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?

Meh I just bring a coat with me if they don't want to wear one before we go out. No judgement from me my dd never seems to feel the cold whereas my ds does

I think it’s this time of year too. You know what to be prepared for in winter but cold temps can surprise you in Autumn.

TBH I put my kids in puddle suits and wellies a lot because they are feral so perhaps I would meet your approval

Currently 10 degrees here to hardly freezing.

When my children were little I used to look at the parents like you with their kids bundled up in snowsuits and think "jeez- what happens when it's REALLY cold"?. We live in a relatively mild climate. I'm sure the children are fine. Why don't you do you, and let everyone else worry about their own kids.

Couple of days ago my 6yo was running around the park in t-shirt and leggings. We did have a jumper with us (no coats as it wasn't due to rain). She had wanted to wear shorts but we were walking through the woods to get there and needed wellies.(she changed shoes when we got there as she doesn't like climbing in wellies).

I find that young children soon let you know if they are cold or uncomfortable.

It's 13 degrees here so not too cold for leggings, it's only October not the middle of January.

How do you know the other parent didn't have spare clothes in her pram/car? Or do you prefer to just judge other parents anyway because their child isn't wearing a bloody 'puddle suit'. My DCs are teens now but this self righteous nonsense has always pissed me off no end.

I think puddlesuits are excessive for playing out in autumn.

Not something we ever owned.

My eldest has always overheated from an early age to now (11) and it's rare to see him in a coat unless it's raining and even then it'll be a thin rain mac
At home it's hard to get him to wear a t-shirt and has been known to strip off in snow and run around in nothing but wellies (yes he's crackers)
He was born in Newcastle and is technically a Geordie so we've always joked it's in his blood!
My youngest is like me and wears a jumper all year round bar the hottest days of summer (he's not a Geordie)
They are very different kids.
Some times it might be parents that are just oblivious or don't care but sometimes it might just be the right thing for that child. Judging from a distance is near impossible so unless you really know the child is suffering I'm not sure it's something that you should get involved with.

My almost one year DS hates socks, shoes, mittens and hats. If I put any hat on him at all he pulls it off immediately and will continue to do this on repeat until I accept he isn’t going to wear a hat. If I put mittens on him he screams like a pterodactyl until I remove them. He always loses socks, this has been an ongoing battle since he was born tbh.

When we’re out he’s generally under a footmuff so overall keeps quite warm but I feel like people may judge the lack of hat and mittens. There’s your explanation.

I don’t think it’s ever really too cold for leggings either, you can buy thick ones or wear tights underneath them. They’re comfortable and practical. Joggers are warm imo. I have four DC and have never bought a puddlesuit or waterproof trousers, they wear wellies or doc martens.

These families are well off so it isn't a money thing

Rule of thumb: If the kids are dressed better than the grown ups: they're working class. If the grownups are dressed better than the kids: they're posh.

Look around you and tell me I'm wrong.

Mine has gone to nursery plenty of times in winter in Mary-Jane type shoes when it's dry, only goes in her ankle boots when it's wet and her snow boots when it's really cold/wet.
She also usually wears dress and tights or top and leggings, she's fine, she does wear a coat but refuses hats/gloves.
When outside she's always running around so that will keep her warm

My son would wear just shorts & t-shirt all year round if i let him, he's like my husband and just doesnt feel the cold & doesn't care a jot if he gets wet.

We've compromised to trousers, no jumper & he only has to wear his winter coat in the morning.

By contrast my eldest daughter has been wrapping up in full winter gear since the beginning of October.

I was thinking this just the other day. I was in Iceland on an excursion to a geyser. Absolutely freezing. In front of my were a family. All bundled up appropriately in warm coats, hats, scarves, gloves, warm trousers (dad even had on ski pants) and good walking shoes. One of their children had on shorts, no socks and canvas trainers (like kids), no coat, no hat, no gloves etc. They were speaking English so clearly also tourists. How on earth do you pack those clothes for half term trip to Iceland?

My DS is like me and runs hot - I've been known to wear t shirts in the height of winter. When he was a baby I panicked constantly that he was overheating but didn't want to be judged. Made for a very sad first winter where I second guessed myself whenever we went out. Posts like this kind of confirm why I worried so much.

Even now he's happier in a pair of joggers and a t shirt with a thin mac it is colder/raining. It's just who he is, like me, doesn't like to be over hot. He hates duvets and blankets and often just lays in his bed with pjs on.

It's really not that cold yet.

My four year old refuses to wear her coat in anything apart from pouring rain or freezing wind. Once they can take them off on their own there's not much you can do!

She also got dressed in shorts this morning and refused to wear leggings. Luckily we're not going out anywhere.

Sometimes it's just not worth the battle. I think she's old enough to learn now that if she refuses to wear her coat she'll get cold.

If you see me and my kid out, I will be wrapped in every layer going carrying her coat hat and gloves. She refuses to wear them. She does run much hotter than me, took me a while to realise this. So now I don't worry.

@queenofkale

It was a short sleeved vest and the baby was visibly shivering. The baby was also too young to be in that kind of seat and was slumped awkwardly. It was just a strange and sad sight.

I’m not comparing it to average parents with hot kids, I’m just giving a true example of parents not dressing their babies appropriately. Also, it was a large Tesco that was mostly refrigerated- I found it cold with my jacket on.

@dementedpixie colder than it is outside! well it's obviously not that cold outside is it. All of the staff are wearing short sleeved polo shirts.
What do you think is going to happen to a 1 year old from 20 minutes inside a supermarket in a long sleeved vest leggings, socks and a hat?

Can I just add that when outside my children (when being cooperative will always be wearing the correct coats hats blankets etc)

I’ve seen two sides to this. My Indian friends and family will usually wrap their kids up at the first hint of a breeze and so you’ll see sweaty irritable kids being dragged around and not really wanting to play. My non-Indian friends will often leave their kids in vests or shorts or summer clothes because ‘their kids are hot’ even in deepest darkest winter while they themselves are wearing expensive coats etc.

Not sure what part of the UK you are all in but it is 3 degrees here.

Just to clarify, as I mentioned in my original post, I am just meaning babies and toddlers, not older kids that are able to walk on their feet and vocalise if they are cold or not. I.e. 1 year olds that can't walk more than a few steps without sitting on the wet cold ground

I’m in the east mids and it’s very mild here.