Finding Balance With Asperger's: The Pressure of a Sensory Sox Body Sock is Calming and Offers Other Sensory Benefits

Thank you to the Therapy Shoppe for providing a complimentary Sensory Sox bodysock sample for us to base this review upon. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Therapy Shoppe long ago became one of my favorite online stores for therapy supplies and I have wanted a Sensory Sox for my son ever since I saw it. Therapy Shoppe was kind enough to send one to us and it is everything we had hoped for.

The Sensory Sox body sock is made of super-stretchy Lycra, so it conforms to one’s body. It is a great tool for offering SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder) kids calming, deep pressure as well as spatial and body awareness. They provide great tactile input for kids who usually lack in this area. Sensory Sox are used by Occupational Therapists for kids with sensory integration challenges, which can include kids on the spectrum.

My 6 ½ year old son, Quinn, has Asperger’s and all the sensory challenges that go along with it. He really loves his Sensory Sox because it gives him his own little “hideout” when he feels like he needs to get away. He loves the pressure it offers him when he climbs inside, but he also loves to stick his head in and make it like a little pod. When he’s feeling overstimulated, it really helps calm him down and get him back in control of his body. This has been a highly useful tool in our home and we are so glad to have it.

You can purchase Sensory Sox on Therapy Shoppe’s website, www.therapyshoppe.com. It is priced by size, for children 3-5 years old and up to children 12 years up to adult size, and the price ranges from $36.99-$51.99.

Finding Balance With Asperger's: Chewy Jewelry for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder

Thank you to the Therapy Shoppe for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon. All opinions expressed are my own.

Most parents of children on the Autism Spectrum or of those with Sensory Processing Disorder would agree that chewies are a vital part of life. These children typically love to chew on things and have been known to destroy clothing and property with their incessant chewing. The Therapy Shoppe online has many chewy toys and jewelry pieces to choose from, and their Chewy Turtle Necklace is a great and affordable one.

The first things I noticed about this necklace were that it was sturdy enough to hold up to a lot of chewing and that it looks great. Unlike many chewies which look like baby teethers or are very obviously autism products, this chewy looks like a necklace that many kids would wear. Quinn (who is 6.5 years old) actually will wear this one in public, unlike his other chewies. He says this one isn’t “embarrassing”, and I can understand that sentiment.

He has chewed on his turtle daily for over a month now and it’s not showing any signs of wear, so that’s a testament to how well-made it truly is. This necklace also doubles as a fidget because of the many textures on it’s front and back surfaces, so that’s just an added bonus.

The Chewy Turtle Necklace comes in green and blue, and retails for $9.99 at www.therapyshoppe.com. This chewy necklace is PVC, BPA, lead, latex, and phthalate-free, so you can rest assured that it is safe to be chewed on.

Finding Balance With Asperger's: Back-to-School With Soft Clothing

If you read my previous review of Soft clothing, you know that Soft makes clothing that is sensory minded, meaning it eliminates a lot of the problems that afflict children with sensory processing disorders. Soft clothes are made with extra comfort in mind with their use of flat seaming, 100% of the softest combed cotton, wide collars, encased elastic waistbands, and they are tagless. Soft’s clothing is cute, comfortable and suitable for all children.

Soft has done it again with their fall launch of clothing. Featuring fall colors and hand-drawn prints, this line was inspired by the rich forests and mountain landscapes of Switzerland. With both classic and 60’s inspired silhouettes, these clothes are gorgeous and comfortable and have unisex styles as well as those intended for boys and for girls. This will also be Soft’s third exclusive collection for MyHabit, Amazon’s new Fashion and Lifestyle website.

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Soft sent us an amazingly comfy long sleeved t-shirt for Quinn, which he immediately loved and was excited about. He loves his other Soft clothing, so he quickly knew this would be a favorite. This long sleeved shirt has all the comfort we expect from Soft with the added cuteness of the suspenders look. The shirt is also very well-made and will last a long time with regular wear. His old Soft clothes are still going strong with no real signs of wear at all.

Soft’s new line launches on October 5. You can learn more about Soft clothing and purchase on their website, www.softclothing.net.

Finding Balance With Asperger's: b-Calm Technology Prevents Sensory Overload

b-Calm's b-Calm GP is an amazing assistive device that utilizes technology to help block out distracting and harmful noises for sensory stimulation sensitive children. We got this for Quinn to help him in stressful situations that usually cause a sensory overload and cause meltdowns and/or chaotic, out of control behavior. We were extremely excited to try this product and it has proven more useful than I had ever hoped!

