Winter Gear...Do You Provide?

[MamaJ]

I swear I recently saw a thread on this, but I can never find anything with the search function.

So, do you provide these items so that you know they are warm enough, fit properly, and will be here every day they are needed? I think I could find coats/snowpants pretty cheap used...but hats/mittens/scarves and boots can get pricey and I just don't have the budget for that right now.

Or, should I send out a note to parents soon (so they can start looking for used stuff) and let them know that proper fitting winter attire will be required suitable for playing outdoors for at least an hour?

Would you require them to buy an extra set of everything to be stored at my house? Or, if they can't afford it, just allow them to bring it every day (of course they might forget....in which case they'd have to go home and bring it back otherwise we couldn't all go outside). Then I can see the pain of checking the bags every morning at drop off to make sure everything is there.

I don't want to put off the parents by "requiring" they spend money on an extra set to keep here. but that WOULD be the easiest for me.

suggestions?

[cheerfuldom]

I send out a reminder of what is required and they provide. Anyone that can't walk yet does not go out in the snowy weather and does not need the heavy snow clothes. The babies need a coat and hat for daily walks and are required to have shoes of course. If a parent does not provide, the child does not participate and thankfully, none of my parents want their kid to miss out.

[MamaJ]

my problem would be that if a parent forgets, then everyone misses out since I'm the only one here. so I'd love to require extra sets to stay here, but not sure if that's reasonable to do.

[MommyMuffin]

I dont know if parents would want to budget another snow attire outfit to keep at daycare for 1 season and then out grow.

But it is so awful when they forget to bring the essentials. I am going to go to the thrift store and try to stock up on hats, mittens, snow pants. They should be coming in coats...seeing as I live in MN. Lets hope they dont bring them without a coat this winter. haha

[nannyde]

Yup

everything every day for every kid.

Bring me the kid and I'll take it from there.

[littlemissmuffet]

my problem would be that if a parent forgets, then everyone misses out since I'm the only one here. so I'd love to require extra sets to stay here, but not sure if that's reasonable to do.

Nope. Send the parent AND CHILD home when you see they haven't come properly dressed. They can return with required items on, or in hand... but until then, no daycare for you today. That's what I do.

[mom2many]

No I have never done this. The parents bring me an extra set of clothes that they leave here for back up and that's it.

The most they need to be outside is a sweatshirt or jacket and they come in the morning with that on...no mittens or snowsuits are needed where I live and I forget that in other parts of the country this would be an issue! The only time I get to see the snow is when we vacation!

[DBug]

My dc kids all need complete winter gear (coat, snow pants, hat, mitts, boots, scarf) everyday as soon as the first snow hits. We go to the bus stop so staying in isn't an option. My parents are all pretty good about remembering, but I do keep extras on hand just in case someone has a busy morning and forgets one day. In my case, I just couldn't in good conscience take a child out in the snow without mitts (or whatever), and I can't NOT take them out either.

I pick up hats and mitts at the dollar store, save coats and snow pants that my own kids have outgrown, and get anything else I need second-hand. I've just now decided that I'd better have splash pants on hand too, since they're hard to find in stores around here. I managed to find 3 or 4 pairs for about $3 each at a second-hand place, so it's not too bad.

The thing is, imo parents need to provide weather-appropriate clothing for the climate they live in. Where I live, if a child didn't have a snowsuit in the winter, it would be neglect (yes, I know of someone who was reported for just that). If OP's parents have a hard time remembering, I'd remind them a few times with letters, and then offer to buy the appropriate clothing (to stay at daycare!) and add the cost to their bill. But at the same time, having back-ups is always a good idea, for the odd time mom or dad forget.

[littlemommy]

I feel like if I started providing these things, the parents would take advantage of that and never bring their own. I worked at a daycare before, and she would have extra winter coats for kids that were brought in just their shirt (in freezing cold weather!) The parents seemed to catch on to that and would never dress them for the season.

[wdmmom]

We don't go outside much in the winter. Usually 1 day per week and we schedule it ahead of time so the parents have ample time to gather the items they will need.

From Labor Day on, we don't allow any type of sandal. Tennis shoes only. They need boots when it snows and on scheduled outside days, they need to provide the snowpants. I have extra hats, mittens, scarves, ear muffs, etc. I just don't supply the coat, boots or snowpants.

[nannyde]

I feel like if I started providing these things, the parents would take advantage of that and never bring their own. I worked at a daycare before, and she would have extra winter coats for kids that were brought in just their shirt (in freezing cold weather!) The parents seemed to catch on to that and would never dress them for the season.

For me it isn't so much that the parents don't dress them for the season. My experience was that the clothing was cumbersome, time consuming, and within a few weeks/month of use the hardware and velcro failed.

It's just too time consuming to deal with getting their from home stuff. I like having "packets" of stuff for each kid that stays here that has EVERYTHING they need all in one place and everything is in excellent condition and fits well.

Everyday when they come in we just remove... repacket... put away. Next day pull out... put on... then go out. Rinse and repeat.

Having my own stuff has saved many many hundreds of dollars a year in staff time. Downside is that having everything here for every kid every day takes space.

[Heidi]

I do pretty much the same thing. If they want to keep an extra set of snowpants, hats, & mittens here, they sure can. Most times, they bring them on Mondays and take them home on Fridays. It's dark by the time they get home during the week, so outside time in the evening is limited.

I keep a few extra sets on hand, saved from my own kids or picked up cheap. I also keep a drawer full of extra clothes incase it's needed. Little girl may go home in boy clothes, or a boy might go home in a ruffly pink shirt......parents tend to bring clothes then!

[Meyou]

I require that they leave here two pairs of mitts, one hat, one scarf, two extra pairs of socks, complete change of clothes, sweatshirt and a pair of snowpants starting Oct. 15th each year. Most of my families just pick up an extra pair of snowpants at a secondhand store.

I have extras of everything just in case but I don't advertise that fact.

[melissa ann]

Last year I crocheted hats for all the kids that stayed here. This year, I will not be providing gloves, scarves, coats, proper shoes etc. These parents know that we have bus stop trips to make. They can bring the proper attire. I'm tired of scrambling to find shoes that cover their feet because they come in crocs in winter with a foot of snow outside. Not kidding either. I will be handing out a flyer in the next several weeks stating that if the child does not have the proper attire for the weather, they can not stay. Period. I have a few extras from my own kids, but not enough for everyone. Plus, I don't have the extra room to store clothes and accessories in numerous sizes. It's time the parents be parents to their kids.