Why don’t parents let their babies sleep outside anymore?

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www.:boredomtherapy.com/cold-scandanavian-baby/?as=6d23842735449010537

All my four slept outside in the back garden during the day, suitably clothed for the time of year. I did have a big pram, but today’s prams are just as suitable. So why dont your babies sleep outside?

Mine did and I still do it as a childminder - parents are aware and give permission. I bundle them up and position them right outside the patio doors I have. I leave the doors slightly ajar so I can both hear and see them as they sleep. It means they don't all wake each other up as they tend to in the house.

Because it's not very safe and not really the done thing these days. You'd be accused of neglect.

Because it's not very safe and not really the done thing these days. You'd be accused of neglect.

neglect? Give your head a wobble.

Mine has once or twice but our neighbours have large and aggressive seagulls nesting on their roof and having seen what they can do to small birds, it made me hugely uncomfortable.

It’s not safe if you live on the 7th floor of a block of flats with no balcony. It’s perfectly safe at the back door of your house while your in the room that opens onto it.

Mine did (13-15 years ago. Wrapped up nice and warm with loads of fresh air. Even when cold, if they're wrapped properly it's so good for them. Far better than being inside for hours at a time.

Mine did in Sweden in really cold weather very well wrapped up. Nursery also used to put them for after-lunch naps outside the front windows down to minus 15-20 while the staff cleared up after lunch. In colder weather (minus 20-35) nursery used to put the prams in one of the rooms and open all the windows.

It was the norm at baby and playgroups that people used to put the babies down for naps outside the door.

Yep, mine did. I did too as a baby. I still sleep best with a window wide open even in the dead of Winter!

Mine have napped outside when we are away but not in London - we have brazen foxes here

Both of mine did (and one (20mths), still does), if they’ve fallen asleep in the buggy while we’re out. We’ve got a secure garden though but it’s not quiet. They tend to sleep for longer too.

I lived in a flat but had a huge balcony that the pram went out in.

Mine did because I went for a walk with him in the pushchair or sling everyday, fresh air is good for us both. Or if I was in the garden he would be too obviously.

I'd never in a million years put him outside whilst I was inside like people used to though. I'd be terrified of something happening. I do live in a rough area though and even leaving a pushchair outside is risky!

I wonder whether this is a very British thing? My grandmother is from a rural ‘town’ in Northern Sweden, there are bears etc... and there were a lot of foxes and other animals where I grew up. So this honestly never occurred to me.

I’ll have to ask my MIL. She’ll be thrilled to share her wisdom / experience.

Because it's not very safe
and not really the done
thing these days. You'd be
accused of neglect.
😂😂😂😂

In my eldest’s nursery the exterior walls were all sliding glass doors so the whole “wall” could be opened. They left it open for most of the day and babies where wheeled outside in prams for their naps. I would often arrive to pick up and find 7/8 prams all lined up and babies all sleeping soundly.

Oh and out gardens are all front ones rather than back.

My DD was a spring baby so had her out in summer sun in her bouncer

Our*

My wee one is 10 weeks old and she’s always being papped outside in the pram by my mum, it helps knock her out to sleep so I really can’t complain

But putting them in the pram and going for a walk seems normal to me.

We tend to ‘leave’ them on our porch / between the two doors, but the front door locks automatically...

Safer sleep guidance says to be in the same room as your baby for naps until 6 months. Once my baby was in a good sleep routine in her cot I didn’t really see the point in sleeping outside for the sake of it when she could be safe in her bed instead. Also she’d have needed to be strapped into her buggy and that wouldn’t have been as nice as sleeping in the cot. We’re outside lots so didn’t feel the need for her to sleep outside. We also have foxes so I’d never have felt comfortable leaving her.

Freddie - Urban foxes are nothing like countryside foxes.

Here's the science behind it:
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1477238/A-daily-dose-of-fresh-air-helps-babies-to-sleep-longer-at-night.html

Certainly worked for us - I took my daughter for at least an hour's walk or more every day (because I was bored witless). She slept through from 8 weeks and slept for a good 12 hours when nobody else's baby did. I was almost embarrased to admit it, but understand why now.

What's the point? I wouldn't like to sleep outside. Mine have always slept well indoors.

Urban foxes and high pollution