Anyone's dc have sensory problems with clothes?? Pls come talk to me!

[Purplerainbow2]

Ds1 is 9 and has a lot of sensory problems that are actually getting worse as he gets older. He has only recently been accepted by OT who surprisingly has been very supportive. Says he has a processing disorder and brought up a lot of other things and he has another assessment tomorrow. What I just wondered is where do you buy your dc clothes from?!?! Tops aren't major problem, socks always have to be next black ones, that's fine but trousers are a major issue. Need adjustable waistband as he's very skinny. Can't wear jeans, won't wear joggers as 'too baggy' doesn't like things with any joins or seams on back of knees. Can't wear anything made from 'swooshy' material. Won't wear leggings as 'not a girl'. He hates standing out so wouldn't wear pj bottoms etc. he's been wearing the same trousers for ages and are falling apart. Really hard to get them washed as he hates the just washed feeling even though I tumble dry! Won't wear anything with a cuffed ankle which is in fashion at the moment. Have so many new pairs of different trousers he won't wear!

[GlitteryShoes]

I can't make recommendations as I have a teen daughter, but I can sympathise. My dd will only wear crocs, no trousers, no buttons, only jersey material, no bra etc. I learned to sew - it was the only way!!
When you find something just buy it in every variation and size. It makes life easier. Would he wear leggings maybe?

[GlitteryShoes]

Jeggings not leggings?

[Sirzy]

Ds only likes chino type trousers and linen trousers. Next seem to be the best ones for him.

[RoaringFirePlease]

My son wears largely the same clothes. I buy lots of exactly the same item. The best trousers for him are Sainsburys jersey school trousers - like joggers but no cuffs at the bottom. Also have an elasticated waistband. Can be hard to find them at particular times of year. Summer is a good time usually as they have lots of uniform out.

However your son may not like them if he doesn't like joggers. Where did you buy the last trousers from? Can you ring up their head office and ask if they still make that style? Failing that, look on ebay for a second hand pair of that brand / style.

[rupert23]

my son likes gap tracksuit bottoms as they are soft and do not have cuffs, he used to wear chinos but no longer does. The gap ones do go quite soft when they have been washed a few times and he likes this.

[Purplerainbow2]

The ones he wears the moment are fake type jeans, cottony but bought them in h&m sale and don't have them anymore they literally are falling apart and today he went berserk over them irritating his waist. His latest have been a pair of lined pretend combat look trousers from marks and Spencer's, he was fine at first but once they were 'worn' he says the lining is bunching up, I do get where he's coming from, but he won't put on a new pair. I'm literally at the end of my tether, I can't cope with it. Getting him dressed is so stressful. He care too much what others think therefore wouldn't step foot outside in anything that wasn't normal, such as pj bottoms. He goes through fazes of only wearing one sort of trouser then won't touch them with a barge pole. I really don't know what to do. Iv spent so much money and all these trousers aren't worn (no big deal as ds2 will wear them eventually) but he know is in the circle that getting dressed will be stressful but I swear I don't make a big deal out of it. Tried helping, asking him what exactly is wrong, what can I do to help, don't get cross with him etc but I just can't seem to help him? He had swim lesson today, went off to change but got so upset in changing room over his swim shorts annoying him, so I said it was ok, get changed. Then he comes out crying grabbin and pulling at his waist. Crying, screaming, begging me to kill him.

[Purplerainbow2]

Have a few pairs of lands end unworn. Expensive mistake! He likes the look of them but he's so wired about the back of his knees! Says they are too tight at the back of his knee?! I just wish there was something I could do to make a simple every day necessity (getting dressed) easy!?

[Purplerainbow2]

Can't even get him dressed to go to the OT appointment. Have rung them. I'm so fed up with it

[Sirzy]

Is there anything he will put on? I am sure they are used to children turning up in strange outfits. Even if this once it's a case of pull it out of the washbasket.

Could the oTs give any advice over the phone to help?

[GlitteryShoes]

It might be worth considering some anti-anxiety medication for him. My daughter takes series line, and has a much better quality of life now. She still has her sensory issues, but doesn't meltdown so quickly, and in an emergency, will tolerate something she isn't keen on.

[Purplerainbow2]

Thinks for responding.

I went to OT by myself thankfully my mum was about to babysit. OT was nice and said she would come Thursday to do another assessment. Very kind of her to agree to come to the house to do it. She said she sees a lot of sensory problems with asd and def worse with anxiety (which Iv always said) she's going to try to do some made sensitising' on him for me to try before he needs to get dressed etc.

Iv begged for medication but they won't give it to him.

[Purplerainbow2]

Have tried 'base layers' well for legs anyway and he tefuses as hates lots of layers and can't bear something under trousers.

[WellTidy]

My 3yo ASD DS has sensory issues with clothes and shoes too. Clothes aren't so bad, but shoes are a real issue. He will only wear one particular pair of Clarks leather shoes, regardless of the season. So on beach holidays in the height of summer overseas, he is there wearing his navy Clarks dinosaur winter shoes. It has been like this for maybe 18 months.

It is incredibly lucky that Clarks continue to sell this style of shoe, as I have bought them in five sizes. He has grown out of three of them, and so I have them in his current size and a size bigger.

The shoes thing is something we are targeting through ABA, and it is working slowly. He will now wear wellies in the garden. I am trying not to get too hopeful for a pair of sandals in the summer.

Incidentally, my eldest DS 8yo who is NT is really fussy about trousers (no other clothing or shoes though). He will only wear trousers with a soft waistband (like joggers do), no button, no cuff bottom and for them to be warm. So no jeans, chinos etc.

I hope the OT can make some positive suggestions.

[Purplerainbow2]

The OT said she will show me some things to try with de sensitising. Deep pressure on the feet, although he liked it, had no impact on helping. He's still in pjs ask I have to go to the shop. Nothing for lunch and he won't get dressed as all his trousers are irritating but won't even go in his pj bottoms because 'it's not right'. So I can't win!

[Purplerainbow2]

The OT isn't coming today anymore . Trying to re arrange for next week. I don't know what to do anymore. He hasn't left the house since Saturday. Iv had about £600 worth of trousers delivered this week and none are any good. Have one last order due soon. I'm so fed up of not being listened to. I just don't know what to do, nothing I do helps him anymore ...

[LaughingHyena]

It's so hard finding acceptable clothes. I've just found a supplier of the one coat DS has consented to wear, and bought the next couple of sizes!.

I was going to suggest something tight fitting under the trousers but I see you've already though of that. We use comfifast tubular bandages for DSs excema, would something like that which just goes over his knees be a possibility?

I've also found DS is more willing to wear things when they feel like they are his. So new clothes need to be in his draws for a while before he'll think about wearing them. I tend to take them out every so often and put them in with his pile of clean stuff to put away. Seems to help him get used to them, though I'm surprised he's never mentioned that he hasn't worn them.

[Purplerainbow2]

Thanks for responding. Great idea trying to make patch work trousers, the trouble is I don't know what feels right for him anymore! I always new what was best and what he would or wouldn't wear. This has got worse this winter. Fashion hasn't helped as its all skinny jeans or chinos. The trouser I see I think will be ok just aren't and he's crying in pain!

[Jerbil]

best thing ive done is just take my DS shopping. don't mention it's for him. now and again he'll state he wants to try something. I always go with the flow. last victory was skinny jeans. amazing considering before that he would not (and still won't) do up the zip and button on his school trousers.