Socks for child with sensory issues?

[terriblepotato]

Dd (9) with sensory issues - currently seeking assessment for autism. Never had a huge problem with socks but always hated the ones with patterns as she found the inside of the socks irritated her. I've bought her plain cotton ones for years.

She now suddenly can't stand to wear any of her socks. I've tried to work out exactly what isn't working for her, thinking it may be the seam in the toe or the bit around the ankle but she's insisting it's the material she doesn't like. I'm sure you can only buy cotton socks and no other material?!

Does anyone have any suggestions on what we can try for her?

I agree. SockShop bamboo socks are excellent, highly recommended.

You can get socks especially for diabetics,they may onli.be available in adult sizes,I am not sure.

Thanks everyone this is so helpful! The sock shop bamboo ones look good to try for the price.

She's completely fine with tights and is adamant it's the fabric

I buy seamless bamboo socks for autistic DS, he would wear ones with seams but it took literally 15 mins to put them in as they had to be exactly right.

Turn the socks inside out so the toe seam is on the outside.
Buy smoothest socks you can fine, bamboo ones are soft.

Not sure this helps but I have sensory issues & haven't work socks for my entire late child / adult life. I hate them & I can't explain why.
I don't own any.
I really struggle with any cotton socks, trousers or tops. Cotton feels awful against my skin.
I wear shoes / trainers with no socks.
Bamboo might help - but I can tolerate bamboo socks either!!
I can tolerate pop socks (knee high nylons) but not tights.
Don't force her - just try opaque knee highs or ankle ones made of the same fabric as tights.
The only way I can explain my hatred of socks is it's like having the wrong size shoes on.
Just horrible feeling.

If it is relatively new try the size up, even if it is much too big on paper. DD is a size 2, but wears size 3-5 much more happily or occasional even my adult 5-7 ones.

For us that helped more than seam free etc.

The Sock Shop bamboo socks, they don't have an obvious toe seam and my autistic daughter says they are the best socks she's ever worn. Otherwise how about thicker socks? Like .walking boot socks from Go Outdoors etc. They're cushioned underfoot so quite comfy. Also sizing up in the socks and making sure the shoes are comfy and not pressing anywhere helps too. My daughter lives in wellies when she's overwhelmed as shoes are too restrictive for her.

I wear fluffy teddy bear material socks inside out.

TK Maxx generally have Sock Shop bamboo socks too. They hold their softness even after multiple washes.

Get a smaller size the only way I cope are kids M&S socks 🧦 being tight helps me, to a point!

Yes, another vote for bamboo - bam ones are amazing, if expensive. They’ll likely send you a free pair to try if you ask them - they do that routinely for marketing purposes (send free socks).

Another bamboo recommendation. DS2 has huge sensory issues (socks, labels, waistbands etc) and I’ve bought joules socks on eBay for him for years. He doesn’t mind patterns though. If you go for the joules ones, then size up, as I find that they shrink slightly in the wash.

He also tolerates the M&S thermal school socks, which come in a three pack in grey, navy or black. These are great for winter, and actually I wear the size 4-7 ones too, they’re lovely and warm.

DH wears bamboo socks from crew clothing, so I have my eye on these as DS grows. They’re soft, wash great and seem ever so comfortable.

Just a word on the bam socks - I had three pairs randomly sent to me (on three separate occasions). They’re really thin compared to other bamboo socks, I find, and they fall/wriggle down all day. The elevator on the leg doesn’t seem to be effective enough.

I buy my daughter plain adult socks which are the only ones she can tolerate. I don’t think she liked the tightness of the correctly sized socks. The cheaper the better for her.

The sock shop seam free bamboo ones are great. My dd still wears them inside out as they have a tiny knot each side of the toes, but otherwise they’re fine. Have saved us at least ten minutes of sock angst every morning!

Another vote for bamboo socks - they wash really well too & remain soft / retain shape. They may be more prone to sliding down in certain shoes.

DD, who is autistic and has sensory issues, wears bed socks most of the time. They're soft, and with no obvious seams that press or rub her feet sore.

DS, also autistic, tends to wear socks inside out so he doesnt feel the seam. And often wears 2 or 3 pairs at once too, which must provide some cushioning for his feet.

I've got several pairs of bamboo socks which are really soft and they might be an option too.

Thanks again everyone. I've ordered some of the sock shop bamboo socks to try

If she's 9, is she starting to get hairier? My DD10 has issues with comfort now because clothes feel wrong against the hair on her legs.

Just wanted to come back to this and say the Sock Shop bamboo socks are a hit! Thanks so much everyone

DS only wears John Lewis wool blend school socks and has done for five years. No ND diagnosis but some sensory issues. They don't seem to shrink and go tight like cotton ones. No issues with itching even though he can't wear lambswool jumpers for this reason.

The ones by Denim Star have been brilliant for my daughter. I am so happy I found them x

My daughter has hypermobility and may be autistic too, with an acute sensitivity to what touches her skin. It is especially pronounced with seams in close fitting clothing. Especially socks. The seams cause her so much distress she can be in tears and her anxiety goes through the roof. She may not want to leave the house because of it.

I am writing this post as I have finally found a solution and we could not be happier. We discovered the seamless socks from Denim Star . It is rare I make recommendations but I wanted to share with other mums the joy these socks have brought to the every day life of my daughter. She absolutely loves them. They are soft and cosy and she would be happy to wear them every day. There are no toe seams and the tops stay up without digging in and do not bother her at all either. She has the ankle socks and the longer ones which she can wear under or over her knees and they still stay up. My daughter wrote a thank you letter to the lady who designs and makes them she was so grateful. They come in lovely denim blues so could be worn by anyone. Really worth a try x

Bastard socks. And don't get me started on tights. I wear M&S sumptuously soft ones and find them lovely but they wear out on the big toe and heel quickly because I walk a lot. Footless dance tights are a brilliant invention although autistic Dd finds them weird. They are the only tight I'll wear now.
Thanks to this thread I'm going to check out the sock shop. I didn't know it still existed until I saw it in Manchester the other week.

In other news all clothing labels should be printed on to the inside of the item.