How much outside time in freezing weather? Being judged!

[Sparrowlegs248]

Ds is 15 months old. We normally are outside for an hour in the morning, looking after my ponies. He tends to be in the pram, then we have a walk around the fields for a bit. We go out during the day often.

In the afternoon evening we tend to do a trike ride, walk about the garden, up the road or Park. Often a half hour walk outside before he has his dinner. A couple of people have mentioned that I won't be able to do this as it's cold. It is cold, and windy, but he has a variety of suitable clothing, and is a hot little body. He has thick joggers on, long vest, sweatshirt, socks, wellies, puffa type coat with hood. I havent put his mittens on as his hands are very warm. Surely this is OK?

People are insinuating that I should keep him inside in the warm. And that I'm bad for!'making' him go out. (he gets jittery with excitement when he sees his reins and wellies)

[whirlwinds]

I agree with SunnySomer regarding brands, Polarn o Pyret is also worth looking at as they have real good quality, though on the costly side, inner and outer wear for babies and children.

[eternalopt]

I was always told that there's no such thing as unsuitable weather for children to be outside, just unsuitable clothing. Do what makes you and yours happy.

[Eolian]

People are idiots, OP. Take no notice. Much better to plonk the children by the radiator in front of CBeebies than take them out in the fresh air, I'm sure.

[Ilovewillow]

Fresh air is good for the body and soul! It sounds like he's having a great time and wrapped up well! My very small baby accompanied me in the nearly 3 mile school run in the middle of winter, he's now three and non the worse for it! We regularly go into the woods near us during the winter to play. Tights are great too and M&S has some lovely thermals for kids at the moment! Sounds like you're doing a great job!

[SunnySomer]

I agree with what everyone is saying, but would add: I know Scandinavia/Canada etc are much colder than here, but the UK is very damp which is a different feeling cold. It's almost impossible to get a good warm AND waterproof coat in the UK (I seemed to waste loads of money when DS was small on coats that leaked), but if you go for good Scandinavian brands like Didriksons, your DS will be warm and dry as toast. They also can be lengthened so last a couple of winters, and the waterproofing seems long-lasting (i.e. Washed with nikwax stayed fully waterproof for years).

[Sparrowlegs248]

JUST realised I inadvertently moaned about the husband there, sorry!

[MadameSilva]

I took my 16 month dd to the park last week. According to my phone the temperature was 11 degrees but it was a very sunny day. She was wearing a thickish fleece. I was told by two different parents that she should have a coat, hat and mittens on. She was walking around quite happily, not cold (she had removed her hat). I wonder sometimes what people put their kids in when it's really cold if they have them in snowsuits and foot muffs at 11 degrees.

[user1471521456]

Maybe look at getting some baby leggings. They are better than tights as they don't need taking off for nappy changes. You do need socks with them though.

[chloechloe]

It sounds like he's having a really enjoyable time out in nature and the fresh air. Just politely nod at the interfering busybodies. Assuming you live in the U.K. it doesn't get very cold FFS, it's pretty much spring or autumn all year!

I live in Germany where we regularly have minus temperatures. DD is around the same age and at nursery they go outside every day unless it's raining. If it's really cold they wrap the kids up and huddle them like penguins in to a bike trailer built like a little train and take them for a ride along the river. Super cute!

The important thing is to make sure their heads and ears are well covered and put cream on their faces. I'm not a fan of any petroleum based products. But the German brand Weleda has really nice baby products. The white mallow cream (purple packaging) is great for the face and the calendula cream (yellow packaging) is great for bottoms. There is a U.K. Weleda website that you can buy them from.

Oh and over here the boys wear tights under their trousers to keep warm!

[Natsku]

Do they have warmer outdoor clothing for little ones in Finland / Sweden?

Woollen underlayers, then trousers and long sleeve shirts, then maybe another woollen or fleece layer and then the snowsuit is generally used for the really cold weather for little ones. DD runs on the hot side so she just wears trousers/long sleeve shirt, woolly overalls, snowsuit on the coldest days.

Baby in a balaclava. What a picture.

