Welcome to my "Ask Me Anything" blog post series!
I answer lots of questions on my social media channels, and it makes sense to share this information (anonymously!) in case it is useful for others, too.
"Hi, we have a non-verbal child who is constantly trying to take all of their clothes off. We’ve tried redirecting, reiterating with visuals to keep clothes on, pulling trousers up, putting shorts on in case he is hot. He is not yet toilet trained, so we have suggested that the parents start that as it could be that he doesn’t like the feel of a wet pull-up, but we change him, and then he still does it. Do you have any tips on how to support him, as we don’t think he will understand a social story, developmentally he is around 18 months but 4 years old physically."
If someone has an over-responsive need in “touch”, clothes can be unbearable. I once got told that for some people, their skin is as sensitive as an eyeball - imagine! I wouldn't want to wear clothes either!
The more dysregulated a child feels the less they can cope with clothes. It's often the first thing to go to help them regulate.
There are some changes that can help ease this need:
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Silky clothing is more gentle on the skin
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Take labels out
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Use seamless clothing or wear inside out
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Wear compression clothing (the tighter/heavier clothes are often easier to manage
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Also,
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Do proprioception work and heavy work to help manage his body
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Use fun shared activities to ease anxiety and help him feel safe
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Ensure he has a way to communicate “change clothes” or “change pad” if and when needed
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I hope that helps! If you have any other questions, let me know.
*I am not a doctor or medical professional, so for some questions, you might want to contact your GP, the National Autistic Society, or the NHS.
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