Fun and Function - Blue Weighted Compression Vest for Kids & Adults - Calming Sensory Compression Vest for Kids - Weighted Vest for Sensory Needs - Toddlers, Kids, Teens & Adults Sizing

My son was diagnosed with a sensory processing disorder and a speech delay, and would get really excited and it was almost impossible to calm him down. His therapist had him try a weighted vest that did absolutely nothing for him and while she did give us techniques to help, it was very overwhelming at times. Then we tried compression clothing and it worked a little bit nothing really noticeable. She then brought this vest(but in a bigger size) and the change was amazing. It was like he could “see”(he’s not blind nor does he have vision problems) for the first time. Tasks that normally would be challenging for him were now manageable. He could focus on us and what we were asking him. He could slow down and speak clearly and put sentences together that he never could before. So we bought him one in his size for home and school use. Now it’s not a miracle, he still gets excited, he still gets overstimulated and his speech is still a work in progress, but the vest helps him to calm down on his own and helps him regulate his emotions much better. With weekly therapy, using the vest for those times he gets overstimulated, and using the techniques his therapist helped us with, he is doing SO much better. He is using the vest less now because he is starting to recognize when he gets overstimulated and asks for the vest himself when he feels he is getting to that point. I would definitely recommend this.

We measured our son and thought the size extra small was the best fit. It arrived and it was MUCH too short. I will take responsibility for the poor fit, since I was the one who measured him.. My advise is to take a list of the available vest sizes with you to your OT and have them help measure and choose which vest would be the best fit. That is what I finally did. We ended up returning this size and ordering one size up. I did place my original order with: Health Products for you. I am not impressed with this company. I placed a call to their returns department and the young lady who answered the phone was not knowledgeable of the return process nor was she pleasant to talk to. I like to have a working relationship with the business we purchase from. I need to know that should an issue arise like the need of a return, I need to know the company will be knowledgeable, timely, helpful and at the very least pleasant. I was advised I would get a return label in the mail but instead I got an email. Which is faster but not what I was told would happen. She said it would take 2 to 3 weeks for us to receive our refund for the returned item. Again she was not sure on the process , was wrong on the return process, didn't know any information on the product and I was obviously an interruption in her day and not treated as a customer. I probably will not place an order with that seller again. We ended up ordering direct from Fun and Function here on Amazon. That is the company you should place your order with. The packaging was an actual box , unlike the plastic bag from Health products for you. The vest arrived much quicker when ordered from Fun and Function. We will definitely being ordering from them again. You also receive one of their catalogs, which has an awesome amount of products to loo through. My husband and I found the catalog to be extremely helpful in it exposed us to more options for our sons sensory needs.The vest itself is VERY well made. We love our vest so far. Our son has Sensory Processing disorder and he is sensory seeking. The vest has been a great addition to our arsenal of sensory seeking tools. LOL. Again well made both in materials and craftsmanship. Its great for him to have the compression AND the weight of the vest. I prefer this model to the ones with printed decals on them. I think the decals draw more attention to the fact the child is wearing a compression/weighted vest. I like the fact that this dark blue vest with out the decals blend into the clothing more and allow you to see the child and not what the child is wearing. I highly recommend the vest.

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.