Do your child’s little toes feel like little icicles?
Your young one’s feet are going to be cold a lot of the time. Kids aren’t known for a love of wearing clothes, and that includes socks and shoes. This means they will prefer to run around barefoot most of the time, indoors and out.
However, you may notice that your child’s feet are cold most of the time. Is this normal or is it something you should worry about? Is it the cold linoleum kitchen floor that’s giving them cold feet or is it something more serious?
To help you answer these questions, here are some possible health concerns you may want to look out for.
Anemia
This could cause your child to have cold feet or to look unusually pale. They may also suffer from low energy or low appetite.
Anemia is a lack of red blood cells in the body, most often from not getting enough iron or vitamin B-12. This can be very serious if left untreated, but it’s very manageable if you catch it early.
Speak to your child’s doctor or pediatrician to discuss treatment or any dietary changes you may need to make. In the meantime, you can help their feet stay toasty with this great product that wraps their toes up in warmth.
Hypothyroidism
This is another condition that you will want to catch as early as possible. The good news is that newborn screenings will test for hypothyroidism. If it’s present at birth, it will be caught right away.
It happens when a child’s thyroid under-produces hormones they need for their metabolism. This could show up as cold hands or feet. However, it could also show up as stunted growth or delayed tooth growth.
See your doctor as soon as possible! Hypothyroidism can lead to permanently stunted growth.
Low Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
Some people will deal with low blood pressure for most of their lives, starting in their early childhood. The symptoms include cold hands or feet, low energy and even fainting.
While some kids will simply have low blood pressure, this could also be caused by:
- Anaphylaxis/ allergic reaction
- Arrhythmia /abnormal heart rhythm
- Some painkillers or anti-anxiety medications
- Dehydration
- Infections of all types
Sensory Processing Disorder
As the name implies, this means the child has problems sensing simple day-to-day touches or temperatures on their skin.
A simple clothing label or the wrong type of fabric can feel like sandpaper. At the same time, they’re also prone to feeling either too hot or too cold.
Of course, cold feet are often just a symptom of childhood. Your little one likely prefers to stomp around in their bare feet. We don’t have to tell you how hard it is to put shoes or socks on an unwilling child.
But it’s also true that their cold feet could be a warning sign that something else is going on. If you’re noticing your child has cold feet frequently, or for sustained periods, you might want to talk to your family doctor or pediatrician.
In most cases, it’s perfectly normal. However, you always want to be sure.
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