Getting Dressed

by Hilary
(Keene NH)

I am at the beginning stages of a diagnosis with my 6 yr old daughter, and getting dressed has progressively gotten worse. It takes us several tries to find something that feels right in the morning, and we have tried picking it out the night before as well. She puts something on and melts down, ick I hate how it feels, I can't wear this, not good, it usually leads to yelling and carrying on. Help out of ideas.



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May 17, 2016
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starstarstarstarstar 		Curious
by: Anonymous

At what age did your child start having issues with getting dressed? My 15 month old struggles with this every morning(getting dressed and getting diapered) and I am wondering if it is sensory or just normal for a child that young.
Dec 22, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		Please help
by: Anonymous

My daughter is 40 with cerebral palsy and mental retardation. She refused to wear anything except depends diapers. We could not take her out coz of this so we just keep her inside the room. She takes Clonazepam and Zoloft. She enjoys that behavior as now I stay with her inside the room. If I leave, she would tear up her diapers into pieces, wet them or pee in her diaper. Whoever has a suggestion, please help
May 12, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		getting 8 yr old dressed issues
by: Anonymous

You are not alone. My eight year old has been struggling with getting dressed each morning too. Brought this issue up with Pediatrician at 2/3/4/5 yr old check to no avail. Tried putting clothes out the night before, nope. She likes clothes that are loose. Everything itches and bothers. She will wear Jumping Beans but to date have not found a pair of socks she will wear without a fight. I have tried almost every brand out there.Buy her shoes used because brand new ones cause a meltdown. School requires a uniform. I have found uniform dresses and cotton jersey skirts work. Tried to get into the OT office here waitlisted until September! Wish DR. would have listened and made the referral years ago. I had no idea this was the problem.
Oct 12, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		Clothing ideas
by: Anonymous

My 6 year old has had the same issues. It was the worst, by far, this spring. I finally sat down and googled "My 6 year old won't get dressed." I was SO amazed to find this disorder SPD and find all the people that are in our same situation. We finally decided that we weren't going to fight her anymore on clothes. We told her that she could wear anything she wanted (within reason of course, especially according to the temperature). This has worked wonders! I seriously haven't fought her on clothes anytime lately. We found her some outfits that she really likes and will just wear them over and over again. I have found that she really likes the "Jumping Bean" brand clothes from Kohls and some of the Carter brand clothes. Can't have tags, has to be cotton, and can be tight fitting. Finding the Old Navy Turn Cuff socks was like finding gold. I used to have to pin her down to put socks on. She puts the old navy ones right on. It is amazing the difference.
Hope this helps.
Oct 11, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		45 year old who has lived with this forever
by: Karen

I used to have the same problems as a child. I would have clothes all over my room to find something. I secretly cried about how nothing felt right and would stretch my clothes out using towels shoved into my pants all the way through college. My secret that works for me now is to find multiples of any clothes that do feel comfortable in varying colors. It is not the most stylish way to dress but I can go to work and feel comfortable too. Pants that are looser and able to stretch are the best. Looser fitting tops work well too. The thinner the sock and possibly having it a little smaller than normal works for me because it feels more like my foot and does not add extra "stuff" to the feeling in my shoes. Perhaps slack socks will work for your children. It is difficult to live with and sometimes can make you feel badly about yourself, so encourage them that it is ok to keep trying something until you get an outfit that feels right or close to right. Remember, some days are worse than others and the transition from less clothes to more clothes is always difficult.
Sep 19, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		getting dressed
by: Fish

This is overwhelming at times!

We have a daughter who is now 7 and dressing is still a problem everyday. We have tried shopping and bless her heart she loves shopping / buying new clothes, yet when time to wear new clothes the anxiety, everyday up / down of the "feel" is ok or no the clothing is off. The children try there hardest and want to please us, yet us parents need to know that it is a "feel" for that day.

