Who decides when a child needs a coat on?

Well it depends on whether the child is disabled as well. I remember the looks my poor dm got as I was autistic and couldnt abide being remotely too warm. It would feel wrong and i'd feel overwhelmed and panicky.

Now ive got my diagnosis, I understand it, but back then, i was seen as weird and 'estatey'

But if youre sure your kid isnt feeling that way, you should do your best to wrap them up

Just read that they’re 8-12! I’d let the kid decide and suffer the consequences if it was really cold. Weather at the moment isn’t worth the battle imo. But I would ask them to carry it.

if it were tipping it down I’d also be saying wear it or you’ll be doing all the wet washing/drying!

theres a consent issue here too - not sure if there was much of a physical tussle?

DS (and friends) made a point in primary school about wearing shorts all year round. By year 4 I had given up suggesting trousers!

DD hates to wear a coat and jumper. It’s one or the other. She will run to school in shorts and t shirt on PE day except on the coldest days. I do take her coat but that’s mainly so I don’t look like the bad parent.

From about age 6 or 7, child decides IMO.

choose your battles. My daughter wears skirt and short socks to school. Never wears wooly tights and usually carries her coat

Surely It’s obvious @CarpetKnees meant roughly 3yo, 6yo or 9yo etc. Not when their next birthday is! “How old” as a question in this context (ie an observation about a child not known to you) is clearly seeking an approximate answer not precise.

Nope it’s not. Same for Scandi countries. Kids everywhere are appropriately dressed for weather.

I remember DC’s reception class sending out reminders about what was an appropriate jacket to wear etc which boggled my mind. Why on earth do parents need to be told or reminded their child needs a waterproof jacket for outdoor play in autumn ??? The same for winter coats and P.E jackets.

I would like to know this too

The parent. No coat no outing. It comes straight on. If too warm we layer down and vice versa. I don’t get the whole not worth getting into an argument … why does it even get to that point. Why are you letting children dictate situations regarding their welfare. It’s all about creating good habits and getting them to come around to the idea that we do certain things because we have to or there are consequences.

We brush our teeth every day twice otherwise they rot.
We have our food at the table so we don’t make a mess on the couch. Clean home is a happy home.
We wear out jacket/coat so we can stay out for longer because it keeps us warm.

if the kid is cold, they will wear the coat

kids are often hot

This ^
So in this house it’s me.

I think a parents job is to mitigate the risk of hyperthermia as children are at higher risk, and less able to notice the signs of being cold, and take appropriate action

But I dont know how cold it was where you are or if it was damp or what other layers he had on.

My ds with autism wouldnt wear a coat ever, but he did tolerate a base layer.

I encourage my 4yo to wear a coat when I think he’ll be cold but ultimately I leave it up to him.

Ah yes the good old coat battle. Youngest dc has only just (in the last 12 months) started wearing his coat reliably in cold weather. He's 17 🤣. He just never felt the cold as a child.

I tell my kids to put a coat on if it's cold but if they refuse (they usually wouldn't dare), then they go without and can get cold. I certainly won't be carrying it, just as I don't carry book bags, PE kit, jumpers or any other stuff.

Life is way to short to force coats on kids

Explain to me how being cold makes you Ill.

its 2025 !!!!
And we have been through Covid and yet there are still utter morons who believe you can become unwell via damp or cold

I give up …

That's not true, the Netherlands is similar to what you describe.

i never force costs on either of my kids , why? Carry it with you or bung it under the pram

it’s not lazy parenting , it respects my son runs, skips and wiggles and is a totally different temperature to me , why make a child over heat and sweat? Often kids have more layers like vests t shirts etc
If they have misjudged it and are cold 5 mins later offer them the coat

the grandad in this senario sounds a nightmare and overriding his daughter is totally disrespectful , it’s almost as if he is more invested in winning the power play than concern for the child’s warmth

Once old enough to remove the coat, they're old enough to decide.

It is my job as the parent to provide things to keep them safe and healthy, it's up to them whether they take it.

So I always take their coat with me (until about age 9 when they can decide, after discussion) but then they can choose whether to wear it. I've not had a hypothermic child yet.

I do have a child with PDA though so I find natural consequences the best.

Unless it's raining quite a lot or very very cold, if they're old enough to protest, child decides. It's not worth an argument. No harm will come to them for feeling the cold before they decide to put their coat on. My 3 year old refuses a coat all the time, what happens is she spends about 5 mins in the cold, realises putting her coat on is a good idea, then puts it on.

Well it would depend on the weather for me. If it was like 1 degree, I'd enforce the coat, or if it was snowy. I wouldn't on a slightly chilly but not freezing autumn day. If I noticed red fingers I would put the coat on as it's an early sign of frostbite. And if they were out for an extended time, I'd insist upon the coat.

Tbh I'm thinking of my 16 month old who I don't think has the capacity or ability to let me know yet if she wants a coat!

I hate seeing parents force coats and hats on their kids. Let them make their own decisions, if they're cold they will put it on.
And I can't believe in 2025 people still think you can catch a cold from being cold.

I’ve always been a naturally very hot person, I always feel hot whatever the weather, have been known to drive in Winter with car windows open/air con on, etc.

My eldest is exactly the same. Of course he has a warm Winter coat, but he’s like me- once we start walking we both often take them back off and carry them. No biggie- I understand how hot he feels.

Conversely, I know many who always feel cold who would probably be horrified seeing him without his coat on 🙈😂