Anyone else have a daily battle over coat and hat?

DevonPow

DS is driving me nuts - he never, ever had issues wearing coats/jackets/hats until about two weeks ago, and now that it is really cold here it is getting to be a massive PITA every day. He freaks out - screams, sobs, runs away, yells NO NO NO NO, and when I do manage to get him in a jacket (like wrestling an alligator), he immediately unzips and takes it off, runs away,sobs,  tantrums, etc.

I have tried the "OK, we just won't go anywhere" thing, but that has majorly backfired a few times since he is fine with that and we have places we need to go - like Dr appointments. I try to let him pick out his outwear, but he hates it all.

We walk or take the stroller everywhere and it is in the high 30s now in the early mornings, so a jacket is necessary. Any tips? He has become the most obstinate, contrary kid in the past few weeks. I feel like I am yelling at him a lot more and I hate it but seriously I can't listen to the screaming "NO!" anymore....

VivaAmore

Mia does not care for jackets either. While it's not terribly convenient, I usually tell her just to carry it with her. By the time we're three steps from the door, she's ready to put it on. I think it's just hard for them to understand needing one when it's toasty in the house. They can't think far enough ahead that it's cold outside and they're going to need it.

amiamish

I let DS pick a coat, usually when I give him a choice it's really easy to get it on him. I do that with his clothes and shoes too. It's win-win for me. I've also told him if he doesn't put his hood up or hat on then his ears will get cold and owie. (he had and EI when I started that). He prefers those head-band ear wrap things over a hat, but if he chooses that then sometimes I make him put his hood up too.

Last night we were walking from the car to the house and he stopped dead in his tracks and said "NO! My ears cold-owie!!" and put his hat on. LOL

BTW--cute sig!!!

DevonPow

See, these are the really simple things that in the heat of the moment I just can't think of. I'll definitely try that.

DandelionMom

Our fight is over shoes but we've been "racing" (suggested by Emilykristene) and it is working.  I just say, "time for shoes who can get them on faster?!" and she runs off happily to put her shoes on. 

Gracie went through a no-coat-phase last winter and I let her choose either wear it or carry it.  As soon as we were outside she wanted it on. 

amiamish

DandelionMom:

Our fight is over shoes but we've been "racing" (suggested by Emilykristene) and it is working.  I just say, "time for shoes who can get them on faster?!" and she runs off happily to put her shoes on.   

Oh yes-- DS started that this week. Anytime we race he gets super excited and does it.

wellfleet04

We do wear or carry also.  I figure the natural consequence to not wearing her coat is that she gets cold.  I don't even tell her she'll get cold--I let her figure that out.  It's not THAT cold here yet, so she's not going to get sick or anything from not wearing a coat, just be uncomfortable.  Same as when she chose to wear her velour sweatsuit to the park this summer when it was 90 out.  Her choice, her consequence.

august06mom

Yes. I hate it. The other day I put DS in a timeout for not listening. I hate starting the day out with a timeout, but it worked. When he tried it yesterday, I told reminded him that he'd had to sit in a timeout the day before. He put on his coat, so it worked. No idea if it will work tomorrow, though.