3 year old complaining he is cold

[mortifiedmama]

DS, nearly 3 is constantly complaining he is cold. His temp is normal, he is appropriately dressed and the house has heating set to around 20 degrees. He is otherwise completely normal - appetite and sleep are as normal and no signs of illness.

He's going to bed in fluffy PJs, socks, a dressing gown, duvet (10tog) and 2 blankets (which I take off once he's asleep) and still saying he is cold.

Any suggestions or do you think he's just found something to complain about?

Does he feel cold to the touch? Presumably not if you're happy to remove blankets from him after he's asleep.

pippistrelle not unusually so, though he has previously been a very sweaty headed child and that has certainly reduced.

I assume the house temp drops in the night? I would try a warmer quilt?

As he otherwise seems well, I think I'd tend to file it away as phase, and just monitor. Funny little things, aren't they?

I'd take him to see a GP.

10tog duvet is unusual for a small child. If he’s still cold in that (and the rest) I’d take him to the GP.
I’d maybe try a hot water bottle of equivalent first though, in case he’s getting very cold and finding it hard to warm up. And like others have said, does he feel cold to you?

10tog is unusual.

really?
I think that depends on your house.
We all use 15 tog duvets and my kids have blankets on top, and choose to wear thick onsies in bed too.
we are all warm and snug in bed, but the heating is not on overnight.

Being cold can be a sign of anaemia. My ds was often anaemic. (and still is, and does feel the cold)

One thing to ask is - is he cold when he wakes up snug under his duvet, or is he cold when he GETS up?
one of mine kept telling me he was cold and when I dug further, he meant it was cold out of bed when he got up. Which it can be. So we invested in better slippers and dressing gown.

He could also mean that his bed is cold when he gets in. Buy him one of those cuddly toys you heat up in the microwave for Christmas, and stick it in his bed before he gets in. That works wonders.

If he is cold during the day, it may be because he is. My dh wears more layers than me and dd1 often only wears a T-shirt. Bodies are not the same, put and extra layer on him, make sure he has slippers as well as socks on, and also, take the temperature at his level, he is down at floor level and I bet the heating switch is at your eye level, there can be a big difference, especially if you have concrete floors

He's cold generally, he isn't waking at night saying he is cold, but does when he gets out of bed. And also just during the day.

We have a 7.5tog duvet on our bed.

The thermostats (each radiator has an separate digital one) are about 6 inches off the floor.

As an example, yesterday evening he was sat on the sofa watching TV saying he was cold. I put a blanket on him and he was still cold, he wasn't warm enough until he had my dressing gown and a hat on and a single duvet.

Interesting about the anaemia. I did consider thyroid (as I have it) but he has no other symptoms. I'll monitor and go to the GP if it keeps up.

I’m not sure they’re always entirely know when they are hot and cold at that age do they? My 3.5 year old often tells me her bath is lovely and cool (when it’s warm) and sometimes tells me to make it colder when it’s too hot. Temperature definitely confuses her!

Sorry she tells me to make it colder when it’s too cold!

Get the doctor to check his iron count.

My 2.5yo sometimes says full when he actually means he's hungry though.

I would do what steppemum suggests and get a microwavable hottie.
Sometimes little kids say things repeatedly because they want the attention and being fussed over, as much as because they are really feeling the thing. It is lovely to wear mummy's dressing gown and be close to her and have her checking you are ok. So I would keep doing what you are doing- keeping him warm!!- but not let it become a Thing.
Does that make sense? I don't mean to brutally ignore a frozen child! Just to give lots of attention for other things too.

Try one of those microwavable wheat bags for him when hes sitting around. If you get one for babies it doesn't get so hot.

Sometimes people just feel the cold more. Its been a warm summer in the uk, so he's maybe just got used to it being much warmer, and now it feels cold. Our house is 20 degrees usually, but that means its 18 or less in certain parts due to the thermostats and i find myself feeling quite chilly if im sitting still for any length of time.

when he says he is cold, like on the sofa, does he feel cold to the touch? Are his hands cold?

I think what you have just described last night is pretty cold! Especially if the house really is 20.
have you got a room thermometer? I am wondering if your house really is as warm as you think (maybe thermostat not working)

Most houses have a central thermostat which turns the heating on and off, and then separate radiator thermostats which regulate each room when the heating is on
So, it may be that it isn't as warm as you think (and you may not notice if you are moving round etc)
Also, sitting down and being still, 20 is only just warm enough, maybe chilly.

sorry, meant to say, that he may be going down with something, viruses often start like that, but if it continues I would want to get him checked out, as that is pretty cold.

Hi there, I know this post was a while ago but I have been looking around to see if anyone else experiences what I am with my toddler and I found your post.
My 3 year old says she's cold any time she is upset, uncomfortable, over tired or anything of the kind. Its very interesting and took me a while to work out...

Hello my little boys does the exact same thing where he randomly just say he cold.. did you ever found out what it was at all?