Mums of HHO I need your wisdom

[FestiveFuzz]

We keep the horses at home so whether mini FF likes it or not she has to join us on the yard each day (sometimes husband and I tag team it, but one of the boys currently has mud fever so it’s all hands on deck whilst we tackle that!)

With this cold snap I’m wondering how the heck I keep her warm? She’s coming up 11mths now so we can mostly restrain her in her pushchair for now, but will need to come up with some creative way to keep her penned in once she’s toddling. She’s currently in a polarn o pyret snowsuit that she’s rapidly outgrowing, it keeps her snug but her hands are out to the elements so I’m wondering if it’s worth replacing with something with hands and feet? She removes socks with gay abandon so I’m not convinced gloves/mittens would stay put without some heavy duty duct tape

For those that have babies on the yard, how do you keep them warm?

 

[Clodagh]

When mine was tiny he was in an all in one, gloves and feet, super padded thing.
Once he could toddle I tended not to take him if the weather was vile, mainly because I couldn’t contain him anywhere and was on my own so I couldn’t supervise him.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

Same as Clodagh - head to toe in a very thickly padded onesie with hood, hands and feet. Mind you this was over 50 years ago and they both looked like Michelin men so I assume modern materials make them less bulky now? I also had a playpen in the big doorway of the stables that I would pop them in when a pushchair became just a wriggling screaming episode out of sheer boredom. Ever seen a miniature Michelin man crawling around like a beached whale with no useable hands trying to pick toys up, kept them amused for ages!

 

[Patterdale]

We used thick ski dungarees with a woolly jumper and ski coat on top. I found all-in-ones very inconvenient tbh, and with the dungarees set up they can have the coat off if too warm. And we used old fashioned balaclavas.

They won’t keep gloves on so don’t waste time trying!

 

[Chucho]

We are in snow country. My toddler is outside playing in all temps and never wants to come in. Waterproof snow suit with neoprene wellies inside the snowsuit. I prefer the one pieces as they are easy to stick on over clothes and there are no gaps at the waist to let cold/wet in. We have suits with foldover cuffs for hands (and feet) so no need for gloves. Hat that does up under her chin so that's harder to get off. She is now 23 months and thinks mitts are optional when she's trying to do things and the best place to store them is her hood. We have some long ones that go up her arms and if we put them on inside the snow suit they do stay put. We also have a down sleeping bag/bunting for the pram. She's learned pretty quickly that if her hands get cold to put them inside the bag. It doesn't matter if she kicks her boots off inside the bunting. Nursery keep handwarming pads for really cold days.

 

[Dasher66]

I timed the daily visit to the pony to coincide with sleep time. Then made play pens with hay bales. We had the all in one suits with gloves attached.
Then… can’t remember, it was so long ago.

 

[twiggy2]

I worked at a place and used to have to look after the baby/toddler, the tack room had been adapted and everything was up high so it couldn't be reached by the child, stair gate on the door way, if said child wasnt in the pram it was in the tack room before being steady on its feet, door open but heater on to take the worst of the chill of when it was really cold.
They also built a pen the child couldn't get into on the yard and that was where the tie ring was so horses could be tied up, groomed etc outside the stable but the child couldn't get round their legs- that was great as a lot of the horses were youngsters and were a bit lively when the child was scooting round on tractors, cars bikes and the like.

 

[misst]

Playpen or haybale walls. Kids don't mind cold hands if the rest of them is warm. Neoprene wellies if child will keep them on or all in one if not.

 

[conniegirl]

Ellie is going riding tomorrow (she is 2.5yrs old)
She will be wearing a vest, a onesie, some trousers, socks, a jumper, puddle suit, big thick tweed coat, wellies and gloves. The gloves will probs be off in about 5 mins flat but if the rest of her is warm then she will be fine

 

[millreef]

I remember when my son was a toddler (32 yrs old now) and we went skiing in Italy he had a ski suit that kept him warm as toast. They grow so quickly that it’s wise to buy second hand.

 

[Bobthecob15]

I’m at the other end with a 9yr old going on 13 who seems to perpetually be in some sort of sulk at the drop of a hat she refuses to wear more clothes despite visibly shivering….give me the toddler stage any day!

 

[Blanche]

I remember when my son was a toddler (32 yrs old now) and we went skiing in Italy he had a ski suit that kept him warm as toast. They grow so quickly that it’s wise to buy second hand.

Try Vinted or eBay for warm clothing and stick it back on there when outgrown.