How can I get my daughter to zip her jacket?

[ScottishLeanne]

My daughter Bethany is 8yrs old and suffers from asthma but she is very energetic, she does outdoor activities too, even in the winter but because of her asthma, I like her to zip her jacket up in order to stay warm from the cold.

[Yatzy]

Don’t blame you, Leanne! One of those dangly things you can buy to fix to the zip??? We bought a Thomas the Tank for my grandson....that helped a bit to remind him. Good luck!

[ScottishLeanne in reply to Yatzy]

I could but in my opinion, I think she would still forget. Whilst I'm picking her up from school I'm constantly telling her to zip it up or I just end up doing it myself and explain that, due to her asthma, she needs it zipped, even if she doesn't want it zipped up.

[S4r4L0u153 in reply to ScottishLeanne]

This has allways been a big thing with me and my children too! I never could get any of mine to zip them up. They are 14,16,18 now and they usually go off without a coat completely-no matter how much I nag. The 16 year old is asthmatic and gets bad eczema too, but I can’t get him to wrap up with a coat, or wear gloves, so his hands suffer too. Hope you have more luck than me! I’m hoping they learn before they go off to uni (one in Sept, one the following year). I’ll be worrying about the asthmatic son when he goes away. X

[Gareth57]

Hi, if she is not having any asthma symptoms from having her jacket in zipped I personally would not make a big deal over it, if she is happy and the asthma is under control let her feel like a “normal” person, try not to make her feel different. I usually have little affect from cold weather.

[M-D-F]

I have to agree with Gareth, I'm sure your daughter knows that if she is cold she should do her coat up, and maybe she does when you are not around.

Stop worrying about nothing!

[ScottishLeanne]

I know that but due to her asthma and the cold here in Scotland, I worry about her leaving it open, my husband and her older 15yr old sister also like her wrapped up.

[Spikedog66]

She would zip up if cold or having problems with her asthma. You are her mam and will worry and yes the weather is cold up here but try to let her have a few choices, sometimes they just don't feel cold. If she has sweaters boots gloves hat etc appropriate for weather at the time of year maybe 2 warm.😊

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

I understand where you’re coming from, but also agree with the others.

You could try talking to her, explaining why you worry about it, give her some set ‘rules’ (if you’re ill/asthmas bad/needed blue inhaler, if it’s cold enough to see your breathe etc you need to do it up) and then let her take control. At 8 she’s trying to fit in with her friends but is also old enough to start to be aware of and take control of herself and her health. She’ll also feel like you’re treating her like a ‘grown up’ and most 8yo girls respond to the added responsibility of doing things for themselves, rather than being ‘forced’ to do things others aren’t by ‘uncool/annoying’ adults 😅.

I coach elite gymnastics to this age group and have had a few asthmatics pass through my group and generally set rules where they feel in ‘control’ helps

Good luck and try not to worry too much xxx

[Paradigm]

I prefer to keep my core warm, but I wouldn't worry too much. It's the cold air going into the lungs rather than the general sensation of being cold that sets off asthma, so she'd need to be covering her mouth with a scarf to make a difference.

She's not going to catch a cold from the air itself and may well be warm enough if she's running about anyway.