The first time a professional told me my son had Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) was when he was two years old. He’s eleven now, so we’ve been navigating this world for almost a decade. Today I wanted to recommend a few products for kids with sensory issues that our family actually used and loved. I know when you first find out that you are dealing with a diagnosis like Autism or SPD, it can be very overwhelming–and expensive!–to try to figure out which products you actually want to try. Of course, you don’t have to have a diagnosis to find these products helpful.
All of the products below are ones that worked well for Nicholas. I’m including my Amazon affiliate links for your convenience so that you can read the reviews from other parents as well.
5 Great Products for Kids With Sensory Issues
- When Nick started receiving services, a weighted vest was one of the first things his Occupational Therapist started using with him. We found that wearing it for short periods of time did wonders to help him calm down and focus.
2. These sensory brushes were one of the most affordable products we used. A bag of three is under ten dollars. But they are great. Nicholas actually used to ask to have his arms and legs brushed sometimes, and they are easy to pack in a backpack and send along to school.
3. Similar to the vest, another weighted item you can get is a weighted blanket. These can be quite pricey, so I’ve even attempted making my own, but we have found that they really do make a world of difference. As a toddler, Nicholas struggled quite a bit to get a good night’s sleep. (Which meant we also struggled.) This was another recommendation from his occupational therapist. I have also heard these blankets recommended for kids who suffer from anxiety.
4. This recommendation might be slightly controversial because not every family is comfortable bringing a trampoline into their home. It’s true that many a childhood injury has been sustained while jumping on them. But as a toddler and young elementary school student, Nick LOVED to jump on our trampoline. We have a large one in the yard, but if you don’t have a big back yard or if you are living in an apartment, 
5. Chewable jewelry, also called chewelry, is very helpful for kids who find themselves seeking stimulation and chewing on their clothes, their fingers, or putting dangerous small objects into their mouths. You can buy some pretty cool necklaces these days, or pencil toppers for older kids who are in school, or tubes for kids who might not like the feeling of wearing a necklace. I’m recommending this super hero-themed chewable necklace because it’s dishwasher safe and free of BPA, PVC, phthalate, lead, cadmium and metal. Plus, it’s cool. They have Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman.
Thank you for reading today! I would love to have you join my Occupational Therapy Ideas board on Pinterest.
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[…] to us since our son was a toddler and diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder. I’ve talked about them before here on the blog. Now that Nick is older, I was really excited to get a chance to test a larger […]