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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Children freezing in buggies

306 replies

goody2shooz · 27/12/2017 15:31

Would you sit outside on a chair for an hour in the current weather, wearing leggings and a mid thigh-length jacket, no hat, gloves or blanket? No? Thought not - so why do so many people keep putting children in buggies without enough proper warm clothes/blanket etc!!?? Just been for a walk today in 1degree cold weather, wind chill makes it feel like -4. Came across a granmother standing chatting to two friends. All dressed in gloves, hats and parka types COATS cos of the cold weather. Little tot in pushchair facing into the cold wind wearing leggings and a jacket. Her little hands looked frozen- like the rest of her. I said (nicely)to the woman that the lo looked v chilly. Was ignored. tried again and was ignored. Wibu to mention anything? I am amazed that so many people seem unaware that a small person sitting still in a buggy needs more layers under and over them than the person keeping warm pushing the buggy. I feel so bad for these tots i keep seeing with pinched faces and blue hands. :(

OP posts:
minipie · 27/12/2017 15:35

You're right they need more layers but there are many, many small children who will refuse to wear the extra layers.

Oddish · 27/12/2017 15:38

This is really sad but something people don’t like to be told, pride gets in the way in these kinds of situations :(
Some kids won’t tolerate hat/gloves/blanket and throw them off so this could be what’s going on some of the time. A tricky one.

Spikeyball · 27/12/2017 15:39

Perhaps the child didn't want a hat, gloves or blanket? My child who at 12 is still a buggy user, didn't and doesn't.

VileyRose · 27/12/2017 15:40

Nothing worse than someone telling me that my child looks cold.

BlurryFace · 27/12/2017 15:41

My 2yo does not wear gloves. Or a hat. Or even have his hood up. The gloves and hat get thrown in the road, if I can even get them on him. He has sensory issues.

Sometimes he is only in socks because his shoes have been taken off and thrown and I haven't got to a nice big gateway to put them back on for the 5th time yet.

Sometimes it's just started to rain a bit and I don't have a raincover because he hates those too and pulls them off breaking them in the process. I don't drive, but I still have to leave the house.

I agree that a decent pair of trousers and a warm coat should be worn, but hats and gloves can be tricky.

trilbydoll · 27/12/2017 15:41

DD2 went crazy when I tried to put the footmuff on a few weeks ago so she probably gets cold legs I wrap her up if she's asleep but if she's awake God forbid she might be warm enough!

silkpyjamasallday · 27/12/2017 15:42

My DD is a hat and glove refuser, so she has a padded cosytoes thing on the pram and a hooded puffer coat with built in mittens. She kicks off when we put her in them but it has to be done, she stops crying eventually once we've got going. But DD is only 15 months, and it must be harder to get an older, stronger, more wilful child who can undo zips and poppers themselves to comply with suitable clothing. I do know what you mean though, it's sad seeing little ones out in this weather looking cold but we never know the backstory so shouldn't judge. I imagine the lady ignored you because there was nothing she could do to remedy the situation and was embarrassed.

Mayhemmumma · 27/12/2017 15:42

I hate this too OP esp when they are trying to sleep and look so uncomfy...I can't see anyone would take kindly to being told though.

GinasGirl · 27/12/2017 15:44

All 3 of my sons were hat/gloves/buggy cover objectors. The screaming and crying and pulling everything off kind.

KindergartenKop · 27/12/2017 15:45

I'm with the toddlers are buggers brigade. My DS asks for a hat and gloves at about minus 2.

plimsolls · 27/12/2017 15:45

I was out with my toddler a few weeks ago and she was suddenly hit by what turned out to be a sickness bug. So while I was frantically mopping up vomit and consoling her and holding a cloth out to catch the next lot, a man stopped to tell me she ought to be wearing gloves.

Thanks mate. Very helpful.

