Weighted Sensory Pillow

I chose this as my inaugural post because it sums up this blog- it is about art with an archangel as well as art for an archangel, my son Gabriel. Most, if not all of the arts & crafts I will blog about are in essence for my son. Crafting & art at an early age not only stimulates creativity but also teaches a child how to use many of his fine motor skills. Fine motor skills are movements that use the small muscles of the fingers, toes, wrists, lips, & tongue. These are extremely important in his development.

This project- a weighted sensory pillow- was important to me because it also helps with his proprioceptive senses (A sensory receptor, found chiefly in muscles, tendons, joints, & the inner ear, that detects the motion or position of the body or a limb by responding to stimuli arising within the organism). If your child has sensory issues for any reason (Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), an Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD & other neurological disorders, or even simply issues with sleeping…) you may want to consider a weighted pillow or blanket. Based on the sensory integration technique of deep pressure providing the child with unconscious information from the muscles & the joints, the added weight or pressure may help the child calm down and better integrate sensory information. As a result, the child may become more organized, & improve in their ability to concentrate on play, learning or eating.

These items (weighted pillow & blankets) are extremely expensive so I decided to make my own… And he manifested in the form of Monkey Face:

How to create a weighted pillow from an existing pillow form:

Buy a small animal pillow, or a stuffed animal that can lay flat across a lap (like a pillow pet), or on a sleeping chest. Like Monkey-Face:

 

Next, find a seam on the side bottom (pictured) or side & carefully tear it open about six" long.

I had to take out half of the original stuffing (use your judgment)... Then I inserted only 2lbs of Poly Pellets. 


 Suggested weight is 10% of their body weight + 1 pound.


BUT I didn't want it too heavy 
(Gabriel's 32 lbs, which would mean a 4+lb pillow)

Distribute the pellets into the body of the stuffed animal guiding them into place. Then, with double thread, sew the seam back up well. I also took off the pink, decorative hair-flower above Monkey-Face's right ear & replaced it with a hand-sewn orange "G" for Gabriel:

I hope you will enjoy reading my blog as much as I love to make the crafts & share my excitement with Gabriel.

I also hope you will come back & visit!

Please, if you have a moment to lollygag, stroll on over to DeLish, my food blog.

<3 Lishie & Gabriel