129 but made mine for less

than $20. Again, fill with a lot of polyfil and poly pellets, totaling 10

lbs, and there you go!

[Guest guest]

great idea

[Guest guest]

>

> I have looked in the Southpaw catalog, and I've found

> the weighted blanked, 30 " by 58 " for $72.00. My

> question is two fold, first has anyone had luck with a

> weighted blanket in similar situations? Second, has

> anyone found one for cheaper, or a way to make their

> own? $72.00 seems a bit expensive to me.

>

> Feel free to contact me directly, at

> kathie0553@....

>

Our OT told us how to make one this week: Buy a single or double quilt

cover, and sew channels into it, similar to a feather quilt. She puts broad

beans in stockings, then slips the stockings into the channels. The bottom

is fastened with buttons or velcro tabs. Then when you want to wash the

blanket, you pull the stockings full of beans out first, and just put them

back once it is clean again.

She has another great idea. Buy a waterbed mattress, double or queen size,

and blow up as much as it can go. You end up with a large. overinflated

pillow, that is heaps of fun for the kids to lie on and get bounced around

on. Lots of good deep pressure therapy. She rang a local bedding store and

asked if they had any old display mattresses for sale, and picked one up for

$30 Australian.

marita