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 used to, and still do, look at other people's kids and think why are they wearing so many clothes? I think mine must run very hot.

We were out yesterday and there were kids in full on winter gear and mine were in tshirts and leggings. Absolutely refused a coat or jumper. Snowsuits in prams are a PITA, I just used blankets so could take them off easily when we went indoors.

I would have agreed with OP before I had children. Now I realise if I wrap DD up too much she over heats very quickly and I end up stripping her off anyway. We were at the park yesterday and kids had hat gloves etc on and DD was in a long sleeve shirt, thick jumper and a body warmer (which she took off after 10 minutes) so I probably had a snooty parent judging but her hands were toasty and face was warm even 2 hours later so 🤷‍♀️

I think this is one of those things that is quite cultural - as a general rule, we don't wrap children up nearly as warmly in this country as they do in the rest of Europe and Asia.
Though it is also difficult to tell how warmly dressed a child is- they may have a thermal vest, or tights under their trousers, or their "thin" coat might actually be warm but lightweight- my DC never liked heavy, bulky coats but that was more about restriction than warmth. I used to dress them in wool cardigans and light soft jackets and they were perfectly happy (and warmer than in a big bulky coat).

I don't like puddle suits, but I would often bring waterproof trousers to the playground for toddlers, as it means you can go on the wet slide etc. But I think that's quite unusual. I wouldn't think they were essential. Especially if you have a car with you, you can easily have a spare change of clothes in the boot. Or a towel for drying the slide!

Crikey perhaps I’m lazy but I’d much rather put my dc in waterproof clothing than have to carry around spare outfits and towels with me every time we went out on a wet day.
Anyway each to their own on that one. But unfortunately some parents exist who don’t understand about appropriate clothing for the weather (whatever the season), working with kids you do get to see that.

Yes I see that as well ! But when I remember my niece at that young age 3/4/5 it was a nightmare getting a coat on her and warm clothes. We always carried them around with us but she wouldn't wear them!
She was constantly a hot person, running around and if you touch her she was boiling hot. Sometimes children don't feel the cold like adults but adults should always have the suitable clothes with them just incase.

I dress my 10 month old in thin legging style bottoms or joggers most days, inside he is fine in that and outside he is mostly in his pram which has the cosy toes part to keep his legs warm. I hope no one looks at him when we're out and about thinking he looks cold 😮 he is a warm baby he's like a mini radiator, he doesn't actually have a big coat I dress him in layers so it's easier to strip him down to appropriate level, eg vest, long sleeve t shirt, jumper or hoodie or cardi (or multiple) plus hat and gloves if it's really cold

In the past we’ve put up the Xmas lights in December wearing T-shirts because it’s hot when you’re lifting stuff and climbing ladders! The more you exercise the less clothes you need. It’s 9 degrees today and both myself and DC wore leggings and jumper with a coat. We were toasty because we were moving around and exercising. I guess you’d wear thicker clothes if it was windy or you were standing still a lot.

It’s not cold, my four year old and I have been playing in the woods. We wore shorts as legs dry quicker than trousers which means you are warmer, on top we both had a t-shirt on and a thin zip hoody.

14 degrees is not cold

It's colder than that where I am. Thinks its reached 5 degrees now but was only at 1 degree this morning

My 3yr old will rarely wear a coat or tights. She NEVER wears trousers, sleeves, cardigans or socks.

I can sometimes force her into a coat, but it usually comes off in 5 mins.

So I'm that mum with one child properly wrapped up and the other in a thin dress and knickers at 11degrees.

I take the view that:

1. We'd never leave the house otherwise
2. She'll learn eventually
3. She says she isn't cold and I genuinely can't see goosebumps

So bog off with your judging, it's hard enough as it is.

Op wait till your child goes to secondary school. My son is in joggers , t shirt and hoodie at school today.

I pick my battles.

I also took baby out yesterday, he removed gloves, hat and shoes on walk. I am sure he looked far more appropriately dressed when he left the house

Dc have never worn anything more than leggings unless it's snowing or something. It's the uk not the Antarctic. DD1 is still insistent on wearing shorts every day and dd2 usually discards her coat and often her cardi within about 5 minutes of running around as she gets very hot.

I agree with you OP! Yes some kids are running hot but awful many more just have completely clueless parents.

I was once a parent helper at a Beavers session, it was in November, cold and wet and the session was held outside in the woods. One of the little kids came in wellies without any socks, just bare feet inside.

Another example is a local friend of mine, some years ago when our DC were all about 3 years old, we had a big snow fall and she thought a plain cotton sock inside a welly was appropriate for her child. Going forward few years, she often sent her DC in white converses and thin leggings to Cubs field trips. Both parents are nice people and not stupid at all but totally lacking in common sense.

Different cultures do it differently. At the playground today all the kids were in shorts or leggings and tee shirts except one family. Parents and their children all wearing padded coats, buttoned up, woolly tights and boots. The little girls wore earrings too, which is not usual here.

Or, presuming their kids didnt catch hypothermia, they just have different standards to you and their kids are fine?

Mine always has waterproofs but I've been on the hills in snow and seen kids in flimsy ponchos and no gloves, some parents aren't responsible

Op wait till your child goes to secondary school. My son is in joggers , t shirt and hoodie at school today.
He's warmly dressed compared to my ds, also at secondary. He's in shorts, and polo shirt and has reluctantly taken his sweatshirt. He won't be the only one. I'm not sure I'm going to buy him a coat this year. The previous one he had three years and wore no more than 5 times, and 4 of them under protest.

I have a lovely photo of dd1 aged about 3yo at the park in November in leotard, tights, ballet skirt and wellies. She complained the wellies were making her too hot.

Got to ask what other people put their 3yr old daughters in in winter then? Especially that they can pull up/down to use the toilet...

Dd has fleece lined leggings, fleece lined joggers to nursery and similar at home.
She's fussy with clothes but always warm and wears hat, gloves, coat and boots