Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand why some people make their DC wear slippers?

99 replies

TimelyNameChangey · 07/12/2014 22:37

I've just never quite grasped why some parents make their dc wear slippers. Surely they're a matter of personal choice?

What's going to happen to a child's feet inside their own home? Confused

My friend...she's all "X put your slippers on!" in a stern voice.

Why?

I asked her once and she looked Confused and said "It's cold."

Her DS is like my DDs and likes being barefoot or socked...what's up with that?

It wasn't cold inside and even if it was it's not cold enough to get frostbite or anything!

Do you make your DC wear slippers and why?

OP posts:
Tinks42 · 08/12/2014 01:02

I always wear slippers, hate being bare footed for some reason. Even wear flipflops in the shower when on holiday. Its a "ME" thing.

My son doesnt wear them, he has them but I don't "make" him wear them, its up to him really.

pregnantpause · 08/12/2014 01:24

I have a cold house- I cannot afford to have a warm one ( the central heating thread where everyone said how miserable a cold house made them, how they wouldn't visit relatives because of it etcetera made me feel like utter shitConfused). The rule in my house is slipper socks, and slippers. ( and a vest, long sleeved vest, fleece pjamas and dressing gown) i dont think this rules scars my children. It keeps them warm. IMO if your feet get cold, you're cold no matter what. Same goes for hands( never buy a dressing gown that's not two sizes too big- the sleeves drape your hands nicely) Slippers are a must if you can't afford to heat your house . It's in my children's best interest, and not too taxing a demand. I'm hardly demanding they wear shirt and tails dailyHmm slippers can be and mostly are, comfortable.

Bulbasaur · 08/12/2014 01:26

If it is truly so cold in the house you honestly need slippers to keep your feet warm, turn up the heat. Otherwise, if it's just a little chilly, cold feet won't make you sick.

But different parents fret over different things.

Nanny0gg · 08/12/2014 01:40

If it is truly so cold in the house you honestly need slippers to keep your feet warm, turn up the heat

Of course. Because everyone can afford to do that.

Nanny but what if you were wrong? You're not in their skin you know...

They survived. And as far as outdoor wear is concerned, I often feel it was sheer laziness on their part. I am also of the generation that remembers chilblains...

Snapespotions · 08/12/2014 01:50

DH does this - he hates seeing dd with bare feet and nags her to put something on, but I grew up running round in bare feet and couldn't care less. Actually, isn't it supposed to be healthier?!

I now walk around the house in flip flops myself. I find it an ideal compromise. :)

Ericaequites · 08/12/2014 02:12

Running around in one's socks or tights makes the soles black and difficult. To get really clean afterwards. Barefoot on cold floors builds character.

DirtyOldTown · 08/12/2014 02:13

'Cos if you don't wear your slippers you will catch your death of cold. If you go outside with wet hair you will catch your death of cold. Both of these from my mother throughout my childhood.
Conversely, you couldn't wear your coat indoors if you were cold. Because you wouldn't 'feel the benefit' when you went out later.

DM must be astonished I am still alive and kicking.

Bulbasaur · 08/12/2014 02:14

Of course. Because everyone can afford to do that.

Not an excuse. You are either so broke you can access benefits to provide them heating, or you need to downsize.

As a parent you need to provide your children adequate food, clothing and shelter. Heating is part of that. If you can't provide that they need to be put in a living situation with someone that can.

I'm not talking about chilly tiles and floors. If you need to wear mittens inside, that's an unacceptable environment.

The point of my previous post was that you should not need slippers to keep a child from getting too cold inside a house. They are nice to have, but they are not a necessity, and if they are, see above.

CheerfulYank · 08/12/2014 03:26

Mittens and slippers are two different things, I think.

I make mine wear socks when they are ill. I doubt it makes a difference, but it makes me feel better to see them wrapped up warm than running around barefoot with coughs and runny noses.

