DD 6 got purple lips at school today

[LivingMyBestLifeNOT]

I am slightly concerned. I know ventilation is a must and they have windows and doors open but I didnt expect my DD Yr1 to have been given a second jumper to put on because she was so cold her lips were purple. It actually makes me feel quite sad. Ive had a massive panic tonight about buying new clothes but I am working all day tomorrow and cant get anymore and delivery/ click and collect isnt until 13th nov!
I have spoken to other parents who say their children are hardy and would still wear shorts but my just turned 6 year old weighs 15kg and is tiny!

Ridiculous to send her in wearing a dress. I’ve told my kids again and again that they need to be appropriately dressed for having the windows open and still have girls coming in with nothing covering their legs . The time for fashion parades and kids being fussy about what they wear is over - they just need to be sensible and wrap up. There’s only so much we can do if they refuse to do even this.

Ridiculous to send her in wearing a dress.

You see I disagree with this. I almost always wear a dress. I don't like wearing trousers. I'm short so often they don't fit. I find them colder in general too. And I hate it when it's wet and you get wet trousers sticking to your legs that take ages to dry.

Hence thick tights, boots, socks over tights and cardigans. And this year with thermal vests and thermal tights.

I've done this for years and can honestly say that I don't feel warmer in trousers.

T-shirts or vests are important. The extra warmth they give is much greater than you would think. It was considered essential to have a vest at one time. My mother used to check that I had a vest on even when I was married and was visiting her! Part of my Christmas present were sets of really pretty vests she bought from John Lewis. As for my very Victorian gran, well she advocated pure wool ones for babies!!! Even now I wear a cotton t-shirt underneath everything else.

Sainsbury's had kids thermals otherwise amazon sells mountain warehouse thermals

@Aragog fair enough if that dress is paired with thermal tights or either layers but I’ve got girls in dresses and socks then insisting the windows should be closed.

@InTheLongGrass

Not am immediate solution, as you will need to order but M&S do e tra long school trousers (at least they do in boys). You can go down one age bracket for long, and 2 age brackets for extra long - basically age 4 extra long is the length of age 6 trousers, with an age 4 waist. They are also adjustable waists. These make school trousers manageable for my slim sin. Tights under trousers are warmer than a pinafore. Vests (long sleeved teeshirts?) under her shirt. Jumper, fleece. Could she wear fingerless gloves in the classroom? Can she move desk further away from the window/door? Would she eat, and are school providing, a hot school lunch? Being cold is miserable. I hope you find a solution.

At 15kg the OPs DD is the size of an average 3 1/2 year old and nearly off the bottom of the charts. Depending on how tall she is, I think I'd be visiting the GP for a general health check.

Yeah, absolutely nothing wrong with dresses/skirts. It's all I wear in the winter because you can wear two pairs of tights and an underskirt with them - much warmer than just trousers and socks.

But bare legs is not sensible.

I have spent this morning doing a big online shop (mainly M&S and next) for this reason - stocking up on really warm stuff for my six year old to wear to school. Trousers, fleeces, thermal underwear etc. I don’t know if itll be enough but I need to do something.

I’m lucky enough that I can go and spend £150 on M&S though. What are you meant to do if you can’t afford to do that?

@KittyLuna That's a very valid point and deeply concerning to think that actually lots of families cannot afford kit their children out with thermals some parents already struggle to provide the basic school uniform. Wouldn't it be simpler if they relaxed the uniform rules.

Personally I think purple lips warrants a trip to your GP. If it was that cold, other children’s lips would have gone purple too, this is despite your child being tiny.

Our school have a fleece to wear over the school jumper, and we have been advised to put them in many layers. They can also wear their coats in the classroom. My three have moaned about cold fingers but they’re going to have to get on with it. There’s no alternative at the minute.

Oh my little ones always get purple lips when they're cold (whoever is saying go to the GP!!!!)

Can you layer her up? Tights under trousers or if you want her to wear a dress could she do tights with whatever colour leggings over them?

Thermals under layers too.

I teach SEN so we keep our windows closed otherwise the kids would escape out of them but I know that most schools have windows open policy.

As others say I wonder if it would be worth asking the school if they can relax the uniform requirements a bit if the classrooms are that cold. Children really can't learn effectively if they're freezing so it somewhat makes it pointless them being there - definitely warrants a call to the school.

Oh and also why are people commenting on the child's weight ? That's very upsetting to see. I'm sure OP would know if her kids are underweight or unwell.

Both my children are tiny and off the charts for weight (my 5 year old is about 15kg ish) - they're perfectly healthy and I would be very upset if a bunch of strangers started suggesting they we're unwell because I asked how I could keep them warm!

