To think that social services wouldn't give a shit about this

[NameChangeThread]

DS has napped in the pram outside since birth. Always wrapped up and dressed appropriately and either a rain cover or net over the pram depending on weather. Garden has 6ft fences and a bolted gate. Window is always cracked open so I can hear him cry, in summer the back door is wide open and I'm sat out with him anyway. I check on him regularly. And I am fully aware that this is a very 'old fashioned' thing to do, however I like DC to get plenty of fresh air and sunlight, and he naps a lot better outside.

A neighbour from the next street (her back garden is opposite to mine) has just come and knocked on my door and said how dangerous it is to leave a baby outside by themselves. I said I am completely okay with leaving him outside to nap and I have no worries that he could be hurt in any way so she doesn't need to worry. She told me I 'had to do something about it' or she would 'report me'. I told her that I doubted SS would be bothered about this, and she said they definitely would as it is child neglect and abuse?

I honestly cannot think of any rational (or likely) situation which could happen that would cause him any harm by doing this. If anything it is beneficial to him (and me). Because he gets a decent nap, sunlight and plenty of fresh air and I get a bit of peace and quite, and just enough time to regain my sanity!! I cannot be the only person who still does this surely? I know it happens a lot in other countries but it can't have just stopped happening in the UK?

I did this with all 3 of mine. But this is MN where some think you have to be surgically attached to your child till they are at least 16.

He is 1 1/2, I've done it from 8 weeks when I established a routine (and knew when he needed a nap)

It's a pretty quiet estate so I can hear him waking/stirring with the window open. As soon as he is awake I bring him inside for a quick cuddle before he plays.

I have never seen a fox IRL in my whole life and I'm surrounded by lots of houses so I doubt this would be a spot they would want to roam around. Plus how would they get into my garden?

For once it’s a case of ‘she should mind her own business ‘. Social services won’t be remotely interested as it’s not like you’re leaving your kid outside your front door wearing just a nappy while you’re downing a bottle of whisky. As you said it’s seen as old fashioned in this country but I lived in Norway for two years and it’s a very common thing to do there.

I did this loads - and not years ago, my daughter's only two! Agree with all your reasons. It's a great idea. Can't believe as would care. But then i thought the same about my habit of leaving her in the car if she was asleep and i was just popping into shop or post office or wherever and i remember a previous thread on here where lots of people insisted as would be all over that. So

How old is he now? I know this is very normal with a lot of babies, particularly in Scandinavia, and is perfectly fine. But I would worry if this was happening with a toddler, partly because they would know they were being ‘put out’ and also because they could wake up and wriggle out of the restraints and wouldn’t be safe unsupervised.

I sleep far better with my bedroom windows open and a Breeze coming through unless it’s really cold. No idea why. But my babies both napped outside. Not at all strange.

*ss

DD would only have a decent nap outside. We'd usually go out to take DS to school in the morning and she'd fall asleep in her pram on the way, I'd come in the back gate, park her on the patio, pop on the raincover and come in and have a cup of tea. Coming in the front door would guarantee she woke up.

Your neighbour needs to keep her beak out.

No i don't think they would care, he is in a secure place and you are nearby. I did it with mine at my parents house as they have a secure garden, i just wish our garden was suitable for it!

Mmmm. I’m not sure about it at 18 months TBH. I would say that is about the age you should start thinking about bringing him inside. Part of the reason it is safe with small babies is because they are immobile and can’t go anywhere or tip the pram over. When it’s getting to his age and he can move about leaving him alone like that is much more risky.

It sounds like you have considered all the risks, and discounted them. It is possible if she reports it, you will get a call from social services, to see what the situation is. I'd imagine if you explain it to them as you have on here, then that would be the end of it. It sounds fine to me.

Mighty he can't get out of his pram straps and fall out. And I would hear him waking and get him before he had a chance to unstrap himself anyway.

We take a small walk in the pram, he falls asleep, and I park him in the garden while he finishes his nap. On days where we don't go on a walk, he still knows that it is nap time when he gets in the pram and goes to sleep because he is now used to being in the garden to nap so associates it with sleep IYKWIM.

Years ago, putting a baby outside for a nap was the ‘right’ thing to do, (and co-sleeping was definitely not on.)

Funny old world, isn’t it?...

Exposure to normal daylight helps children sleep and develop their eyesight. Napping outside is done in many countries precisely because it is good for babies. It should be the norm here too.

DS would have a better crack at climbing out of his cot than a buggy where there is a 5 point harness, zip up cosy toes and toddler bar impeding him. Plus he wakes up slowly, looks around, then yells for me rather than trying to move his groggy self. I expect the OP has considered the likelihood of escape attempts.

I used to do this all the time with both children as neither were good sleepers and they only napped in the car or fell asleep in the pushchair.

Muddy DS does a little stretch, then shouts maaaaam until he has summoned me to uncuff him.

DS1 did this all the time in the buggy - we'd pop out every so often and have a look and see if he was stirring, he'd almost never cry, we'd just check on him and find him sitting there, eyes wide open, watching the world go by, perfectly content.

How does your neighbour even know if the baby is in the back garden with 6 foot fences around it?

I'm a Social Worker and would definitely have a little giggle if this landed on my desk! As long as he's happy, safe carry on doing what works for you both!

A nursery near us puts all babies outside for their naps in a specially designed covered area. They advertise this on their website, I can't imagine they would do that it wasn't a good thing!

Wouldn't be for me but I don't see what your neighbour's issue is. Can you put something in way to block her nosy view?

When my ds was little he would announce his awakening by saying an inquisitive “helloooo?” You know the way you would if someone unexpectedly called into your house while you were upstairs and you called down “hellooo?” To see who it was? he learned it from my mum who would say it like that when he woke and grumbled as a baby. It was very cute when he started doing it.

What on earth is strange about it? DC’s nursery put them outside to nap in their prams every day

www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21537988

Of course the article refers to Scandinavia but still , if they think its ok...