What Pediatric Oncologists Want in Adaptive Clothing (and How We're Listening in 2025)
At Zip With Us®, every design begins with a question: What would make this child’s treatment easier, more comfortable, and more dignified? In 2025, as treatments for pediatric cancer grow more advanced and personalized, so too must the garments children wear to them.
That’s why we don’t design in a vacuum. We collaborate closely with pediatric oncologists, nurses, child life specialists, social workers, and care teams to understand what truly matters when it comes to medical clothing.
What We’re Hearing from Pediatric Oncologists:
1. Access Without Distress
Doctors and nurses consistently ask for garments that allow quick, non-disruptive access to ports, central lines, G-tubes, and surgical sites. We’ve responded with discreet, durable zipper placements and soft closures that let medical teams access what they need — while kids stay warm, dressed, and calm.
2. Infection Control Matters — and We Design With That in Mind
Infection control is a critical concern in pediatric oncology, and we take it seriously.
That’s why our ZipShirts™ use #3 nylon coil YKK® zippers — smooth, non-metallic, and less likely to cause skin irritation or harbor bacteria than heavier or grooved fasteners. Their low profile makes them easier to clean and safer for sensitive skin.
We also carefully place zippers to ensure optimal access for the health care providers.
For our infant line, Drew’s Cruisers™, we go even further. These onesies promote infection control by helping keep central lines out of sight and out of reach. Side snaps allow for feeding tube access without opening the entire garment, and central lines can be tucked securely into a back pocket — reducing the chance of accidental tugging or contamination.
Every seam, snap, and zipper is chosen with safety in mind — because dignity and comfort shouldn’t come at the expense of infection control.
3. Mental Health & Dignity in Long-Term Treatment
Doctors know that clothing affects a child’s sense of normalcy — especially during long hospital stays. We design clothing that looks and feels like "regular clothes" so kids can feel like kids, not patients. Whether it’s a ZipShirt™ that looks like a hoodie or a modified onesie with cheerful patterns, we’re helping children reclaim comfort and identity.
4. Custom Solutions for Unique Needs
Pediatric cancer treatment is more personalized than ever — and so is the care we provide. Oncologists often refer families to us for custom garments tailored to a child’s unique medical needs. One recent request came from a care team supporting a young patient with multiple central lines and a PICC line, who regularly undergoes 24–48 hour infusions. The goal: a ZipShirt™ that allows them to undress for showers without disconnecting from the IV pole. With input from the medical team, we carefully refined the placement of every adaptation, zipper, and seam to meet that need.
5. Durability Through Treatment Cycles
Clothing used in clinical settings needs to last. We know firsthand and from oncology units that families cannot constantly replace worn garments. We use high-quality YKK® zippers and reinforced stitching, so our garments hold up through countless washes, treatments, and daily adventures.
Listening Shapes Everything We Do
At Zip With Us®, our mission is rooted in empathy — and empathy begins with listening. The insights we receive from pediatric oncologists and the broader care teams that support each patient don’t just influence our products; they define them. Every thoughtful recommendation and shared patient story helps us create better, more meaningful designs.
To the medical professionals who take the time to tell us what their patients need: thank you. We're listening — and sewing — with purpose.
