A weighted blanket can help calm a child with special needs.
A weighted blanket has been found to comfort an adult or child with special needs, autism or who has problems sleeping at night. The blanket is often recommended by an occupational therapist. According to the Autism Society, the pressure provided by the weighted blanket helps calm the user, allowing the body to relax and sleep This blanket can be sewn together with easily found materials and features pockets that allow the weight of the blanket to be increased as a child grows.
Instructions
1. Cut the cotton fabric into 32 pocket squares measuring 4 inches square.
2. Cut 32 4-inch pieces of hook-and-loop tape and sew the hook side to one edge of each square.
3. Cut the hook-and-loop tape 45 inches wide. Sew the hook portion of the tape to one 45-inch-wide edge of one blanket and the loop portion of the tape to the other blanket's edge.
4. Arrange the pocket squares on one of the blankets, distributed evenly on the same side as the long hook-and-loop tape.
5. Use straight pins to mark the 4-inch loop side of the tape for each pocket attachment. Sew the tapes to the blanket where marked.
6. Sew the pocket squares to the blanket on the pocket's three sides, leaving the hook-and-loop tape side open.
7. Fill the pockets with dried peas or beans. Secure the pockets closed by pressing the hook-and-loop tape together.
8. Sew the two blankets together on three sides using a 1/2-inch seam, with the pockets located between the blankets. Leave the edge with the hook-and-loop tape open.
9. Close the top of the weighted blanket by pressing the hook-and-loop tape. Add more beans or peas as the child grows.
Tags: hook-and-loop tape, weighted blanket, pocket squares, with special needs, child grows, child with, child with special