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 would imagine the highest risk would be from a cat who smells milk and spots a cosy, warm little body to cuddle up to."

Cats run from toddlers, if you want to keep cats out of your garden, put a toddler in it.

It's really useful to get them to sleep in prams, you can still hit the bars when on holiday (half joking).

SS wouldn't be bothered by this, she could only get them interested if she lied about how much time he was out there, being left to cry etc.

You always get one neighbour who spouts shit. One of mine used to regularly threaten to report me for overexercising my adult German Shepherd.

Baby Cages

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?

Foxes can jump high, I see them come over a 6ft high garden fence to get into our garden.

I doubt SS would be interested at all, they just wouldn't have the time.

All my DC slept in the pram in the garden, perfectly normal thing to do imo. I don't have a 6ft fence and have seen foxes in my garden so perhaps surprising that they survived unscathed

I'm so glad there are so many posters who have done the same. And thank you to the poster who worked for SS who said she would giggle I think I knew deep down they would not be bother but there is nothing like the threat of having your parenting assessed by SS to make you question yourself is there?

I'm going to buy a baby cage to piss off the neighbour.

It's fine! SS won't care. I'm always being told to do this by older relatives, apparently it used to be the norm!

I would be furious with the neighbour!

My mum told me in my Granny’s day the women in the street would compete each morning to be the first to smugly get their baby sleeping outside the front door!

I even left mine outside when it was snowing!

I used to do that - was pretty much the only time one of the buggers would sleep, in sight of a tree and fresh air.

Amazingly none were carried off by marauding foxes, cats or baby thieves. Suburban back gardens are not very exciting places - presumably nosey neighbour is also bored.

Strawberry I have a mental image of mothers in their aprons violently shushing and rocking the prams and bribing toddlers with penny sweets

I am a social worker. I did this with my own children. It is good for them to get fresh air and if they are safe in a secure garden then there is no issue at all.

I do this with my 2 and think it’s great. Mine are 2.5 years and 8 months. I pop them in double buggy and take the dog and we all go for a walk then I park them outside patio doors in enclosed back garden and they continue there naps and I clean the kitchen (or catch up on greys anatomy and drink coffee)

@findingmyfeet12
www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/news/a33058/hanging-baby-cages/

I put all mine outside to nap, they slept better and it meant I could get on without tiptoeing round. Mine went outside all year round tbh I made sure they were well wrapped or well shaded depending on the weather. Once the HV called and I had to fetch one of them in. She made no mention of it so wouldn't imagine SS would either.

I'd understand if you lived somewhere open etc but I presume the only way she can tell you do this is because she can see from her window? I would do the same with dd if our house somewhere secure, it's good for them to get the fresh air!

We do this every day here. It is totally normal.

We do have a baby monitor where the child unit also runs on batteries so have that next to the pram. Have been doing this since DD was a few weeks old.

Let her call SS. DM was a senior social worker and she says they will explain they have children at actual risk to take care of. You have clearly assessed the risks nd taken precautions.

I did this regularly. DS found listening/watching the trees soothing. MIL did it with my DS every time she babysat. Perfectly normal

YANBU.

My kids are 11 and 5 so not massively outdated but I was told to do this by our HV when I said they wouldn't settle. Our fences are only 4ft and I didn't feel the garden was secure enough so I compromised and would put them in the porch leaving the door open for them.

I did this when mine were little. SS can generally only deal with emergencies as they are so overstretched in most areas. They won’t give this crazy neighbour any time xx

I use to leave my DS outside in the summer, not in the winter though. Always made sure he was protected from the sun etc. I wouldn’t in the winter though. You always get someone who has to interfere and knows best. Tell her too sod off and mind her own.

Your neighbour sounds unhinged!

Ignore her and carry on regardless, you’re doing nothing wrong at all.

FGS your neighbour should just live her own life.

If youd dumped the pram in the fast lane of the M5 and retired to the nearest pub I could understand her point of view but a contentedly sleeping baby in a secure garden is fine. I would be amazed if it makes it past the front desk at SS.

Let your little one enjoy the fresh air

ISnt this recommended in Finland?!
I can’t imagine social services would be interested, parents used to be told to do it

Ds only ever napped on pushchair laid right flat during the day when baby/toddler. Usually dozed off when I was out and about.

I always went up the side of the house and left his pram by the open side door (in back garden) and sat in adjacent kitchen and had a coffee in peace.

It never dawned on me to think it was neglect!

it's not strange but not sure why u cant sit outside with him??

my only concerns would be cats or dogs getting in the garden as cats have been known to get in prams with babies and some larger breeds of dogs can clear 6ft fences. I know u said u could hear if he's crying but how long would it take u to get to him?

SS have to investigate all reports to them although this might be phone calls to other professionals, rather than a visit, certainly in my area anyway, apparently it's 1 of the reasons they are struggling because of the amount of reports they get that often turn out to be false or overreaction.

Personally, I would stop leaving him out there on his own in case she is serious & you do get a visit. It would most likely not come to anything but it's still stressful.

Also it's not child abuse at all, if anything its a lack of supervision
xx