to bring a toddler to the zoo, well wrapped up, in 5 or so degree weather?

[Listzilla]

We're planning on bringing DD to the zoo tomorrow. It got as low as about 5 degrees here today and my mother has proclaimed that if it doesn't get a lot warmer by tomorrow I'll have to keep DD indoors.

She has a warm clothes, a thick coat, a wooly hat, shoes with sturdy soles and a buggy with a fleecy footmuff.

Am I being unreasonable to expose the poor child to such horrific extremes of weather (it may even spit rain a little!), while only providing her with plenty of appropriately warm clothes? Because I'm being made out to be Evil Neglectful Hardhearted Mammy Who Doesn't Care About Her Daughter's Comfort and it's annoying me immensely. She's surely not that fragile?

god knows how people in eastern europe survive then but oddly enough, they do!

Your mother is a loon.

Are you talking about Whipsnade perchance? Was there yesterday and it was bitter.

My dcs didn't care though. They hared about like loonies as usual. Aged 6, 4 and 2.

Your dd will be fine. She will have a brilliant time. Tell whoever is giving you a hard time, they should stop trying to make her into a namby pamby wet blanket.

So much better and healthier for children to get out and about even if it's a bit cold.

It was 6 degrees here today - was lovely as there was no wind. That is hardly even cold!

I'd probably do it with DS (2.4). We last went to the zoo on a cold December day which was fine, but it wasn't windy or rainy (which just makes it miserable for all).

My neighbour, however, subscribes to the, 'you catch colds from the cold' theory, and she bundles her kid up like you wouldn't believe just to go across the road.

I don't think YABU, but I'm evil and neglectful too.

I must be an evil, neglectful mother too. But I don't care. I'd never keep a child indoors simply because it's cold. What sort of life would that be for everyone?

DS has only ever been ill once, before last christmas from something he caught from family. So, it's done no harm. And shock horror, he doesnt wear a hat and gloves either! He's 2.1 now. Cold weather does not cause them any harm.

I just hope the animals don't take your Mum's advice or there'll be nothing worth seeing

In loads of countries that's practically balmy! Have a lovely day.

my DH is half swedish it is custom to put children outside for their naps (yes, even in winter!). DH says all the time "there is no such thing as bad weather only bad (inappropriate) clothing".

I used to live in japan, 5 degrees was the temperature in my bedroom in the morning when I woke up, I wasn't cold (I probably wasn't very sexy mind you! ).

Your not neglectful, she will have fun providing she is dressed up correctly and you have a rain cover/rain coat/umbrella...

Brrr I was just about to say if it's whipsnade, the wind can be bitter

heliumballoon, I'm sooooooooooooo with you on the loon thing. Seriously.

It's Dublin zoo we're going to.

Good god, get out there!! Your mother is barking!! If you had said DD only has a summer dress to wear she'd have had a point, but really?? In all that gear??

The zoo will be heaving with children. Does your mother think that children shouldn't go outside at all, even in appropriate clothing?

We've just had a blustery, showery day at the zoo, all wrapped up in hats, coats, gloves, it was fab.

In 10 years of parenting and about 17 of Nannying I have never kept a kid inside because it was too cold. The concept seems bizarre to me.

And I think zoo is a good crap weather option 'cause there are always warm reptile houses and such to go into.

What does she think people do in Eastern Europe where it regularly falls to -10 or -20 every winter? That all the children don't leave the house for 3 months

5 degrees is not even that cold, fgs. Take her.

Was at least -1 today and snowing and the three year old was skiing all morning. As long as you have warm clothes that keep them dry as well as warm, children love to be outside! The zoo sounds just brilliant - we took dd1 to Edinburgh zoo once at new year when she was a little toddler and we had a wonderful day. Something really appealing about zoos in winter

Winter tradition for us to go to a zoo or a safari park. The animals always seem more active and it's not as busy. We went to Woburn yesterday, the children loved it!

Thank you : ) I feel a lot less rubbish now.

How do you grow the self-confidence to ignore this sort of crap from your parents?

If you want to give her a shock, google forest kindergarten and show her the results. Nurseries which operate primarily outside all year round and where the children manage not to be killed off by day two

just do it. it will be fab, not so crowded as in summer.
take an extra blanket and warm up ib the cafe halfway trough and you wilk be fine.
enjoy :)

list I just stick my fingers in my ears and sing lalalalala.
and don't tell her about half the stuff we force our children to get up to.