Refusing to wear clothes

I would try a reward system for trying to get her to tolerate clothes or pants. Like “okay if we can wear our clothes and have a good attitude for 5 minutes, we can have a gummy bear” or whatever preferd small treat. Start w the toleration time being small and then if she starts tolerating it, maybe then make the time longer, “if we can have a good attitude w wearing our clothes for a half hour then we get candy”

Ah okay I’ll give it a go. I was doing it wrong, I was giving her a treat when I put them on her with a bit of a struggle but as soon as she got it she would take them back off. I feel like she will hear me mention the treat and kick off for it immediately but I’ll definitely give it a go, thanks @Emily

She’s non verbal as well so makes it that extra bit harder 🥲

My daughter has sensory, and autistic reasons for not liking certain clothes. She has worn mostly dresses and leggings since she was in elementary school. She calls jeans "hard pants". She also Looooves shoes. And, since she has an older girl cousin, always has a pretty good supply of them. I usually own 2-3 pairs, plus winter boots, and theater/ballroom shoes that sit in my closet. I had to learn her preferences, by going to a thrift store, and picking clothes I thought she would like, and that she liked. I had her pick ten outfits that she would wear, that matched each other. I would take them to the return rack, and hang them for her so she could see them (I just have to take them down for the workers if they come.) she tried them on in the store. And, that is how I learned her preferences. Plus, the hard pants thing.

I have a 5 year old who still fights me when we want to put his church clothes on. I think the last two times he was excited to button up his own buttons, and I am celebrating 🥳🎉 If you need more help whittling it down, you can read a book called The Child Whisperer, and Dressing your Truth (both books by Carol Tuttle). It can help you feel less overwhelmed by choosing colors, and lines, and textures your child will enjoy wearing.

I know this is hard.

It is a stage. It will not last forever.

Hmm maybe a clothing visual and then a visual of candy or preferd item and also a visual timer may help too. Show her the visuals and point to them, first clothes then candy and set your timer. My daughter is partial verbal (1 to 2 word phrases only) and using this visual timer app on my phone has been a LIFE saver for teaching her to tolerate many different things

Thanks @Alea im really hoping it’s just to do with recently potty training and not wanting to get her clothes wet. She didn’t have an issue with clothes before, she definitely prefers clothes that are soft and fluffy like pyjamas but I’ll have to try letting her pick clothes out in the shop. At home I will give her 2 options and she will take them both and throw them in a corner

That’s a good idea @Emily is there a specific app?

Could it be the material? Does she run hot?

I have the app Countdown. It’s got a rubber duck on the front of it

How long has it been going on? Could it be that she's in pain that's exacerbated by pressure from clothes in the area? If it's sensory, maybe seamless underwear or shorts/trunks might help? For outerwear, could you try a jumpsuit or dungarees so there's nothing being held by the waist?

@Julia it’s mainly underwear but doesn’t like anything on bottom half @Antoinette just recently when she decided she doesn’t want to wear nappies and started potty training. She’s just started school and is fine wearing this polo/skirt combination dress thing with the jumper on top. It’s a struggle but she’s fine with it once it’s on. She just loves being naked all of a sudden. Can’t put dungarees or jumpsuits unfortunately because she’ll struggle to use the toilet and will take the whole thing off and not put it back on. I’ll definitely try seamless underwear, thanks for your comment