Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do kids really need a thick winter coat for school?

91 replies

Floie92 · 30/09/2021 12:27

Every year I've bought my kids a decent thick winter coat for school and they've ended up hardly wearing them and then outgrow them! We live 1 minute walk away from the school so no long walks to school. Half the time they don't even wear them at school even in the winter, if it's raining they stay indoors, if it's dry they just tend to go out in the school fleeces over their jumper/cardigan. Ds hates coats in general.

They much prefer their thinner coats - not the paper thin macs you can get - I mean rain coats you get with a decent thick material but not fleeced lined inside or anything but they are rain and wind proof. I spent quite a bit on a decent rain coat for Dd back in the summer. It's not thick, padded or fleece lined bug very waterproof and a good material. Is that enough??

When it's dry in the winter and we go out about on the weekends they tend to wear thick fleece jumpers. Rain coat if rainy.

Will I be judged at school for sending my kids into school without a thick coat??

I only buy them for school and they barely get worn!!

OP posts:
Taiyo · 30/09/2021 12:30

I have given up on coats and my daughters just wear a fleece to school. A rain coat on top of a fleece is actually pretty warm. It's what I wear when hiking. The thick coats just seem to be a waste of money and never get worn.

noblegiraffe · 30/09/2021 12:30

If windows are open for ventilation they may end up wearing coats in the classroom.

WetWeekends · 30/09/2021 12:31

I think that sounds sensible and I doubt their teachers will even notice! As long as they’ve got layers and they’re not complaining of being cold they’ll be fine in my opinion.
My eldest is Autistic and likes the feeling of thick heavy coats, so wears his a lot, my youngest isn’t bothered what you stick on them.

TheLovelinessOfDemons · 30/09/2021 12:31

DS3 will have one, DS2 hasn't worn a coat since he started secondary school 2 years ago, he doesn't feel the cold has to carry it around with him and has a brolly if it rains.

Original poster
Floie92 · 30/09/2021 12:31

@noblegiraffe

If windows are open for ventilation they may end up wearing coats in the classroom.
I'm aware of that but no coats in classrooms here. They have thick fleece fleeces to go on top of jumpers/cardigans 😃
OP posts:
Original poster
Floie92 · 30/09/2021 12:33

@WetWeekends

I think that sounds sensible and I doubt their teachers will even notice! As long as they’ve got layers and they’re not complaining of being cold they’ll be fine in my opinion. My eldest is Autistic and likes the feeling of thick heavy coats, so wears his a lot, my youngest isn’t bothered what you stick on them.
Thank you. My son is autistic and actually hates thick coats or any coats. He much prefers fleece jumpers but sometimes manage to get a rain coat on him 😅 but weirdly when it's hot in summer he will layer himself up! But be happy with no layers in the winter!!
OP posts:
MrsKDB · 30/09/2021 12:33

Teenagers hate coats. I’ve filed under ‘pick your battles’ and let her get on with it now.

Thebookswereherfriends · 30/09/2021 12:34

As long as they have a coat of some sort to wear then that’s fine. My daughter feels the cold and dislikes the wind, so needs a thick coat. She is also not a kid who runs around the whole break, so yeah, depends on your child.

Hardbackwriter · 30/09/2021 12:34

I realise that you have an unusually short journey to school but don't you do other activities as a family that involve being outdoors in winter? I can't imagine not having a thick winter coat for everyone.

Paddingtonsmarmlade · 30/09/2021 12:37

What about the 3 in 1 coats with the fleece that zips inside the raincoat? That way you can get use out of the fleece and coat separately and if it turns horribly cold you can combine. Mountain warehouse do some good ones www.mountainwarehouse.com/kids/jackets/kids-3-in-1-jackets/lightning-kids-3-in-1-jacket-p13476.aspx/light%20pink/

Original poster
Floie92 · 30/09/2021 12:38

@Hardbackwriter

I realise that you have an unusually short journey to school but don't you do other activities as a family that involve being outdoors in winter? I can't imagine not having a thick winter coat for everyone.
I said in op they tend to wear thick fleeces with rain coats over top if raining and we have lots of woolies like scarf, hat, gloves.

They've had winter coats every year until now but they need up with barely any use! Two decent winter coats can set you back quite a lot. Absolutely will if necessary but last year Dd worn it about 3 times and DS maybe once. They found it too much with school jumper, fleece and a thick coat on top!

OP posts:
Original poster
Floie92 · 30/09/2021 12:38

This is the one dd has currently! It is warmer than it looks.

Do kids really need a thick winter coat for school?
OP posts:
BakingOfTheFoodCats · 30/09/2021 12:41

That wouldn’t be enough for mine, mine feel the cold though! I wouldn’t be happy with just that personally

Siameasy · 30/09/2021 12:42

Agree-DD looks like a Michelin man in hers, it seems to impede movement. She refuses coats generally unless it’s minus 1000 and I think she prefers layering which is what we go for (a good old thermal vest)

Cuddlyrottweiler · 30/09/2021 12:44

I hate thick coats. Also autistic. They're suffocating. Especially them that are plasticy with patches full off padding. Awful things.
Thick fleece and a waterproof coat is plenty. Can add gloves and hoodie if it's super cold.

