My personal journey into the world of weighted blankets began in 2009, when I adopted a beautiful baby boy who was the tiniest infant I had ever held. He was the most precious gift I ever received. Shortly after bringing him home from the hospital, it became clear that my little one had sensory issues. Using a weighted blanket eventually became a standard tool in our sensory toolbox.
In actuality though, my story started long before that… As a Social Worker working with children in foster care, I had known about weighted blankets for many years. Weighted blankets are known for helping regulate the nervous system. They are beneficial for children and adults with ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, anxiety, sleep issues, and Sensory Processing Disorder, just to name a few. However, it wasn’t until my son and I were deep into our struggles with sensory issues that I began to really research the benefits they could offer a child–or that child’s exhausted parent.
I found very few sources of weighted blankets that were both affordable AND appealing to the senses, so I set out to make my own. I knew there had to be an alternative to putting a blanket full of plastic poly-pellets on top of my son in an effort to calm him–they were bulky and noisy and they off-gassed into our home. In my search for something better, I discovered the glass bead medium and fell in love. The glass beads feel like sand inside the blanket and it is completely silent and much less bulky than the plastic poly-pellets. Unlike the poly-pellets, glass is endlessly recyclable, making it a better choice for the environment as well.
Putting that first hand-crafted blanket around my son and watching him smile and feel instantly soothed, had me hooked. I immediately made one for myself to see if it would help me with my anxiety and sleep issues and have never looked back! These blankets have changed our world. I wanted more than anything to share them with others, especially foster and adoptive parents, because not only is that the world I work in – it is also my personal family journey.
If you think a weighted blanket may be a good choice for you or your child, I would love to explore the possibilities with you! Thank you for supporting my small business and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook!