Now just how in the heck?? I need some advice!!!

@rosey3223 (1566)
United States
January 20, 2008 2:24pm CST
Here it is, winter, about 20 degrees outside so it is kinda cold inside, and my toddler REFUSES to wear a shirt!! It doesn't help that he has a cold either. I don't know what it is, but he just absolutely loves to run around either half-way naked or ALL the way. Every time we put the clothes back on, he just takes them right back off!! It's so frustrating because I'm trying the best I can to keep him warm and WHOOSH...off comes the shirt What in the heck can I do? I've thought about duct-taping his clothes on, but luckily we don't have any. It's just so frustrating!! The only thing I can think of is just let him be happy and let him run around the way he wants to...I'm just so afraid that his cold is gonna get worse!! But how do you tell a 2 year old that it is for the best??
1 person likes this
7 responses
@babykeka80 (2084)
• United States
20 Jan 08
My daughter is the same way. She is suffering with bronchitis right now. It is miserable. The weather here is not quite as cold there but I discipline her right now for taking her clothes off. I tell her it will make her sick. She is really advanced for her age though so she listens really well.
2 people like this
@rosey3223 (1566)
• United States
20 Jan 08
Awe, I'm so sorry to hear that she is that sick!! I've had bronchitis before and know how miserable she is. And mine is very smart as well, but VERY stubborn. I tell him and he just looks at me like "WHATEVER mommy, whoosh, there ya go!!" I try to discipline him, but after the tenth time of doing that and then trying to locate the shirt or pants or sometimes both, I usually just give up.
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Jan 08
She has been so pitiful. Just lays around and cries and whines. She is one of those kids that never seems to be sick so when she is she gets a big dose of it. I hate to see her sick I would much rather take it myself. It breaks my heart to see her like that.
1 person likes this
@rosey3223 (1566)
• United States
22 Jan 08
Awe man, just hearing about it breaks my heart!! My oldest was prone to upper-respiratory infections and ear infections a lot under the age of 2, now all he gets are little colds thank god. I felt so bad for him when he had to go through that, so I completely understand what you both are going through right now.
@vialdana (69)
21 Jan 08
2 suggestions for you... Firstly - Bribery. Ok, I know that doesn't sound a great idea, but if you can do it in a sort of subtle way that has him wearing clothes or he can't have the lovely yummy yoghurt you've got in your hand ;) or No sorry mummy doesn't want to play with little boys who won't keep their shirt on, and then look sad, that might work. The other suggestion, is try him in clothing he can't remove! A pair of elasticated trousers with a nice sweatshirt, and then pop a button on to the inside either side of the trousers and a loop on the inside of the sweater so when you dress him, he can't remove them. (Actually thought of a third... What about saying 'oh clever you, you can take your trousers off.. I bet you can't put them on again though. Make him think dressing is just as clever as undressing.)
@Stephanie5 (2946)
• United States
21 Jan 08
My kids are the same way. The 6 year old finally realizes that he wouldn't be so cold if he left his clothes on but my 3 year old (who just turned 3 yesterday) will NOT keep clothes on during the day or at night. In fact, she strips down to nothing every single night and pees all over everything! SO, not only is she naked but she and all her bed clothes are also wet! I'm about to duct tape her clothes on her! I know she'd get the tape and the clothes back off in no-time! Good luck.
@rosey3223 (1566)
• United States
22 Jan 08
Oh my gosh, my oldest is the same way!! He use to complain all the time about being cold so we would tell him to get some clothes on (he would be in shorts and sleeveless shirt). But now when he is cold he'll put his jacket on himself...I just have to laugh because he will do that when he has shorts on! So I STILL have to tell him to get better clothes on!! And I'm sorry to hear that she strips down and pees on everything at night, hopefully you are able to put a stop to it real soon. How long has she been doing that? Sounds to me like she is the one that needs the duct tape!! LoL!! Good luck to you too, you need it more than I do!!