Generallystruggling · 30/09/2021 12:49

Don’t they ever walk to the local library or swimming pool for example? My DC go on trips to the library, they walked over a mile to the swimming pool when they did lessons in year 4 and 5 and they sometimes walk to the local castle too.

We live 1.6 miles from school and usually walk home so my DC have always required one. Once they get to secondary school they won’t wear them, bought my DS an expensive one for September and he’s worn it once so far. He’ll wear it when we go out on days out though, we’re quite an outdoorsy family.

PhillMcCann · 30/09/2021 12:52

What about the 3 in 1 coats with the fleece that zips inside the raincoat? That way you can get use out of the fleece and coat separately and if it turns horribly cold you can combine. Mountain warehouse do some good ones

This is what my dc have, think ours are Regatta. The coat alone is suitable for spring/autumn or mild winter days...although not very thick the water and wind proofing means there's still a decent level of warmth. Then on cold days they zip the thick fleece in which makes it a very warm winter coat.

Ishouldbeworkinginstead · 30/09/2021 12:52

@Hardbackwriter

I realise that you have an unusually short journey to school but don't you do other activities as a family that involve being outdoors in winter? I can't imagine not having a thick winter coat for everyone.
I was also thinking this. We are out for walks or on the bikes every weekend.

I also disagree that coats need to be expensive. My kids coats cost £20 max each from Asda.

Original poster
Floie92 · 30/09/2021 12:53

@Generallystruggling

Don’t they ever walk to the local library or swimming pool for example? My DC go on trips to the library, they walked over a mile to the swimming pool when they did lessons in year 4 and 5 and they sometimes walk to the local castle too.

We live 1.6 miles from school and usually walk home so my DC have always required one. Once they get to secondary school they won’t wear them, bought my DS an expensive one for September and he’s worn it once so far. He’ll wear it when we go out on days out though, we’re quite an outdoorsy family.

No we live rurally with nothing around apart from a small shop and school which is right behind us so very little walking involved unless we are actually going out for a walk as a family. As a family we have to drive everywhere and the school get the bus to swim 12 miles away. I can assure you they are not cold. They have coats, fleeces, woolies etc. They've had a winter coat every year. I'm just wondering whether to spend so much on coats this year that won't get worn as money is tight...

Ds is secondary school next year!

OP posts:
MrsWhites · 30/09/2021 12:56

My son has a trespass 3 in 1 coat, a raincoat with an attachable fleece inside. He uses it without the fleece in the autumn and spring and adds the fleece for winter months.

CoffeeWithCheese · 30/09/2021 12:57

Depends on the school really - my kids are at a school which is tiny and so doesn't have a school hall so their PE is outside all year round. They're also wimps - so we tend to have two coats on the go - a lighter weight summer one and a big winter one.

On the other hand I can't stand wearing coats so rarely do - I've got a range of ones mum bought for me over the years cos she gets sick of seeing me without one - but I still tend to default to a jumper or hoodie instead (the arms piss me off).

Bimblybomeyelash · 30/09/2021 12:59

I never buy mine a super warm coat. They get a warmish rain coat, that is big enough to fit a fleece underneath when it’s properly cold. We are out walking or cycling when it’s nice in the autumn or winter, and I find that layers work best. And you quickly warm up when you are on the move! The massive coats look like they are best for trudging through the snow, which doesn’t happen very often.

NotMyCat · 30/09/2021 13:01

They might just be the type who aren't coat people - I am! I much prefer a no fill waterproof jacket and then layers underneath so I can adjust it as I get too hot, and I never wear a coat if I go shopping or something, I've been know to ride horses in a long sleeve t shirt in the snow Blush
As long as they're warm enough then it's fine

Stellaris22 · 30/09/2021 13:03

DD doesn't have a thick, winter coat as I don't think it's necessary. We walk just under a mile to school and go on walks regularly. At school she has a jumper and in the winter wears a vest to keep warm, but has a decent rain coat which I find myself ch more important.

The rain coat is actually a 3 in 1 coat (I love my one so got her one), but she hated getting in/out of it with the fleece attached so just wears the waterproof part.

Crunchymum · 30/09/2021 13:03

Mine do, but we're a 10 minute walk each way and x3 days a week they are at their grandparents which is a 15 minute walk home.

I don't buy every year though? My 8yo still fits into last year's (next year he'll hand it down to the now 6yo and we'll buy a new one for him - we'll buy big too) the 6yo hands down to the 3yo, but the 3yo also get her cousins amazing hand me downs. I have about 10 winter coats between them!!