Toddler crying and tired with cold hands and feet?

[Nikki2ol6]

My 20 month old is crying a lot today if one of us leaves the room (me or OH) he's going hysterical. He looks pale and unwell and does have a cold and cough.... he has no temperature but his hands and feet are very cold

Phone 111 for advice. Better safe than sorry.

He needs a doctor and please get him checked quickly. Cold hands and feet can be a sign of sepsis so ring for a doctor or apt now!

What is his top temperature? If it's below 35.5 then that is very worrying and he's needs to be seen urgently.

How long has he had the cough? It could be a chest infection. I would phone 111 and see if they can get you an OOH appointment. In the meantime try to make sure he is drinking and see if you can catch a urine sample in a clean pot so they can check it for uti at appointment just in case.

I do not know what his temp is but he isn't hot

I which get him seen ASAP. It's not worth risking it.

Ring 111. They most likely will arrange for him to be seen by an out of hours doctor. I think he needs to be checked. Hope he's ok soon.

Please seek medical help asap. Cold hands and feet may be a sign of meningitis.

cold hands and feet is a classic sign of septicaemia - call 111 and perhaps try a drop in clinic if you have one near by

I've taken my son to a&e before, he was mottled and shaking, nothing was wrong, the doctors were lovely, they said to never worry about false alarms with little ones.

A thermometer is a must with young children. Definitely put it in your shopping list. Call 111 and get an appointment or a and e. A dose of calpol will probably make him feel more comfortable too.

OP let us know how you get on.

I have called 111 and they said it's ok for him to stay at home and to call back if there are any changes. They said aslong as his hands and feet are not icy cold it's ok. I did say they are colder than his body which feels fairly warm to me. They have now warmed up a little since the phone call but still not warm like the rest of him. He just wants to sit on his daddy's knee wants nothing to do with me he's refusing food and his cup we did manage to get neurofen into him

See how he is in an hour after the nurofen kicks in. If he is still not right get him seen. Can you count his breathing? It should be between 30-35 breaths per minute when sitting calmly and not crying.

He has cheered up a lot and had some food and juice however his hands r still cold! The heating has been on all day so it's not like it's cold in my house

If he has just eaten and drunk it might take a little while for the fuel to kick in to warm him up. Does he look pale still or nicely pink? He might improve a bit after a sleep.

Back of the neck is a better gauge of temp. Glad he's feeling warmer.

He has colour in his cheeks now but still cold hands

He's asleep now and I have counted his breaths. It was 28 in 60 seconds

That is fine, he will breathe more slowly when asleep. Sleep will do him good.

Have you laid him on sofa or in bed with a blanket or duvet to warm them up? Or added warm socks and slippers?

Are you giving him Calpol? He's probably just got a cold. Try not to worry too much, sleep will do him good.

Is he teething? I remember when mine was teething their hands often felt cold because they were dribbling all over them all the time!

Yea he's had medicine and he's asleep on the sofa propped up where he got himself comfortable in front of the tv no yes he ha his baknket

I always thought cold hands and feet where normal .
You feel the back of neck or chest to check temp ?