Kids in unsuitable clothes

[buzzkills]

It's getting pretty cold now that we are getting into autumn and I keep noticing young kids (babies, toddlers) not dressed for the weather. The parents are usually dressed for the weather, but the kids are wearing leggings, joggers (the wind goes right through them), open Mary-Jane style shoes, unsuitable jackets (eg not warm or not waterproof), young toddlers with wet legs due to no puddle suit or waterproof trousers.

I can never understand this as the kids must be freezing 🥶. These families are well off so it isn't a money thing.

Anyone else notice this and feel really sorry for the kids?

I'm with you on the coats. And I always dressed DS in a snow suit as a baby. But I'm not sure I ever bought waterproof trousers, and don't know what a puddle suit is. Wellies if raining, sturdy well fitting shoes (he has really wide feet like me so always had Startrite) if not.

Well my kid gets boiling in whatever you dress him in and will remove coats etc ASAP. Always has done (won't use a blanket at night either)!

It's rare that I think posters are being overly judgmental but you really are

Ive known loads of kids prefer to be cooler. Unless they're shivering in a corner maybe just assume their parents know them best?

Ds is 10 and has always worn shorts through the coldest of winters. He's got a warm school coat but come the weekend he'll just wear a hoody out. He also sleeps on top of the duvet.

Luckily, I'm more concerned with having a relationship with him than getting into pointless power struggles, so it's not really an issue for either of us.

I’m not going to cart around a kid in a sweaty rustly plastic suit. Surely they’re for playing outside and sitting on wet playground equipment etc? Not for walking round the shops. I don’t wear a waterproof suit myself and don’t know any adult who does. My coat isn’t waterproof either. DS wears wellies and a parka, or on fine days he wears boots and a jacket. The temperature has yet to fall below 10 degrees anyway.

I think you're verging on the line over being overly cautious.

You're right in that the weather is now changing and jackets, another layer is now needed.

But a puddle suit. Some wet legs from puddle jumps won't kill them.

Judgemental much?!

Wonder what you would make of my ds who wears shorts pretty much all year round.

Another boiling hot child here. My lo is always hot, always. He runs round so much that he's constantly sweating so I'm always removing layers where ever er we go anywhere and carrying bits with me

@AthollPlace yes totally - I mean while playing in mud etc. Today was out with my DC in his puddle suit st the park, he was playing in a big pile of wet leaves in the park with another child who was wearing leggings. No warm trousers, no waterproofs. Looked freezing!

I wouldn't have him in his puddle suit for a trip to Asda

Same as Ifeellikeanidiot. I have a hot, sensory child. I used to battle coats and trousers etc when he was a toddler and it made us both miserable. I backed off several years ago and he still hasn't had hypothermia, not even when sledging in shorts so I'm mostly past worrying about it several winters ago.

I see my maternal duty as to provide him with and give access to "sensible" clothing. It's his choice whether it makes it on to his body. He's shoulder height on me now. It's really not something to physically battle.

Not cold enough for a suit yet for mine! I wore my winter coat to collect him from school, he shed his on the way home and was happy in polo shirt and school jumper. Are the kids you're seeing actually visibly unhappy? I let mine get wet on the way home if he wants to, he strips off as soon as he gets home anyway!

I’ve seen a couple walking around Tesco in big puffy coats while their baby (approx 4 months) was sat slumped over in the metal child seat of the trolley in only a vest and visibly shaking/shivering.

This was before I had dc and I didn’t say anything/ do anything. I really regret that now as there was clearly something wrong there. There is something wrong with some parents. I think it’s different with children who will tell you if they’re cold or uncomfortable but it’s awful to leave a baby like that.

Many children that look well dressed aren't really anyway with flimsy fabrics be it thin layers like leggings or cheap coats with barely water resistant coatings and bulky but not very thermal insualtion.

@EatsFartsAndLeaves yes I think so. Today the mum of the girl in leggings commented on how dirty and damp she was (well of course, playing on the ground in this weather will be pretty dirty in leggings!).

@ShinyGiratina yes I notice that too

Dd is only 4 months and I'm so paranoid about this. She sweats like you wouldn't believe and is constantly boiling (she's very healthy just sweaty apparently 🤦🏻‍♀️) so I often don't have a huge coat on her. I worry someone will think I'm a bad mum so make a point of constantly checking her temperature in the pram 🙈🙈🙈

It’s really not that cold yet. My dd prefers leggings because they’re much comfier for playing in and she can go to the toilet more easily by herself - particularly important on days she’s at nursery. Plus leggings are not that different from tights which many girls wear at school. Ds is always hot so is wearing his thinner jacket for school. He’d be too hot running around at playtime if he wore a polo shirt, sweatshirt and a big coat. Plus he’s still wearing school shorts and much prefers them to trousers. Once it gets icy/snowy he’ll change what he wears.

Well my toddler was the one with wet legs yesterday due to tripping in a puddle. Although we might look well off as I try to make sure my kids have everything they need I’m afraid I’m actually down to my last £10 so can’t afford a bloody puddlesuit on top of everything else.
Try not to judge. There will be a small minority of parents who aren’t looking after their kids properly but most are trying

Ds has sensory issues so I am sure people judge how he is dressed. However he is happy and comfy so I don’t care what anyone else thinks anymore!

He does love his coat though. Not sure he needs to wear it in the height of summer but hey ho.

And mind boggles what some people must think on the days he decides his dressing gown is the most suitable clothing

Leggings are warm though, DD and I wear them all winter and DS wears joggers all winter. So it depends on your own body temperature and preferences. Mine are older now but DS bailed out of wearing vests as soon as he was old enough to help with his dressing and still won't wear a coat unless its below about 5°C. Judgy people like you might have had something to say about all this but they really are fine.

DD is 5, runs hot and hates waterproofs that crinkle when she moves. We tried puddlesuits for the park and they turned her into super speed missile on the wet slides so that put her off of those.

I keep spare clothes in the boot, so if we go to the park and she gets soaked, she gets towelled off and changed in the car.

Not as efficient as waterproof clothing but if she won't wear it then she won't wear it.

I put my DS in a jacket, jumper and vest in this weather when it gets much colder I’ll put his proper coat on! Hope nobody will judge me, he’s really restricted in a padded coat and struggles to bend down etc the same to play.

Very young babies and toddlers, yes. Beyond that, it depends.

Maybe the children have had a massive tantrum about not putting something sensible on and the parents have decided it's a battle they don't need to win.

Mine are 12 and 11 and still in shorts. They're layering up with thick hoodies and down jackets.

You'd be horrified at my child who went to sleep last night in his summer shortie pyjamas, thin summer duvet, radiator off in the bedroom and window open. He always feels warm. Never wore gloves and hat as a child, if I put them on he;d have a tantrum and pull them off.

Lots of kids are the same. Stop being so judgey, OP.

I think you are being a bit quick to judge. Personally I think leggings are perfectly fine for cooler weather, not much different to trousers or tights really. I'm sure you'd judge me as I have a puddle suit for my dd, but I'd only use it if it were particularly wet and muddy. Otherwise I'd let her play and change her into fresh ones afterwards as needed. I also have a warmer winter coat for her, but it's not cold enough here for that just yet, she'd be boiling in it.