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Post by bearmom on Jul 3, 2018 20:46:30 GMT
I just got finished making one for dd. She has anxiety and has never slept well and have read that they help with sleeping.
I was was talking to a co-worker who has one and he loves it. After hearing that, that was my final deciding factor. Dd is kinda excited about it.
My my hope is that helps dd sleep better, which will be one more piece in the puzzle to helping her cope with everything else. Anyone have experience with them that can share positive stories? I hope to hear that my back hurting isn’t in vain.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Jul 3, 2018 20:52:23 GMT
no bona fide experience with them, but I always sleep best under a LOT of blankets, so I think one of those weighted blankets that also does cooling would be nice to have in the summer. I never thought that it might be the weight of the blankets that would actually be what helps me get to sleep.
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J u l e e
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,531
Location: Cincinnati
Jun 28, 2014 2:50:47 GMT
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Post by J u l e e on Jul 3, 2018 20:56:54 GMT
I don't have any experience either, but I was just thinking about them the other day. I had to have X-rays at the dentist and they draped the X-ray apron on me. It is so heavy. I instantly felt like falling asleep (in addition to coming into the air conditioning after being out in the heat).
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Post by bc2ca on Jul 3, 2018 21:08:47 GMT
A girlfriend bought one last year and swears by it. She has always been a restless sleeper/insomnic and a co-worker suggested she look into it.
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pilcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,190 
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Post by pilcas on Jul 3, 2018 21:47:05 GMT
I have never tried them but have heard great things about them. One thing I know is that during the summer months I miss the heaviness of my winter comforter. I can’t sleep with just a bed sheet on top of me, I need to have at least a light comforter.
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bethany102399
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,641
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Post by bethany102399 on Jul 3, 2018 22:58:48 GMT
I have a co-worker whose son has ADHD and has never slept well. The weighted blanket has been a Godsend for them. Finally, he is sleeping through the night and getting the benefits of a full night's rest. One thing to watch out for is as her weight changes, the weight of the blanket needs to change. My co-workers wife had one made and it was interesting hearing the science behind why and how they work, one of the key factors is how much weight they need to have to be effective.
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desertgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,646
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Post by desertgirl on Jul 3, 2018 23:01:14 GMT
I made one for dd for Christmas and she's been using it to assuage her anxiety after work. It's amazing how it works - she uses hers on her couch. I did make one that has a removable cover so she can wash it as needed. I hope yours works as well!
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Post by craftedbys on Jul 3, 2018 23:43:24 GMT
I made one for DD as a Christmas gift last year because of her anxiety she was having trouble sleeping. She just loves it. One of her sorority sisters will go to see DD and curl up under it and nap. She keeps asking me how much I would charge her to make her one.
I really would like to make one for myself and am considering making a lap size blanket as well.
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milocat
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,587
Location: 55 degrees north in Alberta, Canada
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Post by milocat on Jul 3, 2018 23:51:10 GMT
I've been debating getting my DD17 one but they are so expensive and you can't return them if they don't work not from the company's I've seen around here. She has been a horrible sleeper since she was a baby. So it would be worth it if it helped her. I just don't want her to use it a few nights and know right away she doesn't like it and we are out over $200.
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caangel
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,708
Location: So Cal
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Post by caangel on Jul 4, 2018 0:05:08 GMT
I have always used down comforters and duvet covers which I have found to be heavier than what most people use for bed coverings. I find it hard to sleep with blankets and quilts as a covering. We use a down comforter year round.
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Post by paperaddictedpea on Jul 4, 2018 0:06:04 GMT
My co-worker recently bought one and loves it. She has anxiety and sleep issues and says it really helps.
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Post by hockeymom4 on Jul 4, 2018 1:40:08 GMT
Will have to look at one for DD, she also doesn’t sleep well...
