Let's explore skin: everything felt externally is through this amazing organ
We have three layers skin[1] and the middle layer, the dermis, contains the nerve endings that tell us how things feel.[3] Together, the nervous system, brain, and nerve endings help us create a sensory perception of the outside world.
We all process touch differently, and what might feel comforting to your toddler could make someone else feel squeamish. Equally, we are all sensitive in different ways. Your toddler might not like their feet touched, whereas they welcome touch on their shoulders.
It's not only skin that provides information about touch...
The hairs on our skin can be responsible for some of the responses we have to touch.[3] If you gently brush a finger over the tips of the hairs on your hands, this will feel totally different from brushing your finger over the skin on your hand.
The brain processes information from the sensory input of skin, and hairs
Your toddler’s brain has been receiving information from the sense of touch since utero.[3] Their skin and nervous system were formed from the outer layer of the embryo,[4] meaning their touch reception flows through the entire nervous system.[2]
The brain detects every sense and sensation of touch and interprets meaning and any emotions attached, which helps organise your toddler’s thoughts and responses. With each contact, your toddler's brain picks up new information and learns more from it.
This all means the brain processes touch and is helping your toddler work out what makes them feel comfortable, or not.
Processing sensory feelings can sometimes be confusing for children, especially when it comes to clothing.
We all feel differently about our sense of touch and your toddler won’t yet be able to put into words what feels great and what doesn’t.
Clothing comes in a variety of materials and sizes, all with labels in an assortment of shapes, sizes and locations within them; this makes it confusing for young children.
When your toddler starts to become aware of how things feel, something might itch or irritate them but it’s hard for them to work out where the discomfort comes from.
There are also other factors, like some clothes have a tighter fit than others. Some children prefer a tighter fit and others prefer looser clothing.
Typically, toddlers understand which fabrics feel cosy and comfortable and it’s easy to get clothing to suit their needs. For some children though, clothing preferences can become more than that.
Being sensitive to the feeling of clothing can make a child feel uncomfortable, causing them to become distracted and irritable.
If your toddler finds discomfort from itchy labels, an easy resolve can be to cut them out. It might be that it takes a bit more time to figure out where an irritation comes from, but it’s worth spending this time finding the cause.
If you are concerned that your toddler seems to have very strong reactions to some textures, speak to a professional for advice and support.
References:
[1] Nemours Kids's Health. Your Skin (For Kids)
[2] Heller, S. (2003) Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight: What to Do If You Are Sensory Defensive in an Overstimulating World. Harper Perenial.
[3] Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2012). Touching a nerve: How every hair in skin feels touch and how it all gets to the brain. ScienceDaily.
[4] Biga, L.M., Dawson, S., Harwell, A., Hopkins, R., Kaufmann, J., LeMaster, M,., Matern, P., Morrison-Graham, K., Quick, D., Runyeon. J. (2011) The Functional Organization of Cutaneous Low-Threshold Mechanosensory Neurons. Cell. Volume 147. Issue 7, p1423-1642.