Keeping baby/toddler warm. But why???

[CanBoo]

OK, we are those people who let their babies freeze.

I mean in the first few weeks where they learn to regulate body temperature, I follow the "one more layer" rule.

But after that, I don't undertand the obsession of keeping kids warm. If they get grouchy, I add clothes. But until they show that they are uncomfortable, I don't see the point. They usually ask to take layers off, and I let them be. It is not cold enough to be in danger of hypothermia, and I do not believe that they will get sick if they get cold.

Now, people around me always ask if they aren't cold or MIL and other family members add layers after I am ready to leave.

Examples: MIL not wanting dd2 to play by the (closed) sliding door in her diaper only last winter because it was "too cold". dd2 with a diaper only in dh's arms outside last week as he was talking with people by the driveway. Happy as a clam. Everyone else was in jeans and t-shirt. Neighbour again worried that she will be cold. Their 8 months old wearing long sleeper, hat + sweater on top.

So for those who do bundle up their kids, please tell me what I am missing?

For all the other, please also tell me I am not the only one.

[JordanKX]

Maybe I am missing something too... cause DS wears what I'm wearing. If my feet are cold in the house, I assume his are too. He never grabs his feet or looks uncomfortable, but I just go with what DP and I are wearing. If we're wearing bathing suits, then DS should be fine in a diaper only. So, I'm right there with you that we don't treat "the cold" like such a big deal.
Now, I do agree that babies can't tell you they're cold - so wearing a hat is important. I'd really like to be wearing hats more often than I do - I know it'd keep me warmer.
And I do put him in slightly warmer clothes for sleep (than what I wear), cause I will use a blanket, and he won't. So I supplement a layer for what I consider my blankets to be.

My mother comments on this all the time. That my aunt uses tshirt/pants INSIDE of a fleece sleeper, until they're like 3yo. They live in Southern California and have AC and Heat. This makes no sense to me what so ever.

Maybe I'm missing something. But DS is a year old and has been just fine.

[SilverFish]

i have another half-naked baby over here. i barely even dress her at all during the summer. i kept seeing people wearing their babies in snowsuits in MAY while i was carrying around a baby in a sleeper. part of it was that i was usually carrying her in a carrier, while the snowsuit babies were in strollers, but yah, i got crap about it all the time from my family.

[jess152]

I'm with you. I met a friend at the park the other day...our babies are four (?) months apart. He was in a full on sleeper and hat, tucked under a light blanket in his carseat, mine was in a short sleeved onesie. It's summer! I love being able to dress him like that!

We have a warm apartment too, so unless baby is fresh from the bathtub (and might be chilled) we are fine with him hanging out in diaper only. The 3 year old is half naked too, most of the time.

[lookatreestar]

we live in a desert and neither of mine were winter babies so we are diaper and romper/tee/one piece etc.

while visiting my dhs fam i got grilled constantly for not having socks on my kids and having them swaddled in 3 blankets.

[chel]

my dd is usually in a onesie when out and about.
my mom is already asking about socks. it's rarely below 80!

i make really warm kids that get super fussy when warm. their dad is part penguin. he gave me an odd look when he found out i had put a short sleeve onesie under a light footed sleeper (it was in jan during a midwest winter. i was but he and dd1 were warm)

[MJB]

It's the hottest summer on record here; my 6 week old has never worn a hat, socks, or pants. She has worn long-sleeve cotton gowns but that's the warmest she's ever been dressed; most of the time at home she's in just a diaper or maybe a short-sleeved shirt. When we go out I'll put a short-sleeved dress, romper, or shirt and skirt on her.

My mom is very concerned about her not wearing socks. It's been 90+ degrees almost every day of her life! We have a window unit A/C but it's set on 76º and it's not like she's sitting right in front of it. If we go out in public someone is holding her and we're probably both sweating.

My big kids dress themselves and I don't stress over how warm or cold they are; if they get cold they can put more clothes on! My littlest runs around the house in his undies all winter.

[aramat]

Oh, no. Just keep baby comfortable! If hands are cold, I add a layer. If back of the neck is too warm, I remove a layer. I have very fat, warm babies, and they usually don't need much of anything.

[Nicole730]

I tend to dress my kids in what I am wearing...but I'm a colder person in general. DH dresses them in what he is wearing, and he's warmer. So, here, it will depend on what parent dresses the child.

That said, DS was always cold - cold hands, cold feet. Even as a 2 year old, he requests to wear sweaters, long sleeves, and pants in the summer air conditioning. His average body temp is 97.6, I wonder if that has anything to do with it. Anyway, DS was always in a onesie under whatever he wore, always had socks on, and usually a hat. DD is a warmer kid, so she definitely wears less clothes at the same age. Not to mention all the heat and humidity this year...she often just wears a t-shirt and diaper or just a tank onesie.

