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

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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?

Your neighbour is a cockwomble.

She's an idiot. Ignore her.

SS would not be interested at all!!

I did this with mine - but neighbour's daughter took up smoking and flicked her lit dog ends into our garden - one burned a little hole in the hood of the pram. I was livid/horrified/explosive in my fury, but didn't leave the pram within 30 ft of their upstairs window again. (still left them outdoors)

A Magazine story about the practice in Nordic countries of putting babies out for a nap in sub-zero temperatures prompted hundreds of readers to write about their own experiences.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21575562

If she's opposite then she could see from her bedroom windows easily even with a 6 ft fence. I wouldn't do it personally. (I wouldn't want to sleep outside myself so that's why) but I see no issue with it.

Kaytee well I'm hoping she has seen him from her bedroom window and not a peephole she installed in the shared fence..

You’re the mum, you clearly have done your due diligence, you are assured your child is safe, quite frankly it’s no one else’s business and you should tell your mosey mpneighbour to bog off xxx

Have you considered the likelihood of pterodactyls swooping down from the sky?

I find that leaving a wildebeest carcase on the bird table attracts them away from the pram. They also like breadcrumbs.

I would imagine your ds is in a pushchair/ pram with a five-point harness now rather than in a carrycot which he likely outgrew a good while ago! So I can't see any reason why your ds would be able to escape and climb out (unless he is Houdini). I would also imagine that he would express his desire to get out of the pushchair before trying to escape (my little girl always did)! So I doubt that your ds is in any sort of risk.

I admit that I giggled, imagining a fox climbing your 6ft fence mission impossible style! In all seriousness though, if there is no space at the bottom of your fence for a fox/ dog to dig through then I doubt foxes would be an issue. I would imagine the highest risk would be from a cat who smells milk and spots a cosy, warm little body to cuddle up to. I used a cat net and my two were fine in my back garden. I was usually in the kitchen, with the door open onto my back garden and my two slept so well with the lovely fresh sea air.

You could always get a dog, my lab used to sit at the foot of my pram and she would come straight to me to tell me when my baby had woken and would see off any nosy neighbours too! She adored my children and whenever they were out playing she would be following them, protecting them and making sure they were safe.

Anyway, I would tell your neighbour 'Thank you for your concern, I am always close and keeping an eye on my child. He is always warm and protected from the elements. If you have any concerns, please feel free to contact social services! I doubt they will be interested given that this is common practice in many countries and was in the UK until recently. Perhaps you should look this up online before embarrassing yourself by contacting the authorities who are already overstretched in investigating children who are actually in need.'

Or you could print these articles out and post them through your neighbours letterbox

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/02/03/return-old-habits-babies-encouraged-sleep-outside-fresh-air/

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

activeforlife.com/outdoor-napping-for-babies/

I kind of think it's good that the neighbour cared enough to approach you with her concerns, but also what you are doing is fine.

Your neighbour sounds like a busybody from hell. I would do this with DD if we had an enclosed garden as she sleeps so well when she gets fresh air.

perfectly normal. I remember being left out as a child in my pram. Must have been around the same age as your dc.

I admit that I giggled, imagining a fox climbing your 6ft fence mission impossible style! In all seriousness though, if there is no space at the bottom of your fence for a fox/ dog to dig through then I doubt foxes would be an issue

Are you joking?

A 6ft fence is a piece of piss to a fox! There's no 'climbing' involved, they just jump it, like a cat. No need to dig under at all.

A 6ft fence is a piece of piss to a fox! There's no 'climbing' involved, they just jump it, like a cat. No need to dig under at all.

Sadly this is true - they are amazingly agile.

Zibbidoo that's so sweet

I have taken precautions to ensure pterodactyls don't eat DS by investing in a lion who guards the house and babysits DS on a weekly basis

As I said, I am yet to see a fox and I highly doubt they will come specifically to my garden to mail DS when I'm surrounded by at least 20 other houses.

Cats aren't an issue either as I have two dogs so they wouldn't attempt to enter my garden with the scent of dogs being there.

Maul* I don't think the postal charge would be worth it.

Well I was put outside to nap daily for months and I've survived to tell the tale.

It was absolutely the norm to do this in this country till we stopped using coach built prams (which were the comfiest thing ever for babies to sleep in)

Most areas don't have foxes roaming gardens in the day time though.

My health visitor advised me to do this when my baby was born last year. I didn't do it but that's due to my own issues.

Really common where I live and both mine slept outside with the window open so I could hear them if they woke.

I was talking about this with my neighbour the other day actually (who used to live in my house until she built her new one next door) she was reminiscing about all her children sleeping outside in the garden and how you don't see it anymore, I said I'd definitely be doing it if DD is happy to do so.

We have huge walls around our garden which can only be seen over by her side because she's in an elevated position. DD will be born in July and the door will always be open for the dogs anyway so she might as well be out there getting the fresh air.

It's not strange at all and it's certainly nothing that SS will give one dot of notice to!!

You expect your guard lion to babysit? God some people are so entitled 😂

All mine slept outside, it was the done thing then. I just made sure they were snug and warm or snug and cool and put a cat net on the pram.

Funny how times change so much.

Was it in the States that they used to put babies in cages hung out of windows?

Mine slept outside everyday and in all weathers apart from fog
Tell your neighbour to "go for it", she won't get any change from SS