Everyday on my way to take my kids to school at 8 am I come across with a pretty lady jogging with her double stroller carrying two babies. at first I thought, good for her that she get some work out, but now that the weather is going down to 50 or 60, my kids and I are inside a car and yet we feel super cold, so when I see her on the road running, I feel bad for those babies. yesterday I gave her a bad look with the intention to make her realized that those babies should not be expose to those low temperatures unnecessarily..but Now i feel guilty I am judging her..but how is this thing of working out in winter with children? is it fine?I have never done any exercise myself, I am pretty slender so I take advantage of it and do nothing to work out..I know I should mind my business and not hers, but since I see her everyday I just do not know how to ignore it.
Thank you all for your responses. It helped me have a better perspective, I would follow your counsels and do not worry more for something that is probably good for those kids, I will let my own kids get some time outdoors also, not me though cause I die in cold weather.
Cars have only been around for 100 years or so, how do you think mothers got around with their babies since humanity began, in VERY cold climates? 50/60 degrees is nothing.
And exercise is good for that mom's muscles, lungs and heart, it's not only about weight. What a fantastic example she's setting for her kids.
It's not good for people, even babies, to be inside all day. Fresh air, even cold air is good for them.
They have a smart and healthy mom, lucky them.
Wow! I live in Wisconsin where it is already in the high 20's in the morning and I walk my son to and from school each day with my 3 year old and 4 month old in the stroller, both bundled up according to the temperature. I'm glad you're not giving me dirty looks each day!
Lol. I've had my baby outside in the high 30s and low 40s all week. We just got back from a walk, in fact, and she ASKED for it. 50-60 is warm, I'm stunned you are worried.
With my oldest, we walked everyday unless it was below 20. A Columbia bunting was plenty warm, and she loved it. And I had a weather shield to keep the wind off her face.
50 or 60 is not even cold!!!!!! People around here wear shorts when its 40. I have had my kids out snowshoeing as toddlers at Zero. The cold air does not hurt them at all, you just have to make sure you have the proper clothing on them. Stop judging, she is out doing something healthy and letting her babies get fresh air, those are both great things, even at much much colder temps. Maybe you are from somewhere warm, but reality is there are places that get and stay much much colder then 50 (heck, during our summers we are lucky to hit 70) and life does not stop just because the temp drops.
Around here kids go outside every day even when it is cold. At school they only cancel recess if it is well below zero degrees.
As long as she's bundling them up, I don't see the problem. (also, 50 or 60 is not that cold.)
Why don't you say hello to this lady and get acquainted? Then you'll be able to ask her yourself how she and her babies do this jogging-in-cold-weather bit.
After you find out, you can tell her that you were worried about the babies being out in the cold weather - being a non-exerciser yourself and not knowing anything about it - and now you're glad to know how and why it works.
I wasn't jogging, but I always took my babies outside for at least 1/2 hour a day of fresh air until the temperature reached about 0 Fahrenheit. They were dressed for the weather. Where I live it is below 50 for most of the year. If the kids didn't go out at those temps they would never get any fresh air. Your children would be much better off out walking in the fresh air than sitting in a car. So, is it fine? It is better than fine. It is the best thing for them. Mom is giving them fresh air and modelling a healthy lifestyle!
In child care state regulations it is written we MUST take every child outside every day. Even in freezing weather. It may not be half an hour but we must take them outside.
Of course we don't go out if it's freezing but we do go out until it's in the 40's and 50's. The 60's is still quite warm and even the 50's are too.
I know people who will still have on shorts and sandals in the 50's. I don't even wear a coat in the 40's sometimes. It really depends on the moisture content of the air and how much the wind is blowing.
It's in the 50's today and I have on capri's and sandals. I am not going outside to a football game or anything like that but going in and out I'm fine.
My point is that if those kids are dressed like the other people around then they should be okay. That's the way we should dress our baby's. Like we do. If we don't wear 5 layers of clothes then we shouldn't dress the kiddo's in that either.
Updated
In child care state regulations it is written we MUST take every child outside every day. Even in freezing weather. It may not be half an hour but we must take them outside.
