It is normal toddler behavior to want to start exercising control. Give them times when they are allowed to and they will naturally tantrum less. Their clothing is a safe area for them to practice making decisions and even seeing consequences.
This desire for children to express their autonomy frequently turns getting dressed into a pitched battle. “There's very few ways kids can establish independence or let you know their will when they're very young, but they do have some control over what's touching their bodies,” said Aaron E.
Toddlers are beginning to explore their independence, which can make this a really fun age. It can also be challenging when they don't agree with what you want them to do. If your toddler sometimes pitches a fit when you change their clothes, that can be frustrating.
Instead of letting her see that her behavior is ruffling your feathers, stay calm. Then give your preschooler no more than two choices: She can wear the polka-dot pants or her striped dress. Since many kids this age detest transitions, it also helps to address her reluctance to get changed or leave home.
For most preschoolers, Barthel says, the refusal to wear certain clothes is a perfectly healthy stage of development. It can start as early as 18 months and often hits its peak between ages two and four. “This age is all about individuation and developing their own sense of self,” Barthel says.
What are some signals indicating a sensory clothing issue? According to Petix, children with sensory clothing issues can sense every seam, wrinkle or fuzz ball in a sock. They are extremely irritated by tags. They may not be able to tolerate clothes that fit them and rather prefer clothes that are too tight or too big.
Children with autism will sometimes take off their clothes if they find them uncomfortable or distressing. While this is also true of typical kids, children with autism may continue to do so at a later age. Part of the reason for this is that they don't pick up on emotional cues as typical children do.
If your child is demanding to wear or not wear certain clothing because of a seam, particular fit, or type of fabric, then it's likely because of their sensory system. All of us have some sensory quirks, maybe your child likes to wear their socks inside out or always have a dress on.
It could be that your child really enjoys being at home and with you, so getting dressed is the signal and reminder that they're about to leave this comfortable place or be separated from you. It may be that they have some anxiety about going to pre-school and so don't want to get dressed to go.
Encourage deep-pressure activities prior to dressing to decrease the tactile sensitivities. Wear undergarments inside out to prevent scratching seams and tags. Increase hat tolerance through massage of the scalp and putting the hat on in front of the mirror.Be aware of audio and visual overload and minimize it.
To a sensitive toddler, noises seem louder, lights seem brighter, smells and tastes seem stronger. Certain sensations can feel overwhelming to her.
The cry-it-out or "extinction" method involves putting your toddler to bed and letting her cry until she's fallen asleep with no help or visits from you. It can be effective and won't cause any lasting harm to your toddler — years from now, she won't remember a thing.
Signs your child has sensory issues with clothing
They are extremely irritated by tags. They may not be able to tolerate clothes that fit them and rather prefer clothes that are too tight or too big. In some extreme cases, some children can't tolerate wearing underwear at all or socks or shoes.
You might see screaming, stiffening limbs, an arched back, kicking, falling down, flailing about or running away. In some cases, children hold their breath, vomit, break things or hurt themselves or other people as part of a tantrum.
One strategy that works well: Give your child two choices (but no more). Tell him he can wear either his red overalls or his sporty sweat suit. Another helpful tactic is to address his reluctance to get changed or leave the house and then distract him.
Getting dressed independently is an important life skill for autistic children. Teaching dressing skills to my autistic son required a lot of time, practice, and patience. Putting on clothes in the right order, fastening buttons and zips and tying shoelaces involves mastering many skills.
While it's true that all children can be bothered by certain types of clothing, children with ADHD can be quite hypersensitive. When you pair hypersensitivity with the emotional dysregulation experienced by many children with ADHD, the result is not very pleasant.
Some children with ADHD have tactile hypersensitivity — a strong reaction to certain types of clothing and fabric textures. Cut out tags in the back of shirts, and stick with fabrics that your child finds most comfortable.
Some children with autism might be sensitive to the fabric of their clothes, especially if the child is tactile sensitive. This means that they will feel itchy and uncomfortable when wearing certain fabrics. Parents need to be aware of this and find clothing made from fabrics that the child is not sensitive to.
Clothing challenges are a common issue among people with autism and hypersensitivity has more to do with the sensation of something against the skin than it does with sensitivity to only one type of texture or fabric.
Every autistic person is different, but sensory differences, changes in routine, anxiety, and communication difficulties are common triggers.
Children with an ASD are not vigilant and do not look up to the caregiver for social referencing. They may not cling to the caregiver, although go up to them for succor. However, some cling to the caregiver because of extreme anxiety.