Do you have autism? We have a tip. Learn how a weighted blanket can help your condition.

Weighted blankets are soft, cozy, and exceptionally warm and comfortable, with the added weight feeling like a gentle hug as it drapes around you. The popularity of weighted blankets has surged, as you may have seen on social media, with proponents raving about the ability of the best weighted blanket options to aid in relieving stress, anxiety, and reducing insomnia.

The additional weight of the blanket encourages calm and stillness at night. Less tossing and turning typically leads to deeper, more restful sleep.

Weighted blankets for average-sized adults most commonly weigh 15 pounds, with the weight added by small pellets sewn into the blanket’s lining, giving them a quilt-like appearance. For children, the weight recommendation is ten percent of the child’s body weight. This formula is also used for larger adults who may require more than 15 pounds for the best effect.

But what are the specific benefits of a weighted blanket for those with autism?

Science and the Best Weighted Blankets

An original study in 1999 and several others since then, have found that deep pressure stimulation provides benefits for deeper, more restful sleep, though results showed less effectiveness for those with more severe sleep disorders.

Studies performed with children between ages 5 and 16 resulted in both participants and their parents preferring the weighted blanket for sleep more than typical blankets.

Therapists working with both children and adults with autism have long known the benefits of deep touch pressure stimulation for calming and soothing anxiety in those with autism and other sensory disorders. Even years before the popularity of weighted blankets, weighted vests and other tools have been used by therapists to calm and reduce anxiety in their patients.

The best weighted blankets work by boosting the release of both serotonin and dopamine to soothe, calm, and incite more positive mood. These two hormones also slow down racing thoughts and promote focus. Serotonin increase also commonly leads to enhanced melatonin production to support better sleep.

Uses of the Best Weighted Blankets for Those With Autism

Weighted blankets have been found to be beneficial for those with autism in several ways. They promote deeper, more restful sleep by calming the central nervous system and releasing beneficial serotonin, dopamine, and melatonin.

Coupled with a comfortable mattress, weighted blankets also decrease anxiety by causing a soothing effect similar to swaddling a baby. The pressure of one of the best weighted blanket choices available today provides a hugging feeling which works to calm away anxiety in those of all ages with autism and sensory processing disorders.

Some of the best weighted blankets have been placed over the laps or shoulders of autistic children in classroom settings and have been shown to increase focus and improve concentration, resulting in greater numbers of completed assignments and less drifting off-task. It also lessens instances of “stimming,” the self-stimulating behaviors common to those with autism such as rocking, bouncing, hand-flapping, repetition of words, or rapid blinking.

The best weighted blankets can calm the meltdowns that are common in those with autism as a result of over-stimulation and sensory overload. Normal stimuli such as lights, noise, and crowds of people which are well-tolerated by neurotypical children and adults may cause meltdowns and tantrums in those with autism and sensory processing disorders. When signs of a meltdown are approaching, use of one of the best weighted blankets may soothe and calm the individual and prevent the meltdown from becoming full-blown and more difficult to deal with.

Weighted blankets have also been shown to help those with autism during transitioning. Transitioning from one activity to another may be difficult and cause anxiety for those with autism and sensory processing disorders. The best weighted blankets are sometimes used in special needs classrooms when refocusing children on schoolwork after returning from recess or other fun activities such as art and music.

Dangers of Weighted Blankets

While the best weighted blankets are considered safe for both children and adults who are capable of controlled movements, they should not be used on infants and babies. All blankets placed in cribs pose a risk for infants, and weighted blankets may constrict movement in infants to a dangerous degree.

Weighted blankets for young children should be carefully chosen following the weight guidelines. Young children should never be given weighted blankets that are too heavy for them to lift or maneuver.

When safely used, the best weighted blanket can be a helpful tool in itself, or in conjunction with other therapies, for those with autism and sensory processing disorders. They are a good drug-free option for calming, soothing, promoting focus, and supporting better sleep.

Resources— Healthline, Harkla.com, CultureOfSafety

 

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