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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:
RedneckStumpy · 22/09/2018 13:32

Skin is waterproof, besides getting kids used to being outdoors in all weathers is great

eelbecomingforyou · 22/09/2018 13:37

She was bonkers. Yanbu at all. Kids need exercise. Much better than being cooped up indoors.

KickAssAngel · 22/09/2018 13:37

Of COURSE kids should go out unless it's dangerous!!!

My DSis lived in Scandinavia when her kids were young, and even the babies went outside every day in winter as they need sunlight on their skin.

I live in an area of the US where it can get as cold as -40. We make kids go outside for playtime unless it's colder than -15, or if there's a thunder storm.

IGiorni · 22/09/2018 13:38

My son loves being out in the rain, always has done. Same with the children at the nursery I work at, we have all-in-one rain suits and wellies for them and only don’t go outside if it’s unsafe. Fresh air is good for children and people should keep their unwanted opinions to themselves Smile

Aridane · 22/09/2018 13:43

YABVU - to feel a bit shit because of a stranger’s comments about the weather and keeping your son indoors

pigsDOfly · 22/09/2018 13:48

Silly women. There's nothing like being out in the rain when you're small and you're wrapped up warmly, wellies on and splashing in puddles.

I love walking in the rain. It's probably a left over feeling from enjoyable walks in the rain when I was a child many years ago. Very few cars around in those days and we walked everywhere. Funnily enough, we didn't melt.

averylongtimeago · 22/09/2018 13:48

Waterproof clothing, tick
Wellies boots, tick
Plenty of layers so not cold, tick
Hat and gloves as required, tick

Go for it OP, no one melts in the rain.
Much more healthy playing out than stuck indoors.

Bardwell · 22/09/2018 13:49

DS went to a forest school-type pre-school on a farm, where they spent the majority of every day outdoors regardless of weather (I think only high winds kept them in on safety grounds).

And honestly, the only problem with taking toddlers out in crappy weather is that they are almost invariably better dressed for it than you are, and can sit in their cosy padded waterproofs and wellies in a giant puddle singing a song while you, even in a coat, hat and boots, get chilled before they do. Grin

pigsDOfly · 22/09/2018 14:07

*Obviously that 'silly women' was referring to the passerby not you OP.

happymummy12345 · 22/09/2018 14:09

My ds's nursery say the children love playing in the rain. So if a professional setting take them out, why can't a parent do the same?
My dh can't wait to take ds splashing in puddles and things

chicken2015 · 22/09/2018 14:17

What a rude woman ! I love going out in rain and will purposely go for walks when its raining, i take my little girl out in all in one rain cover, they are amazing! The park is quietest when raining 😊 i used to work at school where they couldnt go out if too windy as they were convinced they would blow over used to annoy me so much!

TotHappy · 22/09/2018 14:29

Love how everyone's stipulating appropriate clothing... In the rain in shorts and flipflops is actually the most fun unless you're too cold

Celebelly · 22/09/2018 14:31

@Bardwell A bit off-topic, but did your son like it there? I love the sound of the one near us - it's in a forest and they're out all day in the woods doing stuff. It just sounds amazing. I imagine they're very in demand tho so I'll have to be on the ball with applying when the time is right!

1tisILeClerc · 22/09/2018 14:40

Babies up to old age pensioners in Russia swim in rivers or lakes with ice bobbing around. A bit of rain won't hurt.

Jagblue · 22/09/2018 14:42

When we were children we were always half dressed and a bit feral. Always bare foot. We were allowed to go out in the rain with shorts and a t shirt until our lips were almost blue.
Back in the 70's parents didn't worry as much and it was great. When we were ready to come back in our Mum would send us for a shower and after a cozy drink.
I think it's great that your DS has a Mum willing to take him out and experience the rain.
I'm not sure why it got to you that woman but her dog was getting wet is that irresponsible? NO.
As a parent I follow my instinct and our son has been allowed questionable stuff like lunch himself down the stairs inside a massive fridge cardboard box.
Don't let people get you down we all parent differently.

Ispini · 22/09/2018 14:43

Good for you for taking the time to get him outdoors its exactly what little children need. She was totally rude to pass comment. Good lord I had my girls out on cliff tops on sleety winter days, kids love being out and about. You dressed him appropriately and quite frankly he is going to have lovely memories of you being out and about together. Enjoy! Before you know it he'll be a moody bedroom bound teen!

Jagblue · 22/09/2018 14:45

Notclevername I thought they grew or was it shrink in the rain? Not sure Smile

Bardwell · 22/09/2018 14:47

Celebelly, he loved it, especially feeding the animals and lambing. Mind you, it wasn't any kind of 'alternative' choice around here. We moved to the village, and it was just the local pre-school that nearly all kids went to before going onto the village school. Run by an older farming couple who rented out most of their land, and just kept a small amount of livestock, hens, bees, and a big kitchen garden.

CookPassBabtridge · 22/09/2018 14:48

She was rude and probably thinking of when she was little and outdoor weather gear wasn't good. Don't feel bad, you did the right thing taking him out!

Bardwell · 22/09/2018 15:07

Some of it's generational, too. My mother cannot conceive of it being a good idea to have children out in the rain or cold, despite (or possibly because of) the fact that she grew up in a very spartan, poor household, where small children would have been cycling or walking long distances on errands or to school in all weathers. She's baffled by us taking our very lively DS out in all weathers, as he absolutely needs exercise daily.

Xmasbaby11 · 22/09/2018 15:10

Yanbu! Mine both hated the rain so we didn't do it much, but in theory it's a good idea to get out whatever the weather!

BertrandRussell · 22/09/2018 15:14

I donmt think it's generational at all. Surely it's us oldies who are all for fresh air and exercise?

Bardwell · 22/09/2018 15:31

I donmt think it's generational at all. Surely it's us oldies who are all for fresh air and exercise?

Then maybe it's in part cultural and/or class-specific -- I'm not from the UK.

pigsDOfly · 22/09/2018 16:17

Definitely don't think it's generational either. I'm coming up to 70 this year. All my DC went out in the rain and cold weather, we used to walk a great deal in all weather, as I did when I was a child.

In fact I always found that if a child had a runny nose from a cold taking them out into the air seems to help it stop running for the time you're out; have no idea if this is actually works like that but it always seemed that way to me.

My DM always dressed us up very warmly in cold weather, in fact too warm I think looking back on it, but given that she grew up in a time before central heating, so did I come to that, she knew all about the benefit of layers, and in the winter we were always layered up to within an inch of our lives, cold weather held no fears for us.

Maelstrop · 22/09/2018 16:45

She was rude md ridiculous. I much prefer taking out the children dogs when it’s raining, far fewer people out there to annoy me.