How to Put Resistant Child in Underwear

Switching from diapers to undies is not always easy!

It can be frustrating to convince a young child to do something when he refuses. Children often go through phases of resistance to specific customs or to authority in general. No parent wants to force or bribe her children to follow the rules. Certain techniques can help minimize struggle and effectively convince children to wear their undergarments.

Things You'll Need

• Fun Underwear
• Role models
• Children's books
• Calendar or reward tracker
• Small rewards

Instructions

Teaching Your Child to Wear Underwear

1. Ask your child why she does not want to wear underwear. It may be uncomfortable, or boring, or too recent a transition from diapers. If the child is old enough, ask her to help you choose some new underwear from the store. The child may be more willing to wear undergarments if they feature cool pictures, like rocket ships or flowers. In the morning when your child gets dressed, let her choose which pair of underwear she will wear.

2. Appeal to role models to convince the child that wearing underwear is important and fun. An older child or sibling whom the younger child looks up to is a good choice. Tell your child that this person wears underwear every day. If possible, have the role model talk to your child about wearing underwear. Other good role models include parents and adults in the family, favorite television personalities or cartoon characters and friends of the same age.

3. Get some books about transitioning from diapers to underwear or wearing clothes, and read them with your child. Talk about the benefits of wearing underwear during or after the read-aloud. Good books include "Underwear Do's and Dont's" by Todd Parr and the Sesame Street Book, "Too Big for Diapers."

4. Reward your child when he consistently wears underwear throughout the day. Together, keep track of the days when your child is successful, and come up with a system where the child receives a small reward upon meeting a goal, such as a full week of consistently wearing underwear. Possible rewards include doing something fun with a family member or getting a special treat after dinner. Make your child's goals small and achievable, and when your child reaches a goal, make another slightly more challenging goal together. Eventually your child should be able to wear underwear daily and will no longer need a reward system.

5. Choose consequences that directly relate to the action your child takes. On occasions when your child refuses to wear underwear, she may not be allowed to go to a desired destination until underwear is worn. Telling your child that she cannot visit a friend or go to a movie until she puts on underwear will give the child an urgent reason to get dressed. When the child does choose to wear underwear, praise her and calmly allow her to attend the desired function.

6. If your child's reaction to wearing underwear is extreme, and she claims that underwear is severely uncomfortable, the above steps may not work for her. You may need to take her to a doctor or occupational therapist and have her evaluated for sensory integrative dysfunction. Some children are hypersensitive to activities that most people consider normal and comfortable, such as wearing underwear. This disorder, known as tactile defensiveness, was diagnosed by occupational therapist Jean Ayres, Ph.D., in 1960. Dr. Ayres is the author of "Sensory Integration and the Child."

Tips & Warnings

• Don't give attention to bad behavior by getting angry at your child or attempting to force him into a pair of underwear. Such a struggle will undermine your consistent reward system. Focus on positive reinforcement and calmly remind children of appropriate consequences when necessary.

References

• Texas School for the Blind & Visually Impaired: Sensory Integrative Dysfunction in Young Children