Published on: 3/17/2025
It's common for toddlers to have warm hands and feet, as their bodies are still learning how to control temperature and blood flow.
In toddlers, having warm hands and feet is usually normal. Young children have developing circulatory systems, which means blood flows differently through their bodies compared to adults. This natural process can make the extremities feel warmer than other parts of the body. Most toddlers don't have any discomfort when their hands and feet are warm, which is just a normal part of growth. In rare cases, children can develop a condition called erythromelalgia, where the hands and feet become very hot and painful. However, this is uncommon, and most warm hands and feet in toddlers are not a sign of a serious problem. If your toddler shows no pain or other unusual symptoms and is otherwise active and happy, there's typically no reason to worry. If you ever notice that your child’s extremities are not only warm but also red, swollen, or causing discomfort, it’s a good idea to talk to your pediatrician for further evaluation.
(References)
Bortoli EI, Sakata RK. Pain management in children with erythromelalgia: case report. Braz J Anesthesiol. 2018;68(5):531–534. doi:10.1016/j.bjane.2017.12.005.
Kundu A, Rafiq M, Warren PS, Tobias JD. Erythromelalgia in the pediatric patient: role of computed-tomography-guided lumbar sympathetic blockade. J Pain Res. 2016;9:837–845. doi:10.2147/JPR.S110688.
Sun J, Ocay DD, Halpin M, et al. Clinical characterization of pediatric erythromelalgia: a single-center case series. Children (Basel). 2023;10(8):1282. doi:10.3390/children10081282.
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