Weighted stuffed animals and autism

Many autistic children and adults experience sound, light, busy places or touch more strongly or differently than the people around them. A day full of sensory input can then take a lot of energy. A weighted stuffed animal can be a comforting source of calm: something soft and heavy to hold after a busy day or at a tense moment. Below you can read what it can offer and how to use it in a way that suits the person.

Why can firm pressure feel good for autistic people?

Firm, even pressure on the body is called deep pressure. Think of a firm hug or a heavy blanket. Some people find light touch tickly or unpleasant, while they find firm pressure calming and predictable.

The idea that deep pressure is calming goes back largely to Temple Grandin. She designed a squeeze machine that presses the body from the sides between two padded panels, and she also used it herself. In 1992 she described how that pressure gave her a sense of calm. These were mainly her own experiences and observations.

A weighted stuffed animal of 1 to 2 kg is something very different from a machine that encloses the whole body. It gives soft, firm pressure in one place, for example on your lap or in your arms. And you decide yourself when to pick it up and when to put it down again. That puts you in control, and that too can be very calming. You can read more about the principle in deep pressure.

What does research say about autism and weighted aids?

Research into weighted stuffed animals themselves is still in its early days. They have not yet been studied in autism. What we know comes from Temple Grandin's machine, weighted blankets and weighted vests.

A small study from 1999 using her machine with twelve autistic children found that parents, who did not know which type of session their child was getting, saw less tension after sessions with pressure. Physical measurements barely changed, and the researchers themselves called their results preliminary.

The largest study of blankets in autistic children comes from researchers in London, Oxford and York. In it, 67 children aged 5 to 16 with severe sleep problems slept for two weeks under a weighted blanket and for two weeks under an ordinary blanket that looked the same. Their sleep and behaviour did not change. Even so, children and parents preferred the weighted blanket, and it was well tolerated. In a study that looked back at children and adults with ADHD and/or autism who already had a weighted blanket, many users were also satisfied. That study did not have a comparison group, though.

Weighted vests, which children wear during the day, showed no clear effect in autism in two review studies. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) describes the research into sensory therapies as limited. It recommends setting goals in advance and keeping track of whether an approach makes a difference. You can read about the difference between a stuffed animal, a vest and a pillow in Weighted stuffed animal, pillow or vest.

What does that mean for you? If a child or adult enjoys a weighted stuffed animal, that is valuable. Look mainly at what the person experiences themselves, and do not expect big changes in sleep, behaviour or concentration. You will find a broader overview in Does a weighted stuffed animal really help?

When can a weighted stuffed animal come in handy?

A moment of calm with a little weight can be welcome at times that ask a lot of you:

• After school or work, when the day is still buzzing in your head and you need some calm first.
• During transitions, such as from playing to mealtime or from outside to inside.
• While waiting, in the car or in a waiting room.
• Before bed, as a regular part of the evening routine, on your lap or next to you on the sofa.

With children, the stuffed animal does not go into bed with them for the night. Use it during a bedtime story or on their lap, and take it away when your child is asleep. If your child is already overstimulated, a quiet place with little sensory input may matter more at first. After that, the stuffed animal can become a nice part of that quiet place. You can read how to recognise overstimulation in the article on sensory overload.

How do you offer the stuffed animal in a gentle way?

Autistic people differ greatly in what they find pleasant. One person seeks out firm pressure, while another finds touch or weight unpleasant. The fabric matters too: soft plush feels lovely to one person and itchy or too warm to another. So let the person choose for themselves, including the shape, the fabric and the moment. That way the stuffed animal truly becomes their own.

A few tips to get started:

• Keep the stuffed animal in a fixed place, so your child can pick it up themselves whenever they feel the need.
• Explain in simple words or with a picture what it is and what you can do with it.
• Start with short moments and find out together how it feels.
• Watch for signals without words: pushing it away, turning away, stiffening or becoming more restless. If you see them, take the stuffed animal away straight away.

You will find more general tips for children, such as supervision and the right age, in A weighted stuffed animal for your child.

Is a weighted stuffed animal also a good fit for autistic adults?

Yes, definitely. A lot of information about autism is about children, while autistic adults can need a moment of calm just as much. A soft weight on your lap can then be a pleasant, familiar anchor.

As an adult, you decide yourself how you use the stuffed animal: on the sofa after work, on your lap during an online meeting, or next to you in bed. Don't put it on your chest when you go to sleep. Choose a weight that you can easily lift yourself. If a childlike animal doesn't suit you, there are also neutral shapes.

When should you involve an occupational therapist?

An occupational therapist can work with you or your child to find out which kinds of sensory input are difficult and which aids suit them. That is helpful if you are unsure, if your child often gets overstimulated, or if something also needs to change at school. At school, you can also involve the person who coordinates extra support.

Ask for medical advice first if there are breathing, heart or circulation problems, sleep apnoea, epilepsy, low muscle strength, fragile skin or reduced alertness. You can do this with your GP or your child's doctor. If someone cannot push the stuffed animal away themselves, it is not suitable.

If you would like to know what else weighted stuffed animals are used for, have a look at benefits and uses.