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Shoe obsession - sensory integration or obsessive

10 replies

Chundle · 02/05/2011 19:04

Ok dd2 is driving me insane - I'm ready to throw all her shoes in the bin!! First word she learnt was 'shoes' she's now 21 months and screams 'shoooeeeeeeessss' at me for the best part of the day until I relent an put her shoes on for her, then she shuts up. She gets herself in a right state crying and tantruming if we don't give her her shoes. I know she has ultra sensitive feet and she does tiptoe for some of the day (with and without shoes) but is this what this is all about?? Is it another sensory thing or is it another of her obsessions? I'm struggling to work out which at the moment.
She's clearly upset when she realises she hasn't got them on and asks for them. And when she's screaming at me she's usually tiptoeing as well. Do I give in each time or try and get her used to not having shoes on - slippers don't suffice! OT said not to pander to her obsessions but to be sensitive toward her sensory issues! All very well if I could distinguish the two!

OP posts:
justaboutWILLfinishherthesis · 02/05/2011 19:44

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Chundle · 02/05/2011 19:52

Sorry didn't explain well - it's more the fact I was trying to figure out should I be tryin to get her used to no shoes? For example for when she starts nursery next year and has to take them off to sit on carpet/PE etc, several friends have no shoes in house rules, an also she has awful tantrums and when she kicks you in the face with a pair of peidro boots on it hurts! Not to mention the dents in doors etc. Yes was thinking of indoor/outdoor pair as well. Thank you.

OP posts:
justaboutWILLfinishherthesis · 02/05/2011 19:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Chundle · 02/05/2011 20:00

Ok thanks for that- I may try and ask the mobility centre who supplies her boots if they do slipper boots with thick soles or can suggest some. She may accept them. I think she likes the thick soles of shoes as oppose to slippers. Will see what I can find as boot prints on my face aren't an attractive look :)

OP posts:
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 02/05/2011 20:02

My DD will not let us take her shoes off either, wish I knew why too

TotalChaos · 02/05/2011 20:03

agree with justa, sounds like she could be genuinely more comfortable with shoes than without (presumably the piedros are v supportive).

Marne · 02/05/2011 20:03

I would let her wear them, if she kicks then she has to take them off (she will soon learn that kicking meens she can't wear her shoes), its probably more a sensory thing but has turned into an obsession, dd2 loves shoes, she's now 5 and tried to get me to buy her a pair of heals last week Grin, as soon as anyone comes in the house she will take their shoes and put them on her feet.

Chundle · 02/05/2011 20:05

Oh goody fanjo please I'm not the only one! I know girls love their shoes but it takes it a bit far sometimes!! My dd has extremely sensitive toenails and if anything touches them she hates it, she got a thread stuck round her toenail once a went blue screaming! she has to have socks on with all shoes even sandals as well

OP posts:
SacreLao · 03/05/2011 12:02

I would let her wear the shoes as it does sound like a sensory issue.

My son is the opposiite, he hates shoes and will kick and scream when you try to put them on. He goes barefoot everywhere. I do think that the shoes are hurting him or are uncomfortable, he also has sensory issues so I let it go most of the time.

silverfrog · 03/05/2011 12:35

bot my girls have been the same.

although weirdly, neither would keep socks on as babies - d1 in particular, was a horror for kicking off blankets, socks, etc, and then sticking her feet up on the bumper bar on he buggy - in the middle of winter Grin. the Hmm and [frown] (we really need that emoticon!) looks I got form little old ladies...

but as soon s she got shoes - there was no looking back, and no possibility of not wearing shoes.

same with dd2.

they would both scream and scream if eg shoes were downstairs and I tried ot get them to go down first thign in the morning to put them on - shoes had to come to them, not other way around!

take it slowly. don't push it.

you could try working on her sensitivity, with eg massage, or tickles, and building up form there (we did this with dd1, for both hands and feet, with a lot of success)

my girls are 6 and 4 now, and can manage a few different situations now - eg no shoes when swimming (I had ot buy dd1 beach shoes for ages, as the concept of no shoes was too much for her!)

dd2 has recently run around in the garden a bit barefoot. and both went barefoot in the house the other evening - I was Shock

agree with Marne re: the kicking. might be a useful way to try to get that under control.

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