Weighted toys have been made heavier by replacing polyester stuffing with glass or polyester beads. From the outside, they look just as cute, soft, cuddly, and loveable as any other plush toy, but weighted sensory toys are more than just a toy. These resources have added weight that helps provide deep pressure and sensory input to the body, creating a calming effect for children or indeed anyone with sensory processing disorders or adults who benefit from deep pressure therapy.
A 2020 study found that weighted products (including weighted toys, weighted cushions, and weighted blankets) can help ease stress and anxiety by providing a calming effect directly from having the weighted soft toys for anxiety. In fact, weighted toys are often recommended by Occupational Therapists as a tool to manage sensory issues and act as an anxiety and stress management aid.
What are the benefits of weighted toys?
Weighted toys are helpful for children and adults who benefit from the pressure of additional weight due to sensory processing disorders. They also aid with anxiety and stress from overstimulation.
Sensory input issues can affect a person’s ability to self-regulate, calm and self-settle. Weighted toys have been found to be effective as a means of managing these issues effectively and in a calming manner.
Weighted toys can calm overstimulated children and those with perception disorders, such as:
- Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Weighted toys can be a source of comfort and calm during periods of sensory overload, assisting with managing over stimulated emotions and senses.
Help Easing Insomnia
Weighted anxiety toys can help ease insomnia in children by soothing an overactive brain. Cuddling and holding a weighted toy provides proprioceptive input that helps calm anxiety and prevents meltdowns and tantrums.
The weight can also mimic the weight of a parent or co-sleeper, making it easier to sleep with the feeling of an additional presence.
Help Manage Sensory Processing Disorder
Some children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) can exhibit symptoms of obsessive hugging or touching. This condition, often found in children with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), comes from a place of affection and love, but it can create family friction if a child excessively invades personal space. It can also be problematic if they hug strangers without consent.
Weighted toys can teach children boundaries with their hugging. Using a toy instead of seeking out others to hug can give them the sensory result they crave without invading others’ personal space. If a child’s sensory needs aren’t met, or they can’t understand how their actions make others feel, it’s essential to seek professional guidance.
Help Easing Stress & Anxiety
Weighted toys provide deep pressure on the body, helping the individual to remain calm and reduce anxiety. When a person’s body is calm, it’s easier for them to process and retain information in over-stimulating situations.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
People with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can benefit from weighted toys because of their ability to trigger Deep Pressure Touch (DPT). Using weighted toys as part of therapy for autism can help:
- Reduce feelings of restlessness and anxiety
- Keep children and adults calm
- Enhance the development of fine and gross motor skills
- Reduce feelings of restlessness and anxiety
- Aid in calming, settling and re-centering
- Relieve the need for deep pressure touch
- Provide a comforting weight to sleep with to assist with insomnia
Help People with ADHD To Focus
Those with AD and ADHD may find it difficult to focus on one situation as their senses are distracted and overloaded by their total environment. This can result in problems in daily life such as organisation, time management, executive functions, planning and a constant need to fidget as a way to seek comfort.
Just like our range of fidgeting products, having a weighted toy can provide comfort during periods of stress, anxiety and overload.
Reduce Feelings of ‘Being on Edge All the Time’
These feelings can include:
- Feeling overwhelmed, lost, confused, and alone,
- Too many thoughts circling in their heads,
- Unable to sit still without moving or fidgeting,
- Feeling under a constant sensory attack of loud sounds and bright lights.
By applying Deep Pressure Touch (DPT), weighted toys can help calm an overstimulated mind by turning off the “fight or flight” instinct (also known as the sympathetic nervous system). Living with “fight or flight” turned on all the time is overwhelming and exhausting, so this reprieve can help users feel more relaxed.
Once the sympathetic nervous system relaxes, DPT activates the parasympathetic nervous system to slow the heart and breathing rate. Weighted plush toys for adults help the individual feel more relaxed and able to go to sleep or cope with their day.
Help Easing Travel Anxiety
Anxiety about travel can be common for those with sensory disorders. Weighted items can provide a source of comfort during stress.
Our wide range of weighted items includes pocket-sized Pocket Pats, Lap Cushions and Blankets, and Animals of every size and description. Hugging a weighted toy helps boost the “feel-good chemicals” (dopamine and serotonin) in the brain, resulting in more positive outward emotions and less stress.
What Weighted Toys Are Available?
Special Needs Resources have a wide range of weighted toys available. Crafted in Australia, our collection of weighted products include:
- Weighted plush animals,
- Weighted blankets,
- Weighted dolls,
- Weighted utensils,
- Weighted cushions.
Animals
When a weighted animal is hugged or cradled, the gentle pressure touch provides sensory feedback that settles and soothes. Our range of plush weighted animals is popular as comfort therapy toys for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Dementia, as well as those experiencing symptoms of stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges.
We have popular products in all weight ranges and types. Onyx the Cat is the most desired in the under 2kg range, whilst Kaos the Pug is the pick for the 2kg dogs. Rocco the Husky is a preferred favourite in the 3.5kg weight.
All of the animals are made from soft materials and plush, with many being made from high quality acrylic fur that can be brushed using a light pet hairbrush.
Blankets
Weighted blankets simulate the feeling of a hug. They make the user feel more secure by using a technique called deep pressure stimulation (DPS), which can relax the entire nervous system. Weighted blankets can help.
- Reduce anxiety
- Improve symptoms of restless leg syndrome
- Reduce heart rate
- Improve feelings of security
- Soothe panic disorders
Our range of weighted blankets includes the 2.5kg Lap Blanket in a soft blue velour that provides even weight coverage and a warm and comfortable touch.
Dolls
Special Needs Resources weighted dolls are gender-neutral toys that have been specially weighted with evenly-distributed 2kg beads. These dolls are ideal for toddlers and children with sensory-seeking behaviours. They can help develop self-soothing techniques, improve anxiety, and help calm and settle young children.
Utensils
Weighted cutlery, weighted utensils and even weighted wristbands are helpful for people experiencing weakness, arthritis, tremors, Parkinson’s disease, and other disabilities. With an ergonomic design, weighted utensils reduce hand-shaking and tremors to allow the user more control while eating.
The bulkier handle provides a larger surface area, so less exertion is needed when grasping and manoeuvring the utensils. Our range of weighted utensils includes a heavy weighted knife and fork set.
Cushions
Weighted cushions are ideal for children or adults who benefit from Deep Pressure Touch (DPT). When a weighted cushion is placed on the user’s lap, chest, back, or stomach, it can help relieve anxiety.
Weighted cushions have psychological and physiological benefits that help ground and calm the body and mind. They’re also helpful for children and adults who get easily distracted and find it hard to keep still.
Browse Our Range Of Toys Today
Special Needs Resources’ range of weighted toys can help adults and children with sensory processing disorders to feel more relaxed. Our weighted toys are available in weights from 500g to 7kg. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
* Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, “A randomized controlled study of weighted chain blankets for insomnia in psychiatric disorders” Bodil Ekholm, BMedSc, OT, Stefan Spulber, MD, PhD, Mats Adler, MD, PhD
Published Online: September 15, 2020