Clothing and Autism

I must admit, even before Johnathan was born, I was considering my own clothing and what it might feel to the baby inside of me. And EVERY piece of clothing, or towelling or bedding was “soft” tested.  If it didn’t feel pleasurable to me, there was no way I was going to allow them to be bought.

So I already had the concept of soft and beautiful no matter what I got.  My child was going to be completely comfortable no matter what was touching his or her skin.  I mean, WHY would you do anything else?  Isn’t it reasonable to expect a baby would want a pleasant feel?

Why do you think I have talked about soft feeling ANYTHING with your baby?  Well, there is a reason.  When Johnathan was born he LOVED anything soft and being swaddled in blankets and the feeling of muslins.  He would hold blankets and muslins near his face and loved being dressed from head to toe, although it was a fight to get anything on his feet! 

Now we are beginning to reach the main reason for this post.  Even if a child on the spectrum isn’t diagnosed with SPD (sensory processing disorder) I have found that either they are like Johnathan and LOVE to be hugged and kissed, or HATE it, love to be in company or don’t, AND they either WANT to wear clothes and their arms and legs covered, like Johnathan or to be wearing nothing at all.

Every year we struggle to get Johnathan to understand that because he gets too hot and sweaty in bed  in the summer, he CANNOT go to sleep in a lovely, comfortable, enclosing sleeping bag wearing pyjamas that go to his hands and his feet (even if they ARE thin ones).  Oh, and I forgot the plushies that share not only his bed, but the sleeping bag, too!  

There again, I know of children on the autism spectrum that like to wear nothing at all!  And it’s so difficult for the parents, carers or guardians to persuade them to wear complete clothing….It’s a hard thing to deal with whichever way your child falls and people that don’t know about this aspect of the autism spectrum find it difficult to understand.

For instance, I had a difference of opinion with my mother in law the other day.  It was a warm day, and raining.  She found a jacket she wanted him to wear instead of his big, thick raincoat (that is almost like a duvet) and he wouldn’t even get past trying to put one arm in it.  I explained to her that he wasn’t being difficult, it was a sensory issue with him and just let him wear the coat he wants.  

Clothing is deeply important to anyone on the spectrum and to the people who look after them.  So it is helpful if you can be understanding and support them.