5 Autism Clothing Issues Parents Come Across And How To Fix Them

When you have a child with special needs there are various issues with clothing that you need to consider.

5 Autism clothing issues parents come across and how to fix them

It can be difficult to find clothes for children with autism because you need to factor in sensory issues, potential dislike of change and possible scenarios, such as smearing or removal of clothing. Some children also find some items of clothing difficult to put on and take off, if able to dress without the help of an adult.

In this blog, we will break down some of those scenarios and suggest ideas how you can fix them.

1. Sensory Issues

Some children find some clothing uncomfortable because of their sensory needs. The great news is that more and more retailers are recognising the need for sensory-friendly clothing that is less likely to irritate children with autism and help them to feel comfortable in what they are wearing. You can now buy seamless socks, clothes without labels, weighted vests and collared tops, seamless trousers and super soft clothing for those who find certain textures uncomfortable.

2. Smearing and removing clothes

You might have a child that smears faeces or a child that removes their clothing. This can be stressful and to say the least, not ideal. There is a range of popper vests, t-shirts and sleepwear that have zips on the back to help prevent this. Check out the range we have at SpecialKids Company. They are all designed with comfort and style in mind, so that your child feels confident wearing them.

3. Difficulty putting on and taking shoes off

It can be extremely difficult for some autistic children to put on and take off their shoes. With this in mind, Billy Footwear has designed a stylish range of adaptive footwear with an easy zip function to help children to put on and remove footwear. It also helps parents to do the same for their child because it can be a really tricky job, particularly as your child gets older. Billy Footwear is also great if your child wears orthotic splints, and they do a range of shoes with a wider width if your child has wide orthotics that make purchasing footwear difficult. The Billy DR shoes range includes two removable insoles (3mm each) for adjustable depth and use of custom orthotics.

4. Chewing clothing

A lot of children find chewing the collars, sleeves or bottom of their tops comforting. Unfortunately, this can ruin tops quickly and make them wet, which can result in sore skin. If this is something that your child does, we would recommend trying either bandana bibs or chewie aids.

Bandana bibs, such as the Care Designs’ and Mum2Mum’s range, are waterproof, absorbent bandanas that are practical and stylish.  Made from lightweight fabrics the neckerchiefs gather easily and comfortably around the neck as well as being soft to feel, they absorb liquid instantly and are 100% waterproof offering total protection to clothes.

Chewie aids can help children who chew their clothing due to sensory issues or anxiety. We have a wide range of the Chewigem range on our website, offering chews, fidget and sensory aids for children on our website, which are proven to significantly reduce stress and tension, helping kids with sensory issues to manage their stress levels and maintain a calm and relaxed persona. Chewigems are recommended by many health professionals including occupational therapists and SENCO's. We have pendants, bangles, hand fidgets, pencil covers, toggle boards and much more, all available in an array of fashionable colours to suit every mood.

5. Swimwear when your child is incontinent

Finding appropriate swimwear when your child is incontinent can be difficult but fear not, there are lots of incontinence swimwear options that are discreet and can manage your child’s incontinence when they are in a swimming pool. 

There is a great range of swimwear for boys by Kis-Vir designed to provide extra flexibility and insurance that is required when taking a child who is prone to accidents whilst swimming. This range of swimming shorts for boys are fashionable as well as functional offering them the right protection without compromising on style. Kis-Vir also have a range of girls swimwear designed to provide extra flexibility and insurance, that is required when taking a child who is prone to accidents swimming and to stop unwanted leakage.