Down Syndrome

A Weighted Blanket is a therapeutic blanket that is made with weights to provide proprioceptive (awareness of one's body position in space) input to the body. This is similar to when you swaddle (Swaddling is an age-old practice of wrapping infants in blankets or similar cloth so that movement of the limbs is tightly restricted. Swaddling bands were often used to further restrict the infant.) a baby. The benefits of weighted blankets can be traced back to the mother's womb. Before entering the world, an infant is held tight inside the womb where they are shielded from sensory perceptions or outside stimuli.

When a child is awake, drape the blanket across his lap or around the shoulders, the deep pressure touch stimulation brought around by the blanket will produce serotonin in the child, which is a hormone that will help to calm the child and keep him in a happier frame of mind.

At bedtime, cover the child with the weighted blanket which will help in the production of serotonin, which will also lead to the production of melatonin, a hormone that helps achieve a rested and peaceful sleep.