Sensory Issues and Autism

Spockles

DS has started showing signs of tactile defensiveness. He refuses to put long sleeves on or jackets. He says "oww"....last fall/winter, this wasn't an issue. He put them on perfectly fine. How can we help him through this so he'll tolerate long sleeves and his jacket? It's starting to be cold here some mornings and he needs to wear warmer clothes! He has also started saying "ewwww" for underwear. He used to be ok with putting them on, but has started refusing. We are trying to start potty training. He is ready for potty training. He has success at school, often. Has bladder control and tells us when he is going to have a BM or has a BM.

His OT is working on this at his autism day treatment program by doing the brushing and joint compressions, and they can get him to put his jacket on. However, I can't. I think he puts up more of a fight for me with things. He really gets himself all worked up and in distress over this. 

Any other ideas on how to get through this and help him tolerate warmer clothes?

Thanks!!

JenGK

Auntie makes good points -- for DS, who has similar issues, it has a lot to do with anxiety and transitions.  My secret to success in getting him dressed is to offer choices.  When we are getting close to switching seasons, I start adding in one choice of clothing that is appropriate for the new season.  I know he won't choose that one, but it gets him used to seeing it (dealing with the anxiety point).  Then, when it is time to wear long sleeves, etc., his choices are two long-sleeved shirts.  He can choose until I count to 3, and if he doesn't choose, mommy chooses for him (the choices let him feel in control, which helps with the transition issue).  There are still mornings where it takes both me and my nanny to get pants on him, but this technique has helped.

AgrippaRidesAgain

The change of seasons has been rough since DS's first fall when he was 16 months old.  When he was younger, I'd just hide the majority of his summer clothes so that he wouldn't even have the option of wearing them.  By 2.5, he remembered that they existed, so that didn't work any more, but I did what JenGK did and had him choose from specific options or I'd choose for him.

At 3, when we were switching to summer clothes, I introduced checking the weather online every morning when we get up.  The weather tells us what we can wear every day.  That has worked the best out of everything I've tried so far.  I'm pretty sure he thinks I'm reading, "it's a short sleeves and pants kind of day" directly from weather.com, but since it's not me telling him what to wear, he goes with it.  Once he starts learning how to read, I'll sit him down and work with teaching him how to determine clothing choices based on the weather on his own, but for now, I'm happy that he has connected the two.  He wakes up and immediately tells me to go find out what he needs to wear for the day.

ETA:  As for jackets/coats, that's one thing that I only fight a little bit.  If we're just walking from the house to the car and then from the car to school or something, it's not a big deal if he's not actually wearing it.  I DID institute a rule that he must carry it with him if he decides he doesn't want to wear it, just in case he changes his mind.   

funchicken

I think you can be sensitive about it while still offering weather appropriate options.  If it's in the 50s I make DD wear warmer clothing, but I'm flexible if it's in the 60s.  Summer clothing is a non-issue in our house.  She loves switching to shorts.

My DD is very particular about clothing textures and weights (getting a little better).  We do layers because she does tend to get hotter than I do, especially in heated buildings in the winter.  She usually wears short sleeves with a soft sweater or sweatshirt.  She won't wear leggings or pants, but she'll wear tights.  Her teachers don't make a battle out of it.  If she wants to take her jacket off on the playground, she can ask for it back if she gets cold.

Land's End has really warm fleece jackets, and they list the temperature ratings for them.  I think the one DD had last year was for 20-40 degrees or something like that.  They don't feel stiff and bulky like a coat.

Would your DS be interested in picking some of his own clothes?  You could take him shopping with you.  That's what we do now.

Spockles

Thank you for the replies! I do give DS the option of picking out his clothes. He doesn't have a problem wearing long pants, it's just the long sleeve shirts and/or his sweatshirt/jacket. It has been down in the 40's a few mornings over the last week. Most of the suggestions given we have been trying. I am sympathetic with him and let him know that I know he doesn't like it, but it's cold out and we need to wear warmer clothes.