Clothing Issue

[alex0397]

My husband and I are having a very difficutl time trying to figure out how to handle our 5 year old daughters clothing issue. About a year and a half ago she started with not liking tags on the back of her clothes so we tried to buy tagless clothing. Than she started complaining about socks, indicating the that the start and end of the line that goes across the top of the toes would bother her. Than it would be certain pants would bother her and if they were slightly to big where she could still wear them but when she pulled up her shirt and could see her underwear she couldn't wear them.  Shirts that she has worn the week before she can't wear now because all of sudden they are itchy.  

I don't think it is a sensory thing because of a couple situations that have happened in the past to led me to believe otherwise. One example is we were recently visiting her Grandmother and we had to stay at a hotel with other relatives.  Like every morning we were having a very difficult time trying to get her clothes on and she was complaining and crying about them, however her little cousin came knocking on our hotel room and as soon as my daughter saw her she threw on her clothes no problem and went and played with her. She had no problems with the clothes the rest of the day.  

My husband has to get her ready for school everyday and he goes through the same episode everyday and she is literally running out the door pulling her clothes because she is going to miss the bus.  We have had the same issues with getting her ready for bed.

We have tried several tactics. Giving her three choices of what to pick from, giving her two choices of what to pick from, and just letting her pick it out from her drawer and if it doesn't match it doesn't match.  I have brought her along clothes shopping so she can pick it out, as well.  

We don't know what to do anymore and it is putting a horrible stress on not only our other kids but my husband and I .  

Need advice!!!

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

The example you offered about your daughter's behavior in the hotel does not really rule out that your daughter displays some difficulty around sensory integration. It could well be that her motivation, interest, etc. in playing with her cousin 'trumped' the concern about the clothing. Suffice it to say that the behavioral examples you cite are sufficient evidence to warrant a sensory integration evaluation. This would be accomplished by an Occupational Therapist. There is nothing to lose, and potentially a lot to gain, from having your daughter evaluated. Then you won't have to wonder if indeed she displays SID.

[eve603]

Have you tried changing your detergents? DREFT is a non-irritant. My daughter has excema and some clothing tags irritate her too. Also, I would try to get HER involved in the solution instead of you and your husband implementing things upon her.  Good luck.

[Carolina2806]

I was the same way when I was a little girl--I still am this way as an adult.  My six year old does the same thing your daughter does.  She only wants to wear soft pants--sweats--or soft dresses. She refuses denim--I tolerate denim as an adult.

She has a thing about the toe line string and puts her socks on in reverse to avoid them.

Interestingly, my two year old has started the same behavior.  She only likes soft purple pants and screams if they are another color.  She picks out her own clothing--she has picked them on her own since she was about a year old.  My oldest child began picking out things when she was 9 months old.

It is difficult to shop for children like ours, but the best thing you can do is take her with you and make sure she will wear it before purchasing--this has helped us immensely.

Good luck.

Eve603 My two year old had severe eczema too--so I understand about the detergent--good suggestions.

[stacey nilsen]

Hi Im Stacey and new here. OMG I thought my daughter was the only one. She is 9, ADHD, and mood disorder. She is horrible w/ cloths. She gets worse everyday. All the socks bother her cause of the line in the front. Nothing fits her. Either the pants are tight, or too big so when she bends down you see her underwear. Forget jeans. Also she thinks everyone can see the line of the underwear. Also shirts, OMG either there too big so when she bends you can see her chest.  Im lost on what too do. I give up.  I tell her you will have nothing to wear.. So your not alone. Im losing my mind. Every morning is a disaster. She wont wear a dress, or skirt even w/ leggings.

[hotrod70]

I have the same problem with my 4 yr old. I have tried taking her shopping and actually trying on the clothes but she doesn't like anything that I or she picks out. She did like to wear her play clothes that were stained with mud and holey so I bought new one just like them for school. She wears like a 6/sm in shirts but I have bought 10/L for her and we don't have much of a problem now. They are roomyer and I just get the plain tshirts. She won't wear demin so I buy knit pants. It is working for now but don't know what I will do later. I would suggest watching what she WILL wear and trying to find more clothes on that line. It is hard, I have thought  about sewing her own clothes but have found a temporary solution for now. Good luck!