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?

My DS is nearly 9, and he was often left outside to nap, especially if we'd been out and he'd fallen asleep in his pram and often in the 'front' garden. Mind, he did have a 'minder' in the form of our late Siberian husky. I'd tell her to mind her own business..........

I find it difficult to believe that the OP or anyone else constantly watches their baby when outside tbh.

I find it difficult to believe that too... mainly because no one is saying they constantly watch their baby outside! Should we watch our babies constantly as they sleep? Surely a cat/insect net suffices if you’re concerned about such things.

What about inside? Wasps can get inside too!

There's probably just as much risk of the pram being hit by a car whilst walking than there is of a swarm of wasps barging through a net and attacking.

Either way, it's a tiny risk that really doesn't need too much consideration beyond basic common sense of doing what you can to minimise it.

Your neighbour is an idiot.

I think it's sad that people don't put their kids in their gardens for naps anymore. It just doesn't seem to be the done thing anymore which is a big shame as these kids are missing out on the benefits of fresh air and vitamin d from the sunlight.

Tell the neighbour to mind her own business. As long as the garden is safe and you're listening out for baby what's the issue?
You assess the risk of him trying to climb it of his pram and when you think he'll start trying, you find somewhere else safe for him to nap. Simple

I used to do this occasionally on a nice day but mostly when i was outside too. Once I popped back inside to make a cup of tea and when I went back out there was a fox sniffing round her pram. It was lunchtime on a dry day in late summer. I don't think the fox would have seriously gone for her but it scared the life out of me. Still see them occasionally in the day time in the garden.

Are foxes attacking children and babies?

JOANNA57
why is pastabest a silly woman/

What difference would it make to the baby to be sleeping in a moving pram outside as opposed to a stationary pram outside? There is no added benefit to the baby for the pram to be moving. Do you really begrudge a parent a chance to sit down and read or chat with a friend or watch a tv show?

The difference is that a parent is right there with the pram, fully aware of what is happening.
If a parent is watching TV then by default they are not watching the baby who is outside alone are they?

If a parent is watching TV then by default they are not watching the baby who is outside alone are they?

By that logic a parent would never sleep, or do anything other than keep a constant vigil over their child. As ridiculous as it is impossible.

I have twins.

The only way to get them to nap during the day was to walk for miles and miles until they dropped off.

If either one of them were still sleeping when we arrived home I’d leave the pram outside. And watch them through the kitchen doors while running about frantically (but silently) trying to get washing loads changed over and grab myself some lunch.

We had a cat net as a priority as neighbours on both sides had cats.

No one ever got stung by a wasp or bee. They luckily didn’t smell or look like flowers.

Do you believe then that the risk of a child sleeping alone outside is no higher than a child sleeping inside?

People should mind their own business, how rude. Social services have much bigger issues to deal with than a baby getting fresh air !

joanna57

rude

Actually I know lots about SIDS, I was merely hypothesising about what on earth the neighbour's concerns could possibly be, since that is what the OP was wondering about.

What is your understanding of the SIDS guidelines... please enlighten me

I've never seen a fox in the garden, and yes there 'may' be cats outside, but inside, there are definitely cats. Two of them usually.

snoreyhell the risk is dependant on what this outside space is like. There are many situations in which the risks to the baby sleeping outside would be equivalent to the risks of the baby sleeping inside so just as safe.

I did this once. But getting the pram through the house and into the garden woke the little bugger up.

However the number of times I’ve sat on our doorstep whilst precious child sleep in the pram is endless. Grab a coffee and a book and we’re away for hours.

Do you believe then that the risk of a child sleeping alone outside is no higher than a child sleeping inside?

A ceiling could collapse onto the baby if inside... Uncommon? Perhaps, but you never can be too careful!

Maybe just beware of a cat coming to sit in a nice soft pram op

People will always always comment.

I had someone my mother become very distressed when DS1 was a baby because apparently I made him sleep in 'a cage'. She wailed and cried her eyes out in case someone reported me to SS and got me very anxious about it.

It was his cot with a special cat net over the top if it to keep the cats off him.

The difference is that a parent is right there with the pram, fully aware of what is happening.
If a parent is watching TV then by default they are not watching the baby who is outside alone are they?

My TV is in the kitchen right beside the patio doors. The sofa is facing the patio doors. The pram would be right outside the (open) patio doors. Entirely visible and baby audible from where I would be on the sofa. Do you mean to tell me you expect parents to have eyes on baby at all times while they sleep?

@coconuttella, I completely agree.

Nothing and nowhere is risk free, you just need to reduce/take risks where you feel necessary.

On that note, I remember a news story when my DS was younger about the little girl about 3 years old going to bed and the hot water tank in the loft exploded above her. That terrified me as I always thought of home as the safest space.

No, I don't think as would be interested.

My only worry would be foxes if you are in an urban area. They can be fearless and there have been cases of them attacking babies, though this is rare.

The nursery did this with my baby, in his pram under a tree. Just the rustle of leaves.

Your neighbour is nuts!

I had a baby book which recommended naps outside with interesting mobiles or objects hanging on the washing line to keep tiny minds amused!

Ds1 fell asleep on top of the laundry in front of the washing machine, obviously was too hypnotic for his tiny toddler brain

You always get one, don't you? And Snoreyhell, you're it!