@OpheliasCrayon

Ok perhaps the purple lips are normal then but none of my three kids have ever had purple lips, even when they have been freezing, which is why I suggested GP. It can sometimes mean heart problems, but sounds like it is just the cold in this case.

You are right though, you can’t learn when you are cold so maybe schools will relax on their uniforms. Having said that, many children won’t be able to afford all these thermals.

@TheSockMonster

Thermal under layers and getting outside every hour and moving about will help, but as temperatures continue to fall I think schools are going to have to be given more funds to run additional heaters in classrooms.

Unfortunately keeping windows open (and by more than a crack) is non negotiable. The virus is currently presumed to build up in aerosol form in unventilated spaces.

A longish read but explains it really well

I was just thinking of this article - it explains so clearly why schools MUST keep classrooms ventilated!

I'm sorry for your DD, @LivingMyBestLifeNOT , but please get her layered up and warm!

I haven’t read all the comments but I can assure you all now my daughter is well fed. She is tall and skinny, I have 3 girls who have all been the same thank you

@OpheliasCrayon

Oh and also why are people commenting on the child's weight ? That's very upsetting to see. I'm sure OP would know if her kids are underweight or unwell.

Both my children are tiny and off the charts for weight (my 5 year old is about 15kg ish) - they're perfectly healthy and I would be very upset if a bunch of strangers started suggesting they we're unwell because I asked how I could keep them warm!

The OP is concerned, so posters are suggesting things given the information we have.

Weight is an indicator of health. Obviously not all people off the charts have a health condition and since you have no concerns about your own children then of course it would be upsetting for someone to suggest they were unwell.

In general if you don't want a bunch of strangers to suggest things about your kids it would be best not to post about them on the internet!

Excuse me, irresponsible parenting! She was appropriately dressed but it did turn very cold yesterday. She has a blouse pinefore and thick cardigan with thick tights on...

I have just bought skiing base layers (cheap as there's no ski season!) from Decathlon for my reception age DD to wear this winter under uniform. £2.50 for long sleeve tops and £3 a pair for leggings to wear under trousers. They're lovely and soft and I think will be really toasty.

Layer under rather than over with thin layers, you get the warmth without the bulk!

Swap the blouse for a polo neck jumper. Thin, but warmer.
Make sure she has a vest.
Good shoes/boots, with coverage on the top of the foot. Lots of girls shoes have the Mary Jane strap and a big scooped gap before the toes. Chilly.

@LivingMyBestLifeNOT

Excuse me, irresponsible parenting! She was appropriately dressed but it did turn very cold yesterday. She has a blouse pinefore and thick cardigan with thick tights on...

Sorry if you feel got at, OP, but in a classroom ventilated appropriately for COVID, this is not warm enough clothing. Imagine what you would wear to be outside all day and make sure she's wearing the equivalent. As a PP said, layers under clothing as well as what you've described.

I’ve just got in from work (school) and I’m chilled to the bone. My hands and feet ache from the cold. It’s got right into my back, my muscles have tensed into the hunched position I’ve been sat in all day. I’ve been home over 30 mins as I dashed out of school the minute the bell went, I couldn’t stay a minute longer. I’m still like a block of ice and no sign of waning up despite sitting right next to the radiator.

Today I wore; undies; woolly tights; fluffy socks; trousers; thermal T shirt; long sleeve T shirt; cardigan; fleece lined oversize hoodie to go over the top; fingerless gloves and I’m still frozen. The kids were frozen and complaining. We got little work done.

Full thermals like you have for skiing are the way forward. And actual wool (not cotton/acrylic knits).

I have friends in Norway and they spend so much time outdoors, even in the depths of winter. Babies sleep in their prams outside til it gets to minus 10.

My child is smaller. She had IUGR and was incredibly small at birth

Layers. Two pairs of tights if need. Thermal under garments. M and a do these.

Vests. Etc. Long sleeve tops under shirts too.

There's a lot of options. My kids although tiny and warm. Get really cold in a pool. So you adapt. She can wear trousers. M and s or John Lewis do adjustable waists as so Asda! Who are open late.

These are all good options. Make sure she has loads of iron. Lots of spinach. You can hide it in food quite easily. Frozen spinach blocks. It can be hidden in most things. Iron will help kee her warm.

Good luck. My child is older than yours. Yet weighs the same. She is however under a pead dr. He always says they see so many overweight children that people panic at a thinner child!

Oh. Thermals from proper ski resort places are good.

As are coats. They really do keep the warm in. I would also get gloves from a proper ski places. I do as they really do work! Although are usually expensive.

Dress her properly, op; there is no way she is so tiny that trousers don't fit, how could she be?
Unless she's actually fairy sized.