Hemi Clothing

[kathleenandjoe]

I am not a sewer AT ALL. It takes all of me to get Becca's patches onto her Brownie vest.

Becca is right side hemiplegic. She refuses to let anyone help her. Little spitfire. And she has been going to the bathroom on her own for a couple of years now.

She cannot do fasteners on pants and wants to wear jeans and jean shorts. This was not hard to deal with when she was in toddler clothes, but I cannot find elastic waist denim (and I mean all around) that look decent anywhere in her size now. She is a 7/8 girls. Let me add that the girl is very picky and somewhat "with it" as far as style.

Any experience?

And please if anyone comes across elastic waist girls denim shorts LET ME KNOW WHERE!!!! I have been hunting.

She has one pair of jeans that I got a size bigger and took up the legs (and cursed all the way through that chore). I see her booty crack when she bends over though! They are big, but back elastic so she can get them up without unfastening.

Small worry, but one I was just wondering if you had ideas for.

Thanks,
Kathleen

[Tigger 76]

Hi,

I cannot do this stupid fasteners either and love to wear jeans, so I have learned to be very creative over the years. Have you thought about replacing the snaps or buttons with Velcro? I normally get the jeans a size bigger so that I have enough room to fasten them. One other thought, I where cabin Creek jeans you can find them at JCPenney but I'm not sure if they come in kids sizes.

Now I know you said that you do not sew, but have you thought about finding someone that does to help you alter her clothes? Velcro has become my best friend over years.



I hope this helps. Good luck with everything.

[J&K Mom]

Elastic waist pants are hard to come by in big kid sizes, I know! Especially ones that look nice. I just hit the jackpot at Target and found 4 or 5 pair for Jake in a size10/12. They were on clearance too. I think I paid $3.50 per pair!! I was on a high the rest of the day!! :) :) But because they are all the same pant, I'll probably end up making him some too. I have a ton of Mike's old jeans that were destined for the thrift store and have decided to re-purpose them!

I am actually finding it hard to find Katie pants too. At this size, the store bought stuff tend to start fitting snugger and not allow for the diaper as much. She's a 3T and I just bought her 3 pair of jeans that I can't get up over her diaper. I am in the process of ripping them up and making some (hopefully ) really cool mods to them! I am excited about it and hope it comes out like I intend.

I have heard folks say they sometimes have found elastic waist pants at (I think( Lands End. I'm not sure though. I have never shopped there.

I would offer to make some for you, but I don't have A LOT of experience (YET) sewing denim. I can do a basic knit elastic waist pant, but haven't yet attempted the whole zipper and snap... or even the look of a fake fly. I've only done the baggy type of elastic waist pant like in leggings and baby pants, etc.

[laurensmom]

I was gonna suggest velcro also....I buy Lauren's pants a little bigger and most of the time at school, he can just pull them down and up and of course baggy is in for the boys!!!

[mpalmer118]

I have the same problem. Rachel can't do fastners either, because of her fine motor delays. I have taken to buying the adjustable waist band pants for her in her size but plus sized. That way I can adjust the waist for a better fit, and she can pull them on and off without fastening and unfastening. Gymboree seems to work best but it has to be on sale, cause they are too pricey. JcPenney is great also.

[Tigger 76]

Hi,

Another thought does Becca have a button hook? This is a nifty little device that my occupational therapist got for me you can do the buttons one-handed when using this gadget. It's really cool I wish I had one when I was her age.

[callyflower]

Yes, www.landsend.com. I shop the overstocks section there. The jeans look good.

Cally

[PaulaScott]

You might look for pants that have button elastic. I found some at K-Mart and I think also Target for my son -- they do have a regular fly with a zipper, but they have an elastic waist that you can adjust to fit bigger or smaller kids. You might be able to adjust them so that she can get them on and off without undo the zipper.

Like Mickey, I'd offer to make some, but am starting a full-time job tomorrow (the nightmares of two house payments! :( ) and I'll be lucky if I get to sew at all.

[J&K Mom]

One thought I had was that in my experience, it's easier to find boys pants with the elastic waist and/or adjustable waist band. If you can find some that look kinda plain (ie- not OBVIOUSLY boys, like carpenter pants ,etc.) You could always get boys pants and put girly patches or embroidery. :)

[cinboggs]

You might try Hanna Andersson. They have some great jeans...elastic waist only...almost all around. The ones I am specifically thinking about are Flowers forever pants. They are really cute too. Some things are pricey, but they have great sales too. You have to wait for them sometimes, but it is worth it. Lucy is so hard to fit, I shop here a lot. They have many pants in general with only elastic. Not just jeans...and tons of cute skirts! Happy shopping!
Cindy

[J&K Mom]

Hadn't thought of Hanna Andersson... good call. Here's the Flowers Forever
http://www.hannaandersson.com/style.asp?from=SC%7C12%7C2%7C24%7C27%7C3%7C%7C


and these are cute:
http://www.hannaandersson.com/style.asp?from=SC%7C4%7C2%7C24%7C27%7C3%7C%7C

[wheeliebird]

I know the other week I bought elastic waisted jeans at Walmart, but of course that was adult size. I like the velcro idea and a size bigger so its easier to fasten. Kathleen, if I come across any elastic waisted jeans in her size I'd be glad to get them and send them to you and you could reinburse (sp) later. Hey, good for her for not wanting help, she is a very independent little girlie there. :) Another thought, have you gone online to like Sears, JC Penney or any other big department store to see if they carry them?? Also, maybe you could Google or search for elastic waisted jeans in her size. I for one can relate to her challenge there beings that I'm a "hemi" myself!!

Good Luck Hon!!!

[Mom2Ava]

Ava is left hemi. Have you seen the new easy cinch they have on toddlers clothes now? It is an adjustable elastic band inside the waste ... you can adjust several times.
LL Bean has jeans and pants with this feature for girls. They have full length, capris etc.

Here is a link:
LL Bean jeans & pants (http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=503360&feat=bc&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1)

There is a pic of the super cinch waste band.

[kathleenandjoe]

You all ROCK!

Love the velcro idea! I might be able to swing that myself (with a couple of choice words along my no-sew way)! So it doesn't pop open when you bend over and such? That wold be good practice for what I am sure will one day be her fastening buttons and snaps.

I never thought of hanna clothes - my mom got her a dress from there this year so maybe I can convince her for the jeans too as a gift for some occasion. They are quite pricey and I will watch for sales, but I found other hanna jeans similar on ebay to watch! Brilliant! The swedish are wise when it comes to children's clothing it seems.

I will have to look more into the other suggestions here. At least now I have more directions to go in. Thanks so much, ladies!

And IF you happen upon elastic all-around denim somewhere along the way (jeans or shorts) in GIRLS size 7 or 8 PLEASE let me know! I will likely buy them all and three sizes up for future!

I did try the kind with the built in adjustable waist and they are still pretty hard for her to get up one handed over her behind. And then if I set them bigger, they do not stay up well. I think they were from gap or old navy.

Thanks so much! You all are just the best.

-Kathleen

[Lauren88]

Velcro is good :) for the whole staying-up thing could you elasticate the back waistband so it is more fitted to her? My mum has to do that with a lot of my trousers/jeans

there is also an organisation in the UK called Hemihelp - www.hemihelp.org.uk - it is a UK site but quite active and lots of good advice for kids - might be useful to have a look at for future

hugs