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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

......to think that pram naps aren’t a problem?

153 replies

Njh1986 · 04/04/2019 19:35

Interesting debate on this subject with friends today; literally divided the group in half.

Background: Our 4 month old has a serious case of FOMO and major issues sleeping where it’s light. Self settles and sleeps beautifully in her cot at night, waking only for the odd feed. Our house is south facing and has two or more full height windows in all rooms apart from bathroom. We use a blackout blind AND blackout curtains at night but can’t in the day as her room gets too hot. I spent week upon miserable week recently trying to to train her to sleep in a semi light cot, then accidentally stumbled upon the magic of a pram plus Snoozeshade and she’s napped like a dream ever since!

I think it’s brilliant; I literally pop her in, switch white noise on and cover her up and she’s out in seconds. Pram doesn’t need to be moving, no dummy etc. Means I can be out and about shopping/walking/chilling in the garden at nap time without having to be tied to the house. Also meant she napped like a dream last weekend when she stayed with the in laws.

However, a couple of friends seem VERY convinced that she should be napping in her cot. Like, practically trying to stage an intervention! When I pressed them on this, their reasoning was that it’s just what babies should be doing, she can’t nap in her stroller as a toddler etc.

AIBU to carry on with my system, thinking that it works and it’s fine? MIL keeps telling me that babies have napped in prams since prams were invented, but I’d love to hear some more recent points of view!

OP posts:
Jengnr · 04/04/2019 19:37

Why can’t she sleep in a stroller? Your friends are batshit.

Your MIL is right!

EssentialHummus · 04/04/2019 19:37

I did similar and regret it, because there came a point when I wanted DD to nap in her cot but by then she’d only settle in the pram/sling while moving. In winter.

LindaLyndell · 04/04/2019 19:39

Don't see a problem at all with you parenting YOUR child as you see fit, your friends are in the wrong to say otherwise!

Also don't see a problem with your DC napping in a pram! Smile

thebear1 · 04/04/2019 19:39

My DS is 6 now. He always napped in his pram and then his pushchair. Being able to rock him helped him settle. He slept fine at night in a cot. I don't see what the problem is, if it works for you.

underneaththeash · 04/04/2019 19:39

Sounds perfect - ignore your friends.

CherryPavlova · 04/04/2019 19:41

Once you have more than one you stop worrying about where is best for them to nap and let them sort themselves out - on school run in their car seat, in their pushchair whilst out at toddler group or shopping, in the laundry basket whilst you iron. Anywhere, literally.

Bearfrills · 04/04/2019 19:43

All four of mine have always napped in their pram/pushchair and never in their cot which suits me just fine because it's convenient. If I need to go out, not an issue, they're either already in the pushchair or will fall asleep in the pushchair while we're out. If we're at someone else's house and they want their nap, pushchair is right there. If my older DC want to play upstairs they can and it won't disturb the youngest while she's napping.

CountFosco · 04/04/2019 19:43

DD1 only napped in the pram at that age. She's now 11 and seems to be able to nap wherever she wants these days Grin.

Treaclepie19 · 04/04/2019 19:43

They're being ridiculous... and they'd have had a field day with me because my DS only slept on me. All day, every day.

bookmum08 · 04/04/2019 19:44

I don't think mine ever napped in her cot. And I don't think I have ever met a toddler who hasn't fallen asleep in their buggy. It's what toddlers do. It's their thing.

Bearfrills · 04/04/2019 19:45

Anywhere, literally

This too.

I have photographs of DS2 when he was aged around 2yo, laid out fast asleep on a fluffy blanket in the bottom of a shopping trolley with the shopping all around him because he was too tired to keep awake for any longer.

ifoundthebread · 04/04/2019 19:45

@cherry said exactly what I was thinking. I really wouldn't worry about it, as long as the the air flow is okay then I don't see a problem. In some countries babies are put in the pram and put outside to nap.

DogHairEverywhere · 04/04/2019 19:45

Crikey... Do whatever it takes to get your baby to sleep, op.
Your friends aren't the ones dealing with a tired baby because she won't sleep in a light room.

trilbydoll · 04/04/2019 19:45

Why would you want to be tied to the house for naps? And toddlers can and do sleep in pushchairs, my eldest still slept in the pushchair at 3.5 given the opportunity.

GuineaPiglet345 · 04/04/2019 19:46

DD has never had a daytime nap in her cot, she sleeps all night every night in her cot but through the day she either sleeps in her car seat on the way to wherever we’re going (we’re rural so we’re always driving somewhere) or in her pushchair. On the other hand my friends son will only sleep in his cot, so she’s tied to the house for 2 hours every day, otherwise she’s got a grumpy toddler.

Nofunkingworriesmate · 04/04/2019 19:46

I spent all day out and about my ds hardy ever napped in his cot during the day
Being tied to he house is miserable
Your friends are p.i.t.a if it’s nit broken and you’re happy why offer advice

Fatted · 04/04/2019 19:47

Agree with what @CherryPavlova says. Once you have more than one you just leave them to get on with it. If they nap they nap, if they don't they don't.

Ideally you want a baby that can cope with either. So if you're at home they'll settle in their cot but when they're out and about they will nod off in the pram. What you don't want is a baby who needs a certain set of precise conditions to be present to fall asleep. I think they do sleep better at home in the dark. But then you need to get out and carry on with life as well and shouldn't be tied to your house forever.

cornishpixue · 04/04/2019 19:47

Yep, napped in pram so it didn't matter where you were at nap time.

DS only napped till 18 months anyway, after that age even if you convinced him to nap in the afternoon (which was rare!) you could subtract nearly that exact amount of time off his nights sleep!!

TheVanguardSix · 04/04/2019 19:48

Any sleep anywhere is totally ok!
My kids always had better sleeps in prams and slings.

ScreamScreamIceCream · 04/04/2019 19:48

My DD has fallen asleep on her changing mat on the floor. It is one of her preferred sleeping places.

Her others have included her pram and stroller especially when out and about.

Damntheman · 04/04/2019 19:49

Scandi kids always nap in the pram outside. It's ridiculous to have a problem with pram naps! You do you OP

Booboostwo · 04/04/2019 19:50

Just count your blessings that you don’t have a baby that will only sleep in a moving car.

Alsohuman · 04/04/2019 19:51

Your friends are loons. And will pay the price for their rigidity down the line, at which point you’re entitled to be a bit smug.

DIZZYTIGGER87 · 04/04/2019 19:54

20 month old DS naps anywhere but his cot. Sleeps in his cot most the night (not a good sleeper, spent 14 months in with me, still comes in most nights from 5 when DH gets up).

He will nap in my bed, in his car seat (until car stops), buggy, on his trike (how?), Sofa, dogs bed, carrier, but put him in his cot and it's like the hyperactive switch is flipped.

Do what works for you and ignore all others who criticise, you are the one who it needs to work for.

Your MIL is right, prams are where many baby's have napped, and I've never heard of any harm or long term effects due to this

voxnihili · 04/04/2019 19:55

We were the same. DD is now 7 months old and will now nap in her cot, pram or car seat. It's great as it means I'm not tied to the house during the day, unlike some of my friends.

If we're home, I try to put her in the cot but if it fails it's the car seat and snoozeshade.

She sleeps 12 hours at night in her cot.