How do I get my toddler into clothes and keep them on???

[mammamoomin]

DD is 2.... I could leave it there as I think that says it all!

DD is 2 and very independent/willful, she doesn't want to wear clothes unless they are vests and just tights or just leggings. Has a complete screaming/running round fit if I try to get her to put anything else on... when I have managed to get sensible long sleeved top, trousers/skirt, tights/socks and jumper on... it only takes her 3 minutes to take it all off again...

its getting worse in the mornings and is stressing us both out now as I find it very hard not to tense up or 'expect' a fight and therefore get one to put clothes on.

any suggestions.......

We sort of compromise with dd, she strips off at home but keeps her clothes on when we're going out, with dd1 it was harder and I gave up and bought pinafores as she couldn't get out of those!

I'm interested by this, and suggest the following, with the proviso that I have no experience of this at all.

I'd buy a load of leggings and vests (will she wear anything with arms at all)? I'd let her wear leggings and a vest around the house or other indoors places and then just lots of praise if she wears anything else. So effectively retreat from the battle for the moment.

Does she like dressing up and can she put any clothes on herself? If she is able to put things on herself then I would leave some things like cardigans, skirts and socks available to put on herself. She might be able to put a cardigan on by lying it on the floor with the arms out and then lying down on top of it and pushing her arms in the sleeves.

Will she put on a coat & shoes to leave the house?

Does she have any sensory issues with the clothes (dislike the texture or feeling of being enclosed by them)?

She can dress and undress herself with near enough everything; zips, buttons, toggles.... jumpers over her head... trousers on and off...

She does with much kicking and screaming reluctantly wear her coat and shoes; but will remove them as soon as she gets into the car; along with cardigans/jumpers/tops until is back down to vest and tights. The other morning she stripped right down to her t-shirt and tights but with her gloves?!

She will wear long sleeves but only for others; who do still have a battle but a shorter, less aggressive one than with me.

I'm getting to my wits end as she has had a constant cold for about 2 months and I'm sure its down to not wearing clothes...

If I had more time in the mornings then it wouldn't be so bad but we have a very short time frame to get up/dressed/out as I have to drop her off at 7:30 in order to be on time for work....

I would just loose all interest in the battle
Let her wear vest and leggings and pay no notice to her stripping off. Hopefully if you stop all the attention to do with clothes and dressing she will loose interest in playing up. It sounds like she's trying to assert herself and is using clothing as the thing she wants control over.

Must be a nightmare tho!

My DD wears plenty of clothes and has had cold after cold, so it probably isn't due to not wearing clothes.

How does she remove her coat in the car? Doesn't being strapped in prevent it?

I wouldn't worry about a coat in the car, it can actually be a problem in stopping the straps from holding children in properly as the coat is squidgy and gives wriggle room in a crash. Obviously shoes are useful in getting to and from the car. DD doesn't wear a coat in the car but does have a blanket to snuggle under.

In the mornings I would keep the struggle to a minimum so that you can get her out of the house with minimum stress. It is probably a way of trying to prolong her time with you. I don't mean this in any judgemental way, my DD goes to nursery and can be difficult in the mornings when she senses that it is a nursery morning and we are therefore trying to stick to a timetable, but she is very happy at nursery too. So I would try to dress her in leggings and a vest and chuck her coat over the top.

Do you engage her in choosing her clothes or buying her clothes?

Also allow her to dress herself as far as possible so that you don't have to physically battle with her.

Let her go naked if she wants to, with the proviso that she has to be properly dressed if you go out. Don't fight the battle, it's not worth it - let her find out herself how many clothes she needs to wear to be warm and practise putting them on/taking them off herself. The independence it teaches her will serve you well when she starts school and will dress herself in the mornings!

Try putting out 4 items of clothing that you would consider acceptable in any combination of style/colour, say two pairs of leggings and two jumpers. Your DD can then choose which leggings and which jumper. You have put out some suitable clothes and she has had a choice. Otherwise, don't sweat it. Let her get into the car or wherever in vest and leggings and have the coat handy. Just ignore her behaviour in this instance - she may be pressing the buttons simply because she knows she can. Just remember that children wear coats when their parents are cold.

Thanks for all the advice....

She is currently jumping on the trampoline in tights and a vest top.... did have long sleeves, leggings, tights and a coat with wellies when we first went out... but its pretty warm so I'm unfussed by lack of clothes today.

I don't have a problem with the lack of clothes and would just throw a coat on for journey to and from car (she gets her self into her car seat - another battle I used to have but there really isn't any point in that one - and then I strap her in); but my childminder (who is also my sister) gets really cross with me if she's not dressed properly - this I have to admit is causing me the stress.

She does have a choice of options in what to wear - I have a box of clothes out that she can pick from - it just doesn't include vests :) And picks her clothes so sounds like I'm on the right lines just need to stand firm...

breatheslowly I thought it could be a way of prolonging and showing her displeasure at not having me at home... we often have a chat about when the next 'mummyday' is and I know she's really happy at my sisters... its rubbish I'd love to stay at home with her but its just not viable for me... still think she wouldn't wear clothes we just wouldn't have the arguments :)

Leave the problem to your sister if she's the one bothered by it! She can keep spares there.

I agree with Octavia - I'd have no issue with taking DD to nursery partially dressed if that was the best I could get her to do in the time available and without too much stress. I don't know if you pay your sister the market rate or get a discount, but in a general sense I think that if you are leaving a small child at childcare quite early then you should be able to pass them on as they would be at home. I also think that wearing tights and a vest is perfectly reasonable - it may not be a social norm for adults to go out like that, but small children can do what they like within reason.

If it is warm enough today then you probably are coming to the end of the battle as winter is nearly over and she will be so different by next winter.['-;/.