Sensory issues with socks and shoes in a neurotypical three-year-old

[Elaina87]

I have a 3 year who is neurotypical in terms of communication & socially, and hitting all usual milestones. However she is incredibly sensory sensitive. She struggles with loud noises and the feel of her clothes, but the main issue we are having is with her feet and this is becoming quite a problem now so I'm looking for any advice. She will not wear any socks, and it is now progressing to refusing shoes. The only thing she will currently wear on her feet are her crocs. she won't wear trainers, sandals or canvas shoes. I have tried all sorts of socks - soft ones, ones, ones with no seam. Nothing works, she gets very very distressed and if i do manage to get anything on her she just takes them straight off. This morning (hot day) she actually wanted to wear her new sandals and tried to put them on but once they were on she got upset ad took them off. I bundled her in the car with no shoes on and took the sandals with me to nursery in the hope she would put them on there but she outright refused and got very upset. She went in in bare feet🙃 and i had to go home to get her crocs. She's due to start a school pre school in September and has a uniform, so i don't think crocs will go down well there although I'm sure they will be flexible if i explain. I need to try and crack this though, it's been going on for about 7 months and just seems to be getting worse. She just seems to hate the feel of anything on her feet! Any suggestions or help I haven't tried? xx

I can find socks difficult with the gathering around them. Have you tried something like baby oil because dry skin may not help. Also, how about trying old school plimsoles.

I'm a 31 year old autistic adult with significant sensory issues and I live and will die in my crocs.

Is there a reason why she can't just wear her crocs?

In my view it's always comfort over esthetics, but practical over comfort.

If she needs them for practical reasons but she just won't wear them, then they're by default not practical for her.

Also crocs do school shoes.

I wouldn't rule out neurodivergence and getting her onto the pathway for assessment will hopefully open up some doors for reasonable adjustments like letting her wear her safe shoes, overcoming the brand issue many schools have as it's for a disability rather than aesthetics.

My son will only wear his snow boots. All year round. He also can't wear the same uniform as everybody else but the school have been great at finding compromises with us, like sewing the logo onto a zip up jacket instead of a pullover, or wearing polo shirts with a printed label instead of a button up with tags.