(she had a snowsuit and a footmuff on her buggy)

reallybadidea · 27/12/2017 15:45

I guess you haven't read the many threads on here by parents who are sick of being criticized by strangers for not making their child wear a coat/socks/gloves when said child simply refuses to keep them on? My youngest was like this, he just doesn't seem to feel the cold Shock Also in my experience, uncomfortable children tend to complain rather loudly.

bestthings · 27/12/2017 15:47

Imo people like that need to be told. It bloody annoys me to see little kids freezing in buggies while their parent/gparent are wrapped up in thick coats, hats and scarves. Trouble is it's hard to know how to word it without causing offence. It's neglect, no two ways about it.

Eltonjohnssyrup · 27/12/2017 15:48

If you could explain to me how to keep clothing on my twins I would love to hear it. I have big zip up padded onesies but aside from that hats, shoes, socks, scarves, mittens are all taken off and chucked within seconds of leaving the house and sometimes even before we do!

Spikeyball · 27/12/2017 15:49

Mine went through a stage for several years of pulling his trousers up to knee level so had bare legs below this and everytime they were pulled down, he had them straight back up again. He has never tolerated hats but will now tolerate a hoody (although not on a coat).

restbiterepeat · 27/12/2017 15:50

Was the kid crying or complaining? If yes then YANBU otherwise YABU.

RhiWrites · 27/12/2017 15:50

I genuinely didn’t know people still said “tots”.

I don’t think many mumsnetters would be receptive to strangers accosting them (nicely) to point out failures in their parenting.

Spikeyball · 27/12/2017 15:52

It's only neglect if a child isn't given the option of warmer clothing.

ILostItInTheEarlyNineties · 27/12/2017 15:53

What happened to CosyToes- those furry padded things you attach to the buggy and post your toddler into? That's what I used in the olden days.
To be fair, the toddler could have been running about before getting in the buggy and be quite warm?
Wouldn't a small child cry if they were painfully cold?

TheLegendOfBeans · 27/12/2017 15:53

Little tot in pushchair facing into the cold wind wearing leggings and a jacket. Her little hands looked frozen- like the rest of her. I said (nicely)to the woman that the lo looked v chilly. Was ignored. tried again and was ignored. Wibu to mention anything? I am amazed that so many people seem unaware that a small person sitting still in a buggy needs more layers under and over them than the person keeping warm pushing the buggy. I feel so bad for these tots i keep seeing with pinched faces and blue hands. sad

God help the person that ever says this to me.

I’d wager in 99% of these cases the child is a coat refuser/shrieks when layered up/has kicked off and lost countless scarves gloves and blankets/boot remover/hat ripper/generally a hot baby.

Plus (sorry to trot it out again) the parents of kids with sensory issues have it 10x worse. See any thread on here about parents at the school gate being embarrassed by their coat refusing child, they will always concur.

In short - keep your snout out.

shakeyourcaboose · 27/12/2017 15:54

Please OP impart your wisdom on how we keep our DC wearing gloves, hats and scarves! Mine hates them all, and my worry (catastrophiser!) is that an accident maybe caused when he takes his hat off and wings it in the path of a car, so hats are a no go!

CheapSausagesAndSpam · 27/12/2017 15:54

My youngest DD would MELTDOWN when I tried to put hats/blankets or a cosytoe on her. To make matters worse, she's always been a very pale child and her nose, at the slightest chill in the air, would go red like a little tomato.

People were always commenting "Oh she's cold! Look!" at her nose and I got so sick of it. I used to take extra layers out with me and every now and then, try to get them on her.

But no. There was nothing I could do short of putting up with her screeching and she'd take the hat etc off anyway!

AndhowcouldIeverrefuse · 27/12/2017 15:54

Blue hands??? Hmm

BlurryFace · 27/12/2017 15:54

bestthings, if you told me I would tell you to fuck yourself. You've no idea how hard I have tried and tried to get DS2 in gloves and a hat. In fact if I still had these to hand (which I usually do) I would give them to you and tell YOU to put them on him YOURSELF.

Naty1 · 27/12/2017 15:54

Unfortunately i have 2yo who feels the cold but wont wear gloves/hats/raincover.
It is very annoying. Finally last week we had success with a hat and bought it which was good as she wore it for going out in this snow and gloves! Truly a miracle. She wont even wear a sunhat.
The succesful one was furry inside. She doesnt like hand holding either