3.5-Year-old with Button Phobia

To this day... I have a barette and hair accessory phobia. I can't touch them, wear them and it gives me the heebie jeebies to look at them, especially a big mass of hair stuff in a dish or a drawer. It's odd, yes, but it doesn't keep me from functioning. But, there is no chance I'd ever become a hairstylist! LOL!

I wonder if your daughter might have been poked with some of that plastic thread that is used (it's like fishing line) and it can be very pokey and itchy. I would bet she had some clothes with that stuff and it is very uncomfortable. I have to pull tags from all my sons stuff that uses that thread to sew the tags on. I agree that maybe the Cinderella movie with Gus & Co. making Cinderelly's dress would make it better. Make button necklaces with big buttons and heavy (soft) yarn using the big plastic needles. It's amazing how these things start when you're little and then they seem to escalate.
Good luck,
S.

You know, I think its a control thing on her part. She decided that she doesn't "like" them and that she can get a reaction out of you by saying that she doesn't. That gives her a lot of control that she would not get otherwise! Shes never said anything about Daddy's buttons? If she did say something to him, what do you think he would do? I know my husband would just brush it off, and if I were in your shoes, I would probably accomodate the requests of my daughter! But honestly, its clear to me as an outsider that this is her little way to get some of 'her way' in.

Maybe get some big, wooden buttons for her to play with, without the thread, and then give her one of those plastic needles with yarn, and have her make patterns when she is ready? Don't tell her that any of this has anything to do with buttons. When she is comfortable with all this, tell her how the little buttons are just like those great big buttons? This is just a thought, don't know if it will work.

I would maybe pick up a sewing habit if you like to sew? Or maybe a movie that has sewing in it, like Cinderella! (Remember that scene where the mice are making her a dress?)

If she doesn't like buttons, that's okay! She may or may not grow out of it, but there are plenty of clothing that don't have buttons!

You are right, this is a funny phobia. The first I've heard!

Kids this age zone in on one thing that has happened to them and won't let it go. A lot of kids her age don't want tags in their clothes because it itches, no zippers because it "could" catch on their bellies etc. The zipper one was my son from 2 to age 5. She must have had a thread itch her and now she draws the line. She will probably out grow it. I only say "probably" becasue of the poster who still doesn't like hair clips, but she functions. I'd just try to avoid buttons on her clothing when possible. It sounds like you have an option for her when she has to wear something w/ buttons, i.e covering them up. Since she is not running and screaming when daddy comes near her with his buttoned clothing I don't think it's a phobia but more of a fixation. Have a Happy Easter.

Hi. Go to you tube and search the EFT(emotional freedom technique) It really works well although it feels weird. Look for EFT fo kids.
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My second daugther had a pant phobia and wore dresses with warm tights from age 2 to age 5. One day, she suddenly asked to wear pants and that was that. My sister, however, had a phobia of hair elastics and barretts that has lasted to this day. And we had a neighbor who was grossed out by buttons until age 18. These are all wonderful, smart funny people with this one weird trait. If you can't help her over it, try to avoid buttons for a while and see where it takes you. I wouldn't push it though, since I think that will just make it worse.