Weighted Blankets and ADHD: All You Need to Know
By Ori Borchoz
One of the main problems for children with ADHD is that of calming down, which can be a major concern when it comes to time to sleep.
They find it hard to self-regulate, and need help in getting into the calmer state.
For some time now, Occupational Therapists have recommended the weighted blanket as a useful aid when trying to get ADHD kids to sleep.
What is a weighted blanket, and how does it work?
Weighted Blankets Explained
Before we go on, an important point: never give a weighted blanket to a baby or toddler. They are not designed for infants and can be dangerous.
A weighted blanket is just that: it resembles a traditional blanket – and can be made from a variety of materials in various sizes – but inside it contains a series of weights.
These are usually in the form of small pellets, often made from plastic or glass, and they are sealed into the blanket.
These blankets have become very popular in recent years – not just with ADHD children but also with adults who have trouble sleeping – so you will be able to buy one easily.
You can find out more about them at TruHugs who have a range of quality weighted blankets. But, how do they work, and what benefits can you expect?
How Weighted Blankets Work for ADHD Children
The recommendation is that a weighted blanket should be around a tenth of the body weight of the child.
The effect is a blanket that, rather than sitting lightly on top, actually presses lightly down on the body evenly, and that creates a sense of being soothed, or being cossetted.
The blanket is there to create a sense of calm, something that an ADHD child may find difficult to achieve alone.
How it does it is quite interesting, yet very simple. The sense of calmness and protection created by the weight on the body has been shown to reduce the production of a hormone called cortisol. This is known as the ‘stress hormone’ and is often in excess in children dealing with ADHD.
This reduction helps calm the child. In turn, the same effect results in an increase in serotonin – the ‘happy hormone’ – which further enhances the feeling of well-being in the child.
This process is very similar to a routine used by therapists known as ‘deep touch pressure’ therapy; it is basically the stimulation of the ‘right’ chemicals, and the suppression of the ‘wrong’ ones.
The weighted blanket is not guaranteed to work for your ADHD child, but in many cases it has proven to be an invaluable asset when it comes to bed-time!
Some Things to Consider
Weighted blankets come in a wide variety of weights, sizes and fabrics, so you might want to consider the combination your child will be happy with.
It might also be worth talking to a medical professional about the suitability of this method – as we have said, never use them for very small children – so that you can gain further understanding of what they are about, and how to correctly use a weighted blanket to help your child.
Author Bio
Ori Borchoz is content manager of TruHugs.com
The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect all or some of our beliefs and policy. Any links on this page does not necessarily mean they have been endorsed by Defying Mental Illness.
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