Extreme clothing sensitivity with my 4 year old daughter

Thanks for the encouragement! We have been buying seamless socks from stride rite, but they are very expensive and get holes in them within 6 months or so, so I am very interested in another option. Can you tell us where you buy happy feet socks? When I did a google search, most results were for feet alignment socks, which I'm guessing aren't the right thing. Thanks much. For other parents the stride rite seamless socks from tootsie stride rite are truly seamless and she will wear them with no fuss, but as I mentioned, for the price, don't last very long.

We are just recently discovered the reason our Abby has meltdowns every time we try to put clothing on her. She is 4 years old and absolutely goes berserk over blue jeans, any shoe with ties, socks, underwear, leotards for gymnastics, hair bows, gloves, boots...I could go on and on. We are discovering she will only wear loose billowy shirts or dresses, leggings that are not tight, crocs or flip-flops, absolutely no tags in her clothing, all tags cut out of whatever she has on, etc. We never knew there was such a condition as Sensory Integration Difficulty/Dysfunction. We are not even sure this is Abby. We're not even positive this is what she suffers from or is it OCD?

I was brought to tears to realize other kids have this. My daughter is now 9 and it started for her about 5 years of age. She started off not wanting to wear her underwear. I thought maybe they were just getting tight so I bought her some new ones...that was not the case. It was a struggle to get her to wear them. I didn't know why all of the sudden she would almost break down in tears when I had her put them on. She would always wear them to school but then she started coming home with them in her bag eh . I tried buying her "cool" ones, sparkly ones, boy shorts (which worked for a while) but no she is back to comando. She could never tell me why she didn't want to wear them just that they were "squeeze" and felt "gross". Then she hated socks. The seam drove her crazy to the point of tears. Then the skinny jean phase hit and NO WAY was she wearing those. She wants to wear them and leggens and begs me to buy them and promises to wear them but when it comes time to wear them she can't. She was recently diagnosed with ADHD so I wondered if that had something to do with it. I noticed another post a mother had mentioned having ADHD. I was just curious to know how many of these posts have kids with ADD or ADHD? 

I finally just decided let her be her. I have a friend who is a therapist and she said you have to let her "do her". She is much happier and less stressed. She has also most of her life had a fear of a lot of things. Water, any bug and she has grown out of it. I will add I don't know about you other parents but I was going threw shoes like crazy because she would not wear socks |-O (stinky) I found sanuks are AMAZING! She can wear them and wear them (without socks) and no stink. They can be just wiped out too. They are designed that way. She LOVES them and is so excited about them not smelling. LOL I just want to wish everyone good luck. Since I learned to just let her be who she is there is less anxiaty and she is so happy! Thank everyone for your stories...They really helped me!

Hi Tammy,
I'm wondering if any of your remedies ended up working?

I posted this about a year ago, just having learned that my daughter and I probably had Sensory Integration issues. I guess that I'm posting this as an encouragement to others who are just starting on this journey and to share just some of what we've learned so far. Having a little knowledge about what we are dealing with has been a great comfort to me and has helped our whole family to look at this situation differently.

My 9-year-old child has been in occupational therapy for about a year and it has helped tremendously. We were told that Sensory Integration Dysfunction or Sensory Processing Disorders have to due with the central nervous system. Sensory Integration Disorders can display themselves differently in different people. For example, some people seek out stimuli and some avoid it at all costs. In fact, my child and I are on opposite ends of the spectrum, if you will, when it comes to this disorder. But we both definitely feel it's effects. We have learned that "brushing therapy" works well for calming down our over-firing skin receptors, making it easier to get dressed. We also learned that big movements have a very calming effect. Wrestling, swimming....most physical activity works wonders for her. I was told by the occupational therapist that many adults with SID become athletes (runners, swimmers, triathletes) as a way of calming themselves. The occupational therapist has also given us exercises to use at home. It's nice to feel like I have a "bag of tricks" to reach into when my girl is having a tough "sensory day", as we call them. My daughter still has days that are more difficult to get dressed. Days when she is tired or sick are particularly difficult. But overall, OT has done wonders.

My child has been able to wear undies and socks successfully for many months now. She hasn't had a meltdown in many, many months, which is a great relief. I have learned to shop selectively for seamless socks and undies. There are a couple of vendors in particular that offer good products. Softclothing.net is great. They have a line of seamless clothing, including socks and undies. We also like the seamless socks from Smart Knit Kids. I also found "The Everything Parent's Guide to Sensory Integration Disorder" by Terri Mauro to be an informative read.

I hope that some of this information will be helpful to someone else.

Sorry that this didn't link to my original post.

This was my original post.

I can say from personal experience that this issue is not �just in your head�. I have struggled with clothing sensitivities since I was five. In elementary school, I used to wear the same outfit to school every day, because it was the only comfortable thing in my closet full of clothes. I have always had issues with underwear and socks. I still cannot wear jeans, turtlenecks, or anything tight or skin-hugging. I still cannot concentrate and get highly agitated (it is truly difficult to explain with words what it�s like) if I am wearing uncomfortable clothes. Things have gotten better with time (I am 37 now), but mostly because I have learned to shop for my own comfort. I may not always be high style, but at least I don�t run naked or barefoot through the streets.

