We have plenty of weighted items in our house some are store bought, others are homemade and our weighted blanket was made by a local Hutterite woman. I wish I had the talent and time to do a sewing project but unfortunately I do not have either. There are a lot of ideas on Pinterest for all skill levels but be warned you will find lots of ideas and will probably end up spend hours browsing. I am always saving new ideas to my Pinterest boards.
The first step you should do is figure out the correct weight to use for your weighted items.
Weighted item such as a lap pad or animal should be 5% of a person's body weight. Example: 80 lb child would use a 4 lb weighted item such as a lap pad or animal.
Weighted blankets follow the rule of 10% of a person's body weight plus 1-2 lbs. Example: 80 lb child would use an 8-10 lb weighted blanket.
Weighted teddy bear (this was my first project and fairly simple)
Supplies:
Large teddy bear
Poly pellets
Ziploc bags
Packing tape
Step 1: Divide poly pellets into equal amounts and place in Ziploc bags, as a precaution I also taped the bags shut.
Step 2: Open the seam of the teddy bear and place the bags with the poly pellets in the teddy bear, make sure distribute the weight as equally as possible. I placed most of the weight in the body of the teddy bear.
Step 3: Sew the teddy bear back up.
Step 4: Use the teddy bear and enjoy
Weighted lap pad (I made this one when Artist was into duct tape and going through rolls of it weekly)
Supplies:
Rice
Duct tape
Ziploc bags
Below is a link to another blog that shows a great example of how to make this lap pad, lots of pictures are included. You can also make it the size you want and use different colored and patterned duct tape.
http://otinpublicschools.blogspot.ca/2014/12/rice-duct-tape-baggies-thats-all-you.html
Small weighted lap pad (This one works great for our youngest as a lap pad and for the rest of us for our shoulders or as a heating pad)
Fuzzy sock
rice or beans
ribbon
Step 1: Fill sock with rice or beans about 3/4 of the way.
Step 2: Tie sock with ribbon to seal closed.
Step 3: Roll the top of the sock down to cover the ribbon.
Step 4: If using rice you can warm in the microwave it up for added comfort.
Below is two projects I want to complete in the next couple of months, I'll keep you posted as to how they go.
http://parentingchaos.com/how-to-make-a-weighted-tie-blanket/
http://lemonlimeadventures.com/simple-calming-weighted-lap-pad-cant-sit-still/
I'm not sure if I'm going to make this project with a mermaid pillow case or a soft pillow case as Baby Boy does not like a mermaid pillow we own and is often trying to throw it away but yet Artist loves the mermaid pillow.
Weighted items can be used by all members of a family, I find it usefully to use for myself when my legs are hurting at night. I try my best to always have a weighted item with us at all times as you never know when you might need one. You can even use a backpack filled with books or anything to add weight to the bag and carry it around.
The first step you should do is figure out the correct weight to use for your weighted items.
Weighted item such as a lap pad or animal should be 5% of a person's body weight. Example: 80 lb child would use a 4 lb weighted item such as a lap pad or animal.
Weighted blankets follow the rule of 10% of a person's body weight plus 1-2 lbs. Example: 80 lb child would use an 8-10 lb weighted blanket.
Weighted teddy bear (this was my first project and fairly simple)
Supplies:
Poly pellets
Seam ripper
Needle threadZiploc bags
Packing tape
Step 1: Divide poly pellets into equal amounts and place in Ziploc bags, as a precaution I also taped the bags shut.
Step 2: Open the seam of the teddy bear and place the bags with the poly pellets in the teddy bear, make sure distribute the weight as equally as possible. I placed most of the weight in the body of the teddy bear.
Step 3: Sew the teddy bear back up.
Step 4: Use the teddy bear and enjoy
Weighted lap pad (I made this one when Artist was into duct tape and going through rolls of it weekly)
Rice
Duct tape
Ziploc bags
Below is a link to another blog that shows a great example of how to make this lap pad, lots of pictures are included. You can also make it the size you want and use different colored and patterned duct tape.
http://otinpublicschools.blogspot.ca/2014/12/rice-duct-tape-baggies-thats-all-you.html
Small weighted lap pad (This one works great for our youngest as a lap pad and for the rest of us for our shoulders or as a heating pad)
Fuzzy sock
rice or beansribbon
Step 1: Fill sock with rice or beans about 3/4 of the way.
Step 2: Tie sock with ribbon to seal closed.
Step 3: Roll the top of the sock down to cover the ribbon.
Step 4: If using rice you can warm in the microwave it up for added comfort.
Below is two projects I want to complete in the next couple of months, I'll keep you posted as to how they go.
http://parentingchaos.com/how-to-make-a-weighted-tie-blanket/
http://lemonlimeadventures.com/simple-calming-weighted-lap-pad-cant-sit-still/
I'm not sure if I'm going to make this project with a mermaid pillow case or a soft pillow case as Baby Boy does not like a mermaid pillow we own and is often trying to throw it away but yet Artist loves the mermaid pillow.
Weighted items can be used by all members of a family, I find it usefully to use for myself when my legs are hurting at night. I try my best to always have a weighted item with us at all times as you never know when you might need one. You can even use a backpack filled with books or anything to add weight to the bag and carry it around.