Don’t want to jinx this but...WOOOHOOO | ADHD Information

Today was the THIRD day on a row that DS earn ALL his smiley faces on the school behavior chart!!  I don't think it was a coincidence that I started putting him to bed with a weighted blanket....and sleep has always been a huge issue for him. 

Just wanted to share the good news....just read it quietly or it might jinx him!

not making any comment  (my lips are sealed)

Can I ask about the weighted blanket though, I have never heard about it.

He finish the week with all smiley faces!  He earned some special spiderman pjs and we called the grandparents.....it was such a big deal!

The weighted blanket is a tool Occupational Therapists use for kids with Sensory Processing Disorder. (I'm no expert, so I can only tell you about my experience).  We've been using Melatonin for 2 years to help him fall asleep and the weighted blanket we added to help him stay asleep.  It pretty much just a blanket with some weight added to it.  From what I've read you want to stay add the equivalent of 7% of the child's weight to the blanket.  You can buy them (can be expensive) or make them.  I think most have pockets with river bed sand, as its rounded and won't rip the fabric, or ceramic beads.  I'm sure there are tons of other things used to.  My DS is Sensory Seeking type, so you get the talk-talk-talking and the bumping-crashes, touching everyithing constant motion etc.  So for him he'd go to sleep, but never got into deep sleep (he had awful sleep apnea and did have his adenoids/tonsils removed) so this was the last thing I could think to do.....I'm just not willing to get a script for sleep yet. 

Anyway, hope this helps  (sorry for the delay, but I had finals last week and with the storm here, and DH out of town I assumed plow duty)

Just a quick question about the weighted blanket.  Would love to know what it is used for- what the philosophy is... My youngest (age 4- dx pdd-nos- and probably will be dx adhd eventually) uses a weighted vest in school on the advice of the occupational therepist- and it is helpful.  The OT says he is using his muscles just as you would in resistence excericise and it is a good channeling of energy.  We also do the wheelbarrow (hold is feet, he walks on his hands) and am teaching him the downward dog yoga pose, as additional resistence activities.  They seem to help him, reduce fidgeting and self stimulation behaviors have decreased somewhat.

KidsInSpace39433.5158680556Comming from somone who is on a first name basis with most of the school administration, I HEAR YA!!!!  Those kinds of trends really feel great. 

gbfe

ommas39765.5602546296PLEASE tell me more about the weighted blanket? We've ALWAYS had sleep issues here and I'd love to find other alternatives.