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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Kids not wrapped up in this cold weather!

206 replies

bluesteakandcheese · 14/12/2019 15:06

I know it is nothing to do with me how others see fit to dress their children. But it really gets to me when I'm walking round town and see young kids and babies with no gloves or hat on.
Why do parents not think it is appropriate to wrap their children up against the cold? I just don't understand it!

OP posts:
Election2019 · 14/12/2019 15:08

Lots of children refuse and parents find it easier to agree to not put on coats etc and wait until they get cold, because then they will agree. It’s also cheaper than buying endless hats and gloves that are wastefully thrown away by determined children and babies.

Obviously not all children are like this but one of mine is (sensory issues) and so we just work round what keeps her calm and doesn’t endanger her.

MaidenMotherCrone · 14/12/2019 15:09

Have you ever tried to keep hats, scarves, gloves or coats on a child who doesn't want them on?

Mine were fine but I know other children who weren't.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 14/12/2019 15:10

Loads of kids at the school I work in come out at lunch with no coats on,they always say its "red hot miss"

raspberryk · 14/12/2019 15:11

I don't know where you are but it's not CD where I am in the midlands. They would get overheated too if in and out of shops.

Elbeagle · 14/12/2019 15:11

My 11 month old pulls off his gloves and hat every single time.
He doesn’t cry about being cold though so I assume he can’t be uncomfortable? He’d let me know if he was.
I put plenty of layers on, but he will just not keep his hat and gloves on. Nothing I can do except not go out.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 14/12/2019 15:12

If children are being neglected it is not unreasonable to be distressed by it, but you would have to be sure that what you were seeing was parent not bothering to dress cold child rather than child who refuses to wear things and repeatedly pulls them off, or child (I had one of these) who feels the cold less than others and is uncomfortable and mithered in what would be normal for other children.

PumpkinP · 14/12/2019 15:12

My child won’t keep her hat on. Everytime I put it on she takes it off, what do you suggest I do?? Glue it on? My son also keeps coming out of school without his hat or gloves or scarf, can’t keep buying them once a week.

Rainandclouds · 14/12/2019 15:13

Mine only wear coats when it’s raining. I rarely wear one either. I am still in shorts and flip flops but have now added a jumper. I will have a coat or jumper with me so they wear it if they are cold.

MrsSiriusBlack1 · 14/12/2019 15:13

My dd is 22mths and an avid hat refuser Smileits a battle i should just admit defeat with!

raspberryk · 14/12/2019 15:14

Not cold lol not CD

Merename · 14/12/2019 15:14

YABU. As pps have said, it can be impossible to get them to keep them on. But I suppose you are just wondering, now you understand, you’ll be able to stop judging people.

Fucck · 14/12/2019 15:14

MYOB! Kids don't feel the cold like some adults do. My ds regularly went to school with shorts on in the snow as he wouldn't entertain wearing long trousers. Ever!
And despite having a basket right by the door with probably ten different sets of gloves/hats/scarves my kids just don't want to wear them.

Mumshappy · 14/12/2019 15:14

Ds 20 months wont keep a hat or gloves on. Thankfully will keep his hood up.

MooKnee · 14/12/2019 15:14

My child wears a coat but refuses gloves and just takes them off every time, no matter what style glove, also he is the same with hats so I usually try to put his hood up. Not many posts wind me up, but ones like this do because why judge other parents that way? I feel bad but there is nothing else I can do, I’m glad your the perfect parent

Honeybee85 · 14/12/2019 15:14

I saw a baby today in a shop with bare feet.
My face was Shock (mine likes to kick off his socks and shoes so he wears a skisuit).
It’s not freezing here yet but in the evening it’s around maybe 2 degrees.

I don’t understand it either when I see kids like that but I don’t want to judge like the annoying stranger who told me this summer when it was over 30 degrees outside that DS should really wear socks.

TheJoxter · 14/12/2019 15:15

My 2yo won’t wear hat and gloves, he’s dressed head to toe in layers of merino wool in this weather though so whilst he might look underdressed he’s definitely warm enough

olivehater · 14/12/2019 15:16

It really isn’t that cold in this country. Mine often sheds to single layers, never mind hat and gloves

MrsBricks · 14/12/2019 15:16

We always leave the house with boots, hats, gloves, blankets etc but they rarely last long. I've started putting tights on under leggings/trousers for my 2 year old as she was pulling her socks off in the buggy too!

IME over 3s tend to be better at keeping all the extra stuff on than under 3s.

ThanksForAllTheFish · 14/12/2019 15:16

Babies and young children should be dressed for the weather. Anyone small enough to be in a pram or pushchair (and therefore not walking around to keep warm) will feel the cold more. I hate it when you see baby in the cold with bare hands that have usually turned a reddish colour.
Toddlers running around do tend to discard hats and gloves as they get warm but still a good idea to have them on at the start of the trip and use them later if needed.

Older children are different. They tend to be a bit better at judging how cold they feel. My DD is 10 now so I do let her make her own judgements. When she was a bit younger (5/6 ish) I did make her wear a jacket and gloves/hat when it was cold. Now she tends to have them in her school bag all winter so can put them on if she feels cold at school. I always have some spare gloves in the car and most of the time an extra layer like a hoodie or a jacket in there too should she need it. I did draw the line the other day at her choice to wear flip flops in the pouring rain and the icy cold wind. We wouldn’t have been outside for long as just going to pick up DH from work but I still made her put in proper shoes.

Original poster
bluesteakandcheese · 14/12/2019 15:16

I guess I didn't think of that, about children refusing to keep gloves and hats on!!

Thanks all :)

OP posts:
MolyHolyGuacamole · 14/12/2019 15:17

Everyone is a different perception of what cold is. Every morning I get on the bus, am overwhelmed by the heat and stuffiness, not a window cracked, desperately pulling off layers and others are sat wrapped up in bulky coats makes me sweat looking at them. You may feel the cold more than others do.

SquareAsABlock · 14/12/2019 15:17

My youngest takes hats and gloves off at every opportunity. As a pp said, short of gluing them on I dont have much choice. I keep the rain guard on when out and attempt to keep a pram blanket on, that's as much as I can physically do.

Elbeagle · 14/12/2019 15:18

I hate it when you see baby in the cold with bare hands that have usually turned a reddish colour

Mine uses his teeth to bite his gloves off.
What do you suggest I do to keep them on?

LouiseHumphreys81 · 14/12/2019 15:18

I guess it depends on the circumstances. I was out this morning with my 2 DS. Youngest wrapped up in hooded jumper and coat, no hat but hood up. Oldest, suspected dyspraxia and sensory issues was just wearing his jumper. He hates wearing layers or anything heavy and genuinely doesn't seem to feel the cold but is really bothered by feeling even a little bit hot. He has only worn his jumper twice to school this term when the temperature really dropped, otherwise it is in his backpack. I bet some people did look at him when we were out but he was fine, and way more comfortable and relaxed than he would have been if I'd tried to force hat/gloves/coat on him.

BingPot99 · 14/12/2019 15:18

My DS(7) has often refused to wear a hat or scarf and will sometimes insist on not doing his coat up even when I think it is really cold. Unless it is literally freezing cold or snowing I don't force him or get into an argument (sometimes put the stuff in my bag in case he changes his mind). He needs to learn to judge for himself when it is cold enough to wrap up.

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