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Post by craftedbys on Jul 4, 2018 1:45:08 GMT
My niece swears by one. She is afraid to be alone and can't fall asleep without it. How did you make one? After googling some...Did you use plastic pellets? Did you get them from someplace you would suggest? How did you decide on the total weight you were looking for? I'm seeing 15 lbs. and 20 lbs. What weight did you go for? I used some heavyweight duck cloth that was wide enough (think between 50 and 60 inches) and folded it in half with the fold at the bottom. DD is short, so I think I bought just a bit more than 3 yards. I used heavy duty upholstery thread and sewed the vertical lines every 4 inches or so. The filling was the clear poly pellets. I got them at JoAnn's when they were on sale 40% off. They are regularly 9.99 for a 2 lb bag and you need a blanket that is about 10% of their body weight. My dad helped me with the filler. You have to math and figure out how many squares you are going to end up with and divide by how many ounces of pellets you are using. He would hold the blanket up and I would measure out the pellets. One trick i came up with is to put a wrapping paper tube down the vertical sleeve and then put the funnel on. It kept the pellets from hanging up on the fabric and got them to the bottom. Once we filled all of the slots on one row I sewed the horizontal seam and we filled the next row. It was much easier with two people, especially once it started getting heavy. I was going to use a different fabric for the blanket, i had been working on a flannel blanket and thought i would turn it into a weighted blanket, but a friend suggested to use the flannel as a cover so it could be taken off and washed since it would be incredibly difficult to wash the weighted part. So i ended up ising the duck cloth and made the flannel like a duvet cover. I sewed loops on the cover and added tabs with snaps that thread through the loop and snap closed. I hope this makes sense, let me know if i need to clarify. |
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Post by rst on Jul 4, 2018 1:46:29 GMT
The general rule of thumb for weight is to start with 10% of body weight, up to 20 or 25% at most. One kid with very severe sensory issues had an rx for 30% of weight, but that was pretty unusual in my experience of sewing them for special needs clients.
Plastic pellets make it easiest to wash, and you can find them in bulk online for better prices than craft stores. For doing just a personal project, using a 50 or 60% off coupon at Joann or hobby lobby is probably your cheapest source.
The "poor man's" weighted blanket, which is what I've sewed for therapy patients who have very low income and can't afford a plastic pellet fill, is something like rice or dried beans sewed into evenly spaced channels or squares. You then place the whole thing inside a protective cover, like a pillow case or duvet, that helps reduce the need to launder.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jul 4, 2018 1:53:36 GMT
no bona fide experience with them, but I always sleep best under a LOT of blankets, so I think one of those weighted blankets that also does cooling would be nice to have in the summer. I never thought that it might be the weight of the blankets that would actually be what helps me get to sleep. This is me too. I don’t have one but would be interested to see if it would help me sleep better. I’m way too cheap though to buy one only to find out it doesn’t work for me. |
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Post by craftedbys on Jul 4, 2018 2:10:26 GMT
no bona fide experience with them, but I always sleep best under a LOT of blankets, so I think one of those weighted blankets that also does cooling would be nice to have in the summer. I never thought that it might be the weight of the blankets that would actually be what helps me get to sleep. This is me too. I don’t have one but would be interested to see if it would help me sleep better. I’m way too cheap though to buy one only to find out it doesn’t work for me. Maybe find several heavy quilts and stack them up to get the weighted feeling. |
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Post by eversograceful1 on Jul 4, 2018 3:18:17 GMT
How do you keep from getting hot?
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Post by bazinga on Jul 4, 2018 4:26:02 GMT
I really want to get one, but I'm too poor right now. I wish I had the sewing skills to make one. Maybe I'll ask for one for Christmas.
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Post by SweetieBugs on Jul 4, 2018 4:50:09 GMT
How do you keep from getting hot? |
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kristi11
Shy Member
Posts: 25
Jun 17, 2018 16:37:18 GMT
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Post by kristi11 on Jul 4, 2018 6:03:16 GMT
How do you keep from getting hot? The one I got is two layers of cotton fabric with the pellets inside. It really isn't hot at all and I tend to run warm. I don't use mine a ton because I really don't want to need one more thing to sleep. I keep adding things that I * need * to sleep which doesn't make me an easy traveler for sure! I do enjoy my blanket for watching tv or just relaxing with after a day filled with lots of people. |
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Post by notjstamom on Jul 4, 2018 6:41:00 GMT
I have never tried them but have heard great things about them. One thing I know is that during the summer months I miss the heaviness of my winter comforter. I can’t sleep with just a bed sheet on top of me, I need to have at least a light comforter. Yes!! |
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Jul 4, 2018 8:24:57 GMT
I don't have an actual weighted blanket. But, I heard of them a couple years or so ago.
I received a throw blanket that Christmas, and in my opinion, it was heavier than a usual blanket. It has helped me sleep and now I can't sleep without it.
It was a cannon faux fur blanket throw.
I sleep best in a cold room, with heavier blankets on me.
