Texture/Sensory Friendly Clothes for Kids

Each child is unique, and has their own set of unique needs. For some, textures of clothing can cause discomfort. Children may not be able to articulate why they don't like their clothing, but it may be because of sensory needs.

We all have sensory preferences, and for kids it may manifest in these ways:

• Soft

  Stiff, scratchy, or itchy clothing can be triggering. Check out clothing made of cotton, fleece, jersey material, or pre-washed denim. When shopping, turn the clothing inside out to see if there are lots of tags or seams that may be bothersome while wearing it. For undergarments and socks, check out SmartKnit.

• Variety

  Some children benefit from tactile stimulation. Look for clothes with pockets or flaps with different textures that they can access like a fidget tool. KozieClothes has a weighted vest with different textured fabrics. Another strategy is place a fidget cube or other small object in the pocket of your child's clothing so they can access a sensory tool.

• Pressure

  Some children feel more comfortable in clothing that is fitted and puts pressure on them, which can reduce fear and anxiety. For weighted and compression clothing for children and teens, Fun and Function has different styles such as hats and scarves.

• Ease of Wear

  For those that have challenges with fine motor skills, this can impact their ability to use buttons or zippers. Target has an adaptive wear line for kids that does not have tags, has flat seams, and can easily be snapped on and off for ease. They also have wheelchair friendly pants.