So frustrated--a vent and a question?

[minkydog]

A lot of people here know that I have an almost-15yo DS who is very mentally handicapped. He's like a 1yr old in his thinking, just flits from one thing to another like a 120-lb butterfly. Christian is a very sweet fellow, but he is just getting so big he's a real handful. We have a nurse who comes in every evening to help with feeding, exercising, bathing (and shaving!). Tonight he had to call off due to illness, which doesn't happen often. So DH and I have been tag-teaming Christian all night.

So, I got him out of the shower and into his pajamas. We usually put him in fleece footie pajamas because a) he throws his covers off at night and the fleece keeps him warm and b) he can't get to his "toys" (if you get my drift.) Tonight, I just grabbed a pair of regular flannel 2-pc pjs and put an extra shirt and socks on him. Good idea, right? Well, DH just came downstairs and said Christian had managed to get all his clothes off except the t-shirt and he's up there almost butt-naked in his room.

I don't know what I'm gonna do with that boy. He's not "acting out". I guess the clothes were just bothering him. But this happens a LOT. At supper time I had just served the plates when here he comes, dressed in a sweatshirt and a diaper. I'm sure that part of it is he is starting to get the part of potty training where you "pull up" or "pull down" the pants. After 10 years of training it's finally an emerging skill. So we don't want to discourage him. but he doesn't have any sense of privacy and doesn't understand that nobody wants to see his "bits." Just like a baby.

Anyway, I just needed to get that off my chest. None of our friends would understand and maybe ya'll won't either, but it's my life and I guess I'm feeling a little sorry for myself tonight.


So here's the question for you: Obviously, we're going to have to keep him in one-piece sleepers if we're going to keep clothes on him (and his "parts" inside the clothes!) I'm fixed for winter fleece sleepers but I have no idea what to do for summer. I tried to do a search for footless sleep clothes but I'm not coming up with anything an adult-size boy could use. I don't even care if it's pink with unicorns on it! I can't seem to find anything that will work. If I absolutely HAVE to I guess I'll just have to make some summer weight pjs, but that would be my LAST resort. I don't even know if they make a pattern for something like that. Bleah.

Ugh. I feel like Eeyore tonight.

 

[happygirl]

A lot of people here know that I have an almost-15yo DS who is very mentally handicapped. He's like a 1yr old in his thinking, just flits from one thing to another like a 120-lb butterfly. Christian is a very sweet fellow, but he is just getting so big he's a real handful. We have a nurse who comes in every evening to help with feeding, exercising, bathing (and shaving!). Tonight he had to call off due to illness, which doesn't happen often. So DH and I have been tag-teaming Christian all night.

So, I got him out of the shower and into his pajamas. We usually put him in fleece footie pajamas because a) he throws his covers off at night and the fleece keeps him warm and b) he can't get to his "toys" (if you get my drift.) Tonight, I just grabbed a pair of regular flannel 2-pc pjs and put an extra shirt and socks on him. Good idea, right? Well, DH just came downstairs and said Christian had managed to get all his clothes off except the t-shirt and he's up there almost butt-naked in his room.

I don't know what I'm gonna do with that boy. He's not "acting out". I guess the clothes were just bothering him. But this happens a LOT. At supper time I had just served the plates when here he comes, dressed in a sweatshirt and a diaper. I'm sure that part of it is he is starting to get the part of potty training where you "pull up" or "pull down" the pants. After 10 years of training it's finally an emerging skill. So we don't want to discourage him. but he doesn't have any sense of privacy and doesn't understand that nobody wants to see his "bits." Just like a baby.

Anyway, I just needed to get that off my chest. None of our friends would understand and maybe ya'll won't either, but it's my life and I guess I'm feeling a little sorry for myself tonight.


So here's the question for you: Obviously, we're going to have to keep him in one-piece sleepers if we're going to keep clothes on him (and his "parts" inside the clothes!) I'm fixed for winter fleece sleepers but I have no idea what to do for summer. I tried to do a search for footless sleep clothes but I'm not coming up with anything an adult-size boy could use. I don't even care if it's pink with unicorns on it! I can't seem to find anything that will work. If I absolutely HAVE to I guess I'll just have to make some summer weight pjs, but that would be my LAST resort. I don't even know if they make a pattern for something like that. Bleah.

Ugh. I feel like Eeyore tonight.

What about light weigt long johns?/

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

I wonder if you could find someone to sew some for you? It would be the same sort of thing as the fleece, only in a lighter material, maybe cotton jersey for the summer?

In our family, we've used the "sleeper on backwards" (with the feet cut out of course) for a little one who wouldn't keep his pajamas on... worked a treat!

Otherwise, could you get regular cotton pajamas and have snaps put in the hem of the top and at the waist of the bottoms and snap them shut? He'd probably undo that though, eh?

Take care! Hope your helper is back on the job tomorrow!

