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?

Ignore her.

What if it was snowing? Wold she want DGC inside while everyone else was out building snowmen?

Have fun

Wold she want DGC inside while everyone else was out building snowmen?

Yes, I think so. The mind boggles, doesn't it?

This morning she warned me to stay in out of the rain because I'm pregnant.

She is mad as a box of frogs! If its anything like colchester zoo, it will be rammed! We went in February to see the new baby elephant. It was snowing. The Dcs loved it, and thrice cream parlour was selling pizza to warm every one up!

yes its such a terrible thing to do take a child outside in winter its almost abuse i hope you have a lovely day at the zoo im sure your dd will love it ,

The only good reason to not go out in bad weather is if the child is poorly. Other wise they seem to be able to cope with anything so long as they're appropriately dressed.

Although we don't bother if it's really wet and windy. By which I mean 60 mile an hour horizontal sleet.

It's usually us grannies who tell you to stop namby-pambying and put newborns out in their prams in the snow!

I'm really surprised at your mother.

The only thing I will say is that zoos always seem to be wind funnels and are always colder than outside. But wrapped up well, no problem.

She sounds incredibly neurotic. She wouldn't last long here in central Europe. My mum always complains about the cold when she comes here in winter but then completely fails to dress warmly, wearing thin jumpers and fashion footwear - maybe your mum is similarly inadequately dressed.

I wasn't too impressed with Dublin zoo last time I went, though, but that was 12 years ago. Maybe it's improved in the meantime.

Tenebrist, they had a special offer on, it was ?2.50 per adult and DD was free, so her giggles at the monkeys and shouts of 'Penguin! Penguin!' and 'Panda!' were worth the fiver we spent on the afternoon : )

Anyway it's the only zoo we have access to, so it's better than nothing!

what if it was like last winter lol you would have been in for weks and weeks as it was below 0 for ages!

go and enjoy yourselves

Unless the weather was dangerous - severe weather warning then I would take her.
She'll love it.
I have taken mine to parks or on walks when its been cold and rainy when they are wrapped up warm.
When you get home then snuggle up under a blanket with the heating on and watch CBBC.
Perfect day.
Everyone is happy :)

i would only avoid going outside in torrential rain or severe gales which we had in west of scotland on wednesday

unless you have oilskins or equivalent getting soaked is no fun

be careful in rain, the water can dissolve unborn children

glad you enjoyed zoo