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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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

OP posts:

youmakemydreams · 12/02/2014 11:47

All 3 of mine were put out to nap in all weathers. They actually slept better.
When dd was very small if you put her outdoor clothes on her and put her in the pram she was asleep by the time you got down the path so on the suggestion of my neighbour I would do this and then push her round the side of the house and in the back gate. Go in the back door and have a tea and a bite to eat or something. She slept well like that but only cat napped in the house.

CosyTeaBags · 12/02/2014 11:53

Show him this Nordic Sleeping

It's common in scandanavia.

HoldMeCloserTonyDanza · 12/02/2014 12:39

I think neither of you ABU.

I have same issue with the radiator, so I switch it off before we leave. My house is as poorly insulated as a cardboard box so the hall is nice and chilly when we get back.

I dress DD2 in layers so once we get in I pull back the blanket and unzip her pram suit. Hat comes off. So she's basically just in her regular clothes.

Having said that she's a very deep sleeper so I can often tactically remove her all the way to her bouncer. Dd1 would have woken up the second I twitched the blanket!

HighlanderMam · 12/02/2014 12:45

YANBU at all.

Safe, in ear shot, no problem at all.

Purplepoodle · 12/02/2014 13:32

Yes but make sure the rain over is firmly over the buggy to stop cats jumping on her. I leave my dc in buggy at the front door with door open (bloody freezing) but can close sitting room door

TheScience · 12/02/2014 13:40

I have never, ever heard of a baby being stolen from a pram in a garden.

I have also never, ever heard of a cat lying on a baby's face, and I know a lot of people with babies and cats. IME cats are not big fans of babies.

If it is too cold or windy and the baby is uncomfortable, they will wake up.

The only slight risk I can see is if you live somewhere with aggressive urban foxes that are out in the day time, but this surely effects only a very small number of people.

Oh yes, and of course meteorites/spontaneous combustion.

Pepperglitter · 12/02/2014 13:48

I couldn't do this as we have foxes in the garden in the day at times ( they run away when they see people but I wouldn't leave a baby on their own).

If no foxes, I think it's good for babies to sleep in the fresh air

squoosh · 12/02/2014 14:28

YANBU.

Can't beat lots of fresh air. It's what the Scandinavians do and we're mad for anything Scandinavian these days.

(I would advise against carrying out a bleak Scandi murder though.)

MeepMeepVrooooom · 12/02/2014 14:31

TBH I wouldn't leave a baby outside sleeping when it's cold.

AmazingBouncingFerret · 12/02/2014 14:34

I never could with mine because when they were young we lived in a third floor flat but I often wheeled them into my parents back garden and left them to it when I was visiting.

Wouldn't do it today though, they'd probably blow away!

pregnantpause · 12/02/2014 14:52

I used to wheel dd1 straight through the house and into the garden when she was sleeping. For the first few pfb months she had a portable monitor/walkie takie thing in case I missed her waking, later, well, I just waitef til she sat up/started talking and jiggling. I even left the room where I could see her to go and wee if I needed to.

HoldMeCloserTonyDanza · 12/02/2014 14:59

Maybe the baby should only be left out if it's wearing a Sarah Lund jumper.

Heathcliff27 · 12/02/2014 15:06

Yanbu, all my 3 slept outside, insect net over the pram and bobs your uncle. Imo its no different than them sleeping while youre out for a walk

coffeeinbed · 12/02/2014 15:08

Hope baby's in today!

Susyb30 · 12/02/2014 15:08

Im amazed that some people would leave their babies sleeping in prams in freezing cold weather (-17???) My ds gets lots of fresh air, I love seeing his rosy cheeks when we come home but personally I could never leave him sleeping in his buggy outside. Any time we've been out and he's fallenaasleep iv either left buggy in hall (jacket etc off) or lifted him out and put in cot..but not outside. Couldn't you just turn radiator off if you think its a problem?

TheScience · 12/02/2014 15:10

Why, what will happen to them outside?

HighlanderMam · 12/02/2014 15:26

Nothing will happen to babies left outside to sleep provided they are wrapped up warm when it's cold.

Susyb30 · 12/02/2014 15:27

I would rather have my baby in the house with me having his nap..not outside (im referring to cold weather, rain snow etc) just not something I would be comfortable with. Also pisses me off when I see mums and dads out with their kids in freezing temperatures with no hats or gloves or suitable jackets. everyone entitled to their opinion tho with regards to outside sleeping. As long as they are safe and cosy

QueenofKelsingra · 12/02/2014 15:39

if the baby is asleep it is clearly not too cold/uncomfortable. they tend to let you know fairly sharpish if either of these are the case. hurling it down with rain, maybe not unless you have a covered patio or similar. gusting wind which may tip the pram over, probably not sensible. but cold and snow when they are dressed for the weather and when you can see them at all times is perfectly sensible. no-one is suggesting you stick your DC in the middle of the lawn in just a nappy and go into town to the shops here!!

bodygoingsouth · 12/02/2014 15:42

it was normal here before the hysteria over stray rabid dogs/foxes/aliens/secure garden paedophiles/killer cats etc.

aworkingmummy · 12/02/2014 15:47

YANBU - i did this with DS -we took every opportunity to be outside, maybe that's why he loves being out and about now.

liquidstate · 12/02/2014 15:51

I'm looking forward to leaving my baby outside for naps. My mum did this to me when I was young. I think its good to have fresh air if you are bundled up nice and warm. She also made sure if I was ill I got fresh air either from a walk or a sit down in the garden.

When I am ill I still snuggle under the duvet with the windows open.

Gileswithachainsaw · 12/02/2014 15:52

:o body

EssexGurl · 12/02/2014 16:00

1979s baby - my mum used to put me in the garden after breakfast for my nap. Common place then. I used to leave kids asleep in the car for a bit when we got home esp as DD would always only fall asleep 5 mins from home.

Oblomov · 12/02/2014 16:25

Used to let mine sleep outside all the time.
There have been many many threads on this over the years.

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