Fun and Function - Blue Weighted Compression Vest for Kids Adults - Calming Sensory Compression Vest for Kids

This vest is great!! It fits child perfectly and will for years to come as it is adjustable for room to grow! It really helps child stay grounded and calm and has been a huge beneficial help to his routine! Highly recommend! Read more

My 2 year old son was always falling over, ever since he learned to sit up. Once we started PT and OT, the therapists recommended a compression shirt to help with balance, anxiety, and to decrease sensory seeking. I couldn't find an affordable shirt in his size, but I found this vest, and ordered it. HOLY COW! He resisted it at first, and I think that's because maybe he likes feeling a little tipsy or out of control. After the first day and a half, he asked me to put it on. He wears it whenever he's not sleeping or in the car seat. He absolutely loves it! I love it, too. As soon as it's on, he can stand up, walk in straight line, go up and down stairs, and he doesn't fall down! At all! He can focus on one activity at a time, and is less anxious about trying a new sensation or texture. He talks more (I think that's because maybe he has more energy he can devote to talking since he's not using it all just to move his body), and is just generally happier. I was afraid at first that it would get in the way, and maybe hinder his movements. This vest is completely unobtrusive, even though it's a little big for him. In fact, he can move his body better with it on, because he's aware of where his body is in space. I might even order a second one, just so one can be in the wash while he wears the other. It does clean up pretty good, but he's 2, so it gets dirty pretty quickly. There are a few things about it that I don't like, but I'm still rating it as 5 stars because of just how amazing this vest is. First, it came with no instructions. I couldn't even find any videos online that showed how to put it on. How tight should it be? How long can he wear it? How long can he wear it with weights in? What are the appropriate times to add the weights? Where should it land on his body? Our PT was able to answer those questions, but it would have been nice to have instructions. Second, the mesh is wearing out quickly. It stretched out (so it's not as tight) and is getting fuzzy because of the Velcro always sticking to it. The Velcro tabs in the back are starting to curl, they don't want to lay flat against his back anymore. The Velcro on the shoulder tabs is pulling away from the fabric, because the stitching is so far in from the edge. There are threads falling out all over the place, like the stitches just weren't secure. For example, the name tag on the back neck area came undone on one side about 2 weeks after getting it, and now the other side is hanging by a thread. Another thing that bugs me is that I have to take it off to put him in the car seat. This isn't a feature that can be improved, it's just life. If it were a compression shirt, that would work, but anything that adds bulk to his regular clothing can't be worn in a car seat. He loves the vest so much that we put it on just to walk Big Brother into school and back out to the car (mabye 5 minutes). The hassle of putting it on and taking it off is worth it just so that he can walk without falling down. The change in my son when he wears the vest is so surprising, that I became concerned. I was afraid that maybe I was changing him into someone else, forcefully. He was so calm and focused, was I doing this for my benefit or for his? Was I being mean? I talked to our OT about my concerns, and she told me that having him wear the vest was for HIS benefit. I wasn't being mean, and it's a great solution because it is drug-free. The compression from the vest gives him what he needs--sensory input, spatial awareness, and comfort. Giving him what he needs means that he won't be seeking sensory input as much (always moving his body), and he can finally relax. I wasn't changing him into a different person, I was allowing him to be himself, without all the sensory distractions he usually has to deal with. The fact that he asks me to put it on him confirms it for me: he loves it, so I feel good about him wearing it. I've only used the weights twice, and they do make a difference. He was having a hard time calming down, so I took off the vest, put the weights in it and put it back on him, then tried our usual calm-down techniques (low lights, etc.), and I think he responded faster than usual. Also, I have to give this vest 5 stars because it has made meltdown-free trips to the grocery store possible. I thought that would take a miracle, but all it took was the vest. He spent all day (9:30 to 4:30) in a hospital room while his big brother had a procedure, and did great! He wasn't constantly seeking sensory input, so he had a great time with regular boredome busters like coloring and didn't have any tantrums. Again, that wouldn't have been possible without his vest. Giving our son what he needs to feel calm, secure, and confident by giving him this vest was the best thing we could have done. Read more

I purchased the blue x-small vest for my 4 year old son who has autism and is non-verbal. He has a lot of sensory issues, so I am constantly trying to find products that can help him. Most of the time he is hypo-sensitive (opposite of hypersensitive) and needs a lot of extra stimulation. When he swings he wants to swing SO HIGH. When he spins, he wants to spin SO FAST. I was worried this vest might not be heavy enough for him, but it is perfect. It is made very well. His ABA therapists have all commented on how nice this vest is, and they have seen quite a few different versions. I also love the compression aspect of this vest. It's like a big hug for my son. It helps him to remain calm and focused when he is doing work at the table. The vest is very easy to put on and remove. When I pull the vest out my son gets a huge smile on his face and runs to me to put it on. I can't ask for more than that! :) Read more

This vest was purchased for a large man (6 feet tall, 200+ Lbs.) and it is WAY TOO SMALL for him. We purchased the XL size that claims to be large enough for an adult. It fits properly, with no room to spare, on our 5'9" tall woman who wears a size 14 dress. So, this will work for some adults but not large adults. Because of the hook and loop fastening on the sides and shoulders, we are confident that we will be able to construct panels to insert into the sides and shoulders in order to enlarge the vest. The amount of weight included with the vest was WAY TOO LIGHT for an adult. The man for whom we ordered this vest likes the feel of the "lead" apron used at the dentist when getting x-rays. The weight of this vest is more like a heavy, sweater. We've ordered additional weights in hopes that we will be able to salvage some usefulness out of this vest. The overall construction is excellent. We are sure these vests would be great for children. For large adults, however, additional work and expense should be expected when purchasing one of these vests. Read more

This vest is super comfortable, and keeps me calm. It's great for my sensory overload days where everything is unbearable. It kept me from going meltdown at least three times this week. Read more