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. Out for a brisk walk in the prom then asleep in the garden for an hour so I could get on with stuff in the kitchen. Play pens were fabulous as well.

Because I wouldn't go for a nap in the garden

Sure if we are out and about, or sitting in the garden in nice weather and they fall asleep in the pram, fine. Nothing unusual about that.

But if we are the house all cosy, I want my baby near me not outside where it's chilly and a cat or Fox could jump into the pram. It would never occur to me to put him outside for a nap while I sit in the house.

I did and my mum bought us a cat net in preparation for our DD sleeping outside... but I reckon our not-so-friendly urban fox family would have ripped through that sucker in a second. I used to walk DD around in the buggy sonshe slept outside in that sense whilst I also got some exercise.

I've never deliberately dressed up my baby to put her outside for a nap (too much faff). But if she falls asleep while out I don't wake her, just park her up by the (glass) back door and have a cup of tea etc. Im watching her, but not staring the whole time, any more than I would be if we were walking along. (If she falls asleep in the car I've been known to park in WiFi range of the house and mumsnet...)

She does seem to sleep well outdoors.

So many people saying they wouldn't want to sleep outside...if i had a cosy, lined carrycot to snuggle into i'd sleep outside! Reckon the neighbours would think i was batshit if i took my duvet out sadly 😩

I used to park my 3 at the door if they fell asleep in the pram/buggy whilst we were out as I couldn't get the thing over the front or back doorstep without waking them, but found that they didn't really sleep that long once the pram stopped moving.

In fact they didn't sleep long at all in the pram regardless of where we were. I found nap times a lot longer and more beneficial (to me and them!) in their cot. But that could be due to me putting them in their own relatively silent room for both naps and night time sleep from being very young.

Mine slept outside.... she seemed to prefer it plus I’d read the research posted above.

We’re in London and I can’t say it ever occurred to me to worry about foxes..... now everyone is talking about it I’ve got images of the Mighty Boosh ‘urban crack fox’

My PFB did last year, (from about 5 months to about 9 months old). Just outside the kitchen doors, after I realised that this way she would actually have a nap longer than 10 mins. We live semi rurally though, very safe village and had the video monitor looking through the doors if I wasn't in the kitchen.

Interesting different ideas! Mine would sleep on in garden after a walk while I put the washing out or gardened... always plenty to do. Or sometimes slept on in the hall. I’m not sure either was wrong. Reins were a lifesaver with baby and two toddlers, gave them freedom to explore while not freedom to run into the road (holding an adult hand can make little arms ache as well—mine liked the reins). Playpen, as Pp’s have said is brilliant for popping crawler in as you answer the door/phone/put the kettle on, and my eldest found it brilliant for building Lego without baby grabbing and eating bits. As with many things, it’s not what it is, it’s how you use it.

I don't think people leave their babies outside unsupervised now though do they? They wouldn't leave their phone/purse or whatever so I doubt people are leaving babies?

In the summer when we're all outside, I'd leave them to sleep on a blanket in the shade. This time of year it's generally blowing a gale where we live and it'd blow the pram over! Plus the amount of cats and foxes that live round here would probably eat an unattended baby.

Mine have done if i was t my parents house but i have direct access to woodland behind my house so wouldn't do it here.

No I wouldn't. I don't know anyone that does this either.

Mine slept outside. We have a secure back garden and I stayed in one of the back rooms so I could keep an eye. I put an old battery powered monitor under the pram hood so I'd hear immediately when she woke.

She seemed to sleep much better outside. Something about the breeze, the sound of traffic on the busy road at the front, the birdsong...I don't know what but it worked a treat on her. And it meant I could get noisy jobs done like hoovering or using the sewing machine without waking her.

This was 6 years ago.

My babies weren't "unsupervised" then. They were by the open back door in full view all the time.

mine doesn't sleep

Safer sleep guidance says to be in the same room as your baby for naps until 6 months.

^^ This is why it's not done anymore. Lullaby Trust, NHS SIDS guidance et al say baby must be in same room as caregiver as it helps them to regulate their breathing and prevents them falling into too deep a sleep. These great long naps allegedly brought about by outdoor sleeping are not considered physiologically safe for the baby.

That said, in desperation, I did try outdoor naps a few times - made feck all difference to my sleep dodgers. To those of you who think yours slept longer at night because of outdoor naps - no. You just got lucky with natural sleepers.

I had no choice but to let mine nap on me - there was nowhere else they would for longer than 10 minutes. I'm glad some of you think this is some kind of indulgent luxury, but there was nowhere else mine would sleep or nap until well over a year old, despite all best efforts to convince them otherwise.

My Mum told me the HV advice was to put us to sleep outside (70s) so that she could get on with the housework in peace! (i.e - she couldn't hear me cry....).

Under 6 months they should be near an adult (same room) for naps per sids guidelines.
Mine slept outside plenty - in a wrap on my chest

No but we dont have a secure garden, its communal gardens. I would if i had my parents garden, its enclosed and has a massive patio. My ds prefers being outside.

Mine still sleep outside! 16 months and 5 weeks. They both sleep beautifully 😁

Madge

Some parents in the UK use reins as it suits them and their baby.
Some parents in the UK, use playpens as it suits them and their baby.

There’s nothing universal about it.

@elphaba yes I agree long naps are for the convenience of the parent rather than the needs of the child under 6 months.

Are you constantly watching then? Never take your eyes away? Don't boil the kettle, answer the door or the phone, watch TV, read a book...?

I don't drink tea/coffee so I never wander off to boil the kettle. Answering the door would actually put me closer to the baby due to the position of the sofa/window/door/pushchair. I have a mobile phone and my landline is cordless so both can be answered without leaving the sofa. As for looking away to watch TV or read a book, do you never look away from the baby when you're out for coffee or to cross the road or to browse in a shop or to drive your car/look out of the bus window?

I don't know anyone who intently states into the pushchair while their baby is sleeping, everyone I know uses commonsense and their own judgement of risk.

States = stares