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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Not to put socks on my baby?

115 replies

BertieBotts · 29/12/2009 22:01

DS is 14 months but not walking yet, so I don't put shoes on him, and socks last precisely 0.05 seconds before being thoroughly explored, ripped off and lost, so I never bother with them on their own - his feet are warm enough in the footmuff anyway, and if I get him out of the pushchair anywhere it's usually heated.

But today at the Children's Centre I had about four people exclaim at his socklessness and one woman told me twice that he didn't have any socks on (in case I hadn't noticed?) and that he had cold feet (he didn't).

Admittedly it was colder than usual in there today since it has been closed over Christmas, but he didn't seem upset by having bare feet and they didn't even feel that cold to me. Why are people obsessed with socks?

OP posts:
poinsettydawg · 29/12/2009 23:33

Is there research that hsows the extent to which socks interfere with learning to walk?

Lordy, there porbably is.

cakewench · 29/12/2009 23:52

What a great thread. I'll have to get some of those sock-ons for my son.

Honestly, I had these touch-the-pearls, your baby is sockless comments when he was barely 6 months and it was summertime. A bit strange for people you don't know to come up and comment, especially when the temp is warm enough that you wouldn't mind going shoeless, yourself!

We ended up buying some of these, albeit in a different pattern. They work reasonably well, though come off eventually with a bit of the friction of crawling over carpet. He can't get them off by himself (or, at least not yet! .

snowedinwithJjandtheBean · 30/12/2009 00:23

shooshoos are brill for learning to walk and they keep feet warm and unrestricted,
i had the same problem with dc1.

I have to agree with the other mums at the centre, it would bother me too, however i doubt id have the cheek to comment!

Firawla · 30/12/2009 01:11

i agree with the suggestions of soft leather shoes, they really don't come off cos they are more comfy than other shoes and not so loose like socks, its definitely worth trying if your baby will keep them on. it is too cold for him to be without socks really, better if you could get him in the shoes itll keep the socks on his feet

basl · 30/12/2009 01:43

Hi, just like to add, I think the baby has no clue the stress it causes the parent. I was out shoppung with my 16mth and he poured a drink all over himself before going on a late bus. It was snowy and cold but i had to strip him of his cold clothes. I had a change of vest etc but not trousers. He kept kicking his legs out of the buggysnuggle and people looking thinking "check her baby with no clothes on he will freeze " Well he neve bothered a bit. Alway takes shoes off and on on on. So go with the flow and baby will tell you . x

NewYearNewKnickers0nMaHead · 30/12/2009 02:16

Wouldn't bother my ds if he had no socks on, in fact, he hates socks! Have taken to putting him in dd's tights if we go out, and yes, even pink ones!!!!

CardyMow · 30/12/2009 03:39

Another vote for tights here, both my DS's were the same (I still have to fight with DS1 7yo about wearing a coat in the snow ). Wouldn't have a baby sockless in this weather though. It's ruddy freezing out there ATM, and I hardly ever wear socks (only own 2 pairs, as I probably only wear them about 4 days a year!), but EVEN I'm wearing socks if I go outside. Tights in navy/white/red just look like socks under trousers, and they can't get them off. And YABU to be grumpy that someone was caring towards your DC. I'D probably be the lady with the cat bum mouth at a baby with no socks on in December. In fact I was, at the bus stop yesterday....

CarmenTinselPalmTreesSanDiego · 30/12/2009 04:34

Oh, I had this two days ago. DS (12months) took his shoes and socks off and wouldn't let me put them back on. I ended up buying a sleepsuit in the sale and sticking it on him as he'd drooled down his t-shirt anyway. But I was getting fed up with all the glares!

I live in Southern California and the weather was rather like a nice spring day in the UK - I was wearing short sleeves, but people dress like they're going to the arctic to go to the mall in December here. And old ladies LOVE nagging about 'unsuitable' clothing.

I had the same with my DDs when they were babies. They'd never keep socks and shoes on. Trick is to either go with tights or a sleepsuit, I suppose. But really, I figure if he keeps taking the shoes off, it's his problem, he obviously doesn't mind the bare feet - and surely he'd cry or whinge if he did!

fiveisanawfullybignumber · 30/12/2009 08:56

Tights again was the answer for DS2, he wore them from 1 month as it was a cold winter and he kept rubbing his feet together and on his bouncy chair, got little blisters on his babytoe. Health visitor and midwifes recommended I do it to keep his fet protected!
DD2 has been in Clarks crawlers or cruisers when she's out and about, it also meant she could hold our hand and walk assisted by us, she adored this!
A weeks holiday in October, lots of assisted walking in well protected feet, meant she was walking unaided by the Friday!

EdgarAleNPie · 30/12/2009 09:06

babies take socks off. if i saw a sockless baby, i'd think it was barefoot du to having removed its shoes. a baby in buggy snuggle and snowsuit will have its feet toasty anyway.

so, YANBU.

though if you're worried abot the cold - tights under trousers for the wee lad?

