Help with Highly Sensitive Child

Hi E.. If your daughter is otherwise affected by this, ie more than than a little complaining :) I would encourage you to speak with your pediatrician or otherwise get referrals to Occupational Therapists or other specialists who can recommend exercises to do with her to help with sensory integration. Sometimes (but certaintly not always) kids with high sensitivity can be sort of always on overdrive with picking up too much stimuli (like maybe she gets overwhelmed if there is too much noise in an environment, or too much visual stimulation, etc.) and it can effect their moods, states, and learning. I recently 'met' online a holistic psychologist who works with highly sensitive kids, and she might be a great person to talk with, too. www.KyraMesich.com is her website. I have a child who is sensitive in some ways, but not too much with skin contact stuff, and I've needed to pay attention to environments to keep meltdowns to a minimum. There are lots of fabulous things about being sensitive, but some challenges, too! Best wishes.
K.

you may want to look into occupational therapy (evaluation for sensory integration dysfunction) SI - she could have tactile defensiveness issues.

C.

I have a son(8) with very sensitive skin. What I have found is a good moisturizer can help reduce irritation. We like Aveeno products, the best one for us is Skin relief moisturizing lotion with cooling menthol. As for the tights, I haven't been down that road.

You'll be hearing this but I would suggest you get her tested for sensory issues through her Pediatrician. It could be that or it could be that she simply has that high sensitivity which she won't grow out of but you will learnto deal with - I would really check out the sensory issue - I know many friends with kids that have that issue and it needs to be addressed sooner than later. I wish I had more time but I don't. Sorry this is so rushed.

E.,
My daughter was the same way. She's now five and wearing her dresses with pleasure. I splurged and bought a couple pair of Sternlein tights at Banana's in Wayzata. They are mostly cotton loose fitting tights and they have flat seems. They're truly wonderful and they wash up great. I even passed them down to my younger daughter. Also, on occaision she wears leggings under her dresses which if in an appropriate color, still looks cute.

Good Luck,
Tricia

Have you tried turning the tights inside out so the rough seam is on the outside?

hi there

i completely sympathize with you and with your daughter!

the best panties by far on the market are sold by hanna andersson. the softest cotton and the flat-locked seams mean no rolled seams against your little girl's skin. i worked for hanna andersson in portland oregon for 2 years and they are an awesome company in every respect. there are retail and outlet stores here...one in albertville, one in MOA, but i honestly cannot remember if they sell those there or not. please look them up on the internet: www.hannaandersson.com. the tights are a little expensive, but due to the great sizing and quality, they will likely fit your daughter for 2 years...sometimes longer! (take the advice of the rep on the phone when it comes to sizing! believe me on this one!). the fact that the tights stand up to so much use and wear is amazing and makes the $18 you might spend on a pair come out to be a greater overall value...and back to the panties...i wish they made them in women's sizes, they are so soft and well made...my daughter never wore a pair out! let me know if you try hannas, what you think! blissful blessings to you and yours!

My daughters have the same issues, one worse than the other. Check out this site, it explains a lot about Sensory Integration Disorder. http://www.comeunity.com/disability/sensory_integration/c... "The Out of Sync Child" is a wonderful book to learn more. Do a search for "Sensory Integration Disorder" online and you will find a lot of useful info that can help you understand and deal with her. My 4 1/2 yr old went to occupational therapy because her issues were so severe and she does great most of the time now. Best of luck, from a mom who understands.

Hi, I'm a pediatric OT. You can ask your pediatrician for a referral to OT to assess sensory needs and do a short term therapy for dressing and sensory.

Fraser Child & Family Center is a good site.

Good Luck,
S.
Occupational Therapist

I do have experience with that.
This kind of kid was me!

My mom struggled with that and this drove both of us crazy. Thanks to my stubborness she gave up at some point and I could do WHATEVER I WANTED.

Let you kid do what she wants with the issue. If she wants to roll tights down a little -- let her do it, no matter what you think about it. Explain that no tights is NOT AN OPTIN, the rest is whatever she wants. She will find solution, believe me. Also her solution will be hers only and no one else to blaim for it :-))
And also try various brands of tights. For my 1 yo I see that tights are TOO TIGHT and I just cut top portion of it so that she can breath in them :-))

Good luck with that!

E.,
I have two daughters, one is 8 and the other nearly 3. My younger child is also very sensitive to the seams of her life. My older daughter was quite different, so I do think this is a temperamental difference.
What I have found with both of them, however, is that the more that they feel in control of the solution the better we both feel. So, when my younger daughter is upset that her tights don't feel right on her feet, I try to calmly discuss her choices. (socks and pants, tights with dress, or maybe she has ideas). She has come up with some pretty creative outfits with pants and dresses that are actually pretty cute. And, I don't get as frustrated because she is in charge of figuring it out, not me trying to meet her (unmeetable) expectations. She is also more tolerant of discomfort when she feels like it is her choice.
T.

Hi E.,

My niece was very sensitive (still is at 9 yrs old!). She wore her socks and tights inside out so the seams were on the outside.

Maybe you've done this, but if not, call Children's Hospital ###-###-####) and ask for an evaluation for Extra Sensory Disorder. Hate that last word. I bet she has a "syndrome' and I know that the people there can help. I chaired the Family Advisory Council after having premature twins that were saved there. if in Mpls. also try 612.343.TOTS for a free evaluation and therapy, Occupational, to help her.

Good luck!
M.
____@____.com

It sounds like your child has Sensory Integration Dysfunction (aka Sensory Processing Disorder). There is lots of information on the web about this. My son suffers from this but it affects his eatting. I belong to a parents support group that you may find helpful. They meet monthly but the best thing in the online support. You can get many ideas of what works from other parents with children like ours. Check out...http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TwinCitiesSPD/