There are no fixed time frames to use weight. It is important to note that the body and brain adjust to the feeling of weight over time. Do not expect a weighted lap buddy to be useful and effective for long periods. Therefore, it is best used intermittently. Consider using it for 20-minute intervals. How to be safe using weight You might think, “the heavier, the better.” However, that is not true! Your body can feel even the smallest changes in weight. Most importantly, a good rule of thumb is to have a lap pad or blanket that is no more than 5% of your body weight. For example, a child who weighs 70 lbs. would not use a weighted lap animal of more than 3.5 lbs. Nevertheless, a weight that is even less than 5% of body weight helps. Usually, weighted lap pads come in pre-set weights. However, it is OK to be under 5% of the person’s body weight. But for safety, it is important to avoid going over. It is also critical that the person using the weighted lap pad have the cognitive (thinking) and physical abilities to be able to remove it from their lap. There is never a “universal” weight. It is always advised to consult with your occupational therapist or doctor to determine what is best for you or your child. Jumbo Weighted Lap Pad– This is a larger and non-descript weighted lap pad. Perfect for kids 5 and older. Weighted lap pads may also prove very helpful for adults with anxiety, PTSD or conditions such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimers. There are many reasons why people should not use a blanket with added weight. It is always recommended to talk to your occupational therapist or doctor about using a blanket with more weight. However, the following are some of the circumstances in which heavier blankets are not recommended for use. There are likely others you can think of. Be smart and be safe when selecting sensory tools.

Whilst a weighted lap pad may help immensely in situations like those above, it’s also important to respect a child who doesn’t wish to use a lap pad. However well meant, pushing a child to use a lap pad, when they simply don’t want to, is likely to make matters worse. It also doesn’t respect the child’s own individual boundaries. A rectangle is the classic shape, but bolsters, tubes, circles, and irregular animal shapes also will make appearances. The shape doesn’t matter, but how heavy it is and how much of your child’s lap it covers might.Weighted lap pads are designed to be used at a weight that’s appropriate for the person, or child, using it.

If your child refuses, keep it visible for a period. Use it yourself. Sit it next to them while playing. Talk about what it is and why it might help them (without pressuring them too much, the point is to educate.) A weighted lap pad, animal, or buddy are all used as sensory tools. Typically, people who experience sensory overload and sensory sensitivity use sensory tools. These sensory tools help people feel more calm or organized. They help to eliminate feelings of restlessness, otherwise known as sensory overload. Furthermore, it has been found that a little bit of weight spread across your lap, can help you feel calm. For instance, think about the comfort of having a pet or a cat laying on your lap. A weighted lap buddy can feel just like that. When playing in a sensory bin (for kids that don’t like to get messy, this can be calming input that helps them explore the texture of the sensory bin)

DIY Weighted Lap Pads for Kids

Signs that your child doesn’t like similar tactile sensations could be a child that doesn’t like having blankets on them in the bed, or wearing extra clothes. In this case, even though a child seeks out proprioception (say through jumping and crashing activities), they may not be a good candidate for a weighted lap pad. Does the child have difficulty transitioning between activities (i.e. time to go to the store, time to take a bath, etc.)

Also always keep in mind that a weighted lap pad should never be too heavy for the user to move off their lap themselves. Let’s break it down: what is a weighted lap pad, why are kids using them, exactly how do you use one with your child, and different types including some DIY weighted lap pads you can make in no time! For those highly sensitive to sensory stimuli, however (i.e. they seek to avoid it and shy away from touch and things like heavy blankets), the weight of a lap pad mayfeel too much and end up overstimulating the tactile system. The first thing to know is that a blanket with added weight is a type of sensory tool. It provides deep pressure (proprioception) through the skin. Deep pressure or proprioception, is one of eight senses that you have. Children and adults use blankets that are weighted. Additionally, people with and without sensory sensitivities, use them. What are the benefits of blankets with weight?Yet, for other kids, using a weighted lap pad at specified times, like circle time or during meals, becomes part of their routine. They will consistently use it or accept it gladly. It’s critical that you never force a child to use one of these pads, if they refuse, accept it. Encouraging is okay, forcing is not. Some children will refuse it initially, but end up loving it over time – that needs to be on their own terms though.