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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not by ds a warm winter coat

72 replies

metimeisforwimps · 12/09/2016 08:01

He has a fleece lined, but not padded waterproof, which he wore most of last winter, but occasionally wore a puffa type on really cold days, which doesn't fit anymore. The thing is he walks to school and at playtime is running around so tends to get quite warm, and not sure I want to spend money on something which won't get worn very often. Could I just put an extra fleece on him on really cold days? He's 5.

OP posts:
FuzzyOwl · 12/09/2016 08:03

So he would wear a fleece as the equivalent of the coat's lining? As long as he is comfortable and warm, I don't see the problem.

DeathStare · 12/09/2016 08:05

He will need a waterproof coat. How thick it needs to be depends on the number of layers he has on underneath. If he has enough layers he won't need a thick one but he'll definitely need a waterproof.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es · 12/09/2016 08:05

Probably. I persisted with padded coats fir DS till he was about 10, but he only wire them on the very coldest days, never did them up, took them off at the first available opportunity and I spent a lot of time carrying them. Might be worth looking for a gilet fleece to warm the body but not add bulk to the arms.

NoahVale · 12/09/2016 08:08

no you should buy a winter coat. it gets cold.

ThornyBird · 12/09/2016 08:10

Depends where you are.

We live in Cornwall and it rarely drops below freezing - certainly not days on end like my Mum gets in Yorkshire. A good waterproof coat is far more useful for us than a thick non waterproof coat.

SaucyJack · 12/09/2016 08:12

You can buy thick coats for young children for £12 in Asda. Or if you're really skint you can probably pick something up in a charity shop for two quid.

I don't really understand why anyone in the UK would choose not to buy a warm coat for their child, sorry. It gets bloody cold at times, and it'll be miserable for him if he doesn't have a proper coat and either freezes or has to stay indoors all weekend.

NoahVale · 12/09/2016 08:12

he walks to school,? then he will need a warm coat

Original poster
metimeisforwimps · 12/09/2016 08:13

Yes he already has a good waterproof which is quite roomy, so a fleece Gillet is a great idea. Whoknows I do suspect they are quite uncomfortably hot for kids who.are running around all the time.

OP posts:
sentia · 12/09/2016 08:13

We often do layers for DD (nearly 3) rather than one thick coat - jumpers or fleece then raincoat. She still has a winter coat since she's little, but she doesn't feel the cold (she always kicks off her duvet) and doesn't like wearing heavy clothes so I can see us ditching the heavy winter coats at some point.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 12/09/2016 08:14

I'm not buying ds a coat this year,he won't wear it as he's a teen and most of them don't wear them so he'll have a fleece of some sort once he tells me what soet is acceptableHmm

Sirzy · 12/09/2016 08:14

As in a 3 in 1 type waterproof with the detachable fleece attached? Ds wears similar he does have a big winter coat but generally prefers his waterproof. When the weather is bad it is generally much more practical

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es · 12/09/2016 08:15

It really does depend on the child and the walk. My DS had the choice of a warm coat and rarely wore it, we are 5 mins walk from school and live in the SE. He just doesn't feel the cold. He was certainly never miserable for the want of one.

APMom · 12/09/2016 08:16

We walk to school everyday and ds only wears a fleece jacket and if it rains a waterproof raincoat over it. That's what I wear too. I bought him a padded jacket one year and he hated it, was too bulky.

whatishistory · 12/09/2016 08:17

We're in NE Scotland and definitely need 'proper' winter coats and boots. I've just got DDs winter coats from Asda that have a zip in fleece for £30 each.

greatbigwho · 12/09/2016 08:21

The poster's not planning to send her son out in a tshirt and shorts Hmmas I've read this he's got a waterproof fleece that he wears and you're going to buy another fleece layer to go underneath on cold mornings? That sounds sensible and he'll be fine. It's not a permanent decision as well, if this doesn't work you can always buy a different coat st a later date…

AChickenCalledKorma · 12/09/2016 08:23

Surely a fleece plus a waterproof is a warm winter coat? It doesn't get any less warm and wintery just because it's in two layers. Stick with that till you see what kind of winter it's going to be, but be prepared to get something else if he needs it. In only takes a couple of days to order online so he's hardly going to die of frostbite in the meantime.

(Am eying up a thick parka that my daughter has worn approximately twice, due to last winter never really arriving, so that may colour my view!)

TheLastRoseOfSummer · 12/09/2016 08:24

My daughter's winter coat is one of those waterproof coats with the detachable fleece lining.

No one in our family feels the cold particularly and once she's got her school uniform and a vest etc on underneath, it's plenty warm enough.

NoahVale · 12/09/2016 08:26

But Two coats at school, sounds a hassle for him, in the rush to find a coat from his peg to go out at break

KayTee87 · 12/09/2016 08:26

Hmm I'm in Scotland so I'm basing my opinion on that and would say that everyone needs a warm, waterproof coat with a hood.

NoahVale · 12/09/2016 08:27

the main thing is, can he do it up?

treaclesoda · 12/09/2016 08:27

The OP isn't saying that she won't keep him warm, she is saying that she thinks it might be more practical to do that with layers rather than one big coat.

I'm just waiting for someone to tell her that social services will be called if he doesn't have the right coat...

NoahVale · 12/09/2016 08:29

i have helped out in school and the child with the complicated coat/double layers is a pain for all

unlucky83 · 12/09/2016 08:29

I'd stick with a decent layered (removable fleece lined) waterproof -as long as it is big enough to fit an extra jumper/fleece etc underneath they are more suitable. You can get thin micro fleeces that are warmer than padded.
I'm in Scotland and I don't have big padded winter coat! Neither do DCs and haven't for years - the last one I bought was for DC1 (at around 4-5) never got worn -passed on to DC2 6 years later -also never worn
Waterproof coat and fleeces are much more flexible.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es · 12/09/2016 08:31

Breaks are only 20 mins to half an hour, spent mainly running around, they really aren't going to freeze. Vest, polo shirt, jumper plus either fleece or thin coat is plenty of layers.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es · 12/09/2016 08:33

Also I have helped in school and the thick padded coats all get dumped round the playground.