Its no surprise that weighted blankets can be so effective for children since the origin of weighted blankets can be traced back to treatment of children with severe anxiety, autism, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Stemming from the pioneering Autism researcher, Temple Grandin on Deep Touch Pressure Therapy (DTP), weighted blankets were created to apply an even, calming pressure over the body like a hug. The pressure was found highly effective at relaxing children and weighted blankets quickly become popular for children with ASD, ADHD, PTSD and other sensory conditions.
There was no commercial source of weighted blankets available however, so it was up to the family members to innovate and craft weighted blankets themselves, sewing weights into pockets to make the blankets heavy but not bulky or hot. The design of weighted blankets today hasn't changed much from the original design that was made by the caring family members to help their children.
Soon, people began realising that weighted blankets aren’t just for children with special needs. It became obvious that the calming and relaxing effect of the heaviness sensation can benefit many people. Now more than ever, there is a need to prioritise mental health to balance the increase in screen time, social media, longer work hours, and uncertainty in the world today that has lead to poor sleep and higher stress among the general population.
At Groundd, we are thrilled to consistently hear feedback from families about how the blankets have helped their children. We work with local organisations to donate returned blankets to different schools and learning centres, please reach out if you think your local school could do with some weighted blankets.
