Stressful mornings


(pennsylvania)

Our daughter is going to be 4 yrs in Nov 2009. We recently were told about SPD and after reading about it...Wow...I really think she has tactile issues. Dressing is such a major, major stress everyday. Shoes and socks bother her so much! She will not wear any pants at all! Let alone tops or shorts. She will only wear dresses. And IF she did wear pants she had to have the waistband low (below her belly button).




She has a favorite blanket with very, very soft fabric that she constantly "pets" while watching TV. I don't think she even realizes she is doing it.

I hear get her OT, but through our Pediatrician? Or privately? not really sure. I didn't go and have her see the county intermediate unit for early intervention. They said she was perfect! I explained my problem with sensory issues not developmental. So, I am waiting to hear from the IU.....but it's been a while. My husband and I just want our daughter to fine peace in getting dressed each day. She cries and screams before she even puts her clothes on. It's just so hard on all of us. As you should know because you also have a SPD child.



Comments for Stressful mornings

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Oct 12, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Socks
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.
Sep 25, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		OT
by: Anonymous

We started OT after seeing our pediatrician, who recommended a county program that was free. That helped a lot. When we saw that she was getting better after even a few sessions, we went with a private OT (about $125 and hour). It was worth it. She functions so much better and has changed with dynamics of our family within a few months. Seriously she doesn't even needs OT anymore. If neither of these is an option, one of the other posters mentioned The Out-of-Sync Child and The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun. These books are fabulous. It's like having a OT in a box. There are simple things that you can do at home to make her nerves start/stop firing at inappropriate times. She gaves fabulous suggestions straight out of the book, simple things like hugging and stroking to acclimate her senses to stimuli.
Good luck.
Sep 22, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		stressful mornings
by: Anonymous

good afternoon!
We have a daughter who has SPD.

Every morning it is a struggle: we wake her up early around 6 or 6:15 am to wake up or lay in bed. Our children are expressing that they will eat, watch tv, any activity without getting dress. We want to teach them routine preparing for them when they get older. So, try her clothes warm (microwave) not moist, try freezer (our likes it in the there). When the kids put on their clothes it is a soft touch which some kids do not do well with. Better if deep pressure ( squeeze arms, legs, pressure on joints (elbows, knees, shoulders, and wrist) Try yoga (kids yoga video) check the library. Try it in the morning as a wake up routine (put in soft music) Beethoven, enya. This will allow her to wake up, stretch her muscle, alert her joints and help with her tactile of her body before she gets dress. Or try Brain Gym crossing the midline of her body. Scented oils (lavendar) make sure she is not allergic to it. Pretend she is a hot dog or hamburg and gentle press her inbetween to pillows and ask her would you like some ketchup (stretch out her arm gentle and squeeze her arm down to her armpit (both arms), ask would you like mustard? squeeze with the legs (no butt or face)I read this in a book called Starting Sensory Integration Therapy fun activities that won't destroy home or classroom. By Bonnie Arnwine. Also DVD the out -of-sync child by carol stock kranowitz, MA

very good. try these it might help. the earlier the better for prevention.
Fish
Sep 22, 2009
Rating
starstarstar 		Give it time and patience
by: Tracy Demkowicz

Our daughter was also seen by early intervention when she was 2 years old. They told us nothing was wrong also. It took me a couple of years to fight for help in her school because her sensory problems started to affect her school work. She is now 8 years old in third grade and is receiving special ed services. As far as dressing, my daughter has had the same issues. I ordered her seamless socks on line...expensive but well worth the money. No more tantrums putting on her socks and shoes. My daughter still has a big issue with clothing...it has to feel just right to her BUT for the first time this year she started to tell me what bothers her about her clothes and what she does like. So, although it's still hard to find her just the right outfit, I am not wasting money anymore buying clothes she won't wear.

It is getting easier as she gets older and can communicate what bothers her since I can't feel what she can. As for an OT, we went to a pediatric OT not a pediatrician. Our regular doctors did not help at all. We actually switched our daughter to our family doctor at the age of 2 because they were more helpful than the pediatrician. Good luck!

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to SPD checklist.