Sleeping with socks on his hands?

Question

We had to put socks on our sons hands when he was alone at night to keep him from pulling at his leads and tubes and all that. we did if for about a year and for the last year he's been healthy and just went to bed, but rescently he's been crying for me to put socks on his hands when he sleeps. He can get one on, but not the other. So if it falls off in the night he wakes up and I go in and put it back on.

You guys know my situation,

What do you think this is about?

Am I worrying for nothing, sould I keep doing it?

Answer 1

i cant see the harm, i would think eventually he will outgrow this. sometimes in life everyone feels a little unsure. like babies can be alone sleeping in the dark, but when they get older they suddenly develop a fear of the dark.

if it comforts him let him have them. sooner or later his hands wont fit in them properly and he will find them uncomfortable. as for one of them falling off, how about tube socks? they would have more material that came up over his hands.

i do hope this is a stage for him. if he doesnt seem to improve over time it might be helpful to mention it to his doctor. but i bet it will clear up on its own.

Answer 2

I do not know how old your son is but if he can't get the second sock on his hand on his own, he is young enough to need you to help him with his comfort thing.

I am a softy when comes to comfort things so am probably not a good person to take advice from.  Anyway ... from mom's heart to mom's heart, I think that the sock thing will be a wonderful memory for you and your son.  He will outgrow it all to soon.

P.S.  Save his favorite socks in his memory box!  My son had this horrid blanket rag thing.  Everyone told me to burn it.  I refused.  His new wife has a horrible teddy thing that her mom kept.  Our crazy kids framed them as a tribute to their "loving parents".  I am so happy that I did not listen to the "experts".

Answer 3

I'd switch from socks to gloves, that way he can put them on himself. It doesn't sound any more harmful that a comfy teddy bear or blankie.

Answer 4

Nothing to worry about.

I think that he sounds so cute!  He feels comforted by socks on his little hands. :-)

Answer 5

sleeping with socks on his hands sounds completely harmless to me...much healthier than sucking his thumb, using a binky, carrying around a grungy teddybear, etc.

Answer 6

It sounds like a comfort thing.  I would get a hold of the doctor on it.  Just so that both issues are resolved in your mind.

Answer 7

This is happening after a year of having the socks off his hands?  This sounds like a sensory issue.  You could ask your pediatritian, perhaps get a referral to an occupational therapist.  My daughter had oral surgery that required her to wear arm restraints which made her unable to bend her elbows.  She had to wear them for 3 weeks (not nearly as long as the year your son got used to wearing socks).  She was very tentative and uncomfortable with her arms out of the restraints for a few days after they were off after just 3 weeks of them, but she  went back to using her arms normally very quickly.

Answer 8

It's comforting for him...I wouldn't worry about it too much!

Answer 9

I would explain to him your a big boy now you dont need socks tell him mommy and daddy dont sleep with socks on their hands. Or just  buy him a stuft teddy bear and put socks on his hands. Good Luck

Answer 10

Payton has strange things she "needs" as well. One thing I did when she was tiny was to rub her leg as she fell asleep. I haven't done this in almost 15 months. Now the past week or so she has been grabbing my hand and making me rub her legs as she is laying in bed. For her I think it is a coping mechanism. She had her first visit with her dad in over two months last weekend and her routine is wonky due to the Christmas break and my holidays. No doubt she is a bit stressed and reverting back to her baby coping skills. Has anything changed in your house recently? Maybe it is just a bit of stress and will pass in time.

Answer 11

Not to worry.  

Just switch from socks to a nice new pair of gloves or mittens.  He will eventually get tired of wearing them as he gets older.  If they help him to sleep better then they must be giving him some measure of security.

Answer 12

The only thing that worries me about this is that it might be a "regression" thing.  How old is your son?  

Mine is 4 and recently he's gotten into this stage where he wants me to do things for him that he's been able to do for himself for ages.  He doesn't want to put on his own shoes, he doesn't want to comb his own hair, just stuff like that.  My mom says it's just a phase kids go through from time to time, espescially right after growth spurts.  They just want things to "go back to the way they were".  

Maybe your son is just missing the extra attention he used to get when he needed the socks on his hands.  However, as another poster said, I think I would see if you could move away from "socks".  Maybe you could get him a cool pair of mittens.  Then that would be the only thing he could wear on his hands.  That way, you know he won't be sleeping like that forever, because eventually he'll outgrow the mittens and he'll be old enough for you to be able to explain that he doesn't need them anymore.  

On the other hand, I would mention it to his doctor (or a therapist if he has them) the next time you're in.  I don't think it's a big enough deal to make a special appointment, but it might be nice to discuss with them just to be sure it's not indicative of something else they think might be going on.  I've never heard of a "socks on hands" syndrome, but it may be a sensory issue.  Even if it's only related to security, it's probably something your doctor wants to have in his chart in case it's relevant at some future date and time.

Answer 13

look don't take them off him.

for his b'day get him a cuddly toy and say if you want your toys the sock fairy must have your socks.

it worked for my friend!