To walk to nursery with two toddlers in the cold?

[Chillyoutthere]

I like to walk to pre-school/nursery with my 3 and 1 year old children whenever possible. I enjoy it, I think they enjoy it, and I believe it’s better for us all to be outdoors instead of in a car.

The walk is about 25 minutes to pre-school, and then a further 15 minutes to nursery with a buggy and buggy board. Sometimes my husband will take one child and I’ll take the other (older one scoots in this scenario), which makes each journey about 20-25 minutes. Traffic is awful so it’s only about 5 minutes quicker in the car.

Obviously, it’s getting colder, which is leading lots of input from my MIL regarding our commute. She feels very strongly that it’s bad for kids to be outside in the cold (1C this morning). I am being told / texted multiple times a day that they will get ill, this is bad parenting and that I am selfish.

I disagree. I was brought up to believe that there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes! Both kids were both wearing hats, gloves and snowsuits this morning.

So, dare I ask… AIBU?

Cold weather does not make you ill unless you're out in it so long that you get hypothermia.

Why does your MIL think she has a right to criticise?

As long as they are dressed warmly I really don't see the issue. I don't drive so I walk most places with my kids. They are perfectly healthy and probably a lot fitter for it.

You are definitely not BU - your MIL is! Your oldest will be outside at times during the school day anyway and as long as they are adequately dressed for the weather there is absolutely no problem! Don't let your MIL bring you down - it sounds like you are doing an amazing job!

How ridiculous. Wrap up warm and get walking!

Does she think children being raised in very cold climates never go outside?

I did it all the time.
SO much fun walking to nursery when it's icey... In fact we used to leave early so we could spend longer on it... Cracking little puddles with our feet, brushing ice off walls, admiring things that sparkled...

Can't imagine why this would be a problem, even if it's not pretty and icy, even if it's a bit grim and wet .. so long as you're wrapped up what's the problem!?

We loved our cold walk to nursery set you up for the day same as any other warmer day.

Imagine if you had to go by car just because the thermometer got near freezing... Barking mad.

MIL is being ridiculous. As long as the dcs are well wrapped up, being outside actually protects against getting ill.

Don't know why you are bothering to engage with her tbh!

Just laugh and carry on with your day, surely?

If she feels so strongly about it she can come and do your preschool/nursery run herself!

Wow. She sounds awful. I would completely ignore her. Unless she has other issues going on.

Enjoy. Mine were out on walks in the freezing cold. As long as they're wrapped up for the weather get outdoors and fill your lungs with fresh air. It wakes you up too!

I walked into town today - 20 minutes. It was -4C. I enjoyed it. Really good for you.

How does MIL think families in Scandinavian countries get to school? Crazy lady. YANBU

She’s being absolutely ridiculous. DGS is 11mths old. He gets taken out for a walk every day, unless it’s absolutely pouring down with rain, because fresh air is good for him. As long as they’re wrapped up warm there’s nothing wrong with it.

Ahh… This is what she wants to do, hence the daily debate! “It is cold, I will come and help take the children” - she’s a nice person and would do this to help out.

But I’ve tried to explain that we actively WANT to do the walk to school, and that I think it’s good for us. This is not an accepted answer, and it’s what’s causing the problem!

If I could walk to drop off at childcare I would! When my baby was small I took him out bundled up in the pram every single morning, rain or shine. Fresh air and daylight in the morning is so good for you.

lol your MIL is ridiculous.

YABU because you only have one toddler.

She’d have a field day with my child’s nursery who are 90% outdoors (forest school type place) with just a rickety portacabin for torrential rain and toilets etc. They even nap outside wrapped up in prams or camp beds. Yes, even today!

My daughter has been going there 4 days a week for 2 years and hasn’t missed a single day yet with illness, so it can’t be that bad!

YANBU, obviously.

We cycle to school/nursery, we have a cargo bike but there are plenty of people who do it with a child in a rear seat or children in a trailer, and of course when children get older they can ride their own bikes. Lots of people do it where we live. I actually prefer cold weather to wet weather for cycling (or walking), it's perfectly pleasant if you wrap up warm. And even in wet weather it can be fun for little ones if you have waterproofs and they can do a bit of puddle-jumping.

Ignore MIL, she is being silly.

I did the same school run. Tbh I know other people thought i was horrid making the dcs do that and MIL was regularly on at me to learn to drive despite us not having the cash for me to learn, DP needing the car and driving would've only saved us 5-10 mins a day

YANBU, as pp say as long as they are well wrapped up it's fine. I'd have a little more concern if it was raining heavily and the were going to be in damp clothing all day , but the cold ? Not a problem.
Ask her how she / her DPs got to school at the same age , dis they survive?

Does she think that every child in Scandinavia and the Northern US etc are deathly ill all winter when the temps are below freezing for weeks on end? Load of old nonsense. If she is pestering you multiple times a day on the same issue, tell her you are not discussing it anymore with her and if she continues, you will mute her…or get DH to have a word

This..ignore her. How does she think people in really cold climates manage. Keep walking it sounds great.

Is a 3 year old not a toddler? I understand a 4 year old isn’t but I don’t think calling a 3 year old a toddler is that weird… they’re between a toddler and a child aren’t they? Especially if they’ve just turned 3. What would you call them?

edit to add - just checked NHS definition. 1-3 is toddler, 4+ child according to them

I walk with my son back from pre-school and it takes around 15-20 minutes. He enjoys it and likes just sitting there having a look around. It’s good to get fresh air and show your children that walking is normal. The only time I would rather have a car is when he’s not 100% well, if he has a chesty cough or some such.

The NHS definition is inaccurate . The generally accepted timeframe and what I was taught when studying child development is 12-36 months. As soon as they turn 3, they are no longer a toddler.