Mindees that don't come with enough layers?!

[soon2befamilyof4]

I have and 18month old mindee who I have on and off for a mum who does shift work. Anyway, it is so cold here and all he wears is a vest with a jumper over the top. So it is too cold inside to take his jumper off and just wear a vest, which means he has no extra layers at all to put on when we go out?

This was the same last week when we had loads of snow!

I asked and I got "he is fine" very bluntly. I did try to alaborate on that but nope, think she has taken offence again.

They are not from England so not used to our climate. Not sure if that has anything to do with it.

Well at leats you tried...

Does he seem well cared for otherwise? Happy?It's really odd behaviour not to even discuss his clothes with you.

wow, how weird. Get a spare cheap coat from peacocks or matalan or supermarket? How annoying.

Yes he is very well cared for and I honestly don't think it is a sign of neglect or anything in this case, I think it is more just that it is how they do things. When i go to their house to babysit it is very cold and he isn't in many layers, but nor are the parents so I think they just think that is normal.

I also think they find that when anybody says anything like this they feel they are critisizing (she has moaned to me about other people doing it and I can see their point rather than hers most times). They are lovely people, but just don't like people commenting on things to do with parenting etc. Maybe a confidence thing?

Surely as a CM you could give parents a list of the clothing the children will need while in your care in order to carry out all the activities that you do? You could ask for a cheap fleece to be kept at your house.

Yes I could BUT the trouble is, it is their child and I can't go against their wishes?

My parents have a list of what I need everyday for their child. As I do not have kids of my own I cannot just loan a coat from one of my kids or something, so not having coats would hamper us going out, which spoils things for other kids.

This has only happened once though... for me the kids are often overdressed rather than underdressed.

I am barefoot in the house no matter the weather, but leave socks on the kids if parents wish it. That's the way they do things in their home and that's the way I'll do it in my own - the kids get mixed messages otherwise.

I would not take a child out in the bitter cold sans a coat though, because I am responsible for them whilst they are in my care. It takes a lot for me to pop a jumper on myself (I am a tough nut hehe), but the lil ones are less tough.

Of course you can say that when your child is in your care, he/she must do certain things that are your way of ensuring he/she stays healthy - starting off by being well dressed for the cold.

Perhaps the parents never take the child out in cold weather? Some parents don't - I must say that I avoided taking my DD out in the cold when she was little. Now she goes to pre-school she has a huge collection of cardigans, polo necks, hats, gloves and scarves that I really didn't bother with before.

I am a big believer in getting outdoors... I am South African and grew up outdoors (and parts of SA get very cold in winter!) .. but if they have a coat on, a trip to the park is great, if it's cold AND wet, not, but if only cold, it's fine.

If I had a parent who told me they preferred I never took their child out if it was cold, I would have to say I couldn't mind that child... as by keeping that child in all the time I am keeping in the others too, which is not ideal. An entire winter cooped inside with all the kids is not something I could offer.

I would say he had goosepimples so you put a top on him (you can buy long sleeve white tops in Asda for 75p)

My dd wouldn't put her top on before breakfast yesterday and although she wasn't shivering, she had goosepimples on her arms.

( I did manage to get her top on + her cardigan halfway through eating)