How To Make Your Own Weighted Stuffed Animal

Follow this tutorial and learn a quick and easy way to make your own weighted stuffed animal for a child with sensory processing difficulties. This do-information technology-yourself tutorial, needs just a few items for an cheap solution to this costly sensory tool plant online.

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Today, I am going to share with you a sensory tool that pediatric occupational therapists  sometimes utilize and recommend.  These weighted stuffed animals are non only super beautiful, but they tin can also help organize the sensory system for activities such equally play and tabular array work.

This project is simple and quick to make.  Information technology took me well-nigh x minutes from commencement to terminate.  We will only need a few things to brand this adorable therapeutic tool.  So let'due south become started.

What Is A Weighted Stuffed Fauna?

A weighted stuffed animal is a blimp animal filled with plastic poly-pellets instead of the typical poly-fill that makes blimp animals and pillows so soft and cuddly.  Don't worry, it'll still be cuddly.  It'll just take a bit of added weight to help make this sensory help a calming device for kids.

If you would similar to buy a weighted stuffed animal, check out  this super cute teddy.  Brand sure to purchase a weighted blimp animal that is advisable for your kid's weight. See the section beneath "Things To Consider Before Making This Projection" below for details regarding weight of the blimp animals.  Ever discuss with your personal occupational therapist before purchasing or making your own weighted stuffy.

What Is The Purpose Of A Weighted Blimp Animal?

A weighted stuffed animate being is a blazon of sensory aid pediatric occupational therapists, at times, use during therapy sessions.  Furthermore, occupational therapists also sometimes recommend children utilise this sensory tool at abode or while at school to accost specific sensory processing needs.  Both adults and children alike can use weighted stuffed animals when prescribed by their therapist.

Whether positioned on the arm, leg, shoulder, or back, a weighted stuffy provides our bodies with deep pressure level.  Deep pressure tin help our sensory systems relax, and regulate itself all while using a soft and cuddly weighted stuffed beast.

Whether the goal is better focus during school hours, improved self regulation skills, increased participation in activities, or decreased anxiety, a weighted stuffed fauna may be a tool that might be helpful to you.  Check with your personal occupational therapist to see if this sensory device is a proficient fit for yous or your child.

Evidence Based Reseach and Weighted Sensory Tools

It is important to note that more than evidence based enquiry is needed in this expanse of occupational therapy.  Weighted sensory tools such as weighted blimp animals, weighted blankets and lap pads, and weighted vests need additional inquiry to support its use although parents and therapist akin report benefits.  Weighted sensory devices are however considered experimental and should be simply exist used nether the direct instruction of your personal occupational therapist.  Here are some boosted research articles regarding the efficacy of weighted blankets published by the American Periodical Of Occupational Therapy.

Ideas For When To Use A Weighted Stuffed Fauna

Weighted stuffed animals tin can be placed in a kid's lap, across the shoulders, or on the back (do non identify it on the belly).  Weighted stuffed animals can likewise be used in a diversity of settings which may help at-home the sensory system for improved participation in activities such every bit while:

• Eating meals
• Waiting for an appointment
• At schoolhouse, if approved by their teacher.
• Riding in the car
• Doing homework
• At the dentist
• Getting a haircut
• Watching Boob tube
• During transitions such equally when changing activities
• Playing a board game
• During activities that might crusade anxiety or heightened sensory defensiveness

** Exercise not utilise a weighted stuffed beast while sleeping due to suffocation and strangulation risks**

8 Fun Ways To Employ Your Weighted Blimp Animal To Encourage Play and Heavy Piece of work

Heavy piece of work is a calming sensory technique used by occupational therapists to organize the sensory system.  Furthermore, heavy work consists of activities that provide input to the proprioceptive organisation (input to the muscles and joints).  Activities such as wheelbarrow walking, and pushing or pulling heavy objects are all considered heavy work activities.  Here are 8 fun ways to use heavy work and your new super cute weighted stuffed animal:

1. Play dress up with your cute new stuffy. Have your child put on and take off their stuffed animals clothes. Work on placing artillery through sleeves, buttons and snaps, and zippering.
2. Gently toss dorsum and along with a partner within a short distance depending on the child'southward age and catching abilities.
3. Proceed a short walk or hike carrying the weighted stuffed beast.
4. Push or deport the weighted stuffed animal across hardwood or laminate floors in a game of relay races
5. Identify in a laundry handbasket along with other stuffed animals and push button across the carpet. Call back "animal train."
6. Make an obstacle course using the weighted blimp animate being.
7. Exercise using the weighted stuffed creature (with proper torso mechanics).  Think shoulder press using both arms and hands at the aforementioned time.   Exercise button ups, deport crawl and/or slither similar a ophidian with the stuffed animal riding on the child'southward dorsum.
8. Use the weighted stuffed animal as a make clean up buddy.

Things To Consider Before Making Your Own Weighted Stuffed Animal

Stale Beans And Rice vs. Plastic Poly-Pellets

Dried beans and rice are non machine washable.  If spills were to happen, fifty-fifty if its water, contamination of the textile could happen causing mold to abound.  Plus bugs and other pests may be on the lookout for something to eat. Information technology is recommended to apply plastic poly-pellets as it is automobile washable if needed.

