Surviving Winter with a Sensory Sensitive Child

When the seasons change, you tend to pull older items from the back of the closet to the front. Those clothing items may have been sitting in the closet unworn for months. Especially with children, you may also purchase a lot of new things for kids that have grown a lot during the warmer months. Before adding new items to your child’s wardrobe, run them through a wash cycle to soften and loosen them up. This is also advisable for re-introducing last year’s favorites. A wash cycle can freshen and soften them as well. Fresh, soft, and loose clothes will be more tolerable for your sensitive children.

Parents of sensory sensitive children know that this is often a first step to making your child’s clothes more comfortable. Be sure to inspect all new items for tags in unusual places or any other discomforts that may need to be dealt with. Don’t forget outerwear, like coats, scarves, hats, and gloves. These items may not always come in direct contact with a child’s skin, but all items may have a tendency to irritate.

Dry skin is a common problem for all during the winter months. Kids with sensitivities may be extra bothered by dry skin. On the other hand, they may turn their nose at moisturizers, which is always a challenge. Regardless, it’s important to keep skin moisturized. Help them or remind them to lotion up daily. And use a good chap stick for lips. Fun scents or flavors may help kids to cooperate. Skin dryness will also be helped if children are well hydrated, so be sure they’re drinking plenty of water each day.

Sensitive kids may find gloves uncomfortable and refuse to wear them. You can help keep their hands warm by giving them hand warmers to keep in their pockets. Have them slip their hands in their pockets for extra warmth when out in the cold.

Some children might prefer the super softness of fleece, while others may be turned off by its bulkiness. Some may like the sleek feel of a thermal shirt, while others may find that material irritating. Give your child a choice between certain fabrics for warmer options they can tolerate.

Keeping feet warm during the winter is important. SmartKnitKIDS Seamless Sensitivity Socks will be more comfortable for sensory sensitive children because they are knit from super soft, stretchy yarns and the design is completely seamless. The moisture wicking fibers also help to keep feet dry, which in turn keeps them warmer, especially during their winter escapades like playing in the snow.