Baby balaclavas are adorable! Though always make me feel a bit funny about putting them on as my grandma used to call balaclavas 'terroristi visti' (terrorist hats) Great for keeping cheeks and necks warm though, which get cold quickly otherwise.

[meringue33]

Just bought a second one of these as my wee girl has gone up a size

www.cozymole.co.uk/warm-outerwear/columbia-snuggly-bunny-down-bunting-update.html

[Clutterbugsmum]

As long as he dressed for the weather then there not a problem.

I work in a school, and we been asked if XX can be kept in at playtime because it's cold. The parent was shocked that the school wouldn't comply to her wishes. Yes it's getting colder but as long as child has coat, gloves there is know reason for children to be inside.

[leaveittothediva]

Aquaphor Healing Ointment is very good for babies winter skin. It's very greasy. But do check with pharmacist.

[albertcampionscat]

Ha! DS1 was out in January in a T-shirt and nowt else at 18 months. I got the most awful looks (I tried, oh how I tried to get a coat on him). He never ever got ill.

[alltouchedout]

Polish dh laughed until he couldn't speak when ds1 was 7 months old and I said maybe it was too cold to take him out as it was snowing. Ds3 was born in November and had to be out with us for school drop off and pick up from 6 days old and he was fine. I had a wrap sling and a huge oversized cardi for and he was lovely and snug.
Your routine sounds really nice btw :)

[llangennith]

M&S do good long sleeved thermal vests and leggings (long johns) and DGS 9yo has had them every year since he could walk.
Have a good winter!

[Sparrowlegs248]

We have the lidl stuff, the trousers are like little salopettes, with a matching coat.

Baby in a balaclava. What a picture. Dc2 is due start of Feb.

He's stomping around downstairs moaning about stuff. I've just about had enough. I wish I could gather some strength from somewhere.

[NotAnotherUserName1234]

Do they have warmer outdoor clothing for little ones in Finland / Sweden?

[Natsku]

The maternity coat sounds good, wish I had had something like that when DD was a newborn and I used a baby carrier as she was born in February and it was around -20 most days, but she was warm enough in a vest, sleepsuit and snowsuit with balaclava and mittens and woolly socks.

If you have a Lidl near you they sometimes sell warmly lined rain trousers and coats which are brilliant for when its cold and rainy. That's what DD wears until we get the permanent snow cover.

[Sparrowlegs248]

I have lansinoh, excellent idea. We went out before dinner, and it started raining. We were dressed for cold rather than wet so came in after a bit, he was not impressed!

I have mentioned people living in other countries. Also when I was talking of getting a good winter maternity coat that also goes over a baby carrier, a few people (these are friends and family) said 'oh but it's not worth spending that much (£120) it's not as if you'll be outside a lot with a new baby.

Well. Ds doesn't sit still, and doesn't watch telly, so I figure that we are indeed going to be outside, and I'd like myself and the new baby to be warm.

Thanks for all the lovely comments about how we go about our days. I'm having a bit of a tough time atm and it's really cheered me up.

[isthistoonosy]

(Northern Sweden)
We also use lanisoh around the kids mouths in the winter, it stops the licking/cold/frozen/licking cycle. We also had very young kids sleeping outside in minus temps in the winters.

They were out a couple of hours today in minus 6 C and windy, totally fine and it has been quite a temp drop the last few days so they aren't really accustomed to it yet this year.

Hats over the ears are good if it is windy, snow suits, thermals, double gloves, woollen socks etc etc all the obvious I suppose.

[pontificationcentral]

Also in Canada. Outdoor play in school until -28. They don't bother calling a snow day (or suggesting attendance is optional) until -40.

Tell them to stick that in their pipe and smoke it.

[Artandco]

Weleda weather cream is good for chapped faces also

Mine go outside all year.

[whirlwinds]

Lived in Norway for many years and the British weather is no where near as cold. Layers of clothes is very good, we use a thin wool trouser and top set for ds to keep him warm, would recommend that as the inner layer as it breaths and keeps dc warm. There is nothing wrong with loving and enjoying the outdoors, keep it up ☺

[longdiling]

It's fantastic for them to be outside so much! Nurseries and childminders are expected to provide lots of opportunity for outside play every day. Forest schools are all the rage. You are very much getting it right op.