Issues with being wet

by Andra
(Basking Ridge, NJ)

My son, 3 1/2, recently underwent a neurological development assessment. I was concerned about some running back and forth and some other issues...long story short, it was suggested that he had some sensory integration immaturities.




I'm not going to list all his issues with craving motion, textures, squeezing us really hard, etc...the one that I'm now concerned about has evolved recently.

It started as him wiping his mouth after virtually every bite... he's not a picky eater, but if any of the food, especially something wet, touches his face around his mouth, he wipes with a napkin or his sleeve. Not a big deal.

Just in the last few days though, he screams for a tissue if he has been crying because his eyes are obviously wet. I will dab his eyes a bit and ask him if that is all better, and he will say, 'yes', but then he tests it by running his finger under his eye, and if it is still wet, he absolutely FREAKS... screams and cries some more... I keep wiping, same cycle. I try to calm him and explain that he needs to stop crying so that his eyes will not be wet... basically, it takes much trial an error to get him there... he tries and tries to calm down. Today it took a good 10 minutes.

I am worried about when this happens at pre-school. Any suggestions on how to calm him down quickly after his initial unhappiness about his eyes being wet from crying? Or anything else you can recommend we do?

Thanks much -



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Sep 07, 2009
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by: Anonymous

My sons is the same way. If his nose is running he will freak out. I have a hard time getting him to blow his nose because he's not very experienced and when he wipes it, he usually get snot on his face and he can't stand it. Other water issues he's had is just getting any water on his face when in the bath or in a pool. People could never understand why he would literally freak out when water got on his face. He would go into a complete panic.

He's 7 now and he's getting alot better. He's able to swim under water, but if water is splashed on his face he still has a hard time dealing with it and cries for a towel.
Mar 09, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		Same here
by: Anonymous

I would just show him where the tissues are and let him wipe his eyes and nose as needed. My son is much like yours... almost 4 and hates when his nose runs or eyes are wet from crying. Colds are terrible for us. We go through tons and tons of tissues. I wish you lots of luck!
Gina

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