Duct tape Weighted blanket~

Weighted blankets can be used to calm down and relax in many different ways by covering the whole body for sleep, wrapping around your shoulders or by laying it across your lap or legs only.  Our products can provide relief, comfort and can help supplement sensory disorder therapy treatment for the following: 

• Sensory Disorders of any kind (weighted therapy can help increase Serotonin and Melatonin levels overnight)
• Sleep disorders of any kind: weighted therapy can help increase the levels of Serotonin and Melatonin overnight
• Insomnia, Falling asleep and staying asleep
• ADD/ADHD Spectrum Disorder (many ADHD kids use our blankets to calm down after school or during Therapy sessions, or to relax and fall asleep)
• Asperger’s and Autism Spectrum Disorder (many of these kids use our blankets to calm down after school or during Therapy sessions)
• Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) and fidgeting legs due to chemotherapy treatments or Menopause
• Anxious Feelings and Panic symptoms, Stress and Tension. Cancer or Dental Anxiety, Peri-menopause and Menopause symptoms
• Sensory Integration Disorders/Sensory Processing Disorders
• People who are 65 or older: weighted blankets help calm a myriad of symptoms, including those who haveAlzheimer’s or Parkinson’s Disease.  
• From http://www.mosaicweightedblankets.com/

I found as a parent with only one income that these helpful blankets are way to expensive to buy. So I set out to find a less expensive way and here is what I came up with! This is our duct tape weighted blanket! Despite it being duct tape it is flexible and not hard as  I thought it would be. 

We used~

3 rolls of duct tape

&

6 small bags of rice

note~it is recommend that the blanket be 10% of the child's body weigh plus one pound. 

First we laid out three strips of tape and lined up the rice bags. Then added two long pieces for the sides and two more for top and bottom. Once done we took big strips and went a crossed, from side to side. Turned it over and did the same to the other side. Once everything is covered we cut any extra off. That simple, though I will admit duct tape is not the easiest to work with at times. If you do want it softer you can place this blanket into a pillow case and make a lap pillow or place it on top of a thin sheet if child is laying down. 

The great thing about this is duct tape comes in so many different patterns now so a child can pick his/her favorite!