You are here:

Autism/Weighted blankets question

Advertisement

Expert: - 12/7/2010


Question
Greetings!

First off the bat, I am not autistic. However, I came across weighted blankets via learning about autism, and realized that they posed a solution to my personal need of piling on multiple blankets in order to sleep, only to wind up kicking them off because I get too hot. (I've been known to drag bags of dog food into my room and put them on the bed to sleep under them for the weight.)

I was preparing to order a weighted blanket when I saw all the different weights. The site said to contact my doctor as to what weight is best... I don't have a doctor. I don't want to order one too heavy, nor too light, but I'm not sure how to go about figuring out a decent weight.

I'm 25, 200 lbs, and the blanket I'm contemplating is 48" X 64". Is 25-30 lbs too much, or is that a decent starting point. Do you have any advice?

Thank you very much in advance. ^_^  

Answer
It's more a matter of what feels best to you. I am not an Occupational Therapist or expert on sensory processing disorders, but the rule of thumb I've heard is weighted blankets at about 10% of the person's body weight and weighted vests at around 4%. But I've known children who react favorably to less or even far more.

A 25 - 30 pound blanket is over the 10% guideline for your body weight, but since you like the feel of dog food bags, you might find the extra weight comforting.

Some people who enjoy weighted products also like the sensations of pressure from sitting in bean bag chairs or wearing snug, neoprene-type vests such as these: http://www.southpawenterprises.com/Bear-Hugs-P837.aspx Ankle or wrist weights may work for you as well. You can also drape velcroed ankle weights across your lap or over your shoulders.

Here's a video clip of Dr. Temple Grandin's squeeze machine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxIHMI0lE1I and information on how she builds hers http://www.grandin.com/inc/squeeze-10.html

It is definitely not only people with autism spectrum disorders who benefit from the pressure of weights.

Dr. Sharon A. Mitchell

Autism

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Dr. Sharon A. Mitchell

Expertise

Sharon can help with parenting and educational concerns. She has worked in teaching, special education, counseling and consultingfor over thirty years and gives workshops to educators and parents on working with kids with autism spectrum disorders. Sharon speaks from both the education and parent points of view, having a son with Asperger's.

Experience

Sharon is a special education consultant with a school district and autism consult for the province's Department of Education, giving workshops and individual consults. She is also the parent of a son with Asperger's who is away at university. Together they have a website at http://www.autismsite.ca that offers strategies for home and school. Sharon's Master's thesis looked at the long-term outlook for persons with high functioning autism and Asperger's. Her Doctorate focused on strategies to help those with autism spectrum disorders

Organizations
Website at http://www.autismsite.ca and sits on Autism Today's Panel of Experts (www.autismtoday.com)

Publications
Author of "School Daze" ebook - a novel about autism, available on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/School-Daze-ebook/dp/B0085HN9HQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337999263&sr=8-1). Download a free sample at http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/156913. Co-author of Amazon.com bestseller, The Official Autism 101 Manual (http://autism101manual.com/).

Education/Credentials
B.A. in Psychology, B.Ed. in Special Education, M.A. in Educational Leadership PhD. in Psychology Management, specializing in autism.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.