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wellway
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,042
Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
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Post by wellway on Jul 4, 2018 10:20:59 GMT
This is interesting, I'm passing the info on to a friend who has a child who is anxious.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Jul 4, 2018 11:04:31 GMT
One thing I know is that during the summer months I miss the heaviness of my winter comforter. I can’t sleep with just a bed sheet on top of me, I need to have at least a light comforter. That describes me as well. I sleep best under heavier covers. I don't know that I need or want a 'weighted' blanket, but I do like my thicker covers. In fact, it's July 4th in South Carolina with temps running in the 90s every day and I'm sitting here as usual under a throw blanket while drinking my morning coffee and peaing. |
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Post by bearmom on Jul 4, 2018 11:43:09 GMT
I've been debating getting my DD17 one but they are so expensive and you can't return them if they don't work not from the company's I've seen around here. She has been a horrible sleeper since she was a baby. So it would be worth it if it helped her. I just don't want her to use it a few nights and know right away she doesn't like it and we are out over $200. That is why I made one, it was about $40-$50to make plus 6’ish hours of my time. |
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Post by bearmom on Jul 4, 2018 11:59:40 GMT
My niece swears by one. She is afraid to be alone and can't fall asleep without it. How did you make one? After googling some...Did you use plastic pellets? Did you get them from someplace you would suggest? How did you decide on the total weight you were looking for? I'm seeing 15 lbs. and 20 lbs. What weight did you go for? Based on my coworkers suggestion to use glass beads instead of poly beads (less noise, smaller size). I bought a 25 pound box (younger dd wants one also if older dd likes it) of gals beads from Amazon. I made a blanket that is 63x41 inches (finished size, width was based on 45 inch fabric). Based on recommendations from Pinterest, I went with 6 inch squares, with one side being 5 inches. If I where to do it again, I would go slightly smaller, probably 5 inches. Once I sewed the outside edges, wrong sides together, I turned the fabric righted sides and ironed it. Then I used a chalk tool to mark the vertical lines and sewed those. Then marked all the horizontal lines. For the weight, I kept reading either 10% of ideal body weight plus a pound or not plus a pound. I made a decision to go with 10% of her ideal body weight and not add the extra pound. She is underweight to start with. i divided the weight by the number of squares I had to come up with the weight for each square and used our kitchen scale. To fill, I used PVC pipe and a funnel. I would fill one column and the use straight pins to hold the beads in the bottom 1/2 of each square. Once the entire row was filled, I would run a seam along the chalk mark. It got easier the last few rows when I could keep the blanket on the ironing board to fill each row, much easier on the back. The glass beads are washable and dryable, but I will caution dd on doing it on gentle settings. ETA: I used flannel on one side and cotton broad cloth on the other. I had to be careful to find a tighter weave as the glass beads are smaller than the poly beads. |
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Post by bearmom on Jul 4, 2018 12:02:35 GMT
I have a co-worker whose son has ADHD and has never slept well. The weighted blanket has been a Godsend for them. Finally, he is sleeping through the night and getting the benefits of a full night's rest. One thing to watch out for is as her weight changes, the weight of the blanket needs to change. My co-workers wife had one made and it was interesting hearing the science behind why and how they work, one of the key factors is how much weight they need to have to be effective. Right now she is underweight, so I am hoping that as she gains weight as she comtinues therapy, but I based the weight on her ideal body weight. Hopefully, the weight will be okay for a long time, but something I will keep an eye on. |
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RosieKat
Drama Llama
PeaJect #12
Posts: 5,546
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Post by RosieKat on Jul 4, 2018 15:19:00 GMT
Does anyone have recommendations on where to buy one? I've looked into them in the past and then forgotten, but I really think I need one for DS in particular. Severe ADHD, has a hard time sleeping, definitely craves sensory input, and loves blankets because he's often cold. He's roughly 70-75 pounds.
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Post by SweetieBugs on Jul 4, 2018 15:49:38 GMT
My niece swears by one. She is afraid to be alone and can't fall asleep without it. How did you make one? After googling some...Did you use plastic pellets? Did you get them from someplace you would suggest? How did you decide on the total weight you were looking for? I'm seeing 15 lbs. and 20 lbs. What weight did you go for? Based on my coworkers suggestion to use glass beads instead of poly beads (less noise, smaller size). I bought a 25 pound box (younger dd wants one also if older dd likes it) of gals beads from Amazon. I made a blanket that is 63x41 inches (finished size, width was based on 45 inch fabric). Based on recommendations from Pinterest, I went with 6 inch squares, with one side being 5 inches. If I where to do it again, I would go slightly smaller, probably 5 inches. . |
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Post by needmysanity on Jul 4, 2018 16:33:26 GMT
My 18 year old DS who is on the Spectrum has one. He has always been a child who is calmed by the weighted feeling. When he was little, he was always in a heavy sweatshirt or under a heavy blanket because it calmed him. We decided a while ago to get an actual weighted blanket for him and I know when he has had a rough day because I find him under it. He has a 15pound blanket (125 pound skinny kiddo)
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