[isabchi]

My children loves little to not clothing year around at home. Neither of them likes socks at home, much less hats. I never understand what is such a big deal with a little cold air.

[lotus.blossom]

Isn't it a Waldorf concept to always keep little children warm? I can't remember the story behind it, but thats always why little Waldorf kids wear woolens under everything. (hope that wasn't too steryotypical)

My ds2 runs HOT. I'm lucky if I can get a onesie on him all summer long. And forget any sleepers with feet. With our woodstove on this winter I expect to have little need for clothes this winter too (unless we leave the house)

[SubliminalDarkness]

I'm not one of them, either. My DH is, though, and I don't think he could even give a reason, except that it's what you're supposed to do. Of course, in all of his childhood pictures, he's bundled up like an eskimo! I was, too, but I reached a point, apparently, where I decided it wasn't very comfortable and quit.

[laughingfox]

I was once screamed at by a stranger in a parking lot for not having a winter coat on my toddler when it was 78 degrees, in August. I don't get it.

[Tway]

I'm always cold so poor DD was dressed in a gazillion layers all winter and spring. I'd take her out of her stroller or carrier only to realize her neck was dripping in sweat. Even on days when it was -20 and we took long walks, she'd be too toasty warm!

That said, this summer's been incredibly hot and I've left her in a onesie, with cotton pants once in a while to keep the sun off her. Still haven't figured out what to do when we suddenly step into -20 air conditioning, though...

[bubbagirl]

Its been 90-100 f here for a few months and I get looks all the time for my topless babe when we are out. We even have some family friends always asking why he is naked. I normally only have him in cloth diapers and cover. If we are going somewhere with air conditioner he will get a t shirt. He's a warm little guy. You aren't alone. My grandfather was an old school doctor. Was a doctor for a rural county starting in 1928 doing home deliveries etc and told my mom when I was born, to dress me and then take off half of what she had put on and I would be fine

[lynsage]

Keeping babies and small children excessively warm seems to be another throwback/urban legend/parenting hot button. My best friend is a pediatrician and she has repeatedly reassured me that babies don't need any more clothes than we do (maybe one more layer for newborns if it's cool out), and if you're not cold, your baby probably isn't either.

The repeated reassurances always came after someone jumped in my business a hat, coat, shoes, whatever they thought my daughter should be wearing.

[Norasmomma]

Well my grandmother and my mom are always FREEZING, like wearing longjohns and a coat in the summer, DH and I are opposite hotblooded and so are our kids. I remember when DD was 11 months old we were camping and it was oh about 55-60 degrees outside and DD was dressed in a sweatsuit and my grandma laid into me about how she was gonna freeze to death. Ummm yes she's gonna freeze because it's 55 degrees and she's in sweats.

We also got a couple looks when she was an infant and it was winter, no blanket but wrapped in Dh's coat. Whatever, we know our kid and know that they are fine. DS never wore a hat, like ever, he'd scream bloody murder in a hat, I guess he knew what he liked and what he didn't.

[SeattleRain]

I'm more worried about sun exposure than cold in the summer. My babe is always in a onesie around the house but if we go out he gets some knit pants because I don't want his legs to get exposed to the sun. I would feel very uncomfortable with a babe out in the summer with just a diaper because their skin is so much more sensitive to sun than ours, and its not always safe to put sunscreen on them before a certain age.

Also, if you wear your baby, he/she is getting WAY more warmth than a baby in a stroller or carseat. I dress DS in layers and usually end up with him just in a short-sleeved onesie if he's a sling (where his legs are tucked up) or a onesie and pants if he's in the Moby (where his legs dangle).

[rightkindofme]

We are another one of those married couples where I'm always cold and my husband is always hot. So we compromise by bringing layers with us and checking the back of the neck/extremities. If the kiddo actually feels cool to the touch I'm allowed to add a layer. If kiddo feels hot I have to take a layer off. If kiddo is perfect then he pats me on the head when I gloat about being right.

[Dena]

My friend who has researched this extensively told me that babies being too warm actually increases the risk of SIDS. It is better if they are a little chilly, esp. when sleeping. I guess they don't sleep as deeply that way.

And yeah, we don't overbundle either. In fact, with my first, people gave me 348957697 pairs of socks and 23490807045 onesies, and I was like, wha? Then I was told you are supposed to put a pair of socks on all the time and a onesie under everything. After the first 93 pairs of socks got kicked off, I abandoned that, and never did use the onesies as undershirts. Just more laundry, if you ask me.