If your child struggles to sleep, you're not alone. Many parents are seeking natural remedies to help their children sleep better. One method gaining increasing attention is deep pressure stimulation (DPS). This technique involves applying gentle, sustained pressure to the body and has been shown to have a calming effect, improving sleep quality.

What is deep pressure stimulation?

DPS is a therapeutic method that provides steady, soothing pressure to the body. It can be applied in a variety of ways, such as with a weighted blanket, pressure garments, or even with techniques like bear hugs. This sensory input is particularly beneficial for children with sensory processing disorder (SPD), autism, or attention-related disorders. By providing soothing proprioceptive feedback, DPS helps regulate the nervous system and promotes feelings of security and relaxation.

How DPS Improves Sleep?

Regulating Neurotransmitters

Research has found that deep pressure can increase the production of serotonin and dopamine—two neurotransmitters involved in mood regulation and relaxation. It can also reduce levels of cortisol, the body's primary stress hormone. This balance creates a calming effect, making it easier for children to fall asleep and stay asleep.

Improves sensory processing.

For children with sensory personality disorder (SPD), the world can feel overwhelming due to heightened or diminished sensory responses. DPS provides continuous sensory input, helping the brain process stimuli more effectively, leading to improved attention, emotional regulation, and sleep quality.

Provides a sense of security.

Gentle pressure simulates the feeling of being hugged, which is particularly soothing for children who experience nighttime anxiety. This sense of security can ease their resistance to falling asleep and promote more restful sleep.

How to choose a weighted sleep sack?

The baby's face shouldn't be squeezed or covered by the sleep sack sliding up; instead, it should fit tightly around the neck and chest.  To prevent safety risks, it is essential to select the appropriate size for your baby's weight and length.

A sleep sack's TOG (Total Warmth Grade) rating shows how warm it is.  To keep your baby's body temperature pleasant, make sure they are appropriately dressed underneath the sleep sack.  Based on your baby's room temperature, select the proper TOG rating:

● 0.5 TOG: Suitable for warm climates or summer months.

● 1.0 TOG: Suitable for moderate temperatures.

● 2.5 TOG: Best for colder temperatures or winter.

Select skin-friendly, breathable materials like bamboo or cotton.  These textiles lessen the chance of overheating by assisting in the regulation of body temperature.

Diaper changes are made easier with features like a two-way zipper that don't need taking off your baby's clothes entirely.  A sleeping bag with footholes or armholes also gives you flexibility as your baby becomes older and more mobile.