1 person likes this
@rosey3223 (1566)
• United States
22 Jan 08
That is too funny!! My boy is the same way-the one that this discussion is about!! At first I would take him into the bathroom with me so that I could keep an eye on him, now he's so used to going with me that he has a fit. But we have a latch on our fridge, shoelaces tying our cupboards up-they are designed weird and none of the baby latches fit. Thank goodness I only use a selected few cleaners so that I can keep them up on a shelf...when I first put them under the sink he got into them all the time. He turns our radio off and on all the time along with the t.v-so we are screwed if we are trying to watch a DVD. And what doors we have with locks on them are locked because he can open them as well. Oh, and he uses his tonka dump truck to get up to the sink and whatever else he wants to get into. I was told by his dad's mom that his dad was the same way, was a little climber and got into everything...so I was prepared when he got into the garbage while he was in his walker. So I definitely understand and sympathize with you. When called a handful, they live up to their name!! LoL!!
• United States
22 Jan 08
She's been doing that since she was about a year. I'm telling you, this girl is too smart for her own good. If you look back over the discussions I've started you would see that she is quite the handful! She knows how to unbuckle, untape, unstrap, undo anything and everything! She gets into and on everything. I've had to call poison control so many timmes it's not even funny. And it's not like I don't watch her! If I try to go to the bathroom and don't take her in there with me and hold onto her,she will get into everything in the 2 minutes it takes me to potty! Girls, girls, girls! None of my boys weere even close to being this bad!
1 person likes this
@urbandekay (18278)
21 Jan 08
Well 20 is hot, don't worry, it'll be good for him all the best urban
2 people like this
@rosey3223 (1566)
• United States
21 Jan 08
LoL, thanks!!
1 person likes this
@lightningd (1039)
• United States
20 Jan 08
This is going to sound funny, but here goes. My oldest child when he was a toddler, wouldn't leave his clothes on either, but something I noticed, when he got cold, he looked for his blanket or put his clothes back on. Kids are funny. Even now, my youngest, who is 16, leaves for school in the mornings with just a hoodie on over his t-shirt. Kids have fewer problems regulating their body temperatures, and are less affected by cold temperatures. They radiate energy and heat. Both my kids got the occasional cold, but neither were very sick. It seemed to me they got sick from catching bugs at school more than they did when they were toddlers and ran around naked all the time. If you're just staying at home, don't fret about it. If you have to go somewhere.... and he won't keep clothes on, then you might want to invest in some duct tape.J/K/ Seriously though, it's a stage. As for his cold, keeping him bundled up isn't going to make a difference either way. If he's running a fever, then the fewer clothes the better. No clothes just makes it easier for his body to eliminate the fever, much like cool baths. Hope that helps!
2 people like this
@rosey3223 (1566)
• United States
20 Jan 08
That does, thanks. We recently put a shirt on him and so far he has kept it on! But he is so much like me in that he is naturally hot natured and doesn't want a shirt on because he gets hot faster and makes it worse on him. But thanks, that does make me feel better!!
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Jan 08
OK I know this sounds funny but just let him be, if he is cold he will let you know. My 3yr old is the same way and I had to talk to the doctor about it cuz really I was affaid that he would get sick. The doctor is the one who told me to let him go as long as he is in the house and the heat is on he is good.
2 people like this
@rosey3223 (1566)
• United States
20 Jan 08
Ya, that's pretty much what I have resorted to. Usually when he wants a shirt on he will bring me one so that I can put it on. So far he hasn't though today.
1 person likes this
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
22 Jan 08
how about letting him pick out the shirts either at home or at the store (hey why not shop at a thrift store?) or maybe you can bribe him to leave it on ... lol!
1 person likes this
@rosey3223 (1566)
• United States
22 Jan 08
Lol, tried the bribing and it didn't really work. Now about him picking out the shirts, I do let him do that...but then 5 minutes later he brings me another one. I'm not complaining, it's just that I do let him do that. I think it's so cute because he'll actually bring me one of his older brother's shirts for me to put on him!!