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Original poster

5 year old freaking out over socks!

13 replies

Boobalina · 01/03/2010 11:14

My 5 yo DS goes through spates of really fussing over his clothes - usual socks. He'll put them on and then slowly start freaking out, jumping up and down saying they dont feel right, taking them off, putting on new ones, same thing again, fussing over the collar of his shirt.

Its driving me round the fucking twist.

Fair enough when he was a pre-schooler but still at 5 yers old FFS?!

I have tried the following

Being all calm and nice and helpful
Buying differant socks
Shouting
On the step til behavior stops
Sticker on chart for not fussing
Sticker off chart for fussing
ignoring it
Saying he can go to school with no socks on then

I am at my wits end...

Help!

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FernieB · 01/03/2010 12:38

Wish I had the answer for you! One of my DD's went through the same thing with socks and she was a bit older than your DS. Sounds like you've tried everything I tried. It was a stage and did pass, although she is still not keen on socks and is already counting down the days until it's warm enough for her to go without them.

Sorry I can't help, but I just wanted to let you know you're not the only one. Just keep calm and ignore it.

You could check to make sure everything is okay at school, just in case he's trying to delay going for some reason and that's why he's taking so long to get dressed. Otherwise, he'll just be going through an awkward phase and it will pass.

BigTillyMint · 01/03/2010 12:41

My friends DD was exactly the same.

She tried everything, like you. Nothing seemed to work.

The DD is better now - 7 1/2!

fondant4000 · 01/03/2010 12:43

We had the same problem. Eventually found the 'problem' was the seams on the toes which were apparently agonising (that's what you would have thought from the reaction!).

Turned them inside out and bingo! no problem. One month later she is now wearing them the right way out - so I don't know if this is actually a solution or not Worth a try though.

This will pass - next month it will be something else

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fondant4000 · 01/03/2010 12:43

oh btw she's 6.5 - maybe that's too depressing for you to know...

andlipsticktoo · 01/03/2010 12:49

He's still only little at 5. Though I can totally understand it would drive any parents bonkers!

Could you take him shopping with you specially for socks, try them on etc.? I think the idea about turning them inside out is genius! I often have problems with the seams of my socks!

ohmeohmy · 01/03/2010 12:53

sounds like tactile hypersensitivity. To him it probably seems like his socks are filled with something that hurts. Try looking at sensory processing sites for helpful advice. or post in SN as someone might have some sensible info for you. (DS sensitive to lots of things but socks not one of them so not much use I'm afraid)

dinasaw · 01/03/2010 13:34

i used to hate wearing socks when I was a kid. I worked out that it was the feel of the seam on my toes. I don't like my feet being touched and I have very sensitive toes. My Mum got round it by turning the socks inside out so I couldn't feel the seam rubbing on my toenails. It's only the last few years that I have been able to wear them the right way round and I'm 32! I still can't wear tights, they just don't feel right at all.

Original poster

Boobalina · 01/03/2010 13:54

I did the old sock inside out trick this morning ( I do the same on some of my socks) and he didnt want to wear them like that 'beacuse they look silly'

I'll google the tactile sensitivity thing too...

He's also reverted to fiddling with his mouth - biting nails, sucking fingers, sucking toys etc...

He sems to have regressed lately!

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CantSupinate · 01/03/2010 13:55

I used to offer DS a chocolate raisin if he would just wear them to school anyway. This worked without him getting into habit of demanding chockie raisin every day. It seemed to help him get over the sock thing for enough days to get used to them. It's not that they hurt, it was just something about them he needed to get used to.

Similar with tags on shirts, or learning to pull his polo shirt collar over his sweatshirt -- once he got used to it, he was fine.

Original poster

Boobalina · 01/03/2010 14:00

SAme with DS, we've been through all this before then it ceased to be an issue and now its back with a venegance!

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Original poster

Boobalina · 02/03/2010 10:24

well today was MUCH better. I ahd a nice chat about how he feels when he socks and shoes feel 'wrong' and about turning the socks inside out.

Also gave him a small choc from jar when he was fully dressed and in car without freaking out - piece of cake! Was this actually a 'real' problem I wonder?!

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leamac · 02/03/2010 15:23

my 6 year old daughter will only wear odd socks, every night i place a pair out for schoo and then in the morning she swaps one for an odd, no idea why but if i force the issue she screams, its just not worth it first thing in the morning, wonder what the school thinks though

Fimblehobbs · 02/03/2010 15:27

DS (5) is the same - goes through phases where it doesn't matter so much and then maddening phases where his socks are funny and his pants are itchy.

Buying larger socks helped - then they are looser and he doesn't feel the seam. A friend lent me a new style of pants that are more comfy for him so at the minute we are 80% ok. Still has tired/fussy/in a rush mornings which always make it worse.

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