Hi everyone!

My SIL has asked me if I can make a weighted blanket for my nephew with Autism. I googled and found that poly beads (for toy making) are the best weighted filler.

HOWEVER - at $20 a bag its going to be an expensive blanket!! SOOooo I was wondering if any of you have a supplier of these beads in 'bulk'

I thought I would make the cover a nice quilted one....

Pictures to follow when I get it sorted!!!

Thanks in anticipation - I know you will all have some great ideas!!!!!

How weighted does it have to be? The old wool army blankets were very heavy, how about a couple of them as filler?

where do you need to put the weights? Is there a possibility you could put ties on the edges to keep the quilt in place. It appears to me that no matter what and where you put the weights the sleeper would still push the quilt off with turning at night. Another thought which might also be expensive are those strips of metal beads used in the bottom of curtains to keep them hanging straight. Won't weighting make the quilt too warm to sleep and the sleeper would naturally toss it off.

I like this idea. My grandmother made a quilt for my father with numerous blankets in it. He was the only boy with 6 sisters. The only place that would be private was the attic. That thing is sooo heavy you don't move!! I've rated it the -40 below quilt!!! :lol: :lol:

Beads are going to shift too much unless you do something like a down comforter type deal with box baffling to keep it in place.

How old a child? Seems to me the beads may come out if the child 'fidgets' too much with the fabric and causes a hole. Also, what if the weight of the blanket should cover their face while sleeping?

This appears to be a case where a phrase comes to mind that we used in professional training. "Form Follows Function"
What is the purpose of the weights and then search out solutions to that. I would hate to sleep under something that would make me feel I was in the dentist chair with the XRay protector on me.

some kind of sleeping bag type quilt comes to mind. Just larger. A qult made like a sleeping bag but full size.

Its a proven therapy for Autism - I googled it after My SIL asked me - apparently (some) Autism patients get comfort and are able to sleep once they have this (quite heavy) weight on top of them!

I planned to either sew pockets and/ or make little pakages of beads and sew them in lines - you concentrate the weight in the centre - on top of the patient!

He is 14.

I have read that patients like upto 20 lbs in weight!!!! For a child the recommendation seems to be 10% body weight plus a pound.

So no suggestions where to get the beads then?

I have read that you can use sand, gravel, popcorn or lentils - rice etc - but these are not washable! Although they would be alot cheaper!!!

My husband isn't autistic but he likes heavy quilts. They are "comforting" to him so I can completely understand the theory.

My solution would be to use fishing weights. The little metal balls you tie or crimp onto fishing line to get the worm to sink down.

Another thought is to sew a large washer between to pieces of denim and make a raggy/shaggy style quilt.

The quilt would have to be hung & steam cleaned like draperies.

I ran this by my daughter and she agreed. They do sleep better with the weights. Amazing what they have found to help. I don't know of a supplier. Good luck.