Of course we don't go out if it's freezing but we do go out until it's in the 40's and 50's. The 60's is still quite warm and even the 50's are too.
I know people who will still have on shorts and sandals in the 50's. I don't even wear a coat in the 40's sometimes. It really depends on the moisture content of the air and how much the wind is blowing.
It's in the 50's today and I have on capri's and sandals. I am not going outside to a football game or anything like that but going in and out I'm fine.
My point is that if those kids are dressed like the other people around then they should be okay. That's the way we should dress our baby's. Like we do. If we don't wear 5 layers of clothes then we shouldn't dress the kiddo's in that either.
Definitely do not judge her. You don't know the whole story and it isn't your place to judge what someone else is doing if it isn't clearly harmful or abusive. I doubt you would like it if she judged you for a decision that she didn't agree with. Glad you're trying to gain new perspective and possibly even doing a 180 and following her behavior.
50 - 60 is not cold at all.
Did you know that in Sweden/Finland/Norway babies/toddlers regularly nap outside in sub zero temperatures?
They thrive on it!
"The babies who nap in sub-zero temperatures"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21537988
50-60 is nothing in Utah! Doesn't it snow a whole bunch??
Up here if we did not excersize outside in 50-60 we don't excersize for 7-9 months!! People here (greater Seattle area) are outside in the rain too.
Mind your business, her babies are fine.
L.
You think 50 to 60 degrees is cold. Why do you feel bad for the babies? They are outside getting fresh air. They are probably healthy as a horse be ause they get out every day. They have a great Mom. When you see her say hello. Nothing else. She really does not need anyone's opinion. What temp does it have to be for you to take your kids outside?
Just because YOU are cold doesn't mean she or her babies are cold. In my house both my son and hubby are warm at 60 and I'm "freezing". 50 in Utah is probably considered warm.
Your car has been sitting out all night and is colder than it is outside. If you are thinner, you may feel colder because of not having excess body fat. You don't know how bundled up the kids are.
You really need to back off on the judgement big time. You ignore it because she is doing NOTHING wrong, her kids are FINE.
Glad you got some perspective - 50 or 60 here is relatively warm and we wouldn't think twice about going out in that weather. Heck my younger boys wear shorts and t-shirts until it's in the 40s. My youngest baby was born in January and as long as it was over 30, I used to walk with him when he was a newborn (granted he was strapped to my chest in a snugli so he was right against my body and wrapped in my jacket). As long as they are dressed appropriately, there is no reason to keep kids inside.
The temp here was 42° on Saturday and my older son was outside helping his dad rake leaves. He wore a t-shirt, shorts and sandals. (13 year olds are like that.) My younger son spent hours paying outside yesterday, although he did wear pants and a long sleeve shirt. Me? I was in a thick sweat suit and fuzzy socks drinking hot tea. LOL
I noticed another J. in this thread is also in Wisconsin. Ditto what she says about walking to school. My younger child sometimes has a bus, but not always. Since we only live 1 mile from his elementary school that isn't the default for anyone over Kindergarten age. He has a bus this year because there is a K kid on our street. Otherwise, both kids walk to their respective schools, rain, shine or snow. I walk with the younger when he needs to walk. They don't cancel school here until the temp is -15° or worse. It is cold at first, but if you dress appropriately you get warmed up to the point of being hot once you get moving.
This thread made me want to get out for a long walk. It's 37° and sunny today. See you in an hour! ;-)
I vote you are transferring your cold body temp onto those babies.
Here in Calgary, mamas still jog / walk in the winter. They put snow tires on their strollers, bundle up and away they go. One mom I spoke with placed those microwavable heat pads in the jogger. Smart, eh?
I imagine this mom has the babies bundled enough? Do you see fleecy blankets, hats, anything?
50 or 60? That's not cold! I mean, as long as they're dressed appropriately. Our boy walked with us all over when he was bitty (HIS choice - he could *not* be happy being still) and he didn't want to be inside. She's doing a great thing for herself AND them. Don't judge, mama.
I would just think that when it gets colder she would want one of those covers to keep the wind from running off of their faces. It gets hard to breathe with wind in your face. Also, putting a blanket UNDER them in the stroller since jogging strollers are very thin in the back.
