Who decides when a child needs a coat on?

[girlfriend44]

Waiting for the bus today. There was a child with his grandad.
The grandad wanted him to put his coat on, but he didnt want it on

An ongoing bottle ensued between the two. The mum was there as well with other children but didnt get involved.
The coat went on, then it was flung to the floor.
Grandad was met with much opposition from the child who didnt want the coat on.
Eventually grandad won, the coat went on and stayed on.
I heard the grandad say come on your not with your mum now you know, your with me,.This implied to me he was stronger than than the mum and he knew it.

It got me thinking though, who decides when a coat goes on?
Should the boy hace had the choice or was grandad right?

What? No it doesn’t, not to the extent of an October day in the uk. Being in temps of 7-12 degrees without a coat does not make you more susceptible to illness.

Generally I’d say the child can decide.
Although DC3 as a toddler hated wearing a coat, but would get so cold he’d cry in pain so I did resort to putting his coat on him backwards when it was very cold so he couldn’t take it off.
I reap what I sow though as now he is surgically attached to his hideous puffa jacket 🙄

I don’t see how “well… aaaactually… being cold doesn’t give you the cold” is helpful. People love pointing it out on these threads but soaking wet cold kids are more likely to get sick. Lots of things make it more likely that my child will get sick so I try to prevent the chances of him catching something being higher.

It only really increases your likelihood of getting sick if you're around someone who is sick and you struggle with your immune system anyway.

Being cold and wet, in and of itself, does not make you sick or make you massively more likely to get sick. You still have to be exposed to the cold virus.

Parents responsibility to provide a suitable coat and make sure it's available if needed. Child can decide if they want to wear it and usually, if adults don't make a big deal out of it, they will put it on if they are cold. Rain on the other hand I would be a bit more insistent. Being wet with no change of clothes will be a choice that they will probably regret and difficult to rectify so easily.