Remember to use their Sensory Diet with foods: Crunching foods to get them moving. Soft foods to calm them or Chewy foods to calm and focus. Also: drink through a straw (yogurt, applesauce,pudding, smoothies, etc
Our child has worn at least 3 shirts since summer and until now for a year. A skirt for a year. We put in the freezer everyday over night.
Shoes:Had a talk with the gym teacher. We bought through Zappos.com
Shoes: crocs or meijer's brand crocs (if they like) buy several pairs to trade in/out and the next size up.

Underwear: We bought Ariel hanes underwear (cut off most of the elastic around the top of the underwear) and washed those many times with or out softener.

Coat: Columbia fleece jacket or anything fleece.
Boots: doesn't wear socks only fuzzy socks. bought fleece or sherpa fleece inside boots. Keep feet warm.

Mittens: nothing tight around wrist. Grandma makes soft fleece mittens / hats with flat seams on the inside of mittens / hats.

We are seeing someone who does Holistic Healing.
We spray Lavender Vanilla on her pillow and sheet before bed. Likes it. Loves her Polyester Fleece blanket which that what she uses to cover up with when she sleeps. No sheets. Only cotton or flannel sheets. We use socks with rice in it / freeze them. Uses them everynight and loves the smell.

She loves to squeeze at night time or sometimes when life is too demanding. basically a yoga wrap legs around each other / squeeze and release.
It calms her / sometimes puts her to sleep.

She is a seeker. Loves to jump, swing, wrap up in blanket, loves to get pulled by a blanket on floor.

Doesn't like to be hug from behing or infront only her demand. Wipes kisses. Kiss on top of head. Likes for you to lay with her to read books / before she falls asleep. Just started sleeping through the night at age 5yr.

I listen to a DVD about The Out-of-Sync Child
recognizing &coping with Sensory Processing
Disorder with Carol Stock Kranowitz, MA (wonderful)
Starting Sensory Integration Therapy:fun activities that won't destroy your home or classroom by Bonnie Arnwine (wonderful).
Our children may be out there but they are here to tell us something. They are smart and perceive things different, yet they seek out / tell us, but we need to read their seeker activity to help them on their journey.
Last but least: get on their level of seeing (down on the floor) and whisper they will listen better than yell.

fish
Sep 18, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		so happy we are not alone
by: Heather

We also are just in the beginning stages of diagnosing our daughter who is almost 4 yrs. It started as pants were "too tight". And she would then wear the cotton pants. That was at 2yrs. Now at 3 yrs she will not wear shorts, tops, pants.....it is all a major struggle. She will gladly wear any dress. But the issue is shoes and socks and how they "bother me, bother me" even before she has them on. The crying, yelling....the over stress in our house each morning is enough to make us go crazy! We are waiting for an OT evaluation from the intermediate Unit for Early Intervention and hopeful that will help all of us with the morning routine. I wish everyone luck and patience in dealing with their children:)
Sep 18, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		getting dressed
by: Anonymous

Hi,
I have seen advertised specific clothing for kids with SPD. Here is a website. It may be expensive but at least try one garment or something....or perhaps look for this clothing on ebay or craigslist..maybe......
..http://www.softclothing.net/
Good luck!
Sep 17, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		getting dressed
by: Whitney

We have had the same problems with our now 8 year old. The things that you listed such as laying out clothes night before and still not be able to wear them, saying "don't feel good!" used to be an everyday thing in our house.I understand the pain and frustration that you are feeling. We tried to find what worked the most for her. She likes things very tight around her waist and feet. (some kids need it very loose) We found a pair of Hanes underwear that has a thicker waistband and the elastic is in the cotton and pants that have a thicker tight waist band helps.

I try to have her favorites clean (not always successful with 3 other kids and busy schedule) We also found that waking her up with tight squeezes and giving her a piggy back ride to the breakfast table helps. She will eat a little and then go and get dressed. Some days are better than others. She has also figured out what helps herself and will express that sometimes. It has been an up hill journey and we know that even though it is better it is not completely fixed.

If you have not been to an OT then that is where I would start. Our OT was very helpful with ideas and activities to do at home. Also a lot of the books that you see on this site are helpful. Out of Sync Child and the Out of Sync Child's Activities. Best of luck with your journey and I hope you can find things that will help your child feel better.

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