to feel like a crap parent for not taking children sledging?

[ivehadtonamechangeforthis]

I have a 16 month old and a 2.10 year old (so just shy of being 3).

Both children have colds and conjunctivitis.

It is -3 where we live and only a light dust of snow, roads are clear.

Spoke to a couple of friends this eve and they can't believe I haven't taken my children out sledging or at the very least to the park. Feeling really guilty. Anyone else not been out 'making the most' of the snow?

God no YANBU! It’s -6 here, I have an 11 year old and a 9 month old and other than waking to the car we’ve not been out!

My two are both recovering from bugs and have just spent the entire day watching TV next to a warm fire

No! They are tiny - they won’t remember it, they will get cold and cry. I wouldn’t bother at all.

Don’t feel guilty it’s ridiculously cold ! And they aren’t well , my son is 4 and loves the snow but we have only walked to and from the car today it’s just too cold to go sledging , way too cold to be enjoyable ! X

Would they like to be out in freezing temperatures with a cold and sticky eyes?! My 3 year old cried when we had to go out and she had a hot water bottle! I'm with you.

Mine are a similar age but aren’t ill (at least but much). We managed about 5 minutes sledging before the big one was cold and whining and wanted to go home. You’re not missing much.

You’re best keeping them in if ill! I’m not sure what to do with my 5 month old if the 3 year old wants to play in the snow. At that age they get cold easily & fed up in ten mins! I know what the “Mum guilt” feels like but don’t worry, it’s only snow.

We tried to take 20 month old sledging. He went down the hill once with his dad and then refused afterwards. Wouldn't even let his dad pick him up, he was traumatised!

So I wouldn't worry about it :D

Spent ten minutes building a snowman with the eight yr old and then thought he'd enjoy a snowball fight more, wrong, he stomped off into the house crying. That was that. It's so cold it's hard to actually enjoy the snow and we have these ideas of how idyllic or will be, never bloody is!!

Ignore the smug ‘we’ve been sledging all day’ boasts and content yourself with knowing you’ve been warm and happy indoors with a couple of poorly kids.

Don’t give it head space.

Until mine were 4 they just didn't enjoy the snow for more than a few minutes so going off sledging was pointless because they'd have just cried within a short while and the whole faff of getting them dressed in millions of layers then undressed afterwards sounds like a bit of a mare.

I didn't take mine out. DD is 4. She hates being cold and wanted to stay in playing board games in her onesie so we did. We also made popcorn and watched the Little Mermaid AND the Little Mermaid 2. So we kinda did make the most of the snow because she had a lovely, relaxing day at home with her mummy instead of going to school.

Are you insane?? They are sick! I'm all for a bit of fresh air, but not if everyone's liable to get pneumonia.

I wouldn’t feel a bit guilty. I hate seeing children on sledges as it reminds me of my husband’s colleague’s child who died as a result of an accident on one a few years ago.

A bit young for sledging- and they are not well.

Nah of course not.
We had an amazing time building a snowman when it snowed in nov/Dec whenever it was.
It's sooooo cold this week. Why would you??

They’re ill! Of course you wouldn’t drag them out sledging. Fair enough if they were healthy and well but they’re very little, the back garden would probably suffice even then!

Mine are 6 & 3 and have never owned a sledge. #crapparent

Nah, they're too small for that sort of thing. They'd just be cold and miserable.

I took my older two out sledging and they loved it. But they're 11&13.

Your time will come for that sort of thing.

My son got a sledge his second Christmas (bout 18 months) and i used it once. Totally misery. Took it out on a whim today and now that he’s 8 it was actually fun. He’s big enough to tramp about himself and her through the snow. Big enough to agree when to go home. Back of the cupboard for a few years!

Don't feel bad. Chances are, if you'd taken then out, within 5 mins they would have both been crying with the cold. No fun for anyone..

Haven’t got a sledge, took mine to the park. Snowball fight and snowman making were fun, then we were all incredibly cold and it felt like miles home. DCs all cried all the way back. I may have cried a bit too. It wasn’t fun, and mine are older than yours. Ignore the #makingmemories tossers, it’s all for show on Facebook.

Keep your wee ones warm & snug indoors - let them get better. Loads of work with them - so you take the opportunity to rest yourself.
Chance for doing some home baking?
Treats, not normally given, hot chocolate+marshmallows (appropriately cooled for them).
Enjoy YOUR time, with YOUR wee ones - don't listen to others.

if it makes you feel any better OP, the first time we had decent snow when my older two were small, we drove up to the mountains with all these plans. the 2 year old flatly refused to put her feet in it, so we had to carry her and the 1 year old screamed cos it was cold. i think we drove 20 mins there, and managed 3.5 mins outside before giving it up as a bad job and coming home to eat crisps.