As ds gets older, he gets so particular about things! As a first time mom, I don't know if it's typical toddler stuff, personality, or if I should be trying to guide him toward being more flexible. Some examples--If he's wearing long pants and sits in such a way that the slightest bit of leg shows between his pant leg and socks, he throws a full-blown fit about it. If he gets something on his hands (dirt, dried leaf particles, bread crumbs, anything), he can't do anything until they are cleaned. He stares at his hands in disgust and can't be distracted from it. So, please tell me, is this normal or not?

I tend to agree with Tara. I would play it down.

Thanks for your input, Ladies! It really helps to hear the perspective of other moms. So far I have been telling him "It's OK" and trying to ignore it. When he's insistent that it needs fixed, I show him how to wipe his hands together or on his pants. Yesterday he wiped his dirty hands on my shirt so maybe he's starting to get it. (Though I'd rather him not be wiping dirt on other people! :roll: )

My oldest was this way. [whatwacko] He began pulling at the sleeves of his shirts at 6 months of age. By 3 he would strip himself down naked because the clothes didn't feel right. He couldn't stand certain socks with lines on the toes or pants with a waist, and he wore overalls for a year! It is a sensory integration issue. That is a big thing right now. There is a disorder called sensory integration disorder! You can get OT for it! NO kidding!

I can offer hope! He is now 17...extremely intelligent, kind and responsible...a great kid...AND he wears most of his clothes without a fuss! BUT he is still picky about his socks. We found a kind he likes and I HAVE to buy those. Heaven help us if they quit making them! LOL! [rotfl] I did the best I could. I tried not to make waves but sometimes he had to wear things he didn't like! It was always a challenge till 8 or 9

Leslie, I have wondered if this could be a sensory issue! DS is in OT for eating problems, but the OT told me that she doesn't believe his eating issues are sensory. When I asked about his new pickiness about other things, she again said that it didn't sound like a sensory issue to her. I live in a fairly rural county and think she's mainly worked with kids who are pretty severely autistic/delayed. I wonder if an OT who has experience with a wider variety of issues would agree with her assessment. We're actually taking ds to a multi-disciplinary team in Jan to deal with his eating, and there's an OT who will be involved in that process so I'm curious what he/she will say about it.

Leslie, I have wondered if this could be a sensory issue! DS is in OT for eating problems, but the OT told me that she doesn't believe his eating issues are sensory. When I asked about his new pickiness about other things, she again said that it didn't sound like a sensory issue to her. I live in a fairly rural county and think she's mainly worked with kids who are pretty severely autistic/delayed. I wonder if an OT who has experience with a wider variety of issues would agree with her assessment. We're actually taking ds to a multi-disciplinary team in Jan to deal with his eating, and there's an OT who will be involved in that process so I'm curious what he/she will say about it.


Since he has other issues...I would definitely find an OT person who recognizes all the sensory integration problems. I would most definitely bring it up! And, I am not expert, but I know that some eating issues are sensory. I, for years, couldn't eat certain foods because of how they FELT to me.

My youngest is the opposite of my oldest. :?: He is more sensory deprived. He can't feel his pencil in his hand and squeezes REAL hard and uses 4 fingers and the thumb to hold it. He is a sloppy eater STILL at 11...it is like he is 3 because he doesn't FEEL the food on his face. He seeks out sensory stimulation...makes sounds, rocks himself touches EVERYTHING...very active! The oldest couldn't stand to be sticky, but the youngest can walk around for weeks with sticky fingers and never do anything about it! The oldest could never wear socks all bunched up and twisted...the youngest could care less...always a mess! Everyone has some tendencies and some issues in some areas...but if it interferes with your life then it is a problem. :?

I do know that my eldest never got OT and he did out grow a lot of his issues. But our youngest starts OT next week for listening therapy and fine motor skills. I need some help! I so get it! So if you ever need to vent when he is having fits about something...feel free to PM me. BOY do I remember those days! LOL! :lol: [girlsmiley] We even video taped our oldest when he was three and having a fit because I had dressed him. We showed it to him when he was 13 or 14...he couldn't believe it. He said, "Boy was I a monster or what?" I hugged him and said, "But look how you turned out!" But we do tease him about it from time to time! LOL! :lol:

It is so encouraging to talk to someone who has "been there" and is now on the other side! Now I'm even more curious what the next OT will say about all this. Thanks so much!

:D Leslie, that's great news! Does it mean that since my daughter was almost two weeks late, she'll be extra smart? Woohoo!
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~Ruth


:lol: Believe it or not... it still helps to tell someone about even though it has passed and to hear their story. Sometimes I feel like my history with my sons sounds so whacko and unbelievable. :shock: It is nice to know that even though I am through it...I am not alone! LOL! :lol:

ha ha Tara the more I read your posts, the more I realise how like minded we are...

Yeah DD used to have fits over the sirwalter grass in a house we were living at, she refused to walk on it and kept shrieking at us to carry her on it over to her playhouse - so one day she climbed into her playhouse and refused to come down unless we carried her over the sir walter. DH and I simply said NO... you want down you do it yourself.

Got her over it pretty quickly.

They DO get particular, they just need to be shown that they are fretting over nothing.