Weighted Blankets & Lap Pads

A couple of weeks ago, Mason's occupational therapist suggested Mason use a weighted lap pad to help keep him focussed while doing his homework. She showed me the one they have there at the therapy office and explained that the owner's grandmother had made it. I went home and did a little research only to find that purchasing a weighted lap pad is expensive. $40 for a lap pad that I wasn't sure would do any good. I can sew, right? I could make one. It shouldn't be too hard.

I found a tutorial online on how to make a simple weighted lap pad using a pillowcase. Since I already had some fabric, I figured I'd give it a shot. I went to Hobby Lobby to fing the weights as suggested in the tutorial video I saw. In the end, I was able to make Mason a 2# weighted lap pad for about $25.

I did more research to the benefits of weighted blankets and found that they are often used to help children sleep better. Well, Megan is a crappy sleeper and only sleeps in my bed. She moves constantly and talks all night long. I thought, what the hell. I'll make her a blanket and see if it works. Again, using fabric I already had and getting the weights from Hobby Lobby, I made her a very nice blanket. 

She has slept with this blanket for about 2 weeks now and seriously, has slept in HER bed every night, all night. We don't hear her talking and she's not moving all over the place. She's finally getting the rest she needs. I've ben telling everyone about the "Magic Blanket". Really, it is like magic. 

I then made Mason one. It took him longer to start using it, but once he did, he said he "finally got a full night's sleep." Um, that has never happened and he's 9 years old. Poor kid was always complaining that he couldn't sleep because he couldn't settle his mind.

(It's got the same shark print like the lap pad on the other side)

Then my friend Vanessa and I got to talking. Her son is very similar to Mason and also didn't sleep well. I bet you can see where this is going. Here's J's blanket:

We took Mason's lap pad to therapy last week and I was showing his therapist. Now she is forwarding my information to some other clients that have expressed interest in weighted blankets. I had to create a blog to be able to showcase what I've done so far. This is good news. This is exciting. It warms my heart to know that I can help people, especially children, with something as important as sleep. 

Here is the link to my new blog http://mcmillandesigns.blogspot.com/.

Please feel free to forward it along as needed.