How to Get Your Toddler to Wear a Coat
Moving from summer to fall can be difficult for many reasons – a new school year, an earlier daily routine, and starting new activities. But it’s also a struggle because it’s time for your toddler (or preschooler, all the way to teenager) to start wearing a coat again and doesn’t like it.
For some children, this is a real sensory challenge. The coat feels too heavy, too puffy, or too scratchy after months of wearing soft tees. But sending them out into the wild without any protection from the elements doesn’t seem right either, so it’s time to apply some new tactics that will make it a little easier to walk out the door in proper clothing.
Some of the parents on our Offspring Facebook group had fresh ideas this week, which I’ve collected here. (If you haven’t joined yet, this is a great place to get advice on things like tantrums, potty training, picky meals, school meals, and other parenting concerns.)
Teach them to put it on themselves
You know that part of the reason they refuse to wear a coat is because you want them to wear it. This is another thing that you are trying to control in their existence, and they do not have it. Their whole day seems like a string of things they don’t want to do, eat or wear, and now you want them to wear a coat too ?! To hell with you!
But another feature of babies is that they desperately need independence. Therefore, even if it is easier and faster for you to help them with a coat, teach them to do it themselves; it really saves you the time you would spend convincing them that you know more about the weather than they do.
We recommend the flip trick :
Call it something else
All this time you were saying, “Come on, put on your coat,” although you could say, “Come on, put on your magic, cape with a hood!” Or another fictional, special title that launches you into some kind of role-playing situation in which they act as a superhero to save your family from hunger (go to the grocery store) or play with all your superhero friends (kids in the nursery garden).
Sometimes adding a little silly is all it takes to get them out of their stubbornness and turn them into a jacket.
Create a cold-weather changing area
If calling the coat “magical” isn’t enough for them, consider setting up a fun cold weather outfit by your front door. This suggestion comes from Heather on our Facebook group :
Make a small dressing area for her that has a mirror, a clothes rail or drawers for baby clothes, and toss in a bunch of sweaters and jackets with some fun stuff like cat ear headbands and just leave them there to she could explore on her own.
Some fun options might be all it takes to get them out of their uncovered rut.
Try a raincoat or poncho
Sometimes a coat can seem very restrictive for kids – they may not want to freeze, but they also don’t want to feel like their hands are weighed down. In this case, a raincoat or poncho may help. This one from Cat & Jack looks nice and warm. Or, you can lure them in with a fancy animal hood and tail .
A vest is another option to give them an extra layer and also to keep their hands free.
Let them carry instead
Probably the most classic piece of advice on how to deal with a coat battle is to let them go without it and face the natural effects of the cold (within reason, of course). Or take it with them when they decide they want it. But I’m more inclined to think, “You can carry this or you can carry it with you.” They can be tucked into a backpack, tied at the waist, or carried.
This still makes them accountable for it (you have enough to carry) and it may be easier for them to put it on. But in any case, they can still control the situation to some extent.
Also, remember to be careful with children who wear large winter jackets in car seats – the bulky material can make the belts too loose and less effective in the event of an accident. It is best for them to put the coat on to the car and then take it off, button it up and turn the coat back so they can get their hands on it. just take it to your car and ask it to put it on backwards after buckling up and feeling cold.