SurfsUp1 · 08/12/2014 03:33

NickiFury I think the reply to you said they understood your need to instruct your child in these matters, but wondered why people would feel the same need to make these decisions for a child who was capable of deciding for themselves.
I don't think anyone was dismissing your answer or anything.

musicalendorphins2 · 08/12/2014 04:20

Nor sure, I don't think I know anybody who insisted on slippers. But my ds's and I all wear them, my dh likes bare feet, except in the depths of winter, then he will wear socks and slippers. He is in between now, wearing socks.

musicalendorphins2 · 08/12/2014 04:20

*Not

meglet · 08/12/2014 05:41

Mine don't wear slippers. Bare feet or socks on laminate in this house. I think they'd break their necks running around in slippers. Anyone who steps on lego learns a lesson to not spread it out so much next time. Mind you, it only ever seems to be me who steps on it Hmm.

Oh what rubbish bulbasaur. There isn't a magic pot of benefits for central heating and downsizing is hardly practical. 'Hey kids we can afford heating but you're all sharing a bedroom now!' Hmm

redexpat · 08/12/2014 06:55

Im 33 and whenever my mother comrs to stay she offers to buy me slippers. We have them but choose not to wear them. Deal with it woman!

blackheartsgirl · 08/12/2014 07:09

Haha bulbasaur you do talk rubbish. I can't downsize, the council won't let me seeing as we have six in a 3 bed. I have 4 dc. Ones disabled and we are not on benefits apart from D's DLA and carers.

We ran out of gas yesterday, quick call social services

Fairylea · 08/12/2014 07:26

Bulbasaur- seriously?! We can only afford to have our heating on for a maximum of 2 hours a day even in the coldest weather. Do you suggest we stop paying our debts in order to heat our house more? (Debt which was caused by needing to fix the roof on our house that insurance wouldn't cover). Or maybe we should give up our tiny mortgaged house and move to somewhere with a higher rent than we pay in mortgage or even go on the council housing list and wait for 20 years? We cannot remortgage as our income is too low. Perhaps we should go and get one of those amazing readily available better paid jobs everyone seems to think exists. Hmm

Gosh some people really are daft.

It's not pleasant being cold. Of course it isn't but to suggest a child is better off in social care as opposed to feeling the cold a bit is just bonkers.

ShadowKat · 08/12/2014 07:30

I'm considering implementing a compulsory slippers policy for DS1 (3yrs).

He likes running around in bare feet, but recently has taken to complaining that his feet are cold and that he must warm them on my tummy.

This is not an ideal solution for keeping feet warm as far as I'm concerned.

Frusso · 08/12/2014 07:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Aeroflotgirl · 08/12/2014 07:36

We have tiles so it's cold. I have a toddler ds who is always spilling water or stuff on tiles, so tikes mostly wet from me mopping. SOct get worn out quicker if tgey don't wear slippers.

londonrach · 08/12/2014 07:37

To help reduce the pain when you stub your toe. Its warmer too.

Ilovewheelychairs · 08/12/2014 07:46

We we made to once one of my cousins stood on a plug in her bare feet. My cries of 'but I wouldn't be so stupid' were ignored (I HATE having hot feet!!!).

hels71 · 08/12/2014 08:23

DD has to wear slippers as our house is very cold. Our heating does not work. She moaned at first but soon realised her minion slippers kept her feet much warmer!!

AdventCaroline · 08/12/2014 08:27

I think sometimes you have to tell your children to do things if you think it will benefit them. They forget things. At least mine do.

So I include "Don't forget to put on your slippers" in my list of things not to forget - flush the toilet, wash your hands, take your dirty plate out to the kitchen, hang up your coat on the peg etc etc.

If they get too hot whilst wearing their slippers (or coat, or gloves or whatever) they may take them off. But you need to start off by putting them on.

My DC are happy to wear them - and their coats, and gloves and hats, and a warm jumper, and socks, and a dressing gown (maybe they are weird!). To them they are just another item of clothing that you wear when the weather calls for it.

But they don't always appreciate how cold it is - it's always better to put slippers on before your feet get cold, to stop it happening, rather than wait until they are already blocks of ice - it's much harder to warm them up then.

I always wear slippers and so does DH, so DC see it as normal anyway.

Jewels234 · 08/12/2014 08:36

I'm 30 and my PIL force me to wear them Confused

Mrsmorton · 08/12/2014 08:39

BulbosaurHmm

Swipe left for the next trending thread