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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to leave baby outside?

100 replies

GingerRodgers · 11/02/2014 21:46

Happy to be told if I am but dh and I can not agree on this one.
On occasion we have taken dd for a walk and she has fallen asleep in her pushchair. When it's cold and dry she is obviously wrapped up well and warm when we're out.
When we get home the only place the pushchair can go is in the hall right next to the radiator.
Alternatively we can wheel her round the back and put the pushchair on the back garden.
The garden has a high fence with a locked gate. The kitchen faces directly out onto the garden.

I say it's better to let her sleep in the garden and watch from the kitchen rather than leave her next to the radiator as she will overheat and undressing her will wake her.

Dh is aghast at the thought and can not bring himself to leave her outside at all. Thinks I'm being beyond unreasonable for even considering it.

So, AIBU and if so why?

For the record, dh doesn't know why IABU but I just am HmmGrin

OP posts:
harriet247 · 11/02/2014 22:12

I agree witb your dh but we have pretty brave foxes in our area who let themselves into our yard :D

pinkr · 11/02/2014 22:14

yanbu! I'm the exact same... In fact yesterday I left dd in pram at back door,made a sandwich and tea,sat on doorstep eating it as I was well wrapped up myself,and read a book. She slept for another forty min. I can guarantee that if I'd brought her in she'd have woken straight away.

pasbeaucoupdegendarme · 11/02/2014 22:22

I left dd in the pram last winter/spring if we got back from walking and she was asleep. Just by the back door so very safe - next door do have cats that I don't quite trust so I used to sling the fly net over her. She used to sleep really well outside.

I didn't do it if it was wet or sort of foggy and damp in the air, because I didn't feel that would be brilliant for her respiratory system, especially as our house is quite cold and damp so she wouldn't necessarily be "warm and dry" as soon as she woke up.

WLmum · 11/02/2014 22:23

All 3 of mine refused to nap in their cots so all naps were outside in the pram, in the secure garden. Personally I think its great for them to have extra fresh air and sunlight, and means that I don't have to tell older dds to be quiet in the house - although I do in the garden!

ikeaismylocal · 11/02/2014 22:44

Yanbu. I live in a cold country and ds sleeps outside in all weathers, the coldest has been -17.

Jinsei · 11/02/2014 22:47

I don't think yabu, but personally, I wouldn't have let dd sleep outside as a baby. Too many foxes where we lived...

MummyBeerest · 11/02/2014 22:50

I do this with my DD. She sleeps best outside. It's fucking cold right now so not as often.

In a secure garden, why not?

SummersDumbAsPie · 11/02/2014 22:52

I couldn't do it but I know people who do in secure gardens. I think it's one of those that either panics you or it doesn't.

BadlyStuffedWalrus · 11/02/2014 22:56

The best naps my kids ever had were in the pram outside. YANBU.

NaturalBaby · 11/02/2014 22:57

I know someone who's baby would only nap in the buggy. Outside. Every nap time throughout the year it would be wrapped up and put in the garden.
I think if you're with your DH you should respect the fact that he really isn't happy about it.

5madthings · 11/02/2014 23:00

All 5 of mine have slept outside in the pushchair in front garden, even in rain/snow just put raincover on if necessary.

sewingandcakes · 11/02/2014 23:01

YANBU. I couldn't put ds3 outside because our current house has steps up to the doors; I used to do this with my other two at our old house .

ShoeWhore · 11/02/2014 23:07

YANBU. I didn't do this but only because the gravel path to get from the front of our house to the back is a bloody nightmare with a pram.

In fact the only time I ever had an argument with my mother over something child-related was when she couldn't understand why I wasn't buying a Silver Cross pram "but how will the baby have naps in the garden?" she wailed. I don't think she understood what modern prams looked like, think she thought I was going to sling my newborn in a non-reclining McClaren Grin

Actually my house is so cold that it probably didn't make any difference Grin

BocaDeTrucha · 11/02/2014 23:27

I always leave ds outside on the front step in his pram when we come back from walks. I think the change in temp bringing him inside wakes him up, as well as the change in noises.

Dm tells me I was always left outside in my pram, even in the rain, (with plastic cover obviously). Only fog stopped us being left outside to sleep!!

Chottie · 12/02/2014 05:26

I would not leave a baby outside in a buggy. In the past babies were left outside, but they were in large coach built wind / rain proof prams with cat nets. A modern buggy is not as wind / rain proof.

bragmatic · 12/02/2014 05:28

Your husband is right. What if she is hit by a meteorite?

changedirection · 12/02/2014 05:44

Chottie don't you ever take baby outside in.pram then?

insanityscatching · 12/02/2014 06:00

All mine slept outside in the pram unless it was foggy, there was less chance of them being disturbed then.

justonemorecake · 12/02/2014 06:55

I often leave my dd in the garden for her nap. It's secure, so why would I wake her up? I always make sure I put the raincover on though, in case of sudden downpours or random animals! Also, in the summer I always made sure she was in the shade.

GTA5MASTER · 12/02/2014 07:36

My mum used to leave me in my pram to sleep outside and her cat used to try and smother me :-/ I guess my head was really warm?! Or maybe she was jealous?!

Original poster
GingerRodgers · 12/02/2014 07:47

The rain cover/insect net is a good idea just incase of cats.
I wouldn't leave her in the rain if I'm honest.
Not really sure why dh is so against it as he can't really give me an answer. I just can't see a reason to wake her when she would carry on sleeping as long as she's safe.

OP posts:
Triliteral · 12/02/2014 07:57

Yes, I'm in Norway and it is normal here. Fresh air is good for children and if you bring them inside, then you have to either take their clothes off (which wakes them) or they get too hot (which wakes them). So long as you are keeping an eye out, YANBU.

popcornpaws · 12/02/2014 08:09

I used to do this when my DD was in her pram.
We have a nice big secure garden and like my mum and grannies i believe its good for them to have lots of fresh air.
my windows are the ceiling to floor type so i could always see her and the gate was locked.
And i agree that she always slept soundly outside.

nosleeptillbedtime · 12/02/2014 08:11

Apparently this is normal in Norway.

LST · 12/02/2014 08:13

GTA5 can I just say.. cats do not actively try to smother babies...

Ds1 used to sleep outside in his pram or in the car on the drive if he fell asleep. No issue imo. I'll be doing the same with DS2.