DD ws a bugger for it.

notcitrus · 30/12/2009 12:25

Sockons don't work. I was given afew pairs. They might stop socks sliding off a wee baby but are defenceless against a crawler pulling socks off.

peppapighastakenovermylife · 30/12/2009 12:55

YANBU - my DD is exactly the same. She will not abide socks, shoes or tights unless it is very cold and then she will . Her feet are actually always toasty warm and surprisingly so and I spend a lot of time challenging people to feel her feet!

FabIsGoingToBeFabIn2010 · 30/12/2009 13:00

Try tights if he is cold as he can't pull them off but if not, do what you want. People will always comment.

If you are happy without socks then fine but if you nee them, really think if baby does too.

When I had my first it was as many layers as I had on plus one.

heverhoney1 · 30/12/2009 18:05

pulling off socks is dds fave game. I cant be bothered to wrestle tights on the wriggler so we have got as many trousers with feet on (basically really baggy tights) as we can (Top tip - ASDA have loads!!!!)

Trafficcone · 30/12/2009 18:11

Id be shocked and unimpressed. To me, a footmuff is not enough to keep a childs extremities warm and even in heated places you feel cold with no socks.
Whats wrong with tights or buying leather shoes like DaisyRoots/Bobux that fit with elastic and stop them pulling their socks off?? Sounds pretty lazy to me.

ShirleyKnott · 30/12/2009 18:15

OOH NO

that is wrong

Frostythesurfmum · 30/12/2009 18:22

If he doesn't have cold feet then no problem IMO. DD was a nightmare for keeping socks on. I only really worried about it if I thought her feet were cold and she was.

She's 6 and still the same. At every opportunity she will take her shoes and socks off, even when in the car and she can't abide tights. She just seems to like the freedom of bare feet. And she's an incredibly warm child who doesn't seem to feel the cold.

The judging doesn't stop - we arrived at a party just before Christmas, a lovely centrally heated house. She had her beautiful party dress on and the hostess commented "ooh you haven't got tights on". Did it bother dd as she ran around? Not a bit.

ImSoNotTelling · 30/12/2009 18:32

God don't worry about it.

It's only indoors he's going barefoot, in heated building, really no problem. And his feet are warm.

Bit confused by the people expressing horror and outrage TBH

oldspeckledtam · 30/12/2009 18:33

I rarely put socks on my 9m ds. My dd has stupidly narrow feet and I read somewhere that socks can restrict growth. I'm pretty sure it's hogwash, but the torment of shoe buying for DD means I'll try anything!

If we are outside he wears a snowsuit and a cosytoe. Inside, why does he need them? I tend to have a pair in the bag incase we go to soft play, or for other sock related emergencies.

I must admit that I have become known locally as the mother who doesn't want her baby to wear socks, but it doesn't bother me. I've invited strangers to feel his hot little feet when they poke their noses in and tell me he's cold.

Arsed · 30/12/2009 18:42

I wouldn't go barefoot in this weather, would you ?

I'd judge judge judge tbh, it's been bloody freezing today !

Morloth · 30/12/2009 18:51

We are all barefoot ATM and have been all day. Not everyone is the same and kids are as likely to have feelings about what feels comfortable as adults.

As I said, DS gets sweaty really easy. I am sitting here in my dressing gown and he has spent the day in his pyjama bottoms. That's it, no socks or even a shirt and he is perfectly comfortable. We do have the heating on this year because my body thermometer seems all over the place with pregnancy, but we usually don't bother because we like the cold.

Frostythesurfmum · 30/12/2009 18:56

I agree Morloth. My BIL wears shorts all year round, and my mate arrived on Christmas Eve with a card and was wearing flip flops.

In fact, now I think about it, the last 2 NYE I've been out in shorts and flip flops and not been cold.

JaynieB · 30/12/2009 18:56

My DD always removed socks asap - even the nursery commented the first thing she did on arrival was take them off...if cold I used to put tights on as she couldn't get them off so easily! She still likes going barefoot now, even though we have very little carpeted floor but it doesn't seem to bother her. I'd say if your baby is otherwise wrapped up warm and you have socks to hand if needed I don;t see why that would be a problem!

Eve4Walle · 30/12/2009 21:13

DS always removes his socks. However, I just put them back on again (which might mean doing it dozens of times a day). But I don't like to see babies with no socks on, and like so many others have said, would you walk about barefoot in this weather? I think not.

It always smacks a bit of neglect to me...rather like seeing a woman waring a nice warm coat with a baby in a buggy with no jacket or blanket in this weather (which I see very often in my town). Judgey, moi?

Socks can only restrict growth if they are too tight.

peppapighastakenovermylife · 30/12/2009 21:25

Neglect?!?! You are joking right? I see the issue if they have no coat / blanket etc on but if they are happy and their feet are warm then what is the issue?

Dozens of times a day? Then you are lucky. DD literally wrestles with me as I put them back on her. Tights she screams until she pulls them off. Shoes she will just throw off. Unless I walk around with a screaming child with my hands clamped to her feet then we are a little stuck