is there some intrinsic reason that children need to wear vests even if they do not wish to, claim not to be cold, and are healthy in every way I can see?

[FrannyandZooey]

row with my mother
please adjudicate

This thread has made me lmao. Well done.

FWIW I think vest wearing is compulsory in case of forgotten games kit scenario (if not vest and pants then what mmmmm?) I think A forgotten games kit from a child without a vest is some sort of crime that's only whispered about in urban ledgends. Don't fall for your child's whimpers. Wrap him up goddamit!

Ds (4yo) is a vest addict- it has to be the heat of summer before he goes without one (and even then it's a battle). He sleeps in a vest (but refuses pyjamas). In fact the only time he will be vestless on a normal day is either a) in bath or b) changing into clean vest.

HOWever he refuses coats (sometimes) and jumpers(nearly always).

He just loves vests.

I don't notice whether other people's kids are wearing them.

Mine hasn't worn vests since about 15 months. At the mo he wears two t-shirts because of the cold. I like the funky 'short sleeves over long' look.

rev - sounds perfect! Was brought up in an old house with draughts and ancient plumbing. modern houses with hot showers and real central heating, were a disturbing temptation. Still feel vaguely decadent to wake up without ice on the inside of the windows

My mum insists on vests for children too. In Sept 2006 I went on a work trip for a few days and she looked after DS. When I got home she said "doesn't this child have any VESTS?" and I felt so guilty I rushed out, all jet-lagged, and bought two dozen. What's odd is that she absolutely hates wearing one herself, and I usually wear one if it's at all chilly (ie for about 350 days per year). But why do you care, F&Z? Just say "that's an interesting point of view" and move on.

lol

I hear ya revjustabout. It's chilly here in the East Mids too. We all wear slippers.

Am however failing to enforce vests on DS2 who would go coatless if I let him.

DS1 otoh wears vest, T shirt, another T shirt and hoody quite often atm. Seems to be going thru a cool time.

I like vests as they are a way of enforcing another layer (mine all tend to strip off jumpers, vest or no vest) and it's blardy cold here atm. We walk to and from school tho and keep the heating low .

I always think the DC need a layer more than me. I guess DS1 who is 9 could abandon that one now. But he seems to be the keenest layerer of all. He had three on at footie training tonight

But each to their own I would say.

The only real reason for wearing a vest is to generate more washing.

Ditch the vests- it's the child equivalent of burning your bra.

Armadillo, your DS and mine could start their own little Vestaholics Anonymous group - mine now insists on wearing a vest, and pants, under his pyjamas! I don't know how he thought this one up, definitely not my mother's influence, she is of the school of thought that underwear under nightwear is beyond disgusting.

This thread is so funny.

I don't think they do vests here so DS has been vestless his entire life

Both of my kids have worn vests recently during this cold snap. However they absolutely never wear any kind of jumper in winter, just long sleeved T shirts

F &Z my Mum is the same, I picked them up from hers the other day and she 'had to have a word with me' cos DS's weren't wearing their vests!
They refuse to, too!
My Mum has bought them about a dozen vests each in the past month, which are unopend.
She is obsessed with buying them pants and hats too.
Mad woman!

set ds on her

"Granny, this is why I don't wear vests: x y and z. Now leave mother alone and buy me sweets, for you are a granny and that is your function."

My paternal grandmother used to do this to wind my mother up - this was in the 1960s. (Mum never felt the cold because her father used to switch the heating off whenever it went over freezing outside.) My own mother in law also tried to convince me that vests were essential, 40 years later. I followed my mother's excellent example and ignored her!

I am pro vests for the dc's, vests are the cement of society, and I too have taken to donning one , I have yet to persuade dh

Yes I am all about vests DD is such a cold little bunny - I have sleeveless for summer and only take off on hols [shame], she is 2 and has never experienced a good summer though.....

My ds would be horrified at the thought of going vestless. I think he would rather be pantless. Can't you see nipples through shirts if you don't wear a vest?

This makes me chuckle. My sister thinks her children will shrivel and die if they so much as stick their nose outside the door without a vest. I believe in leaving them to be master/ mistress of their own temperature control. Mothers are like that (and my sister, it turns out). My parents are also obsessed with slippers.

Ahhh, The vest wearing generation...
Aren't they the same bunch that let their kids play on the beach with only their swimsuits on.......in March?

your mother is right about one thing. being cold WILL make him use up more energy. thus combatting the inevitable childhood obesity from your decadent modern lifestyle.

i think you should tell her that.

I'm wearing a thermal vest right now! It's a funky one, mind, from a groovy designers' market, but still thermal. In fact, I may have even worn it to a disco once .

ds hasn't worn a vest since he was about 2..he's 9 now.