5 yr old DD - issues with clothes/getting dressed

[cookiewoo]

My DD is 5.4 and is a nightmare when it comes to clothes. She has a wardrobe full of lovely things but refuses to wear most of it. She says everything is uncomfortable. Some items she has worn many times in the past, without complaint, but then she suddenly decides they are uncomfortable. She won't wear tights or vests. Socks have to be worn inside out. Shoes are always an issue. She doesn't like the feel of any seams. I'll try & persuade her to try on something, like a pair of leggins and she will literally put her toe in & then freak out & say they are too uncomfortable.
I know in the big scheme of things, this isn't the worse thing that can happen, but is SO annoying & frustrating!! Especially in the mornings when we're trying to get out the door for school!
In all other ways she is a very normal, lovely little girl.
I was just wondering of anyone else has experienced this and how they dealt with it?

Some children are very sensitive to texture. Add in the fact that most 5 yr olds want their own way and you have a recipe for conflict. I would let her choose her own clothes and buy only the things that appeal to her. If she spends the next 18 months in jeans and a t-shirt then that's how it is. Get her to agree with you the night before what she's going to wear.
Be patient. This is just a phase. Some kids will only wear a batman suit. Yours doesn't like seams. that's the way it goes

Some children have sensory issues that affect touch/texture. The YoungDonki (now 11!) likes his clothes to be very soft. Doesn't like scratchy bits (labels), hates shorts and short sleeves because they don't feel right. Is a nightmare to apply sun cream to (or any medicine in cream form) - he gets completely hysterical.

We avoid the cream issue (and hatred of t shirts) by always (in summer) using a sun hat and wearing long sleeves. I try to buy clothes that are soft - and if he likes something I get more of it. In bigger sizes too.

M&S do some clothes that have very soft seams and no labels.

Some places like this also sell clothes that may help.

Thank you for your helpful replies.
We always get her school uniform sorted the night before & we have found trousers, polo shirt & jumper that she is happy to wear. Its usually just the socks & shoes that are an issue but once she has actually got them on (after a fuss), she forgets about them all day at school.
At weekends, I basically let her wear what she wants but, she does put on some bizarre combinations of clothing! But, she doesn't care & I suppose you can get away with it when you're 5!
When we do buy her new clothes/shoes, she always chooses what she likes but what normally happens is we'll get them home, she'll wear them a few times, but then decided they are too uncomfortable and they won't get worn again. Its very frustrating and to be honest, I've stopped buying her stuff (unless its essential) as I feel that it's a waste of money. Luckily though, she does have a younger sister who will be inheriting a wardrobe of lots of unworn hand me downs!
Thanks for the link Donki, I had no idea shops like that existed. I will certainly check it out and I will try and be more patient & understanding with DD x

What a lovely mum you are It must be very annoying but it is 'real' to her.

Thank you Northern! Yes, that's what I have to remember, it is real to her. Me getting cross with her is not going to help. I sometimes wonder if it is a 'control' thing but in all other aspects she's a very chilled, easy going little thing, not a control freak at all.
It is very annoying but I'm sure/hope it won't last forever!

Ds2 is 16 and has always been the same. He is not interested in designer gear, it just has to feel right. We have had some problems over the years. He chooses his own clothes now.

I would probably just threaten to take her out as she is if she isn't dressed when you're ready to go.

I'm clearly not as nice

Ds is very fussy about clothes. There doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason to it. Sometimes he doesn't like something because it feels funny, sometimes he doesn't like the way things look. He's 6. So mostly I just let him pick what he wants to wear and go with it. I remind him if it's cold or hot and he generally chooses appropriate clothing.

Id personally try a restricted choice of say 2 or 3outfits and let them pick which one. Therefore they still have a say in their outfit and so do you.

Though if it is sensory and texture see what clothes they pick and she if there is a pattern etc

Choude - that works fine with kids are playing up. For kids who genuinely see the world differently that will just make both of you miserable. My dd3 isn't crazy about new places. I could try and force her to get a grip or I can understand how she is and make allowances. the latter looks like 'pandering' - but since when is knowing how your child ticks a bad thing? When she was two - and frankly I didn't 'get' her like I do now I tried to get her changed in the middle of the day to try on a bridesmaid dress. TOTAL meltdown. Total. So on the day of the wedding I just got her dressed in the dress as last minute before the do as possible, instead of dressing her at my aunt's house as we had planned. She likes routine, she likes procedure and she needs help working around that. She's getting better all the time and the OP's child will too - when there are clothes she really wants to wear, because her mates do, for example.