My 4 year old wont wear buttons - any ideas for a wedding?

[higgys]

My 4 year son has developed a phobia about buttons and wont wear anything that has a button, press stud or poppers. He pretty much lives in tracksuit pants and T-shirts.

We are going to a wedding at the weekend and want him to wear something smarbut he is hysterical at the thought of a shirt and trousers with buttons.

Does anyone know where I can find a shirt with velcro fastening and some smartish trousers with elasticated waist?

And longer term - how can we overcome this? He starts school next year and I'm dreading the big fight/tantrum I will have trying to get him into a school uniform everyday.

Zara has some smart clothes and Monsoon (though pricey). A plain long-sleeve T-Shirt can look smart with dressy trousers. Also Mothercare had some sleeveless jumpers which always smarten up an outfit.

Have a look at Monsoon - in the summer they had lovely linen trousers with a drawstring, and tunic style shirts that oull on over the head.

Remeber that 4 year-olds look gorgeous in anything, and it doesn't have to be traditional shirt and tie.

I have a feeling that a button phobia is fairly common (as a phobia) and if it is a ral phobia, it might not be best to battle it out, but to replace all his shirt and trouser fittings with little patches of velcro. He won't be able to settle at school if he is in a state about wearing buttons all day.

Can you look for a shirt that has 'hidden buttons' - under a layer of material...I don't know how to descibe those shirts, and replacethe buttons with velcro, under the panel?

I bet you can still get pull on, elasticated trousers like thesewith perhaps a smart long sleeved t shirt for the wedding(may be with a faux collar or short liek) and a tank top (like this or this.

For school many wear sweatshirts now anyway and I expect you could agree to put a crew neck t shirt of same colour instead of a polo top underneath or ours can wear roll necks. There is a boy in dd's year who still doesn't wear full uniform but has progressed onto a polo shirt now.

vertbaudet have a collarless 'mandarin' shirt to pull on over the head - it does have buttons, but you could take them off and he could wear a nice woollen tank top over it. And replace the buttons at the sleeves with velcro.

Hope you're good at sewing!

Boden have cord trousers which don't look as if they have buttons - 'cord baggies' - you could call and ask them. They may have butons to adjust the waist, but you could remove them.

Thanks for the suggestions - Just had a look at Monsoon website and it looks promising.

I had considerd cutting the buttons of a shirt and putting velcro on, but I'm not sure what it would look like. One with hidden buttons is a good idea.

Next have school polo shirts with a zip.

For the wedding mabye he could have one of these with a tank top over - would get my vote as he's more likely to wear it again than something more formal.

Thanks so much for taking the time to have a look for me - I've def. got a few more options here.

Thanks

M&S do school trousers that don't have button - DS is now 6 and still in them.

They also do polo shirts with zips - or are they an issue too?

If the uniform is polo shirts you can just take the buttons out of normal ones. DS never fastens the buttons as I hate them fastened. Someone made him fasten for school photo - was not impressed.

My ds wouldn't wear buttons (though he is making progress now). He had to go to my sister's wedding at the age of 4. I bought him some smart trousers with an elasticated waist (try school uniform trousers) and on top he wore a plain white t-shirt (new) with a pale blue V-necked jumper from next. He looked really smart and was very happy wearing it.

My 4 year old is the same. She really does not like anything with buttons on and I fretted about her uniform. We just told her she had to wear it and that is that. She still isn't keen on having her coat buttoned up, and given the choice she will choose a skirt to wear rather than trousers with a button, but if there is no choice she has to wear it.

I wouldn't worry about school yet.

What size do you need? I may have something you could use.

Sainsburys have 25% off everything at the moment if you have a store near you.

NAB3littlemonkeys - That's very kind of you to offer, but I'm looking for something for my little boy! He def wont wear a skirt!

My 4 yo DS looked very smart at his uncles wedding in brown trousers and white t shirt, v neck tank top combo. 4 is too young to dress up in formal wear I think.

My nephew had this fear a few years ago now. I think my cousin tried helping him by asking him to help her with her clothes, which did have buttons. Don't know if that helps

I have a boy too!!!

How about a smart little tanktop over a white t-shirt?

My DS had the same problem and we also had a smart wedding to go to. I realised that the main issue with the buttons was that he was worried about the feel of them against his skin. So we put a white tshirt on him and put the shirt on top of the tshirt, and tucked the tshirt into his trousers before doing them up. His phobia has almost now disappeared, although he still has issues with most sorts of trousers.........!

Also, it may help if you get him dressed for the wedding with some other young children who are also wearing smart clothes.