“Put on your coat.” These four seemingly innocuous words can send some kids into a huffy-puffy tailspin, regardless of the windchill outside. And for parents and caregivers who want to keep everyone safe and healthy, the pushback can be maddening, not to mention confounding.
“The question of ‘why kids won’t wear a coat’ comes up every year during the winter season,” says Dr. Sara Siddiqui, a pediatric and adolescent medicine specialist at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital in Huntington Station, New York. “Invariably, all parents would love for their children to continue dressing in what they deem proper. But at some time during the preteen years, children start viewing the world through the eyes of their peers rather than parents — and this is usually the time when this question arises from many parents and families.”
Can a child get sick from not wearing a coat? Is it worth the battle? Experts weigh in on these questions and more.
Can you get sick from not wearing a coat?
The million dollar question on parent and caregiver minds: Can kids actually get sick from going outside in cold weather without a jacket? (And in some cases, without pants — we’ve all seen “shorts kid” walking around in February.)
Nope, say both Siddiqui and Dr. Jen Trachtenberg, a board-certified pediatrician in New York City. “Wearing a coat will not stop a cold or respiratory illness,” notes Siddiqui.
“Cold weather does not cause illness,” Siddiqui continues. “Certain winter viruses like influenza, rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) circulate in the cooler months, our immune systems don’t work as well in fighting illnesses in the cold weather and mucosal secretions thicken in the winter, making it easier to have nasal congestion or a cold. But having a jacket or not in these instances will not make a difference.”
“Wearing a coat will not stop a cold or respiratory illness.”
— Dr. Sara Siddiqui, pediatric and adolescent medicine specialist
How long can kids stay out in the cold without a coat?
OK, so a quick run from the toasty car into the heated school is one thing, but what about extended periods of time out in the cold without a jacket? Is that OK?
Yes and no. Again, being out in the cold is not going to cause a child to get sick, but “extended time in freezing temperatures without warm gear, particularly on the hands and face, can lead to frostbite,” Trachtenberg notes.
Additionally, Siddiqui adds, “Hypothermia can occur when it is below freezing temperatures for an extended period of time.”
“Extended time in freezing temperatures without warm gear, particularly on the hands and face, can lead to frostbite.”
— Dr. Jen Trachtenberg, board-certified pediatrician
That being said, the odds of kids wanting to be out in sub-degree weather without a jacket are fairly slim. “Obviously, things can get more dangerous the longer kids are outside and the colder the temperature, but when the weather is truly cold, I bet most kids would want a warm jacket and to be indoors,” says Trachtenberg.
Also, take the child’s activity into account. To Trachtenberg’s point, it’s unlikely kids will want to stand stationary in the cold for an extended period of time. However, if the child is running around with friends on the playground or playing football (which would make them want to stay outdoors longer), they’re warming themselves up to an extent.
“During periods of activity, our bodies generate some heat to keep our body warm,” explains Siddiqui. “As long as the child appears comfortable, outdoor play without a jacket would be fine. Just keep an eye out for shivering and cool fingers or toes.”
If a child is sick, will being out in the cold make them more sick?
You may think your kid is out of their mind, heading out to the bus stop with a sniffly nose and no coat, but the reality is, it won’t worsen or exacerbate anything they already have. “Being outside during a respiratory illness is not harmful and does not make a cold worse,” Siddiqui says. Further, she adds, it may even help.
“During a cough or cold, taking deep breaths outdoors may help improve air flow in the lungs. Improved breathing and air entry while outside may actually help.”
Why do kids refuse to wear coats?
There are a number of reasons kids eschew coats in the winter. Among them, notes Trachtenberg, are: kids “genuinely not feeling cold; worrying that it’s not (fashionably) cool; not liking the bulk of a coat; laziness; and/or not having room in their locker and not wanting to carry it around all day.”
To truly get to the bottom of your kid’s coat aversion, says Siddiqui, simply ask them. “Keeping an open line of communication with kids is key, and this will lead to a better understanding of why they may choose to do certain things,” she explains. “It is important as a parent and as a caregiver to try and understand without giving judgment.”
Note: I asked my 9-year-old, jacket-hating son the reason behind his general disdain of outerwear, to which he replied: “It’s annoying and I’m hot.” Fair enough.
Should you force a child to wear a coat?
It’s a battle no parent or caregiver likes to fight, and ultimately, Siddiqui and Trachtenberg both note, dying on the “wear your jacket” hill isn’t worth it.
“Parents should continue having discussions about when to wear or not wear a jacket when outdoors,” Siddiqui says. “Conversations with children can be very eye-opening, and there may be a very good reason as to why your child doesn’t want to wear a jacket. In the case of whether or not to wear a jacket, it is best for parents to choose a different battle and continue the conversation another time.”
Trachtenberg also adds that when it’s cold out and your child isn’t budging on their no coat stance, you can also encourage them to wear layers, such as a long sleeve shirt and sweatshirt.
“Conversations with children can be very eye-opening, and there may be a very good reason as to why your child doesn’t want to wear a jacket.”
— Dr. Sara Siddiqui, pediatric and adolescent medicine specialist
The bottom line
It may seem bizarre to bundled up grown-ups, but refusing to wear a coat is both normal and generally safe for kids — even if they have a slight cold. “Being in the cold air will not make a respiratory cold illness worse or prolong it,” says Trachtenberg.
Also, keep in mind, it’s just a phase. “As a pediatrician and mom of three grown children who all went through the ‘no coat’ phase, it’s not worth it,” Trachtenberg says. “If they head out without a jacket and are too cold, you bet next time they’ll grab a coat.”