On the flip side, I do prefer a environmentally green alternative to plastic poly-pellets.  At this time I am unaware of an eco-friendly culling to plastic beads to make weighted stuffed animals.  If you know of a eco-friendly alternative please let me know in the comments and Sick make sure to update this postal service.

Typically, y'all can detect plastic poly-pellets at your local hobby store such as Hobby Lobby or on Amazon.    Do not use fishing weights as they are typically fabricated using lead.

Other Helpful Tips To Keep In Mind

1. Weighted stuffed animals are for children aged 3+ years.
2. Children should weigh 30 pounds or more before using.
3. Weighted stuffed animals are a choking risk for children nether the age of iii or for anyone who may chew on non-edible items.
4. Exercise Non allow your kid to slumber with a weighted stuffed animal due to suffocation and strangulation risks.
5. A weighted stuffed animal should weigh no more than than v% of your child'south torso weight.  Typically weighted stuffed animals weigh between 2-5 pounds.
6. Children should always be able to lift the weighted blimp animate being independently without any trouble.
7. Practice not place it on the abdomen due to potentially harming internal organs.
8. Discuss with your occupational therapist whether a weighted stuffed beast is a skilful fit for you or your child.  Detect out how much weight is advisable for your child as well as use time.  It is vital to discuss your child's case with your occupational therapist before using whatsoever type of weighted sensory tool.
9. Whether your child chooses a favorite stuffed fauna from your home or chooses one at a store, make sure your child tolerates the feel of the fur earlier purchasing or ripping threads.
10. I prefer sewing the stuffed animal back together by paw because the plastic pellets can exist hard to go on out of the way of the sewing machine needle.  If you practice not experience confident in your hand sewing skills, hand sew back over the stitches a 2 or 3 more times to brand certain your stitches are secure.
11.  Weighted stuffed animals made with plastic poly pellets are auto washable.  Earlier washing, I recommend placing the weighted blimp animal in a pillowcase and close using a rubber band.  This will assistance forestall boosted clothing and tear on the stuffed animal.  Spot clean with a damp towel as needed.
12. Do not use fishing weights as many are made from pb and are unsafe.

Projects With A Purpose

The Projects With A Purpose is a section of my posts where I lay out ideas for sharing some of The DIY Therapist projects with others.  These weighted stuffed animals, for example, are a great fashion to aid kids who need a weighted sensory tool, only might non have admission to 1 at home or at school.

Things To Consider Earlier Making And Donating Weighted Stuffed Animals

Special needs classrooms and pediatric therapy centers are both dandy places to donate these DIY weighted stuffed animals. Here are a few things to consider before starting this projection for others:

• Email the teacher, physical therapist, occupational therapist, or speech-language pathologist at your local school or children's therapy center to come across what their needs are regarding weighted stuffed animals.
• Discuss desired weight range for the stuffed animals, and certain textures to avoid.
• Make sure to brand these stuffed animals with plastic-poly pellets so that they are machine washable.

How To Brand Your Ain Weighted Blimp Animal

Materials Needed

1. Blimp animal of choice making whether this is a new stuffed animal or a long time friend. If new, make sure your child tolerates the texture of the stuffed animal'southward fur.  Launder if needed before beginning this projection.  For reference, the stuffed fauna I used measures approximately 16" long, and has a belly circumference of xvi".  After calculation poly-pellets, my stuffed animal weighs two.5 pounds. (come across pictures below)
2. Seam ripper or small thin-bladed scissors for cutting threads.
3. Plastic poly-pellets (see note above regarding the weight and materials used)
4. Sewing thread
5. Sewing needle or sewing machine
6. Small funnel or brand a DIY construction paper and tape funnel (meet picture above)

Instructions

1. Seam rip the master, long seam either along the back of the stuffed animal or on its side depending on the stuffed animal you are using.  In one case you lot cut the outset stitch, the other stitches will come up loose more than easily by gently pulling the two sides of material apart. Snip again every bit needed.  I made an approximate iii.5" opening. (see pictures below)
2. Gently remove all stuffing.  Discard or salve for another projection. I kept the stuffing in the head, as well as the arms and legs intact.  Therefore, I did not fill arms, legs, and caput with poly-pellets.  Filling the head and limbs with poly-pellets is your personal selection.  I chose non to fill my blimp animals artillery, and legs as they are fairly minor, and didn't desire the head to exist top heavy.
3. Fill your stuffed beast with the correct weight amount of the plastic poly beads using a funnel.  To make your ain funnel,  wrap a piece of construction newspaper around itself and secure it with tape as seen in the "materials picture".
4. One time filled to the correct weight, hand sew the ripped seam making sure to secure each end. I used a whip sew together.  If you lot are not confident in your hand sewing skills, go back over your seam one or two more times to brand certain all is secured.  You lot can also employ a sewing machine, to run up the open up area.   When doing then, make sure to keep the weighted material is away from the sewing machine needle.

That's it!  Pretty uncomplicated, right?  Permit me know in the comments below how it turned out.  I would love to hear about it.

Source: https://thediytherapist.com/how-to-make-your-own-weighted-stuffed-animal-sensory-tool-3/

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