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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have taken my toddler out in the rain?

108 replies

Chocolateismyvice · 22/09/2018 11:19

My little boy is nearly 19 months old. he's a very active and busy child, and loves nothing more than running around. We've been cooped up for nearly 2 weeks due to a virus, so yesterday was the first chance in ages to go out. All he's wanted to do the last week is walk up and down the stairs and run around, with so much built up energy.

Now DS is like a puppy, he's a bundle of energy so needs a lot of exercise and fresh air. Plus, I just love taking him outside. Anyway, in the morning, it was a little drizzly and windy but nothing to bad. I bundled DS up in a vest, jumper, thick trousers, all in one rain suit and wellies, and went to the park. He had a great time running around and playing on the swings/slide. We were there probably about 45 minutes. A woman was walking with her dog and friend, and saw them a few times.

At one point, they smiled at DS and fussed over him a little. Then woman with the dog piped up that he shouldn't be out in the rain, he needs to home where it's warm. She wasn't necessarily rude, but it was a little clipped in the way she said it. I just said that we've been stuck in for nearly a fortnight due to colds etc, so nice to be out. She just have a forced smile then went.

It made me feel like shit to be honest :(

Was I/am I unreasonable for taking my toddler out when the weather is not great? He was warm and dry, and obviously I wouldn't bother if it was torrential rain or gale force winds. It was misty rain and light wind/bit cold at the time! It's not like I left him run around completely naked.

Do you or did you used to take your kids out when it's a bit windy/raining?

OP posts:
MrsStrowman · 22/09/2018 12:25

Unless he's a gremlin you're fine to take him out in the rain! Ignore her

Grilledaubergines · 22/09/2018 12:25

I took my kids out in the rain once. They shrank. Never did it again.

Flaskfan · 22/09/2018 12:26

Dd used to have a penchant for going out in the rain....in her swimming costume. Wellies optional. I'm a warm blooded human in a family of cold blooded freaks.

PositivelyPERF · 22/09/2018 12:27

Tipped it down but we pressed on, even bbq'ing sausages holding cardboard over the top so it didn't get cold

Absolutely ridiculous! 🙄

I can’t believe you forgot to bring a brolly. Those poor neglected sausages. 😢

JayDot500 · 22/09/2018 12:27

My 2.7 year old is out right now in the park loving it! He's running around all excited. I've protected him as much as I can against the rain. We'll soon leave as it's getting heavy but I'm loving his excitement!

Deliphant · 22/09/2018 12:28

It's only September FGS! It sounds like you did very well to answer her politely - depending on my mood I would have been far ruder!

Bluewidow · 22/09/2018 12:29

OMG I know someone who is
Like this. As I always say to them the rain won't make you poorly you need a germ for that.

tolerable · 22/09/2018 12:29

lol-I live in scotland-we always go out rain or not.lidls do brilliant fleece lined waterproofs trousers and jackets for kids.

Ixnayonthehombre · 22/09/2018 12:30

If it makes you feel reassured, if I haven't taken my 20 month old to a group or class that morning, I usually take him for a walk round the block or to the park across the road just for half an hour before his afternoon nap. This week I got his shoes and jacket on and opened the front door to drizzle. I thought fuck it, let's go without the waterproofs, because I knew he'd go mental if I closed the door again. After letting him cross the road back and forth 5 times (he's obsessed with the lights, sorry traffic) I decided to head to a friends nearby to distract him from the lights, by the time I got there it was heavy rain, and my friend had a social worker there. Social worker was totally unphased by my drench child without suitable wet weather attire.

diddl · 22/09/2018 12:40

"It made me feel like shit to be honest"

Really??

That's your problem-you need to be confident in your decisions & not care what others think.

SusanneLinder · 22/09/2018 12:42

There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing! Your son was dressed for the weather. If he had been wearing shorts, teeshirts and sandals then maybe....Grin
Jeez I get peed off at people who interfere and tell others how to parent, when it's not dangerous.
Kids don't melt!

WhatAPandemonium · 22/09/2018 12:43

Did you run into my mum?!

FinnegansWhiskers · 22/09/2018 12:47

We live in Wales. If I hadn't taken my kids out because it was raining they would never have gone out! Rain won't hurt your DS. He was clothed appropriately for the weather.

Some people need to keep their crass opinions to themselves.

I bet your ds had a great time splashing in muddy puddles and was happy to get on with quiet time activities when you arrived home.

PinkHeart5914 · 22/09/2018 12:50

Unless your child is made of sugar of course it’s fine!

With wellies & rain coat why wouldn’t you, my eldest is 3 and if he doesn’t get outside everyday for a while he gets cabin fever so he often has a play in the garden in wellies & raincoat to keep him happy

littlemisscomper · 22/09/2018 12:57

Haha, pre school children in forest kindergartens in Sweden are out in all weathers, hiking up mountains/sawing wood/making fires/climbing 20ft tall trees - heck, they only take the babies inside when it hits minus 10!!!

Greyhorses · 22/09/2018 12:57

Mine spends most of the time out on the farm, covered in mud and he’s very rarely sick or unwell.

Tell her to mind her own!

zzzzz · 22/09/2018 12:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

IamPickleRick · 22/09/2018 12:59

Yanbu. I often wrap them up all cosy and in those all in one rain suit, wellies, thermals etc and let them just go out and jump on puddles. They love it! Hot choc, warm baths and blankets as soon as we get in though.

Believeitornot · 22/09/2018 13:00

Yanbu
My dcs went out in all weather at that age bar lightning/ thunderstorms or bad storms.

They also went to a preschool which positively encouraged outdoor play with a free flow outside space. My ds is 8 and calls himself an outdoor child Grin

QuilliamCakespeare · 22/09/2018 13:01

Not unreasonable at all. They don't melt!

Orchiddingme · 22/09/2018 13:04

I've sat on the beach before now with an umbrella and a coat, with my then 6 and 8 year old in swimmers splashing in the sea!

havingabadhairday · 22/09/2018 13:17

Definitely nbu. I took DS out once, he managed to get soaked, we went home got dry, put new clothes in and went straight back out.

My DS starts climbing the walls if he stays in for too long, so unless the weather is terrible we tend to pop out at least briefly.

Thatstheendofmytether · 22/09/2018 13:21

I tell my kids and my dp they're not made of sugar. They hate the slightest drizzle of rain it's quite pathetic really. Although dp will play football in any weather Hmm.
You shouldn't feel bad fresh air and running around would have been good for him.

NutElla5x · 22/09/2018 13:28

My kids,as toddlers,used to be out on walks with me and our dogs everyday in all weathers.They loved it when it was rainy and they got to wear their wellies and jump in the puddles.As long as they're wrapped up warm it does them no harm at all,quite the opposite in fact so ignore her.

Sashkin · 22/09/2018 13:30

We picked our nursery specifically because they take them outside for a run about regardless of the weather (in appropriate clothing, obviously).

I do trail running, and some of my most enjoyable runs have been out in the rain. It can be joyful. She sounds like she either doesn’t have children (so thinks they are super-fragile) or is one of these super-restrictive parents who won’t let their children do anything messy like jump in puddles. Either way, ignore her.