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Autism and Clothing

When you have autistic children, you are likely to come across all sorts of oddities with clothing. Common quirks include chewing or sucking on sleeves, having great discomfort from elastics and labels and wanting to take their clothes off. And then of course, there is that embarrassing habit of touching their genitals.

One tip I keep hearing from parents of children with autism is that their kids find it much more comfortable to sleep in one piece pyjamas. It may well be the lack of elastic around the waist, since the belly seems to be especially tender for many with autism.

They can be hard to find though, so it you find a supply, stock up. Clothing designed to meet the quirks of autism can make night time much more comfortable.

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Autism and Clothing

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pulling off diaper
by: Carol

I have a friend who's little girl aged 4 - is autistic.

She pulls off her pj's and then her diapers which causes alot of mess.

Has anyone come up with a solution to this problem. I'm sure she isn't the only one doing this.

I'd appreciate hearing back from you. Thank you.
Carol C.

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autism
by: karen

i need some help finding clothers for my son who is 5 he hates t-shirts or jumpers i dnt know why but he becomes very distressed when i try to put one on him but he cant keep going out with no top on please some one help

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How to keep kids dressed and away from their diapers
by: Anna

There is a solution that many families have found works quite well.

You can get them here.

The idea is to use these one-piece footed pajamas with the zipper worn on the back. The kids won't have access to the zipper, so can't constantly undress, and can't get access to their diaper to cause any mess.

Our kids loved the garments because they are so comfortable - made of polar fleece.

We not only used them as pajamas, but also as day clothing. (You can also buy pants only).

One feature that I really like is the fold-over foot, that acts like built in socks.

One child has really poor circulation, so his feet are often cold, but he has a lot of trouble keeping socks on. With this fold-over "sock", we could finally keep his feet warm.

And, it is super convenient for getting his foot inside boots as well.

I can recommend these with confidence.

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Choosing the right clothes
by: Anonymous

These children and fond of chewing or biting their clothes. But don't you know that conventional clothes have chemicals such as formaldehydes, resins and dyes which may harm these children? I recommend to parents with autistic children to use organic cotton clothes. They are safe, 100% organic and very comfortable to wear.

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Won't Wear Clothes or Diaper
by: Sad Grandma

It's a comfort to find others going through this too, there is such despair when we feel so alone in these problems! My 3 1/2 year old grandchild suddenly began hating her clothes a few months ago, and pulling off her diaper and leaving piles of pee and poop smeared everywhere. We watch her, and sometimes she sneaks off to do it, but will also do it right in front of us. We've tried switching clothing styles and blends thinking it was a sensory thing, but it doesn't seem to matter much. If it's clothing, she hates it. And the house smells. Our couches, her bed, the carpet.... after awhile, nothing gets out the toilet smell anymore. Yes, I'm depressed. And tired. We've looked everywhere for footies, onsies, or blanket sleepers, but it seems no one makes them in her size (5). The stores only stock them from preemie to 24 months. So now what?? I've joked that we need to move to a nudist colony, but we are really just plain out of ideas. Anyone know how to keep her clothes on? We'd let her run around in just her diaper except she wants to be naked even in public... and she's only getting older. What in the world will we do when she's 9? Or 14? It's overwhelming. Thanks for having this site. Hugs to all!!

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Cannot keep daughter with autism in diaper
by: Anonymous

I don't know what to do. We have had this problem ongoing and have tried everything we can think of. Our latest solution was to put her in a sleeper backwards, with tights, followed by pants and then a leotard on backwards as well. It worked for awhile and now she is back to undressing, especially at night and smearing poop all over the place. It is so disgusting and I am all out of ideas. Im glad to know we are not alone in this but I have no idea how to handle this anymore. Anyone with more ideas please help!!!

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Editor's Note:

Just wanted to let you know that some parents have tried using a safety pin at the top of one of these one-piece footed pajamas worn backwards (ie. zipper at back), and they have had success with that.

Also, have you tried making her responsible for doing the laundry and clean-up? That was a big help for me.

Hope that helps.

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Clothing that can't be removed
by: Anonymous

I am making clothes right now, and will have them up on my site soon. My friend suggested I use my sewing to help her with her Autistic daughter. I am on it. I will let you know as soon as its done.

If I get a list of 'what's needed' I can add that into the finished product.

Thanks, Tracey

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PJ's still come off
by: Anonymous

I have been able to buy footed blanket sleepers but prefer to buy the un-footed called union suits.now out growing his size 8, still in great condition. I have a big 6yr old. We use to use overalls backwards and worked for awhile. Especially if you could get the shirts with the shoulder loopes for the straps to go through. Now he wears union suits and zipper in back. (Bad advice using safety pins, it could be swallowed or pop open and stick them).
He has learned to get out of sleepers totally zip and snaped,(he does not know how to snap so he did a Houdini) So with heavy packing tape we start in the back covering the top of the zipper and , across both shoulders around the waist and around the lowerhips. He will reach up the leg to pull off poopy diapers, if we don't.This works ifr you do not skimp on the tape. To save on cost of tape Someone suggested wet suit? anybody tried it?

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nighttime clothes removal - solution
by: Anonymous

we take footie pj's and cut off the feet, turn them around so they face the opposite direction of the zipper and sew up the collar so it does not stretch. cheap alternative to buying special pj's.

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Editor's Note:
You can find the sleepers here:
http://buy.special-need-products.com/autism-clothing

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Practice nudism for Aspergers?
by: Kate

I know, I thought it was crazy too!

After doing some research, I found out that nudism (also called naturism) can be extremely beneficial to autistic children.

My son has Aspergers. When he was a baby, he would do everything to try to get out of clothes. Once he got older, he started taking off hi clothes. My husband and I tried to stop him but to no avail.

After doing research, talking to my husband and getting some books on the subject, we decided to try it.

It's been 2 years now and we have never been happier. I never knew that it was such a relaxing and wholesome family activity.

I really want a study done on this so more people can know how being without clothes can help someone with autism.

Go to the AANR web site to learn more.

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Clothing removal
by: Anonymous

At last I feel as I am not alone in the fecal smearing urinating world we have tried it all as well we now use tape and tape his diaper works roughly 95% more than backwards clothes but we have used tape and backwards clothes plus extra tape on outside just for double protection during night sleep and we wake up with a much better smelling home :)

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Clothes Houdini
by: Anonymous

My son is 2.will be 3 in a couple months.I'm tryin to find ways to keep him in his clothes...mostly at night.he was wearin just the indie footie pajamas...but those alone we're working.so we started using under armor type pants and shirt that the dr recommended and puttin his footie pajamas on over it.unfortunately he does not use the zipper to escape,he pulls it off by puttin his arms out the neck then pullin it off his body.any one have any ideas???

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struggling with autism
by: Rivkah

how about a wet suit?
my son's 8 and does the fecal smearing thing. this is what i am gonna try next.
good to know we're not alone - it feels like it.

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Autism and Clothing

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Autism and Clothing