Socks. AIBU

[Ifiknewtheansweriwouldntbeasking]

For thinking that my 3 year old is trying to drive me insane! She won’t keep her socks on for love nor money. Is this normal at her age? Don’t think it’s sensory as doesn’t seem to have any other sensory issues but will always take them off given half the chance! No massive fuss putting them back on but I know damn well they’ll be off again the next chance she gets! Is this her trying to exert control? Its a small thing I know but it’s driving me potty

Tights are even more horrible than socks. She doesn’t like socks. Don’t force her into something worse - at least in the house.

@ErrolTheDragon no chilblains but as I say she’s asthmatic so I’m always a bit on edge when she gets poorly, as it can affect her lungs.

He'll wear socks now but not slippers, even when its flippin freezing!

Perhaps that’s been the case once or twice but most of them are probably a bit on the large size now. She fiddles with her toes when she takes them off and watches tv so think it’s just becoming a bit of a habit now

We do have mainly hard floors in our home (except bedrooms) but I always thought that they should wear socks as these are much colder than carpets 🤷‍♀️

She isn't going to get unwell from not wearing socks. She will wear them if she feels cold. Pick your battles. This one really isn't worth the worry.

@rainbowunicorn thank you for the reassurance. My mum is Greek and is horrified when she doesn’t wear socks and has always drummed into me that getting cold means getting sick. I know it’s most likely not the case but it’s been hammered into me since I was small. I live in Norway now though so she’s even worse than she was when I was growing up 😁

Where do you live that it’s so cold? I wouldn’t worry about socks, she will put them back in if she’s chilly.

Trondheim in Norway

Unless it’s an actual frostbite risk from going outside in the snow or something I’d just pick my battles. They have so little control of anything at that age so why can’t they decide whether or not to wear socks, indoors, in March? It’s really not a health risk if her feet are cold so long as her body is warm. Kids often don’t feel the cold and mine are usually barefoot at home despite cold hard floors. If they’re uncomfortable they’ll generally put something on their feet, but the more of a control thing you make this and the more you nag her about it the more she’ll ignore her bodies cues and keep her socks off just to prove a point.

Your other option is to find some obnoxious fluffy slipper socks with her favourite cartoon character on them, and then tell her she’s not allowed to wear them. Reverse psychology usually worked with mine. Unfortunately we’ve now hit the tweenage “won’t wear a coat no matter if it’s 2c and torrential rain” stage, which is no longer easily solved!

Oh OP, one day you'll look back & say 'remember when it was just the socks thing? It was so much simpler back then! Now she's just an all round arsehat' and then that will pass too ;)

Toddlers want a reaction & she can guarantee a reaction with the socks so just ignore it. Maybe take her slipper shopping? I hate the idea of cold feet just cos I get chilblains and they hurt so much, but really it's no biggy

You've mentioned control twice, but it's not her trying to control you. She's allowed to have control over her own body, it doesn't need to be a battle. She won't get sick from taking her socks off.

Agree with pp - tights under trousers for going out and you will solve this problem :) when I heard this tip I thought it was mad but it does work to 'anchor' them. Nice woolly ones....

Oh god OP I was that child, hated socks and tights, it’s a sensory thing and at 53 I still hate them and don’t wear them with shoes or trainers ever.

Why don't you think its sensory just because they're aren't any other sensory behaviours? Of course it's sensory! She doesn't like the feeling of them. Let her be barefoot.

We have friends who live in the Alps. The kid next door to them refuses to wear shoes or socks and walks around the village barefoot even in winter! She will survive some cold toes.

Ok so that makes your concern a bit more understandable than if you were in Surrey. But we’re past the equinox so you’re headed towards long days, and the general advice to chill while your DD cools her feet still stands.

My dd was the same, and actually would take all of her clothes off when she got back home a lot of the time. She liked to be in pants and vest at home. I just turned the heating up in winter and insisted on clothes for outside ! She is now 18 and still takes her socks off and leaves them lying around the house 🙄
Other DD is the opposite and likes to wear socks all year round and hates sandals, she also wears socks in bed all year round and has a million pairs of the things as she hates looking at feet !
as long as she doesn’t mind you putting them on her when needed, eg for with shoes when out, don’t worry about it…pick your battles with a toddler

She's three she's not a toddler and she certainly not a baby

Socks on hard floors are slippery. Maybe she feels that it feels more steady on her bare feet.

Would she wear a pair of light canvas type shoes around the house? If she won't wear slippers.

But at three, I really wouldn't stress about it, if her feet are cold, she'll do something about it if not, don't worry.

Nothing wrong with her playing with her toes!!