advice for new parents

[verdi73]

As many of you know, we adopted a 6 year old boy last month. He is adjusting really well, and calls us mommy and daddy. One thing we are having an issue with our clothes, especially shorts. He has a huge fit if we try to put shorts on him. (We live in Georgia and it gets hot here). We are headed to Disney for the 1st week of June for his birthday. Any suggestions on how to convince him to wear some shorts? We are afraid he is going to have a heat stroke down there if he wears pants. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!!

 

[livndisney]

As many of you know, we adopted a 6 year old boy last month. He is adjusting really well, and calls us mommy and daddy. One thing we are having an issue with our clothes, especially shorts. He has a huge fit if we try to put shorts on him. (We live in Georgia and it gets hot here). We are headed to Disney for the 1st week of June for his birthday. Any suggestions on how to convince him to wear some shorts? We are afraid he is going to have a heat stroke down there if he wears pants. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!!

I went through this with my DD. Have you tried long pants and start rolling them up? After a few days my DD was "choosing" shorts after having gotten used to the bare legs.

 

[momto3pirates]

I am having the same issue with my just turned 6 year old son. He will not wear shorts. We are in Houston and it is 90 today and he wore jeans to school. We are going to WDW June 9 and have been telling him he will not get to wear jeans to the parks. I am going to take him this weekend and let him shop for clothes he thinks he will wear. If anyone else has any ideas they would be much appreciated.

 

[verdi73]

We will try to roll up pants scheme and see if that works. We have some shorts that are long. They are almost like pants, and he didn't get too much out of shape about that. We just wanting something that will get some air on his legs in that heat.

 

[crisi]

Pick your battles. Buy some lightweight pants for him if he will wear those.

Remember that Texas cowboys wear heavy jeans every day.

 

[Darcy03231]

I don't know if they still have them, but we bought DS some light weight pants that the bottoms zipped off (went from pants to shorts). I believe they were made by Columbia or EMS.

 

[badblackpug]

Maybe try to find some of the pants that are lightweight, but "zip off" to become shorts. Maybe if he gets really hot he can zip them into shorts

 

[verdi73]

I completely forgot about the pants that zip off to make shorts. We will have to look for those, along with light weight pants. Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Yep, zip off shorts/pants are a good idea!

Me, I would just let him wear the pants! Bring shorts along, just in case he changes his mind, but don't push the issue.

 

[brergnat]

He will not have heat stroke.

My husband spent 10 months in Iraq last year wearing long pants AND long sleeved camis. He was in temperatures in excess of 115 degrees much of the time. He also wore a helmet and about 80lbs of flak jacket, kevlar, and "gear". He is still alive and well.

What I would do, if I were you, is let HIM choose what to pack. Buy him lightweight COTTON pants (these are all over the stores nowadays), so that he won't be bringing stuff like sweatpants.

SECRETLY pack some shorts. If he is TRULY hot and uncomfortable, he will mention it.

My son does not like to wear shorts either very often. He is OFTEN cold, even when the rest of us is hot. He is known to want to wear long pants and long sleeves when it is 80-85 degrees out. He is very skinny, so he is probably usually cold (less body fat for insulation).

Don't assume that your son always "feels" the weather the same way you do. Also, be aware that some children have sensory issues about clothing/material. Some may not like the way it feels when their legs are bare, or their arms, or if a fabric is too scratchy or whatever. You don't REALLY "know" your child that well just yet. Until you really know what makes him tick, and all his "ins and outs", don't be so pushy about something like clothes. Allow him to have control (to some extent) in this particular situation. After all, it's his personal comfort at stake.

You will hear this over and over again during your journey into parenthood:

"All kids are different."

And, it's true. Good luck and have a great trip with your new son!

 

[turkeymama]

Don't assume that your son always "feels" the weather the same way you do. Also, be aware that some children have sensory issues about clothing/material. Some may not like the way it feels when their legs are bare, or their arms, or if a fabric is too scratchy or whatever. You don't REALLY "know" your child that well just yet. Until you really know what makes him tick, and all his "ins and outs", don't be so pushy about something like clothes. Allow him to have control (to some extent) in this particular situation. After all, it's his personal comfort at stake.

This has been our experience too. Both of my kids have some "sensory" issues, but my son is like this. Anytime the weather changes, we go through this with long pants versus short pants.

 

[dbarker]

Let him wear the long pants, but...........pack a couple of swim trunks for him.

DS10 does this some times. Just has a very strong opinion on what he wants to wear. As long as the important parts are covered and I don't see anything I'm not supposed to see, then I don't complain. I learned earlier this school year to just let him choose his own fashion. It is just not worth the battle.

There are times when DS10 refuses to wear shorts. However, swim trunks are a whole different story. Because, who doesn't like to swim.

 

[verdi73]

that is funny as it seems we won't have an issue with swim trunks. We were wondering if it was a sensory issue. We will go with the lightweight cotton pants and bring some shorts just in case he changes his mind. all we got right now is heavy cotton pants. but we are going to wal mart tomorrow and can hook him up.

 

[maiapapaya]

As a newly adopted child this could also be a control issue. We adopted our 4 year old at the age of 28 months. It's been our experience that sometimes these kids feel that they don't have a lot of control over what has gone on in their life and they will latch onto something for which they feel they can exert some control. I agree with the others who have mentioned packing the light weight pants, zip off pants and shorts. Let your son know all of these are available as options to him and if he is feeling uncomfortable with the heat it can be his decision as to what to wear (and hopefully, since they are an option, and it's HIS choice he may go with the shorts if it's too hot).
Have a great trip!

 

[wishtdream]

As a newly adopted child this could also be a control issue.

I just wanted to chime in on this- as a six year old adoption or not it it may be a control issue. Six year olds are trying to be independent big kids. I know so many parents right now that are having behavioral issues rooted in control. good luck

 

[Tink_fanatic]

No one has mentioned this and I think it might be too personal but he's adopted. Do you know the circumstances of why he was put up for adoption? Maybe there are some psychological issues of why he won't wear shorts.

Sorry for that but that was the first thing that i thought of when I read your post and I may get flamed for it. Again, I am sorry.

 

[verdi73]

No no. that is quite alright. We are wondering the same thing. That it might be a past history with birthparents(there were some neglect issues that we are getting a hold of with him. Right now we are giving him a choice of what to wear. Right now he needs lots of love, attention, structure, and routine, and that is what we are providing. He is making great strides everyday and we love him dearly. I can't tell you how excited he is to go "Welt Disney World" as he calls it. We are taking it slowly with him about his past home life. I am sure he will tell us when he is ready, and of course, we will be ready to listen to him.

 

[brergnat]

No one has mentioned this and I think it might be too personal but he's adopted. Do you know the circumstances of why he was put up for adoption? Maybe there are some psychological issues of why he won't wear shorts.

Sorry for that but that was the first thing that i thought of when I read your post and I may get flamed for it. Again, I am sorry.

I thought of that too. That's why I mentioned to not push the issue. After all, it's just clothes.

Just give the kid lots of love, which it sounds like you're doing.

 

[disykat]

We went through this with long and short sleeves too. Any transition. Basically I just got used to carrying the extra clothes around. "You can wear it, or you can carry it in your backpack to change into when you get hot/cold."

It isn't worth fighting over. At his age, you can just carry his change of clothes for him. Let him know you have them if he gets too warm. Also make sure he knows that if he gets too cranky you will know he is too warm and will make him hydrate and/or change!