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how to handle an obsessive compulsive issues with clothes - 5 yr old
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<blockquote data-quote="Marguerite" data-source="post: 353208" data-attributes="member: 1991"><p>If you're handy with a sewing machine (and I don't think you have to be TOO handy) you could make this yourself.</p><p></p><p>We bought difficult child 3's weighted vest, the seller was recommended to us by local hospital Occupational Therapists but it turned out to be a lovely lady who makes them herself, at home. It was beautifully made, in a colour we chose (to match difficult child 3's school uniform). When I saw it, I realised I could have made it myself, although filling those sandbags would have been a little bit fiddly - but you do it by making them first, long and narrow. Only wide enough to fit in two fingers, and too long for your finger to reach the bottom. Then you sew it up until only the top opening is left, then get a kitchen funnel and fill it with sand until the bag weighs 200 g. Then stitch shut the top. The bags were made from unbleached calico, the weight written on each bag with felt pen. The vest was made like a fairly ordinary vest, a little on the large side (to allow for some growth - it doesn't have to be tight, because the weights make it feel like it's tight). You then firmly stitch on another band around the vest, on the inside (another reason to make the vest larger) and stitch the long, narrow pockets here. Make sure they are large enough to easily slide in the weighted bags. Because of the stresses involved, it needs to be made from fairly tough material (a soft denim is good; canvas or calico works well too) and double-stitched at the ends of each seam, reinforced like stitching on a pair of jeans.</p><p></p><p>If you make it right, allow for about 6 to 8 pockets lying vertically around the body of the vest, and make 8 bags. You don't have to use all the bags, but make sure the bags are arranged around the body evenly so the vest hangs evenly. The bags you make - make them strong and make them so you never need to refill them. As the child grows and needs a bigger vest, make the pockets the same size and use the same bags. Also if you make a weighted blanket, make the pockets the same size so you can use the same bags.</p><p></p><p>Some years ago I decided to make curtains for my sunroom, using calico. I bought a whole bolt of cloth and we finally finished it up last year when husband used the last of it to make a pudding cloth. I'm probably going to have to go buy myself more calico. Or maybe I'll get some denim this time! as for sand - we have plenty of it here. I go to the beach and grab a supply, then sift it into a bucket so I can get rid of small twigs, etc. Once I've got my sifted bucket, I can use it for all sorts of projects. But some bags don't use sand, they use wheat or rice. Whichever you use - find something pourable and fairly dense. Make sure you sew the bags tightly so they won't leak - no loose tangs, but instead everything folded over and sewn down, so little fingers won't tug at seams and make the fabric tear. Because that's another thing about these kids, certainly something i found with difficult child 3 - he will worry at a small hole or imperfection (in clothing or in his skin) and by the end of the day the hole will be huge. He also would chew the neckline or hemline of his clothing. Bleah! But because of the weight in the vest, it hangs lower on the body and is harder for the kid to chew.</p><p></p><p>I hope this can help.</p><p></p><p>Marg</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Marguerite, post: 353208, member: 1991"] If you're handy with a sewing machine (and I don't think you have to be TOO handy) you could make this yourself. We bought difficult child 3's weighted vest, the seller was recommended to us by local hospital Occupational Therapists but it turned out to be a lovely lady who makes them herself, at home. It was beautifully made, in a colour we chose (to match difficult child 3's school uniform). When I saw it, I realised I could have made it myself, although filling those sandbags would have been a little bit fiddly - but you do it by making them first, long and narrow. Only wide enough to fit in two fingers, and too long for your finger to reach the bottom. Then you sew it up until only the top opening is left, then get a kitchen funnel and fill it with sand until the bag weighs 200 g. Then stitch shut the top. The bags were made from unbleached calico, the weight written on each bag with felt pen. The vest was made like a fairly ordinary vest, a little on the large side (to allow for some growth - it doesn't have to be tight, because the weights make it feel like it's tight). You then firmly stitch on another band around the vest, on the inside (another reason to make the vest larger) and stitch the long, narrow pockets here. Make sure they are large enough to easily slide in the weighted bags. Because of the stresses involved, it needs to be made from fairly tough material (a soft denim is good; canvas or calico works well too) and double-stitched at the ends of each seam, reinforced like stitching on a pair of jeans. If you make it right, allow for about 6 to 8 pockets lying vertically around the body of the vest, and make 8 bags. You don't have to use all the bags, but make sure the bags are arranged around the body evenly so the vest hangs evenly. The bags you make - make them strong and make them so you never need to refill them. As the child grows and needs a bigger vest, make the pockets the same size and use the same bags. Also if you make a weighted blanket, make the pockets the same size so you can use the same bags. Some years ago I decided to make curtains for my sunroom, using calico. I bought a whole bolt of cloth and we finally finished it up last year when husband used the last of it to make a pudding cloth. I'm probably going to have to go buy myself more calico. Or maybe I'll get some denim this time! as for sand - we have plenty of it here. I go to the beach and grab a supply, then sift it into a bucket so I can get rid of small twigs, etc. Once I've got my sifted bucket, I can use it for all sorts of projects. But some bags don't use sand, they use wheat or rice. Whichever you use - find something pourable and fairly dense. Make sure you sew the bags tightly so they won't leak - no loose tangs, but instead everything folded over and sewn down, so little fingers won't tug at seams and make the fabric tear. Because that's another thing about these kids, certainly something i found with difficult child 3 - he will worry at a small hole or imperfection (in clothing or in his skin) and by the end of the day the hole will be huge. He also would chew the neckline or hemline of his clothing. Bleah! But because of the weight in the vest, it hangs lower on the body and is harder for the kid to chew. I hope this can help. Marg [/QUOTE]
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