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Would you expect your grandchildren to be layered up?

(92 Posts)
mokryna Fri 26-Aug-22 19:06:05

A mother on the tv this evening said she couldn’t ask her three-year-old to layer up this winter.

Agreed no-one likes wearing layers. I didn’t have the money to heat where I lived with my three-year- old in the 70s, and because I wouldn’t go into debt, my daughter went to bed with a long sleeved vest, warm pyjamas and jumper plus socks. Daytime, she was wrapped up very well.
Would you expect your grandchildren to layer up or is it a question of fashion?

grandMattie Fri 26-Aug-22 19:14:23

Of course I would! If I do, what’s the problem of them doing so? I

Shelflife Fri 26-Aug-22 19:15:37

Of course ! Cold weather - easy solution - more clothes !

Abitbarmy Fri 26-Aug-22 19:16:04

Of course you can ask them to layer-up. Who likes being cold? When we were that age we only had one coal fire to keep us warm downstairs, nothing upstairs and non-existing insulation, but lots of blankets and clothes. It’s not ideal obviously but if needs must..

SunshineSally Fri 26-Aug-22 19:16:11

I expect many people will be layering up in order to save on heating bills. Well they will if they have any sense!

watermeadow Fri 26-Aug-22 19:17:44

My grandchildren have never had winter clothes and summer clothes, they wear the same all year round. Their homes are heated all winter so they can wear T shirts and jeans indoors. Once at secondary school they never wear coats and walk to school in January in the same clothes as in July.
Goodness, their parents are in for a shock!

sodapop Fri 26-Aug-22 19:45:09

Yes when needs must surely fashion is out of the window. If parents have any sense extra layers will become the norm, we have to adapt to the situation we find ourselves in.

Hithere Fri 26-Aug-22 19:48:44

I would expect the kids to wear what they want and the parents support

Not everybody tolerates getting dressed several times/ layers and in dressing layers to match the indoor outdoor weather

For some young kids, it is hard enough to get them dressed in one layer already, or make them wear socks

If parents decide to invest on heating, who is to tell them they are wrong?

Hithere Fri 26-Aug-22 19:49:39

Now, be smarter with the material you choose in your clothing? I am on board

henetha Fri 26-Aug-22 19:50:17

It's common sense isn't it. Extra layers in winter, and especially this winter, for adults and children.

Norah Fri 26-Aug-22 19:52:09

I'd expect parents to decide their children's attire, not me.

lixy Fri 26-Aug-22 19:53:29

Yes, the older ones for sure. At 9 and 12 years they are old enough to put on and take off jumper etc as needed. DD has bought fleecy ponchos for indoor wear so they are easy to put on/take off.
A baby is a different matter and I think I'll need to heat the house more when the baby is here.
We used to wear vests and thick tights in the winter and I'll be doing just that again this year.

Farmor15 Fri 26-Aug-22 19:53:52

Hithere I think the issue is the huge increase in energy prices in UK and other parts of Europe. Many families will not be able to afford to heat their houses so wearing more clothes will be the only option.

But the indoor and outdoor temperatures will be similar, so there won't be a lot of dressing/undressingsmile

Blondiescot Fri 26-Aug-22 19:58:02

Absolutely! Our house is a naturally cold house, and before we got our log burner, we could only have the central heating on from maybe November to February, so if the kids complained about the cold, they just sat and watched TV wrapped in their duvets! Desperate situations call for desperate measures.

Harris27 Fri 26-Aug-22 19:59:49

I think everyone will be layering up!

Callistemon21 Fri 26-Aug-22 20:03:41

I'm knitting DGD2 a jumper.
Whether or not she'll wear it is another matter as she never seems to feel the cold.

silverlining48 Fri 26-Aug-22 20:04:41

What is wrong with putting on more clothes if you are cold?
Isn’t that what most sensible people do?

M0nica Fri 26-Aug-22 20:08:03

Well, I layered up in the winter months as, no doubt, did many of us on GN.

Born during the war living through the winter of 1947, when despite the cold fuel was limited. Growing up in houses when heating consisted of a boiler that heated the water in the kitchen and a fire in one living room, my usual layers in winter were vest, liberty bodice, sweater, with below the waist, thick large knickers, long woolly socks and a pleated woollen skirt. When I left the house, all I added was a coat and gloves. At night I had a warm wincyette long sleeved night dress, a warm dressing gown and ahot water bottle to warm the bed with.

I think children faced with the choice of wearing an additional layer or two or freezing will make the sensible decision.

Bear in mind that we have had a long and exceptional hot and dry summer, something experienced all over the world directly due to our consumption of hydro carbon fuels, so in fact, if the price of gas and electricity means that we consume less, it can only be good for the world. Yes I am aware of the terrible increased prices will have on most families, I am just pointing out an unforeseen gain that will benefit the planet.

lemsip Fri 26-Aug-22 20:10:07

as if you'd ask a 3yr old to 'layer up' just shove another jumper on them

Fleurpepper Fri 26-Aug-22 20:11:29

Of course, makes total sense. this idea that it is one's 'right' to live in shorts, t-shirts and no socks all year round is just ridiculous.

Callistemon21 Fri 26-Aug-22 20:13:14

lemsip

as if you'd ask a 3yr old to 'layer up' just shove another jumper on them

?

Grandma70s Fri 26-Aug-22 20:14:01

It seems obvious to me that if you feel cold you put on more clothes - I presume that’s what layering up means, though the term isn’t familiar to me. I’m bemused by people talking as if wearing a jumper in winter is a problem. You also put more, warmer clothes on your children. Simple.

Fleurpepper Fri 26-Aug-22 20:14:52

lemsip

as if you'd ask a 3yr old to 'layer up' just shove another jumper on them

Oh but they might me traumatised forever and need serious counselling, especially if you add socks (or something!).

M0nica Fri 26-Aug-22 20:24:26

No doubt the older children who demand their 'right' to be kept warm in the house how ever little they are wearing and however cold the weather are no doubt the ones that spend their summers protesting about the need to save the planet by stopping generating pwer with fossil fuels

SueDonim Fri 26-Aug-22 20:40:08

You can get inexpensive thermal underwear for children from the likes of Aldi in the winter months. I’d have thought they’d be ideal for layering. I discover thermals a few winters ago and haven’t looked back since! They’re really cosy.

My son and family moved from the balmy climate of California to the extremes of Ohio a few years ago. The children learnt to ‘layer up’ PDQ, when they realised that no matter how much the heating was on, shorts and a vest top just would not cut it when the outside temps were 27 below freezing and there were several feet of snow on the ground.