The b-Calm is, essentially, an MP3 player that Quinn takes with him to places we think or know will cause a sensory overload. It helps kids (and adults too!) like Quinn to block out distracting, loud, and stressful noises, thus calming him and helping him to find his "happy place", even in difficult situations. It also is very helpful with getting children to sleep. When we received the b-Calm GP, it came preloaded with 4 tracks and 4 photographs of calming scenery. I was easily able to add more audio tracks of instrumental music and added many photos to it as well; ones of beautiful scenery, things Quinn likes (such as rainbows), baby animals, pictures of our family and pets, and calming/safe places for him. For Quinn, it also really promotes good coping skills because he can learn to re-focus his energy on the positive things going on in the headphones of the b-Calm, instead of the negative (to him) things going on around him.

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We take a monthly field trip to a local pizza and video game restaurant locally for a science presentation, and this place was the number one place I thought of when offered the b-Calm GP. As an adult with no neurological problems, this place is overstimulating to me, so I can't imagine what it feels like inside Quinn's head. I often call this place the most stimulating place in the world, so trying something to help him there was a must on my list. I can honestly say that trips there with the b-Calm have been markedly improved! Quinn is able to block out so much of the chaotic noise and bright lights going on around him and enjoy himself without all the stress and anxiety. He is happier, healthier, and has a new love for a place that used to give him so much anxiety. It is truly amazing how calm he remains there now.

In addition, this device has also helped with alleviating Quinn's separation anxiety because when we have to leave him, he knows he has pictures of all the people and things he loves most, and that makes him feel less upset. His nervousness is GREATLY reduced in many situations with this device and for that I am truly grateful. I have nothing bad to say about the b-Calm and truly love everything about it and what it's done for my child. It opens up doors for us to have the ability to do things with him in public situations that we would never have had before.

b-Calm GP comes with the device, comfortable, child-sized, adjustable headphones, earbuds, cloth protective cases for the device and earbuds, and an awesome, sturdy plastic case to carry it all in. Their website, b-calmsound.com, has tons of information including the various devices they offer for children and adults, and even the ability to download their 2-hour long calming audio tracks for us on your own, already purchased, MP3 player. The b-Calm system that we received retails for $129.

Thank you to b-Calm for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.

Finding Balance With Asperger's: Soft Clothing for Children with Sensory Processing Disorders

Soft specializes in clothing for children who have sensory processing disorders and are sensitive to seams and tags on clothing. Quinn, 4 ½ years old, didn’t use to have issues with that, but lately has become very irritated by his tags. Soft Clothing was kind enough to send us a 3-pack of seamless underwear, an organic cotton tee, and a lightweight jacket.

Soft Organic Cotton Underwear come in a one or a three pack, either boxers or briefs, and retail starting at $11. Quinn got the boxer variety in size 4-6 and he loves them. They have no seams, elastic, or tags and the fabric is so soft and comfortable that these are his favorite underwear. They feature a spandex sensory fiber blend, so they offer a hugging sensation for children.

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The Two Tone Raglan long-sleeved tee shirt is a unisex baseball tee for everyday wear that comes in gray and either Blue Danube or Yellow Topaz sleeves. It retails for $22. This shirt has flat seaming, so there are no itchy, irritating seams or tags.  Like the underwear, this shirt is uber-comfy and one of Quinn’s favorites now.

Finally, the Soft Army Jacket completely reinvents the classic army jacket but in a sensory-calming way. Retailing at $52, it’s the perfect jacket for everyday with large front pockets, big front snaps, tagless and soft seams. It’s not too heavy or bulky, so it’s perfect for wearing in cooler, but not cold, weather. Quinn wears this jacket most of the time and doesn’t even feel the need to take it off because it’s so comfortable.

All these Soft products have printed labels on organic bio-washed cotton, using AZO free dyes, and water based digital printing. All are so soft that I wish I could let you feel them through the computer. In fact, they are so nice that all of my family wishes we had some in our size. All pieces are made of great quality materials as well, so they are sure to last through many washes. I have doubts they’ll wear out before he outgrows them. I also love that they’re eco-friendly, using organic cotton and healthy dyes, an added plus for me as well as many other families who deal with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

You can buy these and all Soft’s amazing products on their site, www.softclothing.net.

Thank you to Soft Clothing for providing complimentary product samples for us to base this review upon.