Kids With ADHD Could See Benefits Of Using Weighted Blankets, Helps Calm Them Down

Many swear by the benefits of weighted blankets which has been all the rage the past couple of years for its calming effects. The trend is picking up not just for adults but kids too. Good Housekeeping elaborates on the benefits of these heavy blankets saying that they have a calming effect, they can improve sleep and relieve stress. More importantly, they even feel like a hug! "Deep touch pressure is one of the primary kinds of sensory information that is calming and organizing to our sensory nervous system," shared Teresa May-Benson, occupational therapist and executive director of the Spiral Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to research and education on sensory integration. She said that the pressure of weighted blankets and deep touch pressure, in general, is a pretty universally calming sensation. Those who've tried it also rave about it. Lexie Sachs, Director of the Textiles Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute said she uses hers to sleep better at night. "With a weighted blanket, I notice that I sleep more deeply and don't wake up in the middle of the night as often." There's a different type of weighted blanket based on weight, size, material, and price for everyone! 

If you're wondering how beneficial these are for your kids hear it from one mom herself. Cristina Margolis penned down her story in an article for POPSUGAR of how her young daughter who has ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), found comfort in her weighted blanket. Cristina noted: When my daughter is feeling overwhelmed with emotion, she grabs her weighted blanket and lays it on top of her. The pressure she feels from the blanket's weight makes her relaxed and calm, like she's getting a big hug. The science behind using a weighted blanket is that it causes the brain to release serotonin, a hormone that gives you a calming feeling. She goes on to say that the weighted blanket helps her cope with her powerful emotions, and it also helps provide a soothing quality of sleep. Those with ADHD often find it a struggle to fall asleep as their minds and bodies are often racing at a fast pace. The blanket is said to have helped drift off to the land of Zzzs a lot faster than she would have without it. 

According to TODAY, Heather Forst, an occupational therapist at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare in Saint Paul, Minnesota, said, “Kids who experience stress or anxiety in different situations, or who struggle to fall asleep at night, may find a weighted blanket useful." The pressure they offer may help children with ADHD remain focused when doing schoolwork, and might aid those diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, she added. You can get the Sweetzer & Orange Weighted Blanket for Kids, it comes in kid-friendly 5 and 7-pound sizes, suitable for little ones who weigh more than 42 pounds. But always check with your child’s paediatrician before making the purchase. One Amazon customer reviewed the blanket, saying: I’ve been kicking myself, as to why it took me so long to get a weighted blanket for my autistic 5-year-old daughter and my sensory seeking son. My daughter hasn’t slept through the night in years and I couldn’t believe she slept for 10 hours straight on the first NIGHT using this weighted blanket! I’ve researched high and low for a kids weighted blanket that is WASHABLE because we all know kids spill stuff or have accidents at night and this is the only kids weighted blanket on Amazon that I’ve come across that is washable. Cover is so soft and the sleepy animal prints are adorable. Buy this weighted blanket, you will not be disappointed!!! It works!!! Best item I bought on amazon EVER! Make the investment in your child’s life! You will see a difference in their sleeping pattern. Tammy S. shared:My 8 year old grand daughter has trouble shutting her brain off so she can get a good nights rest. She hasn't taken a nap in years. She was diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago. I had heard about these blankets and the calming effects they have on kids with ADHD, autism etc...too expensive for my daughter to purchase, so I thought I'd get her one..hoping it would help her sleep better. My daughter said she got the blanket Christmas Day, crawled under it and took her first nap in years and slept for 3 hours. She is sleeping better than she has for quite some time...hope it stays that way! So far the best money I have spent.