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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Put a f*cking blanket over your baby

329 replies

Noti23 · 30/01/2020 13:40

It’s horrible day- freezing light rain that sticks to your & face ice cold wind.

Nevertheless, am I still seeing 6 month old babies being strolled around in the pram wearing nothing but a coat, jeans and socks. No blanket, no raincover. Meanwhile their parents are dawdling by wearing a nice thick coat, a hat and a pair of gloves.

Are these people stupid or lazy? AIBU?

OP posts:
Jumblebee · 30/01/2020 16:13

I'm probably one of those parents you judge.

My nearly 2 year old won't keep a hat or gloves on her and I'm too fed up of the screaming now to try. And god forbid I put the cost toes on her when she doesn't want them, I risk a kick in the face.

Don't even get me started on rain covers.

Molly2017 · 30/01/2020 16:13

@LovePoppy they mean putting a blanket or cover over the top of the Pram or pushchair to ‘provide shade’ but it actually turns the area into a furnace. Significantly raises the temperature of the child, even though it creates shade.
Very dangerous for the child.

Nalanoodle · 30/01/2020 16:13

Babies should b wrapped up.

My son is 2 and he's had moments this winter where he takes off his shoes or throws blankets and hats on the floor. So I can't wrap him up as much as I'd like. Also he knows how to put the rain cover down and he pokes his head out. I do try though.

No excuse for babies not to have blankets on though!

onthewatchlist · 30/01/2020 16:16

but if it's not that cold, why is the parent wearing a coat?

Fuck knows, I'd be boiling today if I were wearing a thick winter coat.

lucieinthesky · 30/01/2020 16:17

Put a f*cking blanket over your face.

nzborn · 30/01/2020 16:20

l couldn't believe how many people didn't have anything on their babies heads in the winter so l got a lovely cashmere hat and whenever l saw a child without one l said to the parents l don't mean to offend you but would you like this,no takers ever

feelingverylazytoday · 30/01/2020 16:23

I agree with the OP.
I used to dress my babies in a snow suit in the winter, with built in feet and hoods. If it was a freezing cold day then they had a cosi toes, and I always had a raincover on the buggy as well, in case it started raining.To be fair though, the little blighters did used to take their hats and gloves off. I can understand it happens sometimes.
Most of the babies I see look lovely and cosy in their buggies. Dressing your baby in weather appropiate clothes is pretty basic parenting really

Aragog · 30/01/2020 16:25

What’s wrong with shade?

By using a blanket to cover the pram - especially where lots of parents like to cover the whole of the pram front - it can significantly raise the temperature within the pram, causing over heating. An overheated baby can be very dangerous.

Nothing wrong with shade itself though - infact shade is good - but it needs to be provided in a safe manner. A blanket covering the pram opening isn't this.

Lunafortheloveogod · 30/01/2020 16:25

I hate them looking cold too... but once they get their own idea about what they’re keeping on sometimes it’s either a 2 minute walk with them whipping things off or an hour of no keep your bloody gloves on! Grin

Ds has figured kickin the muff until it unzips.. so I’ve stitched a toggle onto it.. he’s fine with the rain cover so far but I’ve seen pod like bubble ones that could be good if he decides there’s not enough room..

But hats n gloves I’d need fucking gorilla glue. I put his hood up, over the hat to start with, so he’s at least half covered. And he’s well dressed in a muff. With tights to prevent the sock issue.. do they make hand tights?

Chrissyho · 30/01/2020 16:25

It doesn’t stop when they’re very small.
The number of kids in my class (7 year olds) who don’t come to school in coats really saddens me. And yes they complain of being cold.

So sad to read this. I actually saw this young boy in the school playgroup whilst I was pregnant and it was freezing cold outside. He was wearing a loose t-shirt and the teachers were saying nothing to him. Ugh!

MrsTerryPratchett · 30/01/2020 16:27

It’s not soft to put a coat on when you feel cold. It’s common bloody sense.

People are talking about snow suits (clue is in the name) and cozy toes in normal English weather. I mean maybe OP lives in Shetland and it's actually freezing and blowing a gale.

