My toddler refuses to wear a jacket or coat. Any Suggestions???

Question

He is almost 22 months old, we live in Texas so it's not part of his normal attire but it does sometimes get cold enough to need one but he refuses. This has happened w/ other things and as long as I let him choose or make a big deal about it (shoes for example), it's always worked. I'm not having any luck w/ that approach this time, I've tried letting him choose, showing him that everyone else is wearing their coats, putting it over my shoulders and telling him "mommy is going to wear it then", and I even took him to the store to let him pick out a different one but he just said no and cried as soon as he saw it. Has anyone else ever had this problem and, if so, how did you solve it? Thanks in advance!

Thank you but I do realize I am the parent and I do make him wear it but he doesn't throw the normal fits that last a minute or two, he cries the entire time, until he gets inside and it's time to take it off. I was trying to find out if this is normal.

Answer 1

Let him go without. Maybe he's not as cold as you think, kids often aren't. Take it with you....and offer it if he says he's cold. Put him in layers, maybe he'd rather wear a t-shirt and a button up, or a pullover. You aren't really 'letting him choose' if you are freaking out after he doesn't follow YOUR wishes. You're still choosing for him and then telling him that all of his choses are wrong.

Plus he's such a baby, you could still just wrap him in a blanket and put him in his carseat. My brother had a blanket that my mom turned into a 'cape' like superman. It kept him warm enough. Are you more worried about him, or about what people will say if he isn't wearing a coat? I know today here it is about 35º, and none of my kids wanted to wear coats. No biggie. they're in the trunk if they want them, they're all wearing two layers, and we're running in and out of stores anyway. If we were hiking five miles at the lake, it would be different.

Anyway, hope this helps your perspective.

Answer 2

Normally, I would side with all the people who tell you to ignore the fit and make him wear the jacket, but your description is not that of a fit, but of a tantrum. Since this is apparently the only thing that he goes into full tantrum over, I can't help but wonder what is causing this "phobia". I realize that he is only 22 months old, and his communication skills are limited, but I would try to find out WHY he doesn't want to wear coats. He may have somehow gotten the idea that a coat will hurt him. I recall that when I was a child and much older than he, an episode of a radio program somehow created in me a terror of the drain in the shower stall. I took showers, but I was petrified with fear the entire time. The program had nothing to do with showers, water or drains, but the drain made me think of something in the story. Seems silly, doesn't it? But believe me, the stark fear I felt was very real.
But as far as everyday living is concerned, just as I had to endure the shower, your son will have to wear his coat or not go outside on cold days. I like the layering idea for those times when you must take him outdoors because you have errands to run outside of the house.

Answer 3

Well, it sounds like he is definately hit his 'need to be independent' toddler twos! And this is also time for him to learn that in life we sometimes don't have a choice. It is cold out, and he must wear the jacket. When inside the jacket can go off, but outside it must go on (and zipped!) End of discussion. My son did the same, but we live in the cold cold! His next big fit was the car seat, sent him screaming for hours even when we got where we were going, cause he knew he had to get back in it eventually! It's tough, but soon this stage will pass. Like I said, sometimes they must learn you don't always have a choice. (think about your school days, or work. you really don't have a choice with some things in life!) I wish I had a 'magic wand' to make it better, but stay strong and consistent. good luck!

Answer 4

this may well be a 2 area answer. First, while that is not some thing extreme (like sitting correct belted into his vehicle seat), I often attempt to enable my son learn by using organic effects. The organic effect of not donning a jacket if that is chilly is that he gets chilly, and the subsequent time, i will remind him and say "you do not prefer to could pass away the playground too quickly because of the fact which you get chilly, like final time, do you?" yet i don't carry a jacket for him in the variety of subject, because of the fact he won't learn the lesson if what happens if he does not placed on one if i'm consistently there to restoration the subject. And 2d, my ordinary philosophy is that there are sufficient circumstances the place I *have* to win (like the carseat occasion). i don't think of putting on a jacket is a variety of circumstances, and to me, that is not properly well worth the combat. i might somewhat keep the skill for the failings that incredibly count variety for his protection and well-being, and that i think of my 3.5 365 days previous son does comprehend that when i rather insist on some thing, he could not win and he does not push as complicated or as long to get his way.

Answer 5

I was an easy child but I remember my mother trying to put knee socks on me. I cried and cried and threw a fit. I out right refused.

I remember back on how they burned my skin like fire. Seriously, no matter what material. It was a sensory issue, pure and simple.

Maybe layers would be better than a jacket. And maybe he's hot-bodied. My oldest , a girl, would wear short sleeves in 40 degree weather. And she does in fact, stay warm.

I, on the other hand, bundle up at 70 degrees. Fellow Texan here, too.

For the few days that it's cold here, I don't think it'll hurt him to just wear layers or something instead of a coat. And you never know - it just might be too much for his body.

Good luck!

Amy

Answer 6

I ususally say go get your shoes, go get your coat mommy is going bye bye

And he willand when he first started to do it i would go crazy
like" OOOOHH mommys baby is so smart, Oh he's so good, oh look how handsome he is, hoe Fabulous, and really goof off so he'd laugh

And after doing that a few times he'd listen, and be happy

Cause he knows if he doesn't put the coat on he can't get out and about- and he loves to go out side.

so thats what you need to do, make sure its not a choice, terrible 2's


you could even get daddy to put his coat on and then go out side,
so he associates it with fun, let him look out the window at daddy,

And just ask him one time don't beg him,

if he says no then he can't play, just you and daddy,

he'll get the picture.

Answer 7

I have dealt with the same thing in my 5 and 2 year old. It basically came down to what am I willing to put up with. If it is that cold that he needs a jacket then you put it on no matter what. Or you can try layering his clothes. Put on a onsie, a long sleeve shirt, and then a sweatshirt. If a hat is necessary then do that to. Maybe you can compromise with that and let him wear his favorite sweater or something. Hope this helps!!

Answer 8

He will struggle over it if you let him. I know it is hard and seems a little harsh but try using a sweater or jacket that goes over his head and he cant get off. AQfter a few times he will leave it alone, eventually when he is done throwing a fit he will forget and move on to something else. It is better to listen to him cry for a few minutes then to have a sick baby.

Answer 9

Well my 6 year old was like that when she was about 2. She refused to wear it so i said, " Do you like to get sick? " and she always replies " No, then i have to take stupid nasty cough medicine." So i say, " If you wear this coat, your chances of getting sick will drop." And she wears it. Or you can tell him he isnt going outside or being takin anywhere unless he wears it. But dont start grounding yet. Dont get frustrated either.

Answer 10

I guess my question is, Who's the parent you or your toddler? I live in Houston and My daughter is 4 and she hates wearing her jacket too, like she is immune to the cold or something, but I'm the adult and I know what's best so she wears her jacket and I don't care if she is kicking and screaming while doing it. Actually, I take that back...she has learned not to kick and scream with me, she knows that type of behavior is unacceptable in my house and that it only gets her a spanking. Toddlers don't know what they need they just know what they want and unfortunatly sometimes no bribs will work and you have to just be a parent instead of trying to be a friend. If Mommy says put the jacket on then that's what she means!! He has to know that you are serious when you are serious and there needs to be a seperation of "mommy's trying to be nice to me" and "mommy means business or else". It's not to early for him to learn this...my daughter caught on just fine and she has her moments when her independance is hard to cope with but ultimatly I have the last says so and she knows that especially when it comes to her health.!