Aaaarghhhh!!!

[batey]

I'm at a loss, don't know what else to try. Dd2(2 1/2) is driving me crazy over one small thing, namely, putting on a coat. I'm not strict/uptight, she has a lot of freedom/ choices but I do think she should waer a coat on the frosty morning school run. She's a cold bod anyway unlike her sis who never feels the cold and has had a cold for at least 2 wks. But she adamantly, wholeheartedly, with every inch of her being REFUSES to wear a coat.
I've tried being nice, telling her how lovely she looks, tried telling her, tried letting her stand half naked on the step on a cold morning, tried ( 4x) going without her ( dh was in),tried trawling around the shops to get a coat she likes, none of which she does. Today I had to force her into a fleece up to the neck, but she still took her arms out and had it like a scarf!!!! She has the determination of 10 toddlers! Help...........!

A poncho? Works for my (admittedly much younger) dd who HATES having her arms put in anything, has since birth. JoJoMamanBeBe do a nice fleecy polartec one.

Lots of jumpers plus hat and scarf? Ds was given several thick, hooded fleecy ones last year which were too bulky to go under a coat but could have several layers underneath which both kept him cosy and could be peeled off in stages if required.

I used to say airily "be cold then" so he was. Sorry, not very helpful I don't spose esp given the weather right now but I couldn't face the fight. Same thing, every inch of his being, adamant refusal, it's a pain isn't it? Sympathy.

I have this problem with my 3 year old who takes his socks and shoes off. Did this in the park last week and it was a cold afternoon. He runs around the house barefoot (and we have a cold house). I would just try a warm jumper and maybe a bodywarmer on top if the arm thing is an issue.

Thanks for the responses. The most layers I've managed is vest, top and pinafore dress. I've tried a fleecy top from her drawer rather than coat cupboard but she sussed it in 2 seconds and went into one! I wonder if anyone makes a fleecy straight jacket!? I will persevere, but it's exhausting, I hate fighting with her. And I think we're all wiped out from our first half term of school runs (or stampedes as they tend to be!), dd2 sometimes runs all the way, and it's all uphill!! I'll try and back off and calm down over the next joyous half term week.

My attitude would be to leave her be. Let her go without it a couple of times and there are a couple of potential outcomes. She might realise its cold, and she needs a coat (problem solved) or alternatively, you might realise that she won't freeze to death and stop worrying! If she runs all the way she might be genuinely too hot in a coat.

I do what Anais says with my DS. Learning for himself and letting him think he chooses is a big deal at nealry 3yo.

Today he was running along the road, barefoot, in just a jumper and a thin fleece suit, in the cold pissing down rain.

But only about 200 yards before he gave in and let me put wellies & coat on. A bit risky, because he might have caught a chill if we weren't going into warm rooms straight away. And odd, because normally he hates the wet!!

zebra, you made me laugh so much!!! Why are they such determined little buggers!!!???

I agree with the let them get on with it train of thought - which does go against the grain sometimes, but seems the only way to save your sanity at others. Save the battles for the REALLY important things like holding your hand when you cross the road!

I agree. Let her go out dressed how she likes but take her coat/jumper/fleece with you so if she feels cold she can wear it. It's truly not worth arguing about. She won't die of cold or catch cold (caused by viruses not temperature) and it will be much less stressful for both of you. Once it's no longer an issue, she might start wearing her coat anyway. As Anais says, she's probably hot with all the running anyway. It's just us turgid old folk who feel the cold!

Well, the problem has resolved itself, by getting dd1 a new coat! Dd2 has decided she likes dd1's old one and will wear that.It's now very much "her" coat and is accepted with ease!! Who cares if it's 2 yrs too big at least it's on! There's just no fathoming how their brains work!?