Many of you know that over the last couple years we have struggled with both sensory processing disorder and most recently some anger and self regulation problems with our son Bailey. He did occupational therapy for a while and that helped immensely with the sensory issues. He excelled in kindergarten and making it through some of the obstacles that would’ve previously hindered him from even thinking about doing the task. He is such a smart little boy but sometimes he gets overstimulated which is overwhelming; most recently it has been tactile things that cause him the most problems.
There are several different types of sensory processing disorder that each crave or avoid different types of input. Basically they either crave or avoid certain stimuli. Bailey has always been a sensory seeker with the exception of food textures and how his clothing feels on him. He has just over the last year excepted wearing jeans, prior to that it always had to be “soft pants”. He has finally started eating some food with a softer consistency, surprisingly foods like cottage cheese and macaroni and cheese. Thank heavens for small blessings. But primarily he has a seeker of vestibular and proprioceptive input. Basically these kiddos like to spin in circles, jump excessively, hop, crash into things including the wall, beds, couches, really anything that will bounce them back. Except the wall, that’s not great for bouncing back. At one point we made our own crash pad, because those things are expensive and ain’t nobody got time for that! We have tried calm down bottles. We used a brushing technique that he learned in occupational therapy. All of which seem to lose their effect after a while.
Within the past few months he has started having problems with anger, temper, and more difficulty with self regulation. His little body is not quite sure how to handle being angry. I just recently learned myself that hitting and swinging and biting actually go hand-in-hand with proprioceptive input because of the hard, deep impact of things. Hitting is a big problem of his. Between that and the self-regulation with his anger we have been really struggling lately. So a few days ago I decided to make him a “calm down/safe zone/quiet spot”. It’s not perfect and there are some things I would like to add but for right now I think it will really help. Good gosh, I hope so! Here are some not so great pictures and I will attempt to post some links for others that may be interested in learning more about sensory processing disorder or self-regulation.
So I think I managed to get those links in appropriately! Fingers crossed. Here are some photos of bailey’s new calm down/safe zone. Not the best pictures or the most complete set up yet, but I’m hoping it helps. Unfortunately Anna is also crazy jealous so I made her a quiet reading corner and will make some not so firm theraputty for her too.
Here is the full set up. He’s got some sleeping bags to relax on along with a pillow pet and a favorite bear. The blue blanket is his weighted blanket (aka: calm down blanket) and in the cube is a variety of things which I will also show a picture of. 
I cant recommend this book about feelings and calming down enough. It recognizes that it’s ok to feel angry and have other not so happy emotions. It even gives techniques for kiddos to help self regulate and tips for parents of emotionally high-strung kiddos as well. That frog is super soft and is one that mom gave me so he really likes it. My mom died almost 11 years ago but she’s the one he always cries for when he’s really upset so it seemed appropriate. My friend Nicole suggested the mermaid pillow. He already had it but apparently making designs can help be smoothing. The Alexander book is self explanatory (fun fact – the movie is actually pretty good). And the tan minky fabric is his “soft thing” that he loves to snuggle.
The weighted blanket has been great. They can be pricey though! My stepmom (Mama Mimi Dawna) made this one for him. The weight is proportionate to his weight and is made with pellets that are washable. Each pocket is individually sewn and she used a soft snuggly fleece fabric. One edge has a little fringe to play with as well. It was a lot of work for her and truly a labor of love. Too bad an adult one would be so much more work; I could really benefit from one as well. That deep pressure is helpful for anxiety overall.
I have an assortment of things in the actual calm down kit. He’s got a Koosh ball to stretch the strings and pop them. He has his theraputty from when he did OT. We didn’t make it but Anna wants some so we are going to make some that isn’t nearly as firm. Here is a theraputty recipe from another mom blog (Theraputty recipe) which we will likely use. The theraputty is heavy and hard to manipulate. It gives him the deep stretching of the muscles that his body craves with proprioception. There’s a crackly toy for manipulation and repositioning, a sound machine for soothing sounds, another mermaid sequin toy, some fidget spinners, a hard prickly dryer ball. I also just bought some cheap Velcro to put in there. All of those ideas give different sensory input and help to calm, self regulate and make him feel safer.
I’m thinking of putting some lavender EO into his pillow and stuffed animals to help with that as well.
Does anyone else have a kiddo with SPD or self regulation? Or even ADD, autism spectrum, etc. Have you tried anything similar to this? For those that haven’t, I hope this is helpful on your parenthood journey!
Amid the Beautiful Chaos 