I always thought my �issues� were related to my OCD, but after reading the website on �Sensory Integrative Dysfunction� it just makes so much sense, as I am also highly sensitive and attune to sounds (pen clicking, nail biting, clock ticking, loud food chewing, etc.) and touch. Until yesterday, I didn�t know this had a name. This is truly enlightening and it�s nice to know that I am not alone.

My seven-year-old daughter also struggles greatly with �extreme comfort issues� (as we call it at our house). She woke up one morning when she was three and refused to wear the jeans she had worn comfortably then previous day, saying �they don�t feel good�. I knew right away what was up. Her clothing issues have gotten progressively worse since then. She owns underwear, but won�t wear them. Socks, as well (on rare occasions she will wear them inside out, if she is forced to wear them, and then after many tears). Shoes are a frustrating endeavor, to say the least. I often buy pre-owned clothing from consignment shops, because they are softer and more worn-in. She won�t wear shirts with �lumps� (where the seams don�t lay perfectly flat) in the armpit area. She doesn�t own a pair of jeans and won�t wear any pair of pants or shorts if the inseam comes too close to the crotch area. I also can�t get her to wear a bathing suit, so she wears swim shorts instead. She will not wear a jacket over any type of sleeves. Leggings are out. And the issues don�t end there.

We are learning to deal with it. I try to be patient, since I can completely empathize with her plight, but even I get frustrated. It is impossible to lay out clothes the night before, because clothes that felt good yesterday might not feel right today (I have read the �Raising Your Spirited Child� book and the tips offered there don�t work for my kid). And giving ultimatums always ends up in a meltdown. I have learned to shop according to her needs, in order to raise the chances of her success, but it gets tiring. Getting my child dressed takes A LOT of effort and patience, which I don�t always have. She used to cry and meltdown every day, but as she ages the episodes seem to be diminishing.

Thus far, we have intentionally avoided any sports requiring a uniform, but I am concerned that her school with eventually adopt a uniform policy. I can�t even imagine that conversation with her principal!

My husband, a logical mathematician, cannot understand any of this. I was so happy to find the website explaining in great detail what I have been describing to him for years. He was saddened to learn that this �problem� is not fixable.

Am I happy that we have to deal with this? No. But we can deal with it. I�m glad to know that this thing has a name and that we are not alone. The bright and shining light in this ordeal is that my child is learning to handle her problems in creative ways. She doesn�t much care if she doesn�t match and she doesn�t much care what others think of how she looks. She is thinking independently and that�s pretty rare these days.

My daughter is two and it is extremely difficult for me and my wife to put her socks and shoes on to get her out the door in the morning. My wife is always late for work because of it. We are at our wits end. We tried buying her seamless socks which seem to help. Now she is saying that her butt hurts all the time. Not sure what to do but it is so draining. We called her pediatrician and are waiting on his thoughts.

Happy Feet socks (and tights) are made by MacGregor, and I bought them in Canada at (the now extinct) Zellers stores. I don't know if they can be bought elsewhere. They weren't cheap socks, but they have held up pretty well.

Wow!  This is my daughter.  Getting ready for school in the morning is a big ordeal sometimes.  She wears her socks inside out so the seams don't touch her toes and she pulls them up as far as she can so that the heel is above her shoes.  My mom said I did the same thing with socks.

She picks out her outfit the night before and sometimes in the morning it's not right and she has to pick out something else.  A shirt she wore all the time is now so uncomfortable.  If it's not tagless I have to cut the tag out as close as possible to the shirt. 

She doesn't wear shorts or pants, only leggings or skirts.  She doesn't like buttons and zippers. 

She takes off her leggings as soon as she gets home from school and wears her panties with her shirt. 

 

My daughter is the same way. No tags, No seams, No buttons, No zippers. When she was 2 (6 now)she started getting a rash on her chest and upper back. Dermotolgist said mild eczema. Fine little bumps that get bigger when she scratches. Coconut oil works pretty good for her. I found that the rash comes out more in the heat, summer or heater in winter. Still working on clothes issue.

Many moms have found that their sensitive kids prefer Lucky and Me underwear because of its smooth, soft fabrics and seams and there are no scratchy tags.

