School trousers for DS with sensory issues

[Freenpock]

Hi all,

Partly posting in AIBU for traffic but also because I’m beginning to feel that I am being unreasonable, or at the very least a bit stupid…

My DS, age 5, has some sensory issues around clothing, and finding him suitable school trousers is proving impossible.

He can’t have:
Zips
Buttons
Slim fit
Skinny leg
Thick material
Elastic ankle cuffs

They must be:
Pull up/ elastic waist
Breathable

Last year, he wore jogging bottoms during the winter but they were very thick and he found them uncomfortable. He is very happy in shorts but as it gets colder, I’d prefer him to have something more substantial.

In a perfect world, he’d have a loose fit, thin material jogger with no pockets.

Can anyone help (pleassseeeee!)?

I think at 5 he should wear what you put him in. Letting him have this much input and choice is setting you both up for endless battles.

That doesn't work when your child has sensory issues.

M&S do school uniform that called something like easy dressing which is designed for kids with sensory or coordination issues.

adaptiveclothing.uk/ have some styles
M&S do some adapted clothing ranges online.

If you Google 'adaptive clothing' quite a few sites will come up with various differing clothing g options a

I have bought pull up grey school trousers, regular fit from Tesco before - however I'm not sure if it's only on smaller sizes (3-4, 4-5) as I haven't seen them since.

Can you ask the school if he could wear some non-school trousers in a dark colour, that he is happy with? There are some children in DS's school that don't wear uniform and just regular clothes due to sensory issues.

Ds now 14 is similar. Matalan had very basic pull on trousers last year. Ds wore base layers underneath because he hated feeling the movement of the trousers at all. Layer filled them out a bit and stopped the fabric moving against him. Hope that makes sense!

@VeterinaryCareAssistant , with respect you have absolutely no idea about what a child with sensory issues and neuro divergence needs or can cope with. It's not about discipline.

OP. I would liase with the school to see if there is flexibility on the uniform. They ought to be able to make reasonable adjustments- which is required of them in law for a start.

My son also has issues and I have had some of his school trousers lined with super soft fabric by a tailor which does help.

Also, look a websites such as the national autistic society. They often have advice and ads for clothing that help.

Oh yes- we have in the past used this where they have velcro on shirts rather than buttons. Total gamechanger.

I think that breathable is probably going to be your biggest issue because school trousers have a Teflon coating presumably to make them waterproof.

M and s do pull ons but they are regular trouser material. Would linen be what you mean by "breathable"?

Those omes come in llads of leg widths and also sizes

Sorry for multiple posts but actually i found a pair in Next last year that were quite soft compared to most other pairs I bought

Young boy in my school has sensory issues and he's wearing Asda girls jersey type trousers. The straight leg ones. Can't really tell that they are girls and they are quite lightweight x

I buy my DS the girls jersey trousers from Sainsburys. Elasticated waist so pull on and not tightly fitted, they have stretch to them. You can't tell they are "girls" when worn. They come in packs of 2: Link

Yawn. Your comment is ableist. Read the OP.

H&M used to do exactly what you are after. They're called joggers but theyre quite thin school trouser fabric. Light to wear, fully elasticated waist. I haven't seen them this year, but it doesn't mean they don't still do them. Other places will no doubt do them too.

If you search for jogger trousers you might have more luck.

Asda George do an easy wear range. They have pull up trousers with no label attached. Also lots of other sensory items

https://direct.asda.com/george/collections/easy-on-easy-wear-school/D28M110G1C3,default,sc.html?_gl=1%2a1ajhgf8%2a_ga%2acUxKZTQ1S0I2VFlTZ2czVWdOWF80cVNsQ0hSeWotNklOckFEM1ZETFY3eUxOc1RfN3lMVjNnTnpEREtSZHpfSA%2e%2e

I seem to be able to find nothing but pull up trousers which is less easy for narrow hipped DS (needs space for thighs so can't really go slim fit). Matalan, M&S and Asda all seem to be mostly pull on this year (I'm in Scotland so mostly sold out as we've been back a week!)

leggings would fit that brief

There is nothing wrong with shorts, if those suit your son.
DS2 is now 12. He wears shorts for about 11mo the of the year.

And making a child with sensory issues wear clothes they find extremely uncomfortable for six hours a day is helpful to who exactly?

[[https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00HV0MLPE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Also,

[[https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00K5RFBHK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Finding these made school a LOT easier for DS. Wash them before you wear them the first time - they arrive with that slightly weird slippery feeling but wash out very soft.

@CatsOnTheChair DS will only wear shorts for actual sport, and even then, unwillingly, because the feel of the cold edge of the desk or chair on his legs is unbearable to him. It's not unusual for children with sensory issues to keep their legs covered at all times.

Not sure if those links work but the brand is Zeko and available on Amazon. They do elasticised waists in different sizes and styles and the fabric washes very well and is very soft - Especially after a couple of washes.

@GingerIsBest but the OP specifically says her son is happy in shorts, and it's her that wants him in trousers because of the cooler weather. I wouldn't have suggested it otherwise.

Oh, sorry! Totally missed that! Apologies.

You're totally right re shorts all year if they like it. And in my experience, if children want light clothes they're remarkably able to ignore the cold! . DH wore H&M linen trousers 12 months a year from the age of about 4-8. Including in snow! [grin'