Mindees that don't come with enough layers?!

I would say he had goosepimples so you put a top on him (you can buy long sleeve white tops in Asda for 75p)

My dd wouldn't put her top on before breakfast yesterday and although she wasn't shivering, she had goosepimples on her arms.

( I did manage to get her top on + her cardigan halfway through eating)

I am a big believer in getting outdoors... I am South African and grew up outdoors (and parts of SA get very cold in winter!) .. but if they have a coat on, a trip to the park is great, if it's cold AND wet, not, but if only cold, it's fine.

If I had a parent who told me they preferred I never took their child out if it was cold, I would have to say I couldn't mind that child... as by keeping that child in all the time I am keeping in the others too, which is not ideal. An entire winter cooped inside with all the kids is not something I could offer.

Of course you can say that when your child is in your care, he/she must do certain things that are your way of ensuring he/she stays healthy - starting off by being well dressed for the cold.

Perhaps the parents never take the child out in cold weather? Some parents don't - I must say that I avoided taking my DD out in the cold when she was little. Now she goes to pre-school she has a huge collection of cardigans, polo necks, hats, gloves and scarves that I really didn't bother with before.

My parents have a list of what I need everyday for their child. As I do not have kids of my own I cannot just loan a coat from one of my kids or something, so not having coats would hamper us going out, which spoils things for other kids.

This has only happened once though... for me the kids are often overdressed rather than underdressed.

I am barefoot in the house no matter the weather, but leave socks on the kids if parents wish it. That's the way they do things in their home and that's the way I'll do it in my own - the kids get mixed messages otherwise.

I would not take a child out in the bitter cold sans a coat though, because I am responsible for them whilst they are in my care. It takes a lot for me to pop a jumper on myself (I am a tough nut hehe), but the lil ones are less tough.

Surely as a CM you could give parents a list of the clothing the children will need while in your care in order to carry out all the activities that you do? You could ask for a cheap fleece to be kept at your house.

wow, how weird. Get a spare cheap coat from peacocks or matalan or supermarket? How annoying.

Well at leats you tried...

Does he seem well cared for otherwise? Happy?It's really odd behaviour not to even discuss his clothes with you.

As a cm I havnt had this problem yet but while helping at school I was amazed how many kids had really thin coats in the middle of winter.
I honestly think some families just go from car to shopping mall and home and dont do the walking stuff.
My friends kids didnt ever have wellies because she wouldnt walk in the rain... amazing..
I would bite the bullet and ask, after all they can get thick warm coats quite cheaply now and always can second hand..

I have had this problem before and it is very frustrating. I have asked people to bring jumpers or warmer coats but they dont always materialise. What I do now, is have a couple of spare jackets that i got from Lidl, they are waterproof and fleece lined and cost a fiver each. I use these if i have to for mindees. You could probably pick up cheap second hand jackets in a charity shop or similar, but it is annoying having to spend your own money to supply clothes for other people's kids.
I think the other option is that you explain that he seems cold when you take the top off in the house, and if you leave it on, he gets cold when you go out so do they have a warm jacket he can bring "incase he feels cold when we go out?" Explain it all in terms of their childs needs, not your opinion, iyswim?
fwiw, i think its absolutely ludicrous to dress a small child in a vest and thin jacket - this weather he should have at least vest and long sleeve top, with jacket for outdoors. good luck!

I'm not a childminder. I think you have 2 options, 1. Talk to parents about it or 2. Buy some cheap/2nd hand items to use while he is with you?

It should say in your contract that you require clothes appropriate to the weather...according to NCMA you can refuse to mind a child that consistently comes to you wearing inappropriate clothing - also it can be seen as a sign of possible neglect if consistently a LO isn't being dressed for the weather...

I had one like that who always wore canvas shoes in the rain - drove me mad as she was a walker so always got wet feet on the school run! In the end you will have to just sit mum/dad down and tell them they need a rain coat for rain / wellies etc and if they have a problem with it just buy some yourself from the charity shop to keep at home.

I think you just have to mention it then - you could light heartedly say " Oh , has X left his coat at home thne?" and when they respond that his jacket/cardi thing is already on you could try responding " Oh its a bit cold to take that off even indoors in the winter and if I don't take it off he'll miss it when we go outside. Could yo uplease send a long sleeved top next time as well?"

Or you cuold just ask that the spare clothes include a long sleeved t shirt type top and then when he comes in just put that on in place of the jumper/coat.

in the morning just say "does he have his coat as we are popping out later?" The parents might not actually realise that you take the children out!

Why not send out a newsletter syaing after having this cold weather would it be possible for the children to bring with them some spare clothes ie a long sleeve top, a jumper and spare pair of trousers in their bags as well as the usual wellies and coats so that if we get the weather again then we're all prepared to go out and have fun in the snow and come into new warm clothes

I think the confusion here is that the little boy is being sent in a vest, with a jumper/jacket type thing on.

So if cm takes his 'jacket' off he only has a vest on, if she leaves it on he will not feel the benefit of coming indoors, or be wrapped up with an extra layer if they go out.

As a mum I would assume that a vest and jumper were adequate layers at a cm unless I knew that they were going to be outside ( presume he has coat as well). In fact I may be worried about sending him wiht more layers as he would obviously get hot in a centrally heated house and cm may not take layers off. So just mention to mum that you have outdoor activities planned and can she send extra layers. Should not have thought it controversial or thread worthy at all unless there are other issues?

What do you have sent as a spare set?

I would just layer him up with his vest, spare top, etc, and if he has an accident/spill then put him in the pink stuff!

If you kept adding a layer and mentioned it in passing to mum 'oh x was a bit cold when I took his coat off so I put his spare top on top of his vest', she may cotton on without becoming offended.

I have posted this problem myself OP, I have two siblings (a baby and a preschooler) that come in just a Tshirt (no vest or jumper), also sometimes in shorts with tights and party shoes. It is very frustrating especially as they keep getting colds, bugs, chest infections etc. Mum has started asking me to keep them in so they don't get anything else. It is hard to broach without causing offence.

I usually (and have today), asked for spare clothing, a list including a jumper/cardi.