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Special Needs
chardonnay24
member
Sensory issues with winter accessories
chardonnay24
member
My SPD toddler can't stand to have anything covering his hands, feet, or head. He will wear shoes and socks if he is running around, but he takes them off as soon as he gets into a stroller or wagon. I solved this tonight by putting tights on over his socks and under his pants.
I really don't know what to do about hats and gloves. He will occasionally wear a hat if he forgets that he's wearing it - so if he sufficiently distracted it'll stay on, but just running around a park isn't good enough. He won't keep a hood on, either. He can easily undo velcro and untie string. He won't tolerate gloves at all. He acts like I'm torturing him when they go on and they come off immediately. Tonight we went to Zoolights and his hands were freezing. He kept telling me that they were cold and he was miserable, but he wouldn't wear gloves or mittens. We ended up leaving early. He probably wasn't going to get frostbite (it was about 40 degrees), but he definitely wasn't happy. We still have a few more months of winter so I'm worried about what to do going forward. I am sure I can find a way to secure a hat and gloves but he acts like they hurt, and I don't want to make him uncomfortable. I feel like he's not old enough to understand "you will be cold if you don't wear a hat or gloves". Any tips? We have OT tomorrow so I'm going to check with his therapist but I'm feeling like we'll just end up spending a lot of time indoors this winter. It doesn't get super cold here, but extended trips outside or trips to play in the snow at the mountain are probably out of the picture.
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Re: Sensory issues with winter accessories
I had this issue with my son last winter. We stuck to the over 40 degree rule for playing outside and had no issues. He seems to run warm so his hands might be cold when he was playing, but not so cold he'd stop. We only had snow twice last winter and both times he suprisingly was ok with wearing gloves. I didn't force them--I offered them before we went outside but brought them along after he refused. When he realized he liked the feeling of snow on his hands less than gloves, he reluctantly put them on to continue playing. Those were the only times he ever wore them though.
My DD is the same this year (she has sensory issues as well) and we don't fight it. I still wear her in a carrier a lot, so if we're doing lots of walking outside I can usually get her in the carrier for a bit to warm up when she gets really cold. Will he tolerate being worn in a carrier still or does he prefer not to be touched? If he craves being touched/compression you might want to give it a try. I wear DH's winter coat and do a front carry with the ergo and zipper his coat up over her so she warms up really quickly.
My 6 year old has sensory issues and winter is a nightmare. I've taken the approach of pick your battles. For instance, he hates socks and shoes and would rather wear sandals daily. We made a rule that sandals may only be worn if it is 65 or warmer. He checks the weather on my cell phone every.single.morning to see if he can wear sandals.
As for hats and gloves, he doesn't like them either. I don't even try to force the issue unless he is playing in the snow. A few minutes getting in and out of the car are all he is exposed and unless it is super cold, I don't think it is going to make that much of a difference. I also keep a blanket in my car and sometimes he will curl up into it while the van is warming up and his hands are cold. The blanket works for the stroller too (when he was younger) as he can cover up in the stroller.
Eli 6.18.09 35.5w
Silas 1.25.13 35.4w 10 days NICU, allergies/asthma, gluten intolerant