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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:
Imbacille · 30/12/2009 21:32

lordy at neglect

my dcs were sock-ripper-offers

eve - I am gobsmacked you think it's neglect you loon

Eve4Walle · 30/12/2009 22:58

I'm not a loon - I didn't say it WAS neglect, just that it smacks of it IMO.

Not in the mood for an argument though so will let you judge me!

Morloth · 30/12/2009 23:12

Snort at "neglect" does that mean it is OK for me to think that people who seem to cook their children in layer upon layer upon layer of clothes and blankets and snowsuits are abusing them?

Imbacille · 30/12/2009 23:16

heh heh morloth

scottishmummy · 30/12/2009 23:17

for millionth time dont exaggerate!some emotive terms bandied about - neglect

pah

eggandsoldiers · 30/12/2009 23:35

I found socks trying. All mine wore tights, boys and girls, they were practical and cosy as they could not take them off and great at protecting knees as mine were prolific crawlers. Follow your instincts YANBU

CardyMow · 31/12/2009 00:14

While I can and do get a bit cats bum mouth over this, I hasten to add after 3 DC's that it is NOT neglect, just stubborn DC's!! I think the tights thing is the best way to go IME though. Until they're old enough to TELL you they're not cold. Don't forget that babies can't efficiently regulate their own body temp. Another one that I get all judgy over is when mum's go into a coffee shop etc, and leave their DC's sweltering in a man-made greenhouse by not removing the rain cover. God I'm really judgy ATM!!

Ebb · 31/12/2009 08:40

Oooo I started an aibu thread last Feb when I saw a small toddler without socks or shoes in her pushchair and no cosy toes. I think the unanimous verdict was that I was being very unreasonable. In fact, I think I was slaughtered and left completely traumatised! so I will hastely say yanbu!

Stephief · 31/12/2009 09:01

Do what you feel happy with.

Its not neglect, what a ridiculous notion!

I took my son on holiday when he was about 5 months old and some interfering old woman came up to me and made some comment about him not wearing a hat (it was june, not cold!) and went to great lengths to tell me that babies must wear hats blah blah. I pointed out to her that ds had just recovered from meningitis and that he still had a tendency to overheat and I had been told not to wrap him up too much by his doctors so basically, thanks for your advice but its really not needed and I know perfectly well how to look after my child!

Some people feel the need to make comments/tell you how to look after your child. But you know your child best so do what you are happy with. If his feet are not cold, he doesnt need socks! For christs sake your child is 14 months old, not a newborn!
My youngest is 18 months old and rarely wears socks inside-neither do I (even in the winter lol!) Neither do my older kids for that matter-we prefer being barefoot in general!

madamearcati · 31/12/2009 09:18

I think that at this time of year particularly ,that babies' feet ought to be covered.babies extremities have a much higher surface area:volume ratio meaning they lose heat a lot more than an adults feet would.As well as being uncomfortable This could cause chilblains.

Eve4Walle · 31/12/2009 09:31

Of course it's not neglect and I never said it was. Can't you lot read?

I must admit to being judgey about this because where I live, we've had sub-zero temperatures most days, some days barely making it to 1 or 2 degrees. Are people really saying that it's okay not to put a baby in socks in this kind of weather, cosytoes or not?

It doesn't matter if your child is a newborn or 2, you have a duty to ensure they are warm and comfortable at all times and babies and young children can't regulate their temperature in the way we do, as Loudlass says.

Morloth · 31/12/2009 10:27

We can read, you were the one who threw the word out there, with predictable results.

Warm does not always equal comfortable.

kittywise · 31/12/2009 10:31

They've got to have socks in this weather and it's your duty to ensure he has them on. I wouldn't go sockless. What a ridiculous notion that it's alright to go without socks in the middl of winter when the temps are hovering around zero

Eve4Walle · 31/12/2009 10:37

Am I right in thinking that even the mention of neglect is unacceptable on this forum now?

Perhaps warm doesn't always equal comfortable, but am I really in a minority here? Something tells me no, but that we all are afraid to pass comment about anything.

It might be right for the OP, who knows, but all I can say is that I personally think she's being unreasonable.

Morloth · 31/12/2009 10:37

I have no socks on right now and the temp inside the house is currently 4 degrees celcius (according to my flash new thermometer). We are going out so no point turning heating on.

LynetteScavo · 31/12/2009 10:37

socks or no socks, your ds needs these

Morloth · 31/12/2009 10:38

The mention of neglect is fine when it isn't being wasted on something silly.

Eve4Walle · 31/12/2009 10:39

That's as maybe Morloth, but you're not going out barefoot are you?

Eve4Walle · 31/12/2009 10:41

The OP is being silly, and if she needs to start a thread asking if she's being unreasonable, then deep down knows she is.

Morloth · 31/12/2009 10:42

No but the baby in the OP wasn't outside walking around barefoot either. We are going to an indoor playplace and DS will be barefoot. DS was in the back garden yesterday barefoot. He seemed happy enough.

Not having socks on is not even the beginnings of the signs of neglect IMO. Not even close. Astonishing how so many cultures in multiple climates manage to raise children without all the fussing that goes on here.

mumblechum · 31/12/2009 10:44

Am just rofling at 96 posts about socks. . I love Mumsnet.

Eve4Walle · 31/12/2009 10:45

No, the baby in the OP was in a cold childrens centre. The OP said that herself.

If that works for you, then fine. And we all fuss over our children in one way or another, so that's neither here nore there.

Fibilou · 31/12/2009 19:07

she didn't say it was cold, she said it was "colder than normal". That could easily mean 18 rather than 22, and I can't think anyone could describe 18 as cold.

MumNWLondon · 31/12/2009 21:14

If you posted in August or lived in a hot country I would think this normal but its freezing outside, even with a footmuff and some inside places are not heated enough for a baby without socks.

I found GAP socks, esp if they were slightly on the small side, stayed on very well. Another idea is tights, even for a boy - buy in navy blue or grey and they will keep his feet warm! Under trousers you will not be able to tell they are not just long socks.

josette · 31/12/2009 21:28

I would expect a child to be wearing socks in December and would be secretly a bit 'tut tut' if they didn't.
For my ds's first winter, when he could rip off a sock in seconds, he wore tights under his trousers.

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