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When a baby is in the womb they are in a tight fetal position. Babies are often comforted by maintaining that flexed position when swaddled or using a sleep sack. As adults, you might find a big hug or even a massage relaxing and helpful when you are anxious or stressed out. Many kids who have difficulty with social-emotional regulation or sensory processing difficulties respond positively to activities and tools that can provide compression and deep pressure.
Deep pressure can provide information to the nervous system and impact body functions such as heart rate and breathing rate.
Every person is different when it comes to their physical toleration and preferences for touch. However, as a therapist I find whether a child is having a hard time calming their body to pay attention or is having a meltdown, compression and deep pressure is a tool I often use and achieves a positive response. A calm voice and deep pressure or "squeezes" can an effective strategy for individuals with autism, anxiety, hyperactivity, developmental disabilities, and difficulty with sensory regulation.
Approaches to Deep Pressure
Using your hands to manually provide deep pressure to redirect a child in a moment is great, however; some children need that input more consistently in their daily routines.
Tools like a compression vest can provide that deep pressure during waking hours to improve attention to task, staying seated for mealtimes, or reduce sensory seeking behaviors such as jumping and crashing.
Children still need natural movement opportunities such as playing outside which would be a time a pressure vest would not be necessary. A pressure vest is meant to be worn over the top of clothing and fit snuggly to provide appropriate pressure.
Compression shirts and pants to be worn as a base layer under clothing are a good option for some children who benefit from deep pressure to improve body awareness. These items can help children with coordination and posture during play. Children who have difficulty fall or staying asleep may benefit from a compression bed sheet. This bed sheet made of a Lycra material is breathable and can be more comfortable for some who might get overheated with use of a weighted blanket.
Squeeze to Calm
Temple Grandin, a well-known scientist with Autism, invented a therapeutic, stress-relieving box called a squeeze machine after observing behaviors of cattle on a cattle ranch. She observed that the cattle were calmed when brought into a cage that gave them boundaries around their body. Boundaries often give our body awareness which in turn promotes an organizing and calming feeling. The squeeze machine provided a calming pressure to Temple Grandin without the uncomfortable feeling she felt when someone hugged her.
The modern-day version of the squeeze machine is known as a steam roller. It is a great tool for individuals during play that can provide deep pressure through cushioned foam rollers and tension provided with rubber bands. This tool also creates opportunities for children to increase spatial awareness, motor planning skills, upper extremity strength, bilateral coordination, and core muscle strength during use. This item is a great, affordable addition to a school or clinical therapy setting.
