Extreme clothing sensitivity with my 4 year old daughter

Frustrated Mom · Guest

My daughter is four and has a huge clothing sensitivity. Her twin brother and older sister also have a mild case of it but nothing in comparision. I am constantly using sensitive lotion and even baby oil in their tub to try and help. I have removed all tags and decals, etc. and even tried undershirts. I have not changed my soaps and use senstive "everything". She sometimes has to change 7 times before leaving the house in the am. I am exhausted. Something that she wore yesterday will not be good tomorrow. I am allowing her to choose as it is worse if I pick the clothes. Underware is another huge problem. Most days she wears shorts or pj's if we are at home. HELP!

Guest · Guest

My dd is 6 and we're going through the same thing. We've been going through it, in one form or another, for a couple of years. First it was the socks, then it was the shoes that were and issue, she worked her way up to the pants "feeling to big" or "touching the back of my shoes", etc. Now she has issues with shirts. She, too, would change 5-10 times in the morning, because she could not find a shirt that's "comfortable." A shirt that was "comfortable" one day "feels funny" on the collar the next. At first I would stand at her closet and go through a million shirts, trying to be patient, because I recall doing this to my mother as a child. However, with 3 other children and schedules to stick to, I can not do that everyday. I told her that I will pick her first shirt (she wants me to), but if she does not like it, then she has to pick another one herself. Initially she would go through shirt after shirt, but last week I told her that I would still pick her first shirt, but she could only try two other shirts after that. She's had her share of meltdowns (last Tuesday being the worst yet), but I have hope that she will outgrow it (not a moment too soon!).

Guest · Guest

Hello Frustrated Mom! I feel your pain. I have a 7 year old boy. In all other areas he is very typical. However, we have been dealing with this clothing issue for years. First it was underwear. Then socks. Shirts with sleeves. Shoes ... oh my gosh! He always has an issue switching from pants (in the winter) to shorts (in the summer). Then, once again when the seasons change. I have found that he likes boxers best for underwear. We still have a problem with socks and shoes. I found socks that he will wear but Costco stopped carrying them and I am unable to find them anywhere else. We are currently playing Baseball (his 3rd season) and the uniform is such an issue. Unfortunately I am not able to accomidate his "clothing" issue because the uniform is standard. I have become so frustrated that I have contumplated not letting him play. He gets into total "freak outs" over his unforms. It then ripples down onto our entire family. I am just so tired of dealing with it. I truely believe that certain clothes bother him, but I am at a loss of how to constantly accomodate him. I looked up tactile disorder and is has so many other issues that I don't believe that he has that. Do you have any ideas that you could share to help ease the tension and "getting dressed time"?

bncoweyes · Newbie Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 1

For all of you who have children that are very sensitive to clothes, etc. I highly recommend them taking the supplement 5-htp. (sold in health food stores). One 50 mg. capsules daily can be broken open and mixed into a small amount of apple sauce, yogurt or the like. You will notice a diffence in your child in about a week. Their mood will change as well as the sensitivity; all for the good!!! My 7 yr. old daughter has been taking the 5-htp for 13 months and I can totally tell a difference when she misses a dose.

softclothing · Newbie Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 1 Location: Brooklyn

Hello,

I am a therapist, and I work with children with Autism and Sensory Intergrative Dysfunction ages 3-7. I am starting a clothing line for children who have extreme sensitivity to clothing textures and cuts, and for parents who want to stop fighting with their kids about clothes, and who want to find clothes appropriate for varied occasions, that their children will actually want to put on (and keep on!). I have worked with numerous children who demonstrate challenging behavior as a result of being highly reactive to the touch and feel of their clothing. I have been working with parents, children, designers, and cotton experts/manufacturers to try and design clothing that will "work" for all children.

What I would like to hear from you in the Sensory community, are your personal stories with clothing, from your point of view, and/or your childrens:

What are your needs?
How is it challenging?
What do you wish you could find but cant?
What do you wish you could find easier?
What kinds of clothing do you wish you could find (occasion wear, school clothes, night clothes, undergarments, adult clothing)?
What are the most important elements you look for?(flat seaming/seamless? no tags? soft cotton?)

and more?

I want to base my product on what parents/children/people really want and need!

Please check out my website, www.softclothing.net , and/or email Jessica at info@softclothing.net with ANY thing you would like to share about this issue!

And thank you!

Jessica

jennalee223 · Newbie Joined: 29 Nov 2007 Posts: 15

i used to have kinda the same problem, but only washing my clothes in DREFT fixed it for me.

Extreme clothing sensitivity with my 4 year old daughter

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