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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to not take DS out in snow?

46 replies

Champagneandthestars · 11/12/2017 08:41

DS's school is closed due to the snow and I'm dreading taking him out. I have a 3 month old too and even in a sling it's just so hard! He played all day with his dad yesterday. I hate snow. Can I keep him in without mega guilt?

OP posts:

Believeitornot · 11/12/2017 09:22

Well I think you should get your ds out - I appreciate that you’re tired etc with a 3 month old but a whole inside...

Do you know any other school mums that you can meet up with

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 11/12/2017 09:22

Goodness me OP you can wrap baby up and put him in the pram whilst you and Ds build a snow man and throw snow balls for a bit. Then go back inside and warm up with a hot chocolate. Don’t overthink it.

Starlight2345 · 11/12/2017 09:23

I have a child who isn't great at playing on his own they don't learn this by playing with them all the time.. Let him have a ball.At that age I sent my DS out with an inflatable snowman...Pots and pans.. bucket and spade.. It is a really important skill for kids to learn to play on there own

I hate snow BTW and learned to tolerate it for my DS

Spudlet · 11/12/2017 09:26

Have you got any local playgroups you could schlep them both to? Quite a few around us have access to a little bit of outdoor space, so your DS could rampage around that with other loons small children while you and the baby stay indoors and have a terrible cup of coffee and a biscuit.

Dinosaursdontgrowontrees · 11/12/2017 09:26

My daughter is off today. I'm not planing to move from the sofa if I can help it. I don't have a newborn, just hate snow.

FuzzyOwl · 11/12/2017 09:29

If you hate the snow and don’t to go out in it, especially understandable with a baby, just stay in. You might have a very energetic toddler who is bored but the odd tv day here and there or games/baking/indoor activities won’t harm him.

PinkHeart5914 · 11/12/2017 09:30

Aw but he’d have some much fun! As a parent don’t we all do things that we don’t really enjoy for our dc, it’s part of the course isn’t it?

Will baby not nap later? You could take ds outside then if you have a garden leaving baby safely napping inside

Wrap baby up in the pram, go outside and build a snowman with ds?

Encourage him to play on his own, with you watching from the window? Give him a pot/bucket, other bits to use to play in the snow with?

BattleaxeGalactica · 11/12/2017 09:30

You're the parent, you get to decide.

That said if he wants to play outside on his own I wouldn't stop him but be prepared for a swift turnaround. Mine used to beg to go outside in the snow but were invariably back in within about ten minutes

Wait4nothing · 11/12/2017 09:37

Yeah I’d definitely be in the play outside if you like but mummy is staying inside camp. Give him some ideas/resources and see what he comes up with. Some toy animals/people to build for, some food colouring mixed with water to paint with and a hoop for target practise with snowballs. Be nearby to shout encouragement and take photos.

mygorgeousmilo · 11/12/2017 09:38

I was out in it for 3 hrs with mine yesterday at the park from 8am. I’m telling you after that just no more for me, no no no. Anything on top of that was playing in the garden alone while I sat indoors! I think this might be your opportunity to teach him to play by himself sometimes, as the snow is a good incentive. Those are the options, go by yourself outside or stay inside. You’re not stopping him from enjoying it, he’s old enough to start playing alone in a safe environment

LakieLady · 11/12/2017 09:45

I'd be very reluctant to go out in snow with a baby in a sling. Not because of the cold, but because of the risk of falling over.

babyinthacorner · 11/12/2017 09:45

We didn't go outside at all yesterday as it was DS's 1st birthday and we had a nice lazy morning after cleaning the house/shopping in a crazy rush the day before as we had my whole family coming to celebrate. Of course, they all got snowed in and no-one came and we couldn't drag ourselves away from the fire. So we watched home alone and DS had a nice long nap on me... only feel a tiny bit guilty! There'll be more snow days when it will be easier for you to get out!

cantfindname · 11/12/2017 09:46

ZoeWashburne Mon 11-Dec-17 08:52:40
*Well, I think it’s time for you to start teaching him how to play on his own. Say: if he wants to play in the snow he can but he has to play alone. Be clear on this. He can make a snow man easily by himself.

Learning to play alone and be creative is a really important skill. This seems like a good opportunity to say no when he comes in to drag you out.

I’m not saying chuck him out, but rather, if he wants to play in the snow he has to ply by himself. Otherwise he can stay inside with you. You going outside is not an option. That is clear and fair.*

This. What does he do all day if he doesn't play alone, can he really be so demanding of your time? Sounds like a touch of sibling jealousy to me.

cantfindname · 11/12/2017 09:46

^^ Bold fail, sorry.

EdithFinch · 11/12/2017 09:52

*Stand by the window and get him to throw snowballs at you whilst you take photos. Jump around like a goalie so he can aim at you. Then he's outside and you are playing with him.

This is a GENIUS idea!

That is a TERRIBLE idea!

I would just leave the baby indoors, in front of the window as much as possible, put the baby monitor in your pocket and go play in the garden for a little while, then repeat after lunch to make a snowman or something.

It sounds a bit mean to tell him to play by himself outside! He must be (reasonably) expected to entertain himself when you are cooking, taking care of the house, taking care of the baby are on mumsnet

I agree that children need to learn to be on their own, but there's already so much time in the day for that, having fun in the garden is much better with someone - Unless you have little friends in the neighborhood and you can invite the mum for a cup of tea and let the kids play in the garden?

Believeitornot · 11/12/2017 11:54

I’ll add my dd was a December baby and I spent a lot of time outside.

As for four year old playing alone - how dull for them!!!

DontMakeMeShushYou · 11/12/2017 14:27

Stand by the window and get him to throw snowballs at you whilst you take photos. Jump around like a goalie so he can aim at you. Then he's outside and you are playing with him.

Well, it's always been a GENIUS idea when I've done it. Works an absolute treat and the kids have had a whale of a time. There has never been any danger of the windows breaking when my children threw snowballs at them when they were small, which I presume is the issue several people here seem to have?

Obviously you set the ground rules before they start (how big, how hard they can be thrown, and that it is snow only). Simple rules that can easily be followed by children of 4 and above, and certainly were by mine. I wonder, given the opposition to this idea, whether other people's children would just ignore their parents and run riot??

Ah well, each to their own. Works for me.

grannytomine · 11/12/2017 14:33

Having had a bad fall on an icy pavement I don't blame you. Having baby in a sling would make a fall even more unpleasant. Don't feel bad, he can go in garden or stay in with you, if it's the worst decision he is faced with he is a lucky boy. Enjoy looking out on the sow while you are snugly and warm with baby.

Katedotness1963 · 11/12/2017 14:41

Stay in! Do some baking together. Draw a snowman outline on a big sheet of paper and have him glue cotton wool balls to it. Read together. Watch a Christmas DVD and drink hot chocolate. Make Christmas decorations. Play a game. Do a puzzle.

grannytomine · 11/12/2017 14:45

Good ideas Katedotness, I am going to pick up GS in a few minutes and we are going to be making Christmas things for his mum and dad.

RhinestoneCowgirl · 11/12/2017 14:48

Many yrs ago, when DD was a tiny baby, and DS was not yet 3, I went out in the snow with DD in a sling. I did fall over in the snow, and it was pretty horrible tbh. DD was absolutely fine of course, I didn't fall on her. But I did put out my hand to break my fall and badly sprained my wrist. It really hurt, I cried. Poss DS cried.

It felt like a long walk home.

Stay in if you want to!

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