Do you put summer clothes away completely?

[Beppie]

My 4yr old dd loves to wear short-sleeve shirts even in winter. We live in Minnesota and our winters are long and cold. We like to keep our heat on 68 degrees (maybe she feels that's warm?).

I'd like her to wear warmer clothes, even inside. I feel like she is always choosing clothes that leave her too chilly. It's fine with me if she wants to wear a skirt, but I'd rather her also wear a long-sleeve shirt, at least.

Should I put her summer clothes away completely in a box in the closet? Or should I leave them out for her to choose from, in her dresser? What do you do, especially other mamas in cold climates? thanks for any suggestions!

[Alyantavid]

Once winter really sets in, I'll usually move the shorts to the top of the closet, but they can wear whatever shirts they want year round. If one of mine wants a short sleeve shirt, we just add a sweatshirt and coat and they're usually fine.

[cedoreilly]

I keep the short sleeved shirts in the drawer but if they want to wear one they have to put a long sleeved shirt under it.

[LynnS6]

Does she complain about being chilly or are you just cold ? My dd also runs warm, so I understand.

I grew up in Minnesota and I was often hot (even at 68 degrees). Now when we go to visit my parents, who are elderly and keep the heat at 72 degrees, I feel like bringing my summer shorts!

If you house is well insulated and she's fine indoors (doesn't complain of being cold), I'd put away the shorts, but leave the short sleeved shirts and skirts. When she leaves the house, I'd insist on tights/sweater if the weather is below 35 and more substantial clothing (snow pants) if it's below about 15-20.

I try to argue as little as possible with dd about how much clothing she's wearing. At home, if she wants to run around naked all day, OK (as long as there aren't guests over.) If we're going out, if she's wearing too little and it's a short outing, I let it go. She gets cold, and we talk about what we could do differently. If it's a long outing, I bring extra stuff. (We live in Oregon, the chances of dd getting frostbite are slim and none on most days.) I've found that as dd gets older, she's getting better at regulating what she needs to wear. This year at 5, she's finally understood the idea behind 'layering' -- put on a lighter shirt and a sweater/sweatshirt over it when you're cold, so when you're hot, you don't need to change everything.

[jillmamma]

Not where I live (Houston, TX)! We can easily get 80 or 90 degree days in December, January or February! In your case, I would probably put most of the shorts and sleeveless shirts away, and keep some short sleeved ones out. And as the others have said, have her layer them if she wants to go outside.

[Beppie]

Originally Posted by LynnS6

Does she complain about being chilly or are you just cold ?

I get your point. It could be me! I am ALWAYS cold. I'm a cold hands and feet kind of person all winter long. (And I take hot showers just to warm up!)

[Drummer's Wife]

I'm keeping out shorts and t-shirts b/c it doesn't get too cold here (I had the A/C on last night at midnight) and when it does get chilly outside I keep the house warm inside so they could be worn around the house at the very least.

[pjs]

We put them away completely.

[Peony]

I put them away completely. Otherwise DD1 sees some short sleeve shirt that she must wear, it is just easier to have them "out of sight, out of mind.".

[littlemizflava]

we live in ontario canada so winter is way past cold
i pack away shorts thin skirts & dresses and pj's. if summer stuff are left out my dd and ds will try to wear them. much easier to pack away to save the battle. when it is a cold day i request a sweater one that zips or buttons(does not have to be done up) over a tshirt or a long sleeved shirt and thicker tights for dreses and skirts.

[pigpokey]

Yes, put them away.

[Starflower]

I put most of them away, only leaving out maybe a couple short-sleeved shirts in case we get a couple of unseasonably warm days. In summer, I put away the long-sleeved stuff and leave out a couple extras for weather changes or camping.

If your DD is comfortable in the short sleeved shirts indoors and has a jacket or cardigan to wear over it in case she gets cold, maybe it doesn't matter? If she's complaining about being cold all the time, then I'd probably put up the summer stuff completely and/or push for her to wear sweaters over top.

[Yooper]

We do not. It is cold cold COLD here and we keep our heat at 62 during the day....which means the interior wall that the thermostat happens to be hanging on is 62. It is easily below 50 in certain areas of our 120 yo house on windy days. BUT, dd is hot-blooded. I am in the house wearing long johns, hat, scarf, slippers, wool socks, two sweaters, and dd will be happy as can be barefoot with a sundress on. As long as she is not complaining of being cold, I leave it be. My only complaint is that it make ME cold to look at her bare feet on our freezing floors We do not even have carpet! Of course, our idea of "sundress weather" is 65 degrees anyway

[Bug-a-Boo's Mama]

So, while I am not at all in your shoes temperature wise...I wouldn't pack away her short sleeve tops. If she wants to wear them while at home fine. But I would say that if she wants to wear them out, ideally she needs to wear a long sleeve tee under (layering is very cool) but I would be okay with just a undershirt/tank top under the short sleeve top. I am assuming that when going out she would also have on a sweater and jacket. Or even you can wear a short sleeve top when you wear pants but if you wear a skirt you need to wear a long sleeve top.

At 4, she knows if she is cold or not. DS is younger and has no problem telling me if he is cold or hot inside. I wouldn't adjust the house temp according to what she is wearing either.

[bluey]

I pack away shorts & sundresses. Short sleeve shirts stay out. The girls run hot like me especially the oldest and putting her in long sleeve shirts is akin to torture apparently. That's not to say I haven't snuck into their rooms at night to make sure they are warm enough but so far, they always are. Which makes sense I guess, as I sleep with only a sheet because otherwise I'd spontaneously combust. Dp on the other hand has 3 (!) blankets.

For reference sake, we live in Canada. Not the arctic or anything, but it gets cold (but it's a dry cold!)

[carmel23]

I put them away completely--shorts/skirts that don't work well with leggings or tights.

A few short sleeved shirts stay out, but I put a lot of them away to make room for the bigger bulk of the long pants and long sleeved shirts.