 

[minkydog]

What about light weigt long johns?/

Wonder where I could even find long johns this time of year? I like to have never found him some thermal underwear back in December. Cotton long johns would work--I could just cut the sleeves off and trim the legs to knee length.

 

[minkydog]

I wonder if you could find someone to sew some for you? It would be the same sort of thing as the fleece, only in a lighter material, maybe cotton jersey for the summer?

In our family, we've used the "sleeper on backwards" (with the feet cut out of course) for a little one who wouldn't keep his pajamas on... worked a treat!

Otherwise, could you get regular cotton pajamas and have snaps put in the hem of the top and at the waist of the bottoms and snap them shut? He'd probably undo that though, eh?

Take care! Hope your helper is back on the job tomorrow!

I've tried pinning and velcroing his PJs together. He tears his PJs up trying to get out of them. But I like the wearing them backwards idea. One of the great things about his footie pajamas is they all have zippers, which he hasn't figured out yet.

 

[happygirl]

Wonder where I could even find long johns this time of year? I like to have never found him some thermal underwear back in December. Cotton long johns would work--I could just cut the sleeves off and trim the legs to knee length.

Our Walmart carries them, all year long.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

Do you know anyone who sews? Maybe add buttons to summer weight pj's so that the tops attach to the bottoms? I'm assuming that he can't undo buttons by himself. Snaps would be easier but easier to come undone. The only other thing I can think of is an old fashioned unionsuit, ala Pa from Little House on the Prairie.

Hugs to you and your unique challenge tonight. I enjoy reading your posts about Christian. He makes me smile.

 

[minkydog]

Our Walmart carries them, all year long.

Hmmm, I don't know if I've ever seen them in our Walmarts(Atlanta) but I'll go look tomorrow.

Hey! I could look online!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

If I understand you right, I think you can find what you're looking for if you google lightweight cotton long johns or something to that effect.

Here's one type that might work. They carry very high quality products IME (so you pay more, but they last).

http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/...1:100:1010:10180:100220/I/f21568?evar3=BROWSE

 

[minkydog]

Do you know anyone who sews? Maybe add buttons to summer weight pj's so that the tops attach to the bottoms? I'm assuming that he can't undo buttons by himself. Snaps would be easier but easier to come undone. The only other thing I can think of is an old fashioned unionsuit, ala Pa from Little House on the Prairie.

Hugs to you and your unique challenge tonight. I enjoy reading your posts about Christian. He makes me smile.

He can't undo buttons. He just rips them right off(he has all the strength of a normal 15yo). I think Pa's unionsuit is probablywhat I'm looking for. I looked at those poly/cotton one piece work outfits that little old med wear, but they don't look very comfortable for sleeping in.

If I understand you right, I think you can find what you're looking for if you google lightweight cotton long johns or something to that effect.

Here's one type that might work. They carry very high quality products IME (so you pay more, but they last).

http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/...1:100:1010:10180:100220/I/f21568?evar3=BROWSE

Thanks for hte links. I'm going to check these out.!

 

[EeyoreEma]

I'd think if you could add buttons to the tops and bottoms, that could work??? Just have the buttons at the bottom of the shirt and be able to button to the top of shorts. I don't think it would be too hard to do. Good luck!

 

[happygirl]

http://www.jockey.com/ check out this site they have all kinds of men long johns.

 

[fortheluvofpooh]

here is a more colorful version your ds might like.

http://www.tiedyedshop.com/tie-dyed-318.html

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Here are a couple of other lightweight cotton one piece union suits.

http://www.amazon.com/Indera-Mills-...1_33?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1269316200&sr=8-33

http://www.fatiguesarmynavy.com/store/item/US0901

 

[laurie31]

Sierra Trading probably has long underwear on clearance right now.

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/

We've bought many things from them, and have always been satisfied. They have a liberal return policy, too.


Also, while I know you don't want him running around in the altogether during the day, would it really be so bad if he slept "au natural" at night? Or would the um..."available distractions" then be too temping?

 

[fortheluvofpooh]

http://www.intimo.com/w010211.html

and to help with the pulling off of the buttons, maybe you can order the size up and put them on backwards and stitch up the flap

 

[JOCAmom]

Can he undo snaps? If not, try searching for unionsuits. I've seen lots of listings for one-piece snap front pajamas in adult sizes under that search.

 

[minkydog]

Also, while I know you don't want him running around in the altogether during the day, would it really be so bad if he slept "au natural" at night? Or would the um..."available distractions" then be too temping?

No, that would definitely be a baaaaaddd idea. He's not dry overnight. OMG, he'd have the whole room hosed down.

 

[minkydog]

here is a more colorful version your ds might like.

http://www.tiedyedshop.com/tie-dyed-318.html

OMG, these are so cute! Thanks!

 

[laurie31]

No, that would definitely be a baaaaaddd idea. He's not dry overnight. OMG, he'd have the whole room hosed down.

What a visual!

(although cleaning it up would NOT be amusing!)

Good luck with your search.