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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To put my baby outside for naps.

106 replies

Whatwhatwhat · 28/10/2012 10:01

Is there any downside to this?

I read that it's very normal in Scandanavia and it seemed very healthy to me. She's 11 months and is wrapped up very well. Normally in a weather proof all in one then her foot muff etc. Warm hat.

She's outside for I suppose 1 hour twice a day. Sometimes on a walk or just out the back.

Now that the weather is getting cold is there any downside? Anything I haven't thought about?

OP posts:

Meglet · 28/10/2012 11:00

My neighbours do it.

I didn't as it never occurred to me, but as long as they're snuggled up I don't see a problem with it.

Kalisi · 28/10/2012 11:05

Nope, no problem at all do them the world of good. I reckon the only reason that it is frowned upon now is because of the practitioners ( sorry can't remember the name) who encouraged Mothers to leave their babies screaming outside as it was supposed to be good for their lungs. It was very popular back in the day and I think some people may associate one with the other.

LeeCoakley · 28/10/2012 11:10

I did it with all mine. I think the background noises are soothing and if your baby wakes they can self settle again. (Think distant traffic noise, leaves rustling, wind etc). Babies who can only sleep in a dark, silent room are hard work!

Nancy66 · 28/10/2012 11:13

Seems a bit pointless to me.

Sleeping in their pram while you are out and about is fine but cannot see a reason to make a big thing about making them sleep outside when you're inside.

As another poster said - would you want to be outside in the freezing cold when you could be in a warm, cosy bed?

Whooooosualsuspect · 28/10/2012 11:15

I wouldn't leave them outside in the rain.

oohlaalaa · 28/10/2012 12:45

I don't know. If I want baby to sleep, and it's not raining, snowing, or icy, I take her for a walk in the buggy. We tend to do a loop for 45 minutes (3 miles). Works everytime.

oohlaalaa · 28/10/2012 12:49

Do you leave the baby outside?

I tend to do a walk, and then garden, with baby napping outside? When I come inside, she comes inside too. I'm sure it's safe to leave her outside, but I just like her close to me. Also DH worries about her catching a cold.

BrianCoxIsEatingBrains · 28/10/2012 12:50

always did it with DD, again it was something that parents/grandparents did and I remember it from my childhood (ie seeing a pram outside the back door with a sleeping baby in).

I found with DD that if we had been out for a walk and she had fallen asleep, the sudden change in 'noise' ie - background noise of humming traffic/people/air/birds and then into the warm/quietness of the house would actually disturb her so I would leave her by the back door and get some bits done until she woke up.

I love the sound of rain pattering on a window or in a tent - I have early memories of being in a pram with the rain cover on [snuggly]

GoldPlatedNineDoors · 28/10/2012 12:52

DD sometimes naps outside. In warmer weather, she would eat her lunch out there with me, then go into her pram for a sleep while I sat out with a cuppa and a book.

Now it's just too cold for me to sit out with her, or leave the door open while she is out, so she naps indoors. Bring on spring!

Salmotrutta · 28/10/2012 12:55

I always did this as did my Mum, Grandmothers, Great Grandmothers ad infinitum - I honestly don't see why anyone wouldn't provided the pram has rain covers/hood etc. and plenty of coverings.

The only time it's not good is during fog as someone said upthread.

I was also out with the pram, walking, as soon as possible after getting out of hospital but my DD tells me quite a few of her peers as new mums wouldn't leave the house with the baby for about 4-6 week! I don't know what they thought would happen!

BrianCoxIsEatingBrains · 28/10/2012 12:57

4-6 weeks!!!!!??

Did they think the baby would evaporate or something???

Post c-section, DD's first outing was 18 days old BUT only that late because it was Dec/Jan and thick ice on the ground.

Want2bSupermum · 28/10/2012 13:01

DD had croup last night so I slept on the porch with her and the dog. Best cure for croup.

INeedThatForkOff · 28/10/2012 13:05

Also DH worries about her catching a cold.

But a cold is a virus.

Iggly · 28/10/2012 13:05

I'd love to do this but not feasible.

When ds was little his longest naps were those next to an open window.

I always air the kids bedrooms every day - room smells nice and fresh.

It's also nice sleeping with the window open if not too noisy out.

Salmotrutta · 28/10/2012 13:07

I know Brian - seemed a bit mad to me but apparently that was what some of these mums were saying!

DD was out and about with our DGCs as quickly as possible - even if it was just a wee trip up to the shops or park or whatever.

Goldenjubilee10 · 28/10/2012 13:11

My mum used to wheel the pram to the bottom of the garden so she couldn't hear me crying as advised by the HV. She brought me in every 4 hours to feed and change me and then put me back out.

Salmotrutta · 28/10/2012 13:29

Ah that's just mean Golden!
My generation and predecessors put the pram at the back door where it could be seen from the kitchen window - or in the back porch if it was rainy.

Not easy to do if you live in a flat mind but then it's really important to get out walking ASAP with the pram.

I don't understand why some people think babies will "catch things" if they go out in the fresh air

FutureNannyOgg · 28/10/2012 14:30

Golden, my mum did that too, tried to get me to do it with DS1 too.

I don't see an issue if they are safe, content and you can hear them wake up. I'm not sure after a while that the air under a rain cover can be considered fresh though.

CoolaSchmoola · 28/10/2012 16:05

Fresh air is healthier than centrally heated, dry air (which actually helps germs to breed).

As long as the baby is warm enough they will be fine although I would be wary of the raincover as they can restrict the flow of fresh air.

When it rains DD goes in the garage - as I did when I was a child. She's one and has only had one little cold, despite us living in Germany and not being a big fan of heating. My brother and I rarely get ill either - and my Mum did the same with us.

CoolaSchmoola · 28/10/2012 16:06

Should have pointed out that it's North East Germany where it's bloody baltic half the year.

StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 28/10/2012 16:10

my MIL tells me that when DH was a baby she would put him in his pram at the bottom of the garden when he was crying, random people would knock on her door to tell her that her baby was crying and she used to say ' i know, thats why he is at the bottom of the garden' sure she exaggerates it a bit else it would be cruel.

ChippingInLovesAutumn · 28/10/2012 16:12

Brrr - I don't even want to go outside today, let alone sleep out there!

StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 28/10/2012 16:13

golden are you my SIL?

electricalbanana · 28/10/2012 18:23

when i was a baby (1960s) my mum would put me out on the front...straight onto the pavement! Granted the dog was sat underneath the pram and wouldve gone for any potential snatchers throat but still.....

that was not long after the moors murderers had been caught....and guess where we lived...

my mum had no sense

My two both slept out doors....in the summer the trees made great mobiles.

When i worked nights i would lie on the sunlounger during a spring day all wrapped up in a big duvet....lovely

Original poster

Whatwhatwhat · 28/10/2012 18:35

The raincover is pretty useful and allows you to unzip a portion so there's a good flow of air in the one I have.
She's very very cosy in a few layers and a gorgeous winter all in one.

OP posts:

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