weighted blanket?

Post Reply New Topic

Oh well.

Do you know why feeling weighted down feels so good to aspies?

That should work fine.

I used lots of Velcro and lots of cut off blue jean legs for pockets, aquarium gravel for weight. Velcro and tarp rivets for the denim worked great. Something metal would make a better weight because of the extra density. I was making a blanket for a 4 yr old, so a better way to make the weight pockets for a queen size would save some time.

I had never heard of a weighted blanket before but this sounds wonderful... I wish I could find one. I don't think I'm up to making one as described. I like to wedge myself against the wall rolled up as tight as possible, but in my current room there is nowhere where you can put the side of the bed against the wall, and it is an upstairs room so it is really hot in the summer with as many blankets as I would like (no AC here).

When I lived with my parents (cooler, and downstairs) I would pile on as many blankets as I could including a really heavy wool one (unfortunately I'm allergic to wool so it made me sneeze and I couldn't touch it) and my mother was always afraid I would suffocate. If you are not allergic to wool this might be a good option... this was actually a wool rug and it was pretty heavy. I would ask her to roll me up in the blankets and tuck the top one down. I always slept much more peacefully this way...otherwise I toss and turn a lot. I currently wedge my many pillows around me and on top of me but it doesnt help that much. Ideal is if I can wedge up against someone in my sleep and have them act as the weighted blanket... not an option at the moment though . Maybe I'll try to find a really heavy but not wool rug.

I have never heard of a weighted blanket, either, before reading stuff about aspergers, autism and so forth. I have always needed a heavy blanket to fall asleep, and I sometimes believe that I need something even heavier. I also sleep in a really cold room with a fan not too far away. I also have the air conditioner turned up full, sometimes when it's seventy degrees outside. It can get quite cold where I have known to wake up with a slight sore throat. I don't know if that's good or not, though I have sinus problems to begin with.

It's strange though, because when I'm awake, and when I'm walking around the house, I'm nearly naked. I wear shorts, and run around without a shirt much of the time, even in the winter. I hate a lot of clothes, but when I sleep, I have a need for snugging up in something, but I generally sleep with very little clothes on otherwise.

- Ray M -

I had a weighted vest when I was little I don't remmember much about it other than that the weights were lead(it was the 70's nobody seemed that consered about lead poisoning then) and it felt great to have on. I did not have a weight blanket then but just used lots of them and did the wedge inbetween the bed and the wall thing

I find that a bed throw draped over my quilt works really well. I also find it hard to sleep without pressure, and I sleep a lot better on nights when I have the throw on my bed (unfortunately I am even more sensitive to heat than pressure, so when it's too hot I have to sleep without it, although still always with at least my quilt). I also sleep right at the edge of the mattress, although that doesn't seem to be to do with anything other than the fact that I just find it most comfortable.

My mom always slept with her head nearly underneath the blanket with just her nose and top of her head out. I found myself doing that too. In fact, I tried sleeping completely under the blanket but couldn't breathe that way. Lately I've noticed I tried to put my pillow on top of my head but it's not quite right. I'm definately sleeping SO much better since it's not hot and I can pull my comfortor over me. Maybe I should try simulating a weighted blanket and see if it helps. If so, I might go to the trouble of making or buying one.

As another asked.. I wonder why people with AS like this sort of thing? I cant think of any logical reason for it.. any ideas?

The same reason AS can sometimes dislike light touch but can handle strong touch. To the hypersensitive, the light touch is like a tickle, a distraction to an oversensitive mind. Heavy touch is more like a flood and doesn't annoy as much. I imagine having strong sensations flooding the mind is soothing and keeps us from being annoyed or distracted.

I think it's kind of like how some who are sensitive to certain annoying sounds are soothed by having a fan running or something that produces soft white noise.

Ah that makes sense.. and yes I also sleep with a fan running

You can hardly see me when I sleep sometimes all the way under the blankets usally with many pillows, one has to be over my head even in the summer

Whoah, I can't cope with this idea at all!

I'm often very warm - my body seems to be slightly hotter than average and I feel very uncomfortable if I'm wrapped up tight in anything. Plus I like to be able to move around in the night - if I can't I feel claustrophobic and tend to get cramp in my legs.

I have one of those 'body bag'-shaped lightweight sleeping bags and it's far too restrictive - I really don't like it. I normally sleep alone in a double bed. I'm 6' tall and beds are invariably 6' long, but of course you don't sleep with your head right up against the wall, so very often I end up with my feet hooked around the end of the mattress.

It's nice being able to roll onto cold pillows if I get too hot.

I am looking for a girlfriend with very cold feet as my exes have inevitably left me feeling unbearably warm. It's bloody awful when you love someone but can't sleep in contact with them for fear of burning up.

I sleep with three sleeping bags, two quilts and a blanket.

But when you walk into the room it is about 15 degrees colder than the rest of the house. See I got fed up with the central heating noise and i attacked it so it no longer works.

LOL?

My schizo dad had quite a cruel sense of humor. He would go out on the concrete balcony barefoot in the winter and smoke a cig. Then he'd get right into bed with my stepmother and shove his feet right up against her. I'd hear the bloodcurdling scream from the other side of the apartment and think he was stabbing her to death.

Heh, well I'm the opposite! I'd love to meet a girl who is naturally quite cool and would appreciate a human radiator

found more websites with directions on making blankets...
http://www.myweightedblankets.com/make_your_own

http://specialchildren.about.com/od/the ... apydiy.htm

here's the address for the site we ordered our blankets from~ they've held up great, and best of all, both aspies in the home were able to select from a large variety of fabrics for the blanket to be made of......http://www.saltoftheearthweightedgear.com/