help getting toddler to stay in warm clothes?

[cyclamen]

Posting here instead of toddlers because I suspect the usual advice would be, "let the child figure out how much clothing to wear."  I used to think that too, but now I am not so sure.  I figured maybe people here would have more experience with this since that is kind of a waldorfy thing?

I used to not make a big deal about what DD2yo wanted to wear, and I still don't.  However, she has had a perma-sniffle since the winter, which I recently discovered goes completely away if she is wearing enough clothes - socks, long pants, and up to two shirts.  A hat too, if it's really chilly.  If she is busy running around, she will usually keep everything on.  But hanging out at home, waking up in the morning, etc... she just takes everything off.  And her skin is ice cold, and she is extremely lean.  So I'm totally convinced she needs to layer up and stay warm.  We've started talking about how it's good to wear socks, and I wear socks with her, but any other tips would be good.  She just learned how to take off and put on her clothes, so I am sure that is part of it. 

I knitted her some vests but she's really not interested....

[vellamo]

Have you tried different materials? My children love soft bamboo or very thin merino knitting. Cotton might get sweaty and it stays wet if they pour a glass of water on themselves, but wool stays warm even then. Of course a nice picture in a sock helps too.

(Sorry if my English is not very good. I´m from Finland and I know everything about cold. On the other hand I have no idea what should I do to make my daughter keep a hat on a sunny day.)

[cyclamen]

Thanks for the tip, and welcome vellamo!  I think you might be right about the materials.  I noticed that if DD gets any water on herself she wants to take her (cotton) clothes off immediately.  We have just been talking alot about how it's good to be warm.  I think if I had started to have her dress more warmly from birth she'd be more used to it.  But she is used to running around bare butt all the time.... :)  Hmm... maybe I should make some babylegs.

[honeybunmom]

My little guy (26 mos) is really good with hats (like fedoras!  really), really bad with slippers (Croc style) in the house.  Unless they are fitted around the ankle.  And, I have recently discovered that he looooovvvveees knee high socks!  He really likes to pull them up and up and up, so, we'll just get more of those since he will keep those on.  He's always in wool pants or shorts because we use them as diaper covers and always have.  For the winter (we're in cold Chicago), I plan to knit him a hat/balaclava/dicky so that he won't have to wear a separate scarf and to pull off the hat, he'll have to be able to get it out of his coat since it will extend down around his neck.

[appalachiamama]

While cotton might not be the best choice, that's what we use here because it's easier for us to find and buy (and afford!).  Our daughter wore long sleeve bodysuits with snaps all winter under whatever she wore, so at least two shirts.  Sometimes she wore babylegs under pants and we always urged her to wear slipper socks.  You're right--being warm makes a big difference.  If you know how to knit or crochet or sew, you could make her a hat of some sort (pilot cap or sun hat) and maybe her watching you make it would encourage her to wear it.  I know it helped here.  If all else fails, throw on a tee shirt under the regular shirt.  Good luck!