Affordable clothing for SN children

[ritarothwell]

Could everyone please take a minute to read this and then share, share, share. Six months ago I approached M & S and asked them to help lots of mums, dads and carers who look after children with Special Needs. I have been liaising with Marks and Spencer ever since whilst they have been designing a new children's clothing range. All high street shops and on line retailers stop making childrens vests and bodysuits with poppers, when they reach 3. Not all children are out of nappies and not all children are able to eat solid food. Hence children like my grandson Caleb need clothing which enables a nappy to be changed without having to fully undress him and also to be fed by a peg in his tummy, also without undressing him, The specialist catalogues mean that you have to spend £12 - £15 per item and lots of people do. Up to 3 years old you can get around 5-7 vests/bodysuits for about £10.
That is why I got in touch with M & S.
Anyway if you could share this post I would be really grateful as I'm sure will other Families. The clothes will be available in the new year, around Springtime and will be colourful, affordable and with the great quality the company are renowned for. There will be sleep suits, vests, bodysuits all with poppers for easy accessibility and they will be made for children up to 8yrs. Please, please share. We need to get the word out !! If this post sounds familiar from earlier this year this is just an update. Initially it was thought that the items would be in shops later this year but it's actually now going to be in the early spring. It will be worth the wait !

That's good news. Are you campaigning for the line to be extended past 8 years and to include easy on/off items with no zips, buttons etc to encourage independence? Or just the bodysuits/ sleep suits with poppers for the moment?

Just up to 8yrs at the moment. If it is successful I'm sure they will go into other ideas in more detail. They are very receptive and as it's a new venture taking things slowly.

That's a bit disappointing. Their current target market will have outgrown the new range by the time they launch. Ah well. There will be no shortage of kids with disabilities any time soon I suppose. I'll be interested to see how they price this stuff though. No one has managed to keep their prices down yet, so we'll see. What sort of prices are they looking at?
I'll keep looking elsewhere for dd.

If they could do some trousers (especially school ones) for older boys with an elasticated waistband that would be great!

I think it is great if they try and produce clothes adapted to different needs, at affordable prices, not sure why the cut off would be 8 though.

I suppose for a trial period they had to cut off somewhere Hazey?

Hi zzzzz. Had never considered this to be advertising for M & S. I was so excited a few months ago about the fact they had agreed to do this clothing that I told people on here. Many people wanted to know who the company was who were going to be making them and I said I would let them know nearer the time and that's why I have come on here today to answer that question. You will be able then to keep an eye out for any advertising or look on their website now you know it's M&S. I'm sorry if you think I am trying to promote M&S and doing their advertising for them. I am just really happy that my little 3yr old grandson will soon have the clothing he needs, and wanted to share the news with other people who have 3-8 yr olds. When I first approached them I thought they might do up to maybe 5yrs, so am really pleased they are doing to 8yrs. I'm not sure what you mean madwbita about their current target market will have outgrown the new range by the time they launch ? I have been reliably informed that the items will be very affordable and nowhere near the prices of those currently available in specialist places. Jason, I think you are absolutely right, they have to cut off somewhere. This is a new venture for them and hazeyjane once they are up an running I think they would welcome other ideas like the school trousers etc. from people such as yourself. Go for it. You don't ask, you don't get. Just give them a bit of breathing space. As I say this has been going on for 6 months and will be another few before they are in the shops but if any of you are thinking of buying from USA as I understand happens because of the cost of these items here, then if you can hold off until the new year I'm sure you will not be disappointed. And no I am not on commission !

This is brilliant news, I've been paying stupid amounts for my 7 year old's popper vests.

It will be great news if/ when it happens for the little ones. Definitely a step in the right direction. Hopefully they will then extend the range further (as Hazey says, plenty of school age kids looking for elasticated or easy on/ off clothes) as these older kids are often the ones who are trying to deal with their needs themselves, without adult support. But we all have our own niche requirements as all of our kids are different.
All a step in the right direction, and I look forward to seeing it in action.
Are they perhaps extending a range of drool bandanas for older kids too? We won't benefit as dd is too old now, but it is useful info to be able to pass on for those with little ones, and will hopefully save the time in home adaptations for lots of folk.

Pirate Jones. Hope they decide in the not too distant future to do older ages than 8 so that your little one can benefit for longer.

madwomanbackintheattic. I'm afraid I don't know what their future plans will be, but once they have done this launch I can only imagine and hope it will be the start of bigger things to come.

Thank you OP for sorting and arranging this, affordable SN clothing will be great.

Sounds like a great idea

Fantastic, I hope it's successful.

In the meantime, I can report that mothercare bodysuits come up big (wide and long) as their 2-3 years are still fitting my on the bigger side of average 3.5yo. M and S 2-3 years bodysuits are long, but narrower than the mothercare equivalent.

Mothercare also do a 2 pack of roll neck patterned 2-3 years bodysuits which make a nice change, and they are quite big too.

I advise not tumble drying, and washing at 40 degrees to prevent shrinkage.

Hope they decide in the not too distant future to do older ages than 8 so that your little one can benefit for longer.

Me too, although I'm hoping he will be fully potty trained at some point.