Need help re: clothing issues

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Hello,

My 4 year old aspie has recently started having clothing issues. He will not wear jeans, shirts with collars, buttons, or zippers. He REFUSES to wear any kind of jacket and we are in the Northern New York, so its starting to get cold. I have been doubling up on shirts, but that's only going to work for so long. Does anyone have any ideas? I thought about searching the internet for a heavy fleece pullover without zippers, buttons, or a hood. But thought I'd check here first.

Another thing, I bought him new sneakers, that look very much like his old ones, and he refuses to put them on! Any tips on that would be helpful to.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Does he have a grandmother or anyone else he will let "coax him with a cookie"? Maybe not literally that, of course, but maybe there is someone he occasionally makes a little extra effort to please.

With my son, I just try to talk him through it, and tell him, "I know this is new, but it will be ok. Can you just try it on? If you don't like it, you can take it off? Sometimes it works, sometimes not. Also, a "little treat" just to try it for awhile sometimes works. Sometimes, once he gets it on, and realizes it is not so bad, then he is ok.

As far as shoes, I have had good luck with buying slightly worn shoes from garage sales or consignment sales so that they are a little more comfortable.

Honestly, I haven't taken my son shopping for clothes or shoes, because it is just too overwhelming at this point. He is 5. So far, we have been pretty lucky just finding things that we are pretty sure will work and try them on at home. We can always return things if they don't work.

Good luck!

Welcome to my life!! !! LOL.

I have literally tried everything - every type of shoe, sock, pants, shirts, etc....

I buy several pairs and sizes of the same shoe when it is time to buy shoes. They are always velcro. Many people have a lot of luck w/ crocs, but not us.

My son had a horrible time with socks. Again, tried every different kind from nylon to diabetic to seamless. No luck for us but many parents have had luck w/ the seamless.

Jackets - this is not a huge issue for us. My son will only wear cotton hoodies w/ a zipper. Will not wear pull overs. He doesn't have issues with winter jackets unless the zipper goes too high and touches his chin/face.

Shirts - There are seamless shirts available, but my son doesn't need them. He won't wear shirts with buttons, tags, collars, etc...I go with the tagless cotton and that works for us.

I am about to post an update on our experience with a supplement called inositol. You might want to read it.

This all sounds too familiar. When I was young I didn't wear clothes whenever I could. The minute I got home I would take most of them off. I can't wear jeans. I used to have an aversion to clothing tags but no longer. Then I would wear the same clothing articles every day, no matter what.

I don't think there is anyway to get around clothing issues if it is a sensory issue. The clothing is being refused for a reason. Whichever clothing article is being refused is very uncomfortable or even painful. The only thing you can do is try to find clothing that works for your child.

If it continues once your child is older they can help you find clothing they like to wear. If they start to wear the same clothing everyday, let them as long as you're able to wash them (this isn't really a big issue until they start to get older, and then the only issue would be what peers think.)

My daughter wears the same cloths every day, a pair of black leggings and a black top, her school uniform is blue and only her tops have to have the school emblem on them (thank god) so she wears blue leggings to school as well. I was very stressed and frustrated about this untill she was recently dx, now i just make sure her cloths are always washed and ready for her, Yes im devistated she is 10 years old and i was always buying beautiful cloths for her and they would sit in her wardrobe unworn. Now as long as she is happy and comfy thats all that matters. I have learnt to put my feelings aside on this one, we have had many tears in the past over clothing ( me trying to make her wear something nice when we went out) and i feel bad. Im really worried about her teenage years and clothing issues but i guess ill cross that path when the time comes.

So i guees what i am saying is, if you find something that they are comfy in just go with the flow and give the washing machine a good work out lol, a comfy child is a happy child

Thanks so much everyone! I appreciate your advice. I did get him to wear his new sneakers, and so far, no problems!

My 8 yr old daughter strips to her panties whenever we get home, lol. She hates jeans, she refuses to wear them. She is bothered by seams in clothing, socks, etc One time I bought several beautiful empire waist shirts and had her try one on which resulted in an instant meltdown of crying and ripping at the shirt because she couldn't stand the seam across her chest. Back to the store they went. She basically does not like to wear anything that does not give/stretch as she moves and she likes soft/smooth material. There are exceptions she makes for this: she will wear pretty dresses for Easter/church/piano recitals & she will wear uniform shorts/pants to school that outside of school I wouldn't have a hope in hell of getting on her (but uniforms are a school rule, so she's made an exception). I've given up on the sock issue, but now her shoes are starting to stink and colder whether is coming so we may be facing that battle again. But, as long as she's comfortable I let her be. I just buy her what she likes. I do think I probably look like a nut feeling all the clothes in the stores, but oh well. I know not to even consider it if it does not have the right feel - no matter how pretty it may be, lol.

I don't really have advice, just saying "I hear ya!"