Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Is this as dangerous as I think it is..?

83 replies

Whyohwhydididothat · 14/12/2020 19:45

My sil in law is due her first baby in early March and around a month ago bought a kitten.

The kitten is absolutely gorgeous and really loving! I have no problem at all with cats and have one myself. Sil is very attached to the cat and has it sleep in bed with her. In fact she won’t leave it in the house alone because it’s still settling in.

I mentioned that maybe it would be good to start having the cat sleep elsewhere because it’s going to be a big upheaval for the cat otherwise. A new baby and changing where she sleeps at the same time. Sil informed me that she wasn’t going to kick the cat out of her bed and it was going to sleep in the room with her and the baby.

This sounds insane to me! When mentioning my concerns I was told to butt out. Is this as dangerous as I think it is or am I being overly cautious?

OP posts:
OneJumpAhead · 14/12/2020 19:48

Sorry but I think it’s not really your business and your family have said as much. Just let it pass, a lot of their opinions will change as they get closer to having the baby and again when they have the baby.

OhToBeASeahorse · 14/12/2020 19:49

I dont think its ideal 2bh. I'm not sure if there has ever been a case of a cat suffocating a baby but I wouldn't want to take the risk personally.

but I would assume she will kick the cat out once it miaows and wakes the baby up anyway

CrystalMaisie · 14/12/2020 19:49

The cat probably won’t want to sleep near a crying baby and will be out of the room as soon as the first wail happens.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Babies & sleep Cats Children's sleep
MamaMoonbeam · 14/12/2020 19:50

It's fine. My cats have always slept with my DS and I. He's 11 now and loves them as much as he did when he was little

BertieBotts · 14/12/2020 19:53

It's not dangerous at all.

Bourbonbiccy · 14/12/2020 19:53

I would be thinking the cat will make that decision for her once the baby starts crying.

I personally would have it, and I would once advise my SiL against it but ultimately it's her choice.

MindThatTree · 14/12/2020 19:54

Omg, you are totally overreacting. Cats and babies have coexisted for hundreds of years. I had four cats when DD was born. The cats went nowhere near DD although they did jump in her Moses basket and cot the minute she vacated them!

Bourbonbiccy · 14/12/2020 19:54

I personally wouldn't have it.

Bluegreen70 · 14/12/2020 19:54

@OhToBeASeahorse

I dont think its ideal 2bh. I'm not sure if there has ever been a case of a cat suffocating a baby but I wouldn't want to take the risk personally.

but I would assume she will kick the cat out once it miaows and wakes the baby up anyway

yes, there have been cases of cats suffocating babies.
Original poster
Whyohwhydididothat · 14/12/2020 19:57

I’m glad to hear I’m overreacting! I do tend to air on the side of overcautious. I won’t bring it up to her again but I’m glad to know that it isn’t likely a risk.

OP posts:
Pipandmum · 14/12/2020 19:58

I got a cat net for above the cot when my son was born. The cats never tried to get in, but did sleep on the bed in the same room. There were no issues at all.

Whycantibetangy · 14/12/2020 19:58

I have 3 cats and as much as it may enjoy the warm cosiness of the master bed, that will soon change when the noisy sleep thief arrives.

Sofa, stairs, cupboard even a cat bed is preferable Grin

Much more dangerous are cot bumpers, loose blankets and other sentient objects placed in the crib that baby cant breathe through

Evenstar · 14/12/2020 19:58

I always used something similar to this when mine were babies, they are available in different sizes for Moses baskets and carrycots. You just need to be careful, I never had a problem www.clippasafe.co.uk/products/cot-cat-net

BertieBotts · 14/12/2020 20:03

Other countries don't even sell cat nets, it's only in the UK this is thought of as being a problem. It's probably just an old wives' tale. Of course it's possible a cat could suffocate a baby, but it's not likely.

Peakedin1997 · 14/12/2020 20:06

It's an old wives tale.

Our cat stayed well away from both babies. She hated the sound of them crying and didn't like to be in the same room. An empty cot / pram / change mat was fair game however.

Marmunia1975 · 14/12/2020 20:27

Absolutely not dangerous at all. DD slept in her cot at the end of our bed, and the cat slept...at the end of the bed watching over her. And I'm the most protective parent in the world!

BefuddledPerson · 14/12/2020 20:29

Bleurgh at a cat in bed full stop!

Sorry, no idea about the baby aspect...

Dinosaur19 · 14/12/2020 20:29

@BertieBotts

It's not dangerous at all.
Of course it could be dangerous
Sparklingbrook · 14/12/2020 20:30

I agree that the cat will decide in this scenario.

ApplestheHare · 14/12/2020 20:32

When I was pregnant I felt sick every time I looked at my cat and didn't want it anywhere near the baby. As soon as DD was born I (thankfully!) went back to having totally normal feelings about the cat and she's never once bothered DD. I wouldn't worry Smile

Sideorderofchips · 14/12/2020 20:34

Baby will be fine

I had a rocking moses basket for my youngest and my old boy cat soon learnt that if he rubbed himself against it, the cradle rocked and baby settled for a bit longer.

BigBaublesGalore · 14/12/2020 20:36

She'll have a change of priorities when baby comes so I wouldn't worry... no sane parent will leave a potential 'wake up' threat in the bedroom with their sleeping baby 😉

vodkaredbullgirl · 14/12/2020 20:38

Her cat her baby leave her to it. When my eldest was a baby the cat would stay away in another room. He didnt want to be anywhere near a noisy baby.

ShalomToYouJackie · 14/12/2020 20:40

I don't think it's dangerous at all. I'm due in May and my cats sleep in the bedroom, one on the bed every night and that won't be changing when baby is here.

vinoandbrie · 14/12/2020 20:41

My awful dad said I’d have to ‘get rid of’ our two cats the second I told him I was pregnant. He suggested giving them to my sister (‘see if she’ll have them’). I have no idea why he thought this was an appropriate thing to say.

Our two cats are now 13 and have gone precisely nowhere. Despite more than one baby being born.