By Amy Klootwyk

Being a stay-at-home Mum with my three little loves keeps me on my toes! Isaac, 6, Micah, 4, and Mila-Rose, who is 1. When my middle man, Micah, was diagnosed with Autism a year and a half ago, our journey on the spectrum began. Whilst being a Mum is challenging on a good day, throwing additional needs into the mix really changed my perspective on how I see the world each day. 

Micah has all these particular preferences on how he lives his day-to-day life. There is nothing wrong with this; we all like/dislike certain foods, smells, textures. It has brought me some peace along the way, knowing that I am his Mama and can help facilitate these preferences to make his life a little bit easier. So, in saying that, here is a gift guide for those extra special people in your lives that are on the spectrum!

Men's

Tommy Flag T-Shirt - White

These t-shirts are a mixture of style and simplicity! They are sensory-friendly being tagless, and have replaced traditional stitching with flat seams. My Micah hates tags, so seeing the tagless option is fantastic. A cool fact is that Tommy Hilfiger has children on the spectrum and has designed adaptable clothing for children and adults with disabilities.

Hand Roller Fidget

Fidgets aren't just for kids! These sleek looking Hand Roller Fidgets are incredible for emotional regulation and sensory input. Fidgets are fantastic for people on (and off) the spectrum as they are a great tool for self-regulation and help calm and focus when things get a little overwhelming.

Flare CALMER NIGHT

This is most definitely a favourite for me; these Flare Clamer Night are an earplug type device that you place in your ear at night-time, they do not shut off all sound, but they lessen the harshness of sudden loud noises like alarms, babies crying and dogs barking. They can be used in any environment that you want to make it a little calmer and less triggering.

Women's

JAM - Original Tee

Another cute T-shirt! This is a fitted style shirt with JAM'S signature bamboo material. Again with flat seams and tagless.

Mercury - Fidget Cuff

This is genius; Lux and Luca have designed a fidget into a piece of jewellery. This is a perfect example of elegance meets functionality. Lux and Luca have designed a beautiful range worth checking out.

Weighted Blanket II

A weighted blanket was one of the first products we purchased for Micah once we knew he had additional needs. Weighted blankets offer deep pressure stimulation, not dissimilar to the feeling of being hugged. The weighted pressure helps to relax your body and assists in the process of releasing serotonin and melatonin, resulting in overall better sleep. I have often "borrowed" Micah's when I watch TV and can vouch for it working very effectively.

Kid's

Sensory Amy Tee (Kids) - Navy

A rather adorable graphic print tee. One great thing to note with Tommy Hilfiger designs is that the shirts all have a wide neck opening, making getting that little one dressed a little easier.

Hollow Shades - Jelly Orange

Speckles have created a range of the sweetest little glasses for kiddies with sensitivity to light, allowing your little one's eyes to be protected and still look stylish as ever.

Sleep Lamp II

The Neptune Sleep Lamp is getting a big yes from me! Something we only started implementing with Micah recently but one I wish we had started earlier. The alternating colour changes and soothing sound options help relax their little bodies, and the Neptune Sleep Lamp even turns itself off.