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Jessica, So glad to hear you are pusuing this! My 21 yr old dgtr was (I say WAS) this way, and now my 8yr old dgtr is doing the same things. Neither have ADHD; they are normal, bright girls. However, a counselor once suggested that my older dgtt was this way because she was always ill with ear infections; thus lacking control in her life. Because she could control what and how she wears things, explained why she was doing what she was..no lumps at seam of socks; shoelace bows had to be same size and laid down perfect against shoes not to stick up; sweaters were out of the question My younger dgtr now cannot wear any tagged, big banded underwear (even if they are soft). Here are our problem areas head to toe: 1. Sweaters are tight, rough, not airy, fitted to skin or too loose, arms too long, thread out of place and freak out! May not work that one out. 2. Shirts- Seams felt under armpit, arms too tight at cuff or end of short sleeve; fabric too rough, collars seem to work ok along with round neck or v neck (if not too low). Tags in back of shirt need cut off. We stick to imprinted tags. T shirts are popular. No button downs, cute designs arr ever worn that I would pick out for her. 3. Cami-No spaghetti straps...theyre too thin, uncomfortable, and believe me, a tank top is worn under anything thats not a t shirt. The tanks cannot be ribbed, must be soft with no seam at shoulders and not tight to body. Cotton is best. 4. Pants-never wears jeans. Cotton leggings only. Waist is loose, wide elastic but not too loose where they feel big and will fall down during day. I try to buy adjustable waist but thats hard cuz she can feel the band sticking out. 5. Ive bought biker shorts and they are a no go because they are either tight to skin or theres a seam felt right throughout the croutch. Same goes for pants on the crotch seam. 6. Underwear- no tags. Bikini only. Wide bands uncomfortable. Elastic band ok but cannot be worn too high or too tight. The ones I find tend to have the threads falling out right away, breaking apart so they wont be worn. Ive now purchased 3-4 packs of underwear only to turnaround and give them to goodwill. Thats $35 in the garbage. Socks-light, but warm in winter. Her feet sweat and then smell bad. She needs as close to 100% cotton as poss to take care of that but impossible to find. Anklets with loose around ankle Many are too tight ir fall apart. The short ones dont stay on good enough. Just above ankle with a roll down is good. No seam, of course. Girls love colored ones but we do need those black or white ones for dress. Dresses- she will wear them for a short time but never with tights. As silly as it looks, she must wear leggings with a nice dress due to comfort. Shoes-we have many sitting, never worn. Not wide enuf, ankle comes out when walking, never find just the right comfort. Tennis shoes or flip flops seem to work. Hooe this helps!

I'm kind of late to the club but I'm 16 and when I was little (4) I started with all the oh so framilar no seams on the socks trend, my parents found me weird socks that you put each toe into like gloves for feet that worked because they had no seams, it then went to underwear, couldn't wear it and still don't. Then it escalated into pants, and then shirts and go worse and worse. Couldn't have soap on my skin, couldn't do anything. My parents tried but parents can only do so much. I wod wear what I could and would wear the same outfit for weeks maybe months at a time because I could do it and deal with it kids always thought I was poor ad was constantly teased for it. My mom found a doctor who diagnosed me with OCD at the age of five. I was put on medicine ( Zoloft) and still take it to this day, I had a therapist and a phycryatrist when I was just six. I eventually made small progress and up until six months ago was doubt well, even wearing granny panties! I was rotating three outfits around and could do water showers (strictly water no soap) and wash my hair and use hand soap! Then huge changes started to happen and change is extremely bad for me and I started to regress and it's gotten bad again, I literally lost years if profess within six months. My parents are at a loss and at the age where they don't want to parent, they've got a grandkid on the way and seem to be done with me. So that kind if sucks... But i saw someone say something about desensitizing their kid with brushing, my mom tried that when I was seven at life works and I hated it. It did nothing but make me angry. Sometimes as bad as it sounds you need medication, it's more likely than not a mental issue. If your child has been doing this for a long time and it's not fading I'd highly suggest finding mental help and heavily supporting your child, constant positive enforcement is wonderful, avoid bringing up negatives to them. Stay positive with them( I was constantly told I would be the reason my parents would divorce whichtey never did) I had it rough, constant verbal yelling and I cried enough to fill a small lake. If your child cannot do something tell them positive things don't keep telling just do it, just do it! Mental diseases don't just flip on and off (trust me I wish they would) understand they can't and tell them to try again later or they'll get it nexttime. Try to avoid change and if washing your child's clothes is a huge issue don't do it behind they're backs, it's builds major distrust, my mom did it to me and I still don't trust her. Mental diseases are difficult and a pain in the ass but they need nurtured and positivity and love.

Has anyone had any luck in finding a solution. My 5 year old daughter has been having this issue since she was 4. I thought it was getting better but now I realize it was just because she was wearing less clothes during summer. If she's wearing short shorts she seems to be fine(I tried the longer shorts and they bother her) She has to have a certain type of panties(the ones with the seam in the bottom I want to find some kind of solution before winter gets here. I've taken her to the doctor and dermatologist many times and has had allergy test ran and they cannot seem to find a solution. The latest is they've prescribed her loratidine and told me to use caladryl clear. Thought is was helping but it was only wishful thinking. I read that it may be all in her mind so I've tried making her wear the clothes and having her do berating exercises to calm her down but She will dig her skin until she causes welts. I'm sure now it's not just her throwing a fit. I need to find some help for my baby if anyone has found anything that helps please email me at bellebelle.ak at gmail. Com Thank you