Weighted blankets

[Belbaby3728]

Have any mamas used them on young toddlers? Dd is 13 months and I am thinking about getting her one or making one. She co-sleeps with us but is an extremely light sleeper and sleeps best if we keep a hand on her chest/over arms or if held against body. She also sleeps great in car which I think is a combination of movement and secure feeling from carseat straps. Would love to hear pros/cons from others who have used them. Worth the cost? TIA

[badmisterkitty]

I don't know anything about weighted blankets, but I know of someone who makes them, or at least used to. She was a boardie friend from another chat board I was on a few years ago. This is her facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/rowan.mayfa...ayfairsDesigns

[shortcake2386]

I make them but will not sell them for kids under two . I wouldn't use a weighted blanket on an infant or young toddler.

[Belbaby3728]

Originally Posted by shortcake2386 I make them but will not sell them for kids under two . I wouldn't use a weighted blanket on an infant or young toddler.

She's only use it while co-sleeping with us. Not when alone and could end up under it. I also saw a sleep sack that had a pocket made in the front for a small weighted pad to be put in it. But haven't actually seen any available for purchase.

[l_Kimmie_l]

My son got his first at 18 months due to PDD NOS and severe sleep issues. It was recommened by a specialist and OT. I would not use one on a baby. She is just used to co-sleeping and wants you there. The blanket will not help that. My son who needed the blanket had to be held untill they finally medicated him for sleep. I had to sit in a chair and hold him tight for him to acually sleep for an entire year. His sleep issues were and still are severe. I would try to figure out if you plan to cosleep or not for much longer. If so, then try to put her to bed without you if it is safe to.

[Belbaby3728]

Originally Posted by l_Kimmie_l My son got his first at 18 months due to PDD NOS and severe sleep issues. It was recommened by a specialist and OT. I would not use one on a baby. She is just used to co-sleeping and wants you there. The blanket will not help that. My son who needed the blanket had to be held untill they finally medicated him for sleep. I had to sit in a chair and hold him tight for him to acually sleep for an entire year. His sleep issues were and still are severe. I would try to figure out if you plan to cosleep or not for much longer. If so, then try to put her to bed without you if it is safe to.

I cannot even lay her down in bed without her waking up and me having to lay down and nurse her back to sleep and/or pick her up and start over again. Her hands always fly to her face to rub nose and eyes and wakes herself up, unless I am fast enough and can block her arms. Even if I have success she tends to wake within 15-20 minutes after being laid down. Leaving her in bed without one of us isn't an option, she just doesn't sleep deep enough.

She had a period between 5-8 months where she started nights in crib and did pretty well/seemed to sleep better than when we were co-sleeping but around 8 months she became intolerant of that and ended up back in bed. We have no issues co-sleeping, but do need her to sleep some and not nurse all night. I have pretty severe back issues that flare if I don't get enough sleep. (Laying on side ALL night for side nursing doesn't help)

[l_Kimmie_l]

I hear ya Momma. I have a 9 month currently co-sleeping who is the same way. I have to have my arm under his head or he wakes. Really stinks if I have to pee at night. He will flip and flop with his hands going to his face when he is starting to wake. I have to try to get a nipple in his mouth before the actual awake happens or we are up for hours playing in the middle of the night. I have osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia, so I know the pain in which you speak oh so well.

I too have to go to bed with my baby every night. I can say that after having a really horrid sleeper, I find this to be a much easier "season" to deal with. Have you thought of starting a no cry sleep training program? Might help you wean her to her crib. She is old enough for that. First start with weaning night nursing, then work on co-sleeping when she is not eating at night anymore. It worked for us quite well at 13 months with our difficult sleeper. We also sidecarred the crib to our bed and put him in it at night so he would get used to the mattress.

[Belbaby3728]

We have read jay gordons method but I am unsure that she is ready to night wean yet. Getting her down to 2-3 night nursings would be ideal. She was 5 weeks early which plays a part in how I feel. I know she will sleep someday, just pondering ideas to help her sleep more soundly. I am deaf and we often joke that she got enough hearing to make up for my lack of!

We have discussed bringing crib into bedroom and probably will it is just a pain due to size of our walkway in old house we have to take crib apart.

[Rhianna'sMommy]

Have you tried laying a beanie baby type stuffed animal on her back? It seems strange but it helped ds a lot when he went through a stage where he always wanted our hand on him. A beanie baby seemed to give just enough weight to trick him sometimes.

DS started using a weighted blanket at 2 1/2 for restless leg syndrome. Early on when we were trying to figure out his sleep issues I found certain fabrics helped him better than others with sleep. Like he has a 2 layer fleece blanket (that is nice thick fleece) that helped him a ton with sleep. So maybe fiddle with various blankets you have and see if any make a difference with helping her sleep before investing in a weighted blanket. At least for DS we knew that how heavy a blanket was and how it draped helped him sleep so it was a bit logical to try a weighted blanket. I'd try other alternatives first before going to a weighed blanket.

Another possibility (if you sew) is sew a 'hand'. Make a tub of fabric and put some beanie beads in it (weigh them so they don't get too heavy) and drape it across her back/tummy. See if that helps.

[Belbaby3728]

Originally Posted by Rhianna'sMommy Have you tried laying a beanie baby type stuffed animal on her back? It seems strange but it helped ds a lot when he went through a stage where he always wanted our hand on him. A beanie baby seemed to give just enough weight to trick him sometimes. DS started using a weighted blanket at 2 1/2 for restless leg syndrome. Early on when we were trying to figure out his sleep issues I found certain fabrics helped him better than others with sleep. Like he has a 2 layer fleece blanket (that is nice thick fleece) that helped him a ton with sleep. So maybe fiddle with various blankets you have and see if any make a difference with helping her sleep before investing in a weighted blanket. At least for DS we knew that how heavy a blanket was and how it draped helped him sleep so it was a bit logical to try a weighted blanket. I'd try other alternatives first before going to a weighed blanket. Another possibility (if you sew) is sew a 'hand'. Make a tub of fabric and put some beanie beads in it (weigh them so they don't get too heavy) and drape it across her back/tummy. See if that helps.

Something to try, thanks