How do you keep warm if you're a cold person?

[HalyardHitch]

Just looking for little tips regarding my son. He has some medical issues which means he struggles to maintain his body temperature and is often cold. We were out on Saturday in t-shirts and he was in a jumper complaining of the cold.

We always put a vest on him but short of putting him in a coat 24/7, I'm stumped.

Anyone have any tips I may have overlooked?

Wheat bags.

Maybe base layers (from camping/outdoor shops) made of merino wool. Or sports shops do a similar kind of thing.

What’s wrong with a coat?

Layers are key. Decent base layers will help a lot. Top and bottoms. You can get them from outdoor or sports stores but avoid wool ones as can be itchy.

How old is he?

Thermals and gilets are available in all age sizes and don't require much mature cooperation IYSWIM.

Layers.

Natural fibres. Woollen socks, vest, etc.

The best thing I ever bought was a 100% merino wool camisole top (other styles are available!). I wear it under everything.

It's expensive but it changed my life.

He's two. I often put him in tights but he's been potty training lately so that's a bit impractical.

I'll have a look at getting proper base layers, that's a good idea.

A coat is obviously fine but not so much in the blazing sunshine

I have thermal leggings that I wear under trousers, and thermal long sleeve tshirts for layering. I always wear a hat too, or have a hood I can pull up because that seems to make a big difference to me.

M&S is worth a look for both gilets and layering items in small sizes. I think they even do thermal socks for littlies.

At 2yrs hoodies are a good bet. They're quite practical, easy to wash and pulling the hood up keeps the back of the neck warm. They also look a bit less bonkers when everyone else is in tshirts!

Get him some lined trousers, although you might be better off trying eBay for those at the moment.

Layers.
The fluffiest / fleeciest items next to the skin.

If you don't want him in a coat when he feels that he is cold enough for a coat, a gilet is a good bet.
Decent (longer than normal if possible) socks and a base layer on top half usually does me, I'm usually in one layer of clothes extra to everyone else. No reason, just feel the cold!

A coat is obviously fine but not so much in the blazing sunshine

Why? If that's what keeps him warm.
Why wouldn't you carry a coat if you know he gets cold?

Also a hat, which may protect from the sun and help keep warm.

Where do you live? It's still the start of Spring if you are in the UK. As much as the Brits see a little bit of sun and think it's Summer, it won't be quite blazing yet.

Long sleeved T-shirt, woollen jumper, zipped hoody on top.
Leggings under trousers.
Thick socks, Flosso on Amazon.
Also maybe you need to focus on him being comfortable and just put a coat on him.

If he needs a coat, put a coat on, surely? Why does it matter if it’s sunny?

I feel the cold. I have bass layers from decathlon and a hat and wear a gilet/ body warmer quite a lot

It’s miseravle being cold. I spent my childhood being made to take my coat off and told to not be so ridiculous. I wish my parents had just let me be warm enough.

If you don't want him in a coat when he feels that he is cold enough for a coat

This summarises your madness, OP.
I don't usually say this, but I do feel sorry for your son if he has to put up with being cold because you don't want him in a coat for whatever reason.

Go with his needs, FGS. And always take an extra layer with you.

And as someone who can suffer a bit from the cold, there's no point warming your torso and leaving your arms or legs to feel the cold.

A hat keeps in the heat very well but understand if he won’t keep one on.

I too would have put a coat on him. Even a thin one in the sunshine should have heated him up.

Maybe have a look in the Boden sale? They do lined trousers and really thick lined hoodies. The hoodies are probably warmer than most coats, but look less wintery as we move into spring.

FWIW you are not being unreasonable to want you child to be warm but not wearing a coat the whole time!

There is an old saying in lreland: cast not a clout till May is out. Translated as keep well wrapped up until end of May as weather is so variable. Your DC seems the sensible one...keep his coat on. The weekend was still March so presuming you are in the UK its coat weather sunshine or not. If he is in a buggy/ stroller it's definitely a coat.

Why is it unreasonable to wear a coat outside if you’re cold? I genuinely don’t understand.

Teenage DD is similar. She has an arctic coat for winter and a winter coat for summer. She wears gloves Inside and out all year round. She also has a vitamin D Spray which is worth considering if he has to cover his skin all the time.

Let the boy wear a coat!

Like a PP I spent my childhood cold as responsible adults always thought it was a lovely sunny day and I didn't need anything. It is bloody miserable being cold. Turns out I have Raynauds.

Good old MN for massively interpreting things. I'll try to be clearer. The beast of the written word is that it's often hard to fully interpret as we lack gestures and immediate feedback.

We don't always do activities that lend themselves to coats. We're off to a country park today, his coat plus layers will be great. His coat alone won't be warm enough so I'm putting him in tights, trousers, a vest, a long sleeve t-shirt and a jumper...all of which will go under his coat. However, last week we went to an indoor place where a coat would have been cumbersome for him.

He doesn't go in the buggy and his brother that does sit in the buggy often wears one or two less layers and is still warm

Some great tips though, thankyou.

A lightweight down gilet

Good idea about the vitamin d spray. I didn't think about that. The nature of his medical issues also means that his body doesn't easily absorb vitamin d, among other things