Winter outerwear? | Imamother

amother

OP ↓

Sun, Nov 03 2024, 7:02 pm

Last time I had toddlers I lived in an urban area, mostly stroller walking, fluffy coats and snowsuits were fine. The few times we needed to use a car it wasn't such a bother to unbundle and re-bundle for the transfers like once a week or less.

Now I live in a less dense area and we need to get in the car for most things, even to get to the nearest playground. Sibling carpools a few times a week. To and from babysitter daily. For baby age I just put a blanket or bundleme over the car seat. This year he's bigger and the car seat stays in the car. Just got shoes, too, so I guess legwear is about to be a pain too.

I don't have a garage attached to the house so each car trip is a short walk. Also I don't have a remote starter so when we get to the car it's cold. And we're in and out of the car multiple times a day. Often with stuff in my hands too - at least a diaper bag if not more.

What's the solution?

amother

Cognac ↓

Sun, Nov 03 2024, 7:04 pm

I do fleece sweater and hat and then a thick blanket for the car. Once you turn the heat on they get hot anyway. And it’s ok to be outside for the few minutes in and out. They are old enough to retain their body heat.

amother

Dimgray ↓

Sun, Nov 03 2024, 7:08 pm

amother Cognac wrote:

I always wonder when people post like this.

Do you wear just a fleece sweater outside because the car will warm up?? Or do you wear a coat because you don't want to be cold?

amother

↑ Dimgray ↓

Sun, Nov 03 2024, 7:10 pm

I leave coats on. But if you're concerned, there are car coats you can get that are made for this reason.

But as a rule, toddlers aren't convenient 😀

amother

↑ Cognac ↓

Sun, Nov 03 2024, 7:11 pm

amother Dimgray wrote:

I always wonder when people post like this.

Do you wear just a fleece sweater outside because the car will warm up?? Or do you wear a coat because you don't want to be cold?

I do not wear a coat for going in and out of the car. I actually just wear my clothing no extra anything. Is that ok with you?

amother

↑ Dimgray

Sun, Nov 03 2024, 7:14 pm

amother Cognac wrote:

I do not wear a coat for going in and out of the car. I actually just wear my clothing no extra anything. Is that ok with you?

Totally fine.

Where do you live?

I was just wondering about a double standard. I wear a warm fur lined down coat. I would feel like an absolute hypocrite if I put my toddler in a fleece because he was old enough to retain his body heat.

amother

Firethorn

Sun, Nov 03 2024, 7:15 pm

amother Dimgray wrote:

I always wonder when people post like this.

Do you wear just a fleece sweater outside because the car will warm up?? Or do you wear a coat because you don't want to be cold?

Happy u asked - I wear a fleece sweater because otherwise it’s too hot to wear in the car.

Op- I did the car seat safe coat once but didn’t feel like it was that much warmer than a (hooded) fleece. Also, got remote start for my birthday gift once. If you own your car it might be worth it.

amother

↑ Cognac

Sun, Nov 03 2024, 7:17 pm

amother Dimgray wrote:

I’m on the east coast. My kids were all fine with it, now the big ones wait at a bus stop and I make them take coats since they are outside for a while. And they end up taking it off and holding it saying they don’t need it unless it’s close to freezing.

amother

Chambray

Sun, Nov 03 2024, 7:28 pm

amother Dimgray wrote:

I always wonder when people post like this.

Do you wear just a fleece sweater outside because the car will warm up?? Or do you wear a coat because you don't want to be cold?

I agree with you. I also feel like this is weather dependent. Maybe in NY you can get away with it, it’s absolutely freezing where I live, I’ve never seen anyone putting their kids in fleece.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Sun, Nov 03 2024, 7:30 pm

I live in the tri-state area. Many days are freezing and like I said it's a little walk to the car. Not much but you have to go out of the house, to the sidewalk, around the side. I do own my car but it's 15 years old, I pray for its longevity but I don't think it's worth investing in extras.

Also even if I use a blanket to/in the car, what happens if my next stop is, say, out shopping? I park on the avenue and then stand outside changing my baby into a snowsuit? Because he's not going to put up with a blanket over him in the stroller while we walk from store to store.

amother

Slateblue

Sun, Nov 03 2024, 7:39 pm

amother OP wrote:

For the walking from store to store you’ll have to put him into a coat not a snowsuit and then get a sack for the carriage so his feet can be warm.

amother

Thistle ↓

Sun, Nov 03 2024, 7:44 pm

I also do a fleece with a hat and a blanket in the car. My kids each have a second winter coat they leave at school for recess. Interestingly, my oldest is out of a carseat and now able to wear a winter coat in the car but she claims it's uncomfortable and hot and would rather just have a fleece like she's used to.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Sun, Nov 03 2024, 7:48 pm

amother Slateblue wrote:

For the walking from store to store you’ll have to put him into a coat not a snowsuit and then get a sack for the carriage so his feet can be warm.

I use an umbrella stroller for the car, I don't think they work with the sack things.

For myself I most definitely wear a winter coat and gloves to get to the car so I'm not so convinced a fleece sweater will do much.

amother

Hunter ↓

Sun, Nov 03 2024, 7:53 pm

amother OP wrote:

You can leave the house a few minutes early each day so you can have time to take off his coat before getting in the car. And bring a blanket for him to have in the car until the car warms up.
And yeah put the coat on him when out doing errands in the stroller. He can wear boots to keep his feet warm.

amother

Orchid

Sun, Nov 03 2024, 8:08 pm

The north face fleece snowsuit was thin and warm for my kids but it's been a while. Read the reviews. If people from cold places like it I usually assume I'm safe.

amother

↑ OP

Sun, Nov 03 2024, 8:22 pm

So basically I need to buy a coat because a snowsuit like the one I had stored is going to be a huge pain to take on and off all those times.

If you have a link to the recommended North Face that would be great!

cookier ↓

Sun, Nov 03 2024, 8:34 pm

amother Dimgray wrote:

Just so you know, thick coats in the car present the same risk to adults as they do children. No one in the car should have a puffy coat between their body and the seatbelt/straps.

amother

↑ Thistle

Sun, Nov 03 2024, 9:10 pm

cookier wrote:

Just so you know, thick coats in the car present the same risk to adults as they do children. No one in the car should have a puffy coat between their body and the seatbelt/straps.

I was told the difference is that adult seatbelts retract and lock while carseats don’t.