Experiences with Weighted Plush?
I think many of us have heard of weighted blankets for helping to calm autistic people, but what about weighted plush? I recently ordered two weighted plush; One from a company on Amazon, one from a seller on Etsy. They just arrived earlier today! The first is well-made and well sewn, and about 3-4 lbs, and looks like a spotted frog. It's just right for laying on me while lying down, or putting on my lap. The other is smaller, had a little tear that leaked a few of the inside "beads" out, but is otherwise well-sewn, and was easy to stitch up. This one looks like a generic green therapod dinosaur. It's probably about 2-3 lbs. I find them both calming, but the frog more calming. The frog has a nice, soft pettable texture that feels nice in combination with the general firm-ish feel of the plush. It has a stretchy fabric fidget-tongue, but I don't like this feature as much as I thought I would.
Interestingly, however, they bring out certain emotions in me as well, like baby animals do, almost. They feel real, like real baby animals, and are comforting, calming, and altogether very good feeling for me. There's just this subtle feeling of bliss associated with snuggling them, or having them on my lap.
What experiences have others here had with weighted therapy plush?
StarTrekker
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Joined: 22 Apr 2012
Age: 32
Gender: Female
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I made my own weighted bear, I just bought a regular stuffed bear on Amazon, and two pounds of plastic polyfil beads. I unstitched part of the bear's back and removed most of the stuffing from the bottom and legs, replaced it with the beads, then sewed it back up again. It works well when I'm anxious and need something heavy, but not something as big as a weighted blanket, which I also have. I also slid magnets into the paws so it can hug me around the neck, which is nice too.
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"Survival is insufficient" - Seven of Nine
Diagnosed with ASD level 1 on the 10th of April, 2014
Rediagnosed with ASD level 2 on the 4th of May, 2019
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