If I'd dressed DD as people are suggesting when she was little, she'd have been a sweaty, grumpy mess. And for the judgy coat judges... she always has one in her bag. It's NEVER been worn. It just sits there year after year. I actually bought her an adult small this year so it can sit there for several years not being worn.

Maybe it's a generic thing. I sleep in an I heated house with windows open all tear. The people that leave their heat on at night? I'd suffocate.

MrsTerryPratchett · 30/01/2020 16:29

Unheated all year.

FFS

peachgreen · 30/01/2020 16:32

My DD doesn't kick or take stuff off. But I feel the back of her neck, as recommended, and judge from there whether she needs more or less layers. Usually she's in less layers than a lot of other babies I see. But she's perfectly warm enough. Nothing to do with laziness or being too soft or any such nonsense. All to do with me parenting my child in the right way for her as an individual.

Judgey mums are the absolute fucking worst. Parenting is tough. Have some fucking compassion and empathy rather than trying to make yourself feel better by doing others down.

elenacampana · 30/01/2020 16:33

#whosbeingjudgy

BigButtons · 30/01/2020 16:34

@MrsTerryPratchett
"Maybe it's a generic thing. I sleep in an I heated house with windows open all tear. The people that leave their heat on at night? I'd suffocate."

I am the complete opposite to you I am always freezing. Mind you I can't stand hot rooms either. I prefer to keep myself warm with layers.

lalafafa · 30/01/2020 16:36

I always used a foot muff when they were younger, or a snow suit. I feel so sorry seeing babies unwrapped when its freezing, the parent is ALWAYS warmly dressed too.
plus babies in socks/tights and no warm shoes when its freezing, its unacceptable.

DiegoSaber · 30/01/2020 16:40

l couldn't believe how many people didn't have anything on their babies heads in the winter so l got a lovely cashmere hat and whenever l saw a child without one l said to the parents l don't mean to offend you but would you like this,no takers ever

LMAO is this real? Or just good satire?

FreakStar · 30/01/2020 16:54

Don't babies have those pram suits anymore or a buggy snuggle?

FreakStar · 30/01/2020 16:57

How does feeling the back of the neck tell you if your hands or feet are cold? The back of my neck wouldn't be cold if I was wearing a coat and scarf but my feet would still be cold if I was wearing just socks outside today.

GrumpyHoonMain · 30/01/2020 17:01

I put on a pram / snow suit / knitted sleep suit for DS in the winter as he kicks off his socks (only 8 weeks so he has started early!) and DN who nearly always runs too hot gets the choice between a thick hoodie or her coat.

CallofDoodee · 30/01/2020 17:01

On the one hand I always judge when I see babies with those enormous boiling hot snow suits on when it's not even that cold, and I often think that parents overdress their kids and they are probably so hot! And my DS would scream whenever we put the rain cover on, so we just stopped bothering with it.

On the other hand, footmuff/cosy toe things are so easy to just have on your buggy, and you can get them pretty cheap, so there's no excuse for not just zipping that up when it's a bit chilly.

One time years ago I was out walking in the rain - it wasn't bucketing down, but it was slightly heavier than drizzle, that sort of rain. And a person in front of me was pushing a lie flat pram, with a baby of about a year old sitting upright in it, with no coat or anything on, her hair and clothes soaking wet. I did judge fairly hard at that.

ChipsyChopsy · 30/01/2020 17:02

All those whose shit is so firmly gripped must have had/have children who sit in a buggy silently with no protests over gloves/hats/raincovers/blankets.

peachgreen · 30/01/2020 17:02

That's literally how every advice service, including the NHS and the Lullaby Trust, tell you to check a baby's temperature. Chest or low down on the back of the neck. Judging by extremeties like hands and feet (which are naturally cooler) is how babies overheat.

ChipsyChopsy · 30/01/2020 17:04

I've had random people take my DD's hat off 'oooh she's too hot' and attempt to pull the hood of her coat up 'freezing!'. Just bugger off and mind your own business.

JosefKeller · 30/01/2020 17:06

All those whose shit is so firmly gripped must have had/have children who sit in a buggy silently with no protests over gloves/hats/raincovers/blankets.

no, just parents who put the well being of their children above anything else, and find alternatives when a little one refuses hats and gloves.

It's called parenting.