Bringing toddler out in the rain

[RainRainRain123]

Just started a new nanny position. Mother of the child (20 months) is quite insistent that he should be brought out twice a day even if its raining. He has rain gear, I do not. Just arrived this morning to be told he loves the library, its only a 30 minute walk each way, it's lashing rain here. I said if it eases of later I will get out with him. Questioned me yesterday if we went to the park. Has sent me numerous groups, all of which are at least 20 minutes walk away, not allowed take him out in the car. Where they live is also quite hilly and buggy isn't the best.

Mam seems to walk everywhere and always has her rain gear on. AIBU to not want to go out twice a day when the weather is bad.

Get a proper waterproof long coat. You’ll survive, promise!

and what's next? Homeschooling the kids because it's raining?
You want a weather lockdown next? 😂

I am in South London. NEVER has it rained so much here you couldn't go out for a run.

(It's rare trees are flying around in high winds but that has nothing to do with rain)

@Londonrach1

I am indeed qualified and have been a Nanny 13 years. Previous parents never expected me to bring children out in bad weather and if we find been to go out I drove. Recently I've noticed most positions do not want you to drive.

Get your rain gear on. Would she happy if you just took him out close by so you dont have to walk 30 minutes somewhere? Perhaps local park or walk near the house exploring. Or playing in the garden?

talk for yourself 🙄

I assure you many people do not stay indoors because they dislike the weather.

I'd be more careful with a heatwave at the hotest time of the day, and would avoid for a few hours, but rain/ sleet/ snow? It's beyond lazy to use as an excuse to avoid a short walk.

Sorry if we needed to go out we drove. In fact they insisted I drove.

I think there is a big difference between walking to somewhere inside and warm in the sleeting rain and being outside spending time in the sleeting rain for the sake of it.

It's not very pleasant walking in conditions like that but, if you're going somewhere warm and heated like the library or soft play, and then coming back to a warm, heated house, I don't think expecting someone to walk up to a few miles there is unreasonable. Secondary school children are expected to walk in all weathers if they live within 3 miles of school. On the other hand, it's much less reasonable to ask your nanny to take your kids outside to play in the park or feed the ducks in miserable freezing conditions.

But there's a huge difference between playing out and trudging through really heavy rain/sleet/wind just to get somewhere.

I dont mind walking the dog in the rain if I have to - it can be fun. But if the weather is really bad I'm more likely to drive t the park and THEN walk her there than walk to the park int he first place becuase I dont' want to walk on a busy road with cars splashing me etc etc.

You and the dnsoly might not eb compatible. This is something to discuss with future employers. Also I'm suprised you don't have rain gear. Everyone I know in childcare has the most high tech outdoor all weather gear compared to the general population.

@SamPoodle123

House has no garden. There is one park with a playground that is for older children. She said he likes to go there. I brought him yesterday and it was not at all suitable.

Did she say what she does with him in the park? He might like to go there because his mum takes specific toys with them - a football to kick around, a bucket to pick up rocks.

If he can still play then would just take him there. It must be somewhat suitable....as I have 3 dc with parks near by for older and younger kids. The ones for older kids were okay mostly, as long as I was there helping the entire time. But there were def things the little ones could do, as long as I was doing it too. It rains a lot here so you might need to come with ideas that means you get out, but perhaps not having to trudge 30 mins everywhere. I used to take my young ones just for a little walk when weather was bad, but just to get out of the house. So we would do an exploring walk to look at the different bugs or leaves or trees etc.

not suitable. Neither the park nor yourself.

Get yourself some appropriate gear, it's not good for kids to be cooped up inside!

@Goldbar

She said he just runs head first into everything and has no fear.

I think lashing heavy rain ,you shouldnt have to walk in that TBH This family are being unreasonable I think,The car should be avaliable in bad weather.Maybe look for another position?

I’m on your side. That’s a long time to walk in the rain and not very fun for either for you, I would be driving that distance. Seems a bit unreasonable of her.

What about a compromise? Is there any local busses that break up the journey?

We walk/buggy 40mins each way to the library every week but if it’s tipping it down and freezing I’d maybe get the bus one leg of the journey and walk the other leg.

My son’s nursery used the phrase there’s no such thing as bad weather just inappropriate clothing. They played outside in all weathers.

If you drive children everywhere then they grow up to be the kind of people who expect to drive everywhere. Get your raincoat on and stop being so precious!

I've not RTFT so sorry if this has been mentioned already, but a 30 minute walk to the library is an hour round trip... And the child is roughly 1.5 years old! He ain't walking that in it's entirety.

And his mum wants him/OP to do this twice a day. Presumably to the other activities that are also 20+ minutes/40+ minutes round trip.

I assume the '20/30 minutes' is also calculated in adult walking time, not tiny little legs walking time with stopping to lick puddles and whatnot factored in! It will be a way longer walk.

So that, twice a day? In the cold and rain? There's no way she's expecting him to physically walk himself that distance every day in all weathers. That's a ridiculous expectation. He would be cold, wet and exhausted for the majority of every day, at 1.5 years old... Not fair at all.

Realistically, her expectation is that OP should walk around 2 hours a day whilst pushing her son up and down hills in their (slightly shit) buggy, probably with the rain cover on so he won't be getting immersed in nature anyway, in the cold and wet weather...

What the mum wants is excessive, OP. She's essentially demanding you do a shit load of exercise! 😂

YANBU.

What precisely was the problem at the playground? Was he bored or was it hard to keep him safe on the play equipment?

DC1 was completely mad at playgrounds and regularly bit off more than they could chew, so I did a lot of hovering underneath to catch them and climbing up to help. It's exhausting but it is what it is.

Nasty and uncalled for.

Buy an anorak...

@strawberrycrumbles
You seem to be lacking comprehension.

Abd you are one if those people who love a hyperbole but then get butthurt when you get called out.

Wah