Eileen Parker - The Weighted Blanket Guide: Everything You Need to Know about Weighted Blankets and Deep Pressure for Autism, Chronic Pain, and Other Conditions

I am thrilled to see this much-needed weighted blanket guide. It answers so many questions that people have about weighted blanket therapy. There is no one more suited to write it than Eileen, a onetime fellow weighted blanket maker and a user of weighted blankets for her own autism.

Donna Chambers, Founder, SensaCalm Weighted Blankets

When I was a child, I craved deep pressure and I liked lots of blankets on the bed to help me sleep. When I got older, I built a squeeze machine to apply deep pressure to help calm me. Sensory problems are very variable. A weighted blanket is likely to be most effective for children or adults who seek deep pressure. For children with an autism diagnosis, some individuals will respond well to a weighted blanket and for others it will have little effect. This book contains lots of good practical advice on how to use and make weighted blankets. It will be a great resource for individuals who are calmed by deep pressure.

Temple Grandin, author of The Autistic Brain and Thinking in Pictures

Cara Koscinski and Eileen Parker have written the definitive guide to weighted blankets. As an Autism Mom and an individual with fibromyalgia, I wish Id had this book years ago. I finally understand the symptoms of sensory processing disorder and how pressure can counteract them. I especially love the detailed instructions on how to sew my own weighted blanket, including smart color choices for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. This book is a must for anyone thinking about using a weighted blanket!

Shannon Penrod, Host of Autism Live

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The WEIGHTED
BLANKET Guide

Everything You Need to Know about Weighted Blankets and Deep Pressure for Autism, Chronic Pain, and Other Conditions

Eileen Parker and Cara Koscinski

Jessica Kingsley Publishers
London and Philadelphia

First published in 2016

by Jessica Kingsley Publishers

73 Collier Street

London N1 9BE, UK

and

400 Market Street, Suite 400

Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA

www.jkp.com

Copyright Eileen Parker and Cara Koscinski 2016

Printed digitally since 2016

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means and whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication) without the written permission of the copyright owner except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms of a licence issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, Saffron House, 610 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS. Applications for the copyright owners written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the publisher.

Warning: The doing of an unauthorized act in relation to a copyright work may result in both a civil claim for damages and criminal prosecution.

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Names: Parker, Eileen, 1966- author. | Koscinski, Cara, author.

Title: The weighted blanket guide : everything you need to know about

weighted blankets and deep pressure for autism, chronic pain, and other

conditions / Eileen Parker and Cara Koscinski.

Description: London ; Philadelphia : Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2016. |

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2015049917 | ISBN 9781849057189 (alk. paper)

Subjects: LCSH: Occupational therapy. | Mind and body therapies.

Classification: LCC RC487 .P37 2016 | DDC 615.8/515--dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015049917

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 978 1 84905 718 9

eISBN 978 1 78450 202 7

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to provide up-to-date, unbiased, and accurate information. No information contained herein is a substitute for medical advice obtained by your physician.

Neither the authors nor the publisher take responsibility for any consequences of any decision made as a result of the information contained in this book.

REMEMBER

Never wrap someone up in a weighted blanket. It should always be placed on top of the user, who should be able to remove it easily.

Always use the lowest amount of weight possible that still achieves therapeutic benefits. Ask your occupational therapist or medical professional for advice.

Weighted blankets will not necessarily work for everyone. Like all therapeutic tools, it is worth trying them to see if they are effective for you.

Temple Grandin reminded Cara that her squeeze machines are equipped with a dead mans switch so that if the user becomes incapacitated or unable to independently pull the lever, the machine releases all pressure. It is critical to provide users of weighted blankets this same safety measure. This can be achieved by ensuring that the blankets are not used on anyone who cannot remove the blanket independently. We are often asked if the blankets should be used on those who are cognitively unable to remove the blanket and the answer is always, No.

Contents

About the Authors

Eileen Parker has autism and sensory processing disorder. She first tried a weighted blanket at occupational therapy, which led to her owning a weighted blanket company for six years. In this book, she will give her personal experiences and her knowledge learned through her business. She sleeps with a 34-pound queen-size on her bed. I throughout the book refers to Eileen.

Pediatric occupational therapist Cara Koscinski, MOT, OTR/L, known as The Pocket Occupational Therapist , is an author of numerous books on occupational therapy and autism, a frequent magazine contributor, and a national speaker. She has successfully founded two pediatric therapy clinics and has created CDs for children with autism and auditory sensitivity. Her two children have autism, so she knows how much their weighted blankets help them.

Acknowledgments

Eileen

Thank you to John, who supported me through writing this book. Thanks to my mum, who for years has been telling me to write for a living, because after all, Mother knows best. And thank you Jane Evans at Jessica Kingsley Publishers and Cara for your enthusiasm for this book.

Cara

To those near and dear to me in the occupational therapy fieldyour support lifts me daily and fills me with excitement for our profession. Nicole LaRose, your enthusiasm for occupational therapy and for helping my lil guy live a better life brings me to tears. Sue at Clap Your Hands, my boys love their weighted blankets. You are a blessing! To all of my clientsworking with you pushes me to be better every day. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, thank you for believing in our book. Eileen, Ive so enjoyed your passion for weighted blankets and desire to deliver quality information that is accessible to everyone.