1 year old napping outside?

[bigmamama]

Hi, so my 1 year old Ds started nursery today as I have just started a new job. He had a couple of settling in sessions which seemed fine, he done 4 hours yesterday and then had his first full day today while I was at work.
My issue is, I got an update on the app of him napping outside on what seemed like a mat on the floor, he had what looked like a blanket covering him but that's it?
Now I immediately sent the picture to my husband in an angry look at this it's terrible way, for him to respond, "yeah he seems fine" I think its awful that they didn't take him inside and put him in a cot. Am I over reacting?
It was a pleasant enough day and it was sunny, not sure on the temp as Iv been inside all day, but I just feel really put off by it and I feel reluctant to send him back again. Or am I just being unreasonable?

@bigmamama I’d this upsets you so much, then don’t read about what Scandinavians do with their babies!

@bigmamama

My issue isn't really the fact he slept on a mat, they have them indoors in the sleeping area aswell as the cots and blankets and big cushions and monitors and cameras! I'm actually baffled that the majority of you think it's acceptable! Especially after I was asked about how/where/when he naps and it was his 1st full day.

If they took a photo of him, that means they were supervising him whilst he was asleep.

Fresh air is good for children. Including when they have naps.

He obviously can sleep elsewhere than only in a cot, as they've proved it on his first day there. On a purpose made sleeping surface, with clothes, with a blanket, with somebody nice watching over him and with the sounds of other children playing nearby.

He had a lovely day. He felt safe. He was safe.

Hang on, you would bring the pram inside if he fell asleep while you were out? Why?! Mine slept outside loads as a baby, I would make sure he was nice and warm and sit nearby so I could hear him. Lovely! I'm sure he slept better outside too.

In Denmark they put dc out with blankets in pushchairs to sleep in Winter - ie below freezing point! Do you know they use to do that with people with TB (google its quite interesting & actually makes sense)
Sound of trees birds fresh air circulating to blow virus/bacteria away. I am sure they had dc away from playing other dc - otherwise they would wake little one up . Temperature today was well into the 20's

@bigmamama

My issue is he was outside on the ground! They have a room for sleeping! So if they were inside he'd be in a separate room! Not in the same room as the kids that are playing!

Not necessarily. A lot of kids don't like being separated from the other kids for naps. So they'll crash on mats in the nursery.

The fact he felt relaxed and comfortable on his first day to sleep is a great thing! One of mine came home an exhausted wreck for 3 months before they felt comfortable to nap.

You'll find that his habits and the likes will be very, very different at nursery than they are at home.

Would you really bring the pram inside it he was asleep in it? I used to leave mine out for ages!

@bigmamama do you usually suffer with bad anxiety?

My husband’s Scandinavian - over there babies and toddlers all nap outdoors unless it’s colder than any part of the UK ever gets (like below -15). Nursery workers there will tell you that the children who have to nap indoors, for whatever reason, get far more coughs and colds.

My son’s had all his naps outside since he was a baby as we discovered that leaving him inside meant he woke up within five minutes - outside he would sleep for hours, usually in his ancient Silver Cross, but just as easily in a buggy if we were travelling. I have pictures of him fast asleep with the snow heaping up on the hood of his buggy and his sheepskin footmuff

So: YANBU to worry about your child the first time you left him at nursery if something’s being done differently from what you’re used to but honestly, they did absolutely nothing wrong and sound like a fab nursery.

My best friend has put all her kids out to sleep from a couple of months old. Shes Scandinavian. Her 5 month old DD slept 4 hours outside yesterday! I'm in the north of Scotland and I have often put the kids out to sleep, even in the winter, I always get a better nap and no one cares if I hoover loudly. As long as they wrapped up they will sleep.

Also nurseries are magic at getting kids to sleep that don't normally just drop off. Mine slept in a bouncer and then a crash mat when he was a little older. So I would probably expect things to be different than how he sleeps at home.

YABU - people have put babies outside in their prams to sleep for decades with no ill effects. Your child cannot catch a cold from sleeping outside, and surely it can't have actually been that cold or they wouldn't have let him stay outside. I fear you are in for a hard time if this is your reaction to something so normal.

I think it's great for kids to nap outside (when we moved to a house, I left DS's pram in the garden for all his naps up to about 18 months unless it was raining since that's where he slept best). But I also think the nursery should follow your instructions and if you said a cot, they should put him in a cot. So you're not being completely unreasonable.

A lot of nurseries do this now. Although you saw the photo of him, the chances are it will be all of his group all together. There will not be any other children around him playing, so he is wrapped in a blanket, was sung to sleep and was away from danger.
My DGD has slept like this at nursery recently. Her nursery encourages outside play no matter what the weather as long as they are dressed appropriately.

@bigmamama I do get where your coming from, if I’d picked a nursery that had cots and a sleep room I’d be a bit put out that my Dc wasn’t there.

My dd is the same age as your DS, she’s been in nursery for 6 months and it’s a bloody miracle if she sleeps at nursery. She’s far too inquisitive as to what is going on around her too sleep. But ours sleep on the floor with a blanket over them. They are on mats so for me outside would be no real surprise if she had her blanket.

But I get where you are coming from as you didn't expect it.

People on here can be harsh and totally unreasonable.

@Colouringaddict ours play outside no matter what the weather too. I pack numerous outfits a day as you never know the weather, and most involves wet play outside so we go through 3 or 4 outfits a day 🙈🤣

My 9mo goes to a forest nursery and sleeps in a hammock in the woods. Was a major selling point tbh.

@Mammaaof, do cop on. Suggesting the OP has "bad anxiety" because she disagrees with something is bitchy and frankly makes you sound like a dick.

OP, I would find this unusual. In my nursery, outside is for playing so good chance somebody would fall over the child.

Sleeping in a pram outside is totally different to sleeping on a mat. Damp from the ground, insects, sunstroke are all things that babies can be shielded from in a pram; not so much on a mat.

Bottom line is if you're not happy about it, tell them.

MN is crazy. If this was your MIL, you'd be advised to go no contact.

I'm a bit surprised that they didn't mention to you that they do this but only because it's often a selling point! In early years circles at the moment there is a lot of looking at scandi countries and adopting some of their best practice - outdoors whatever the weather, risky play, neutral colour schemes and natural materials...

My DC slept in a cot until a year and a half (6 months after starting) and the staff really amazed me that they'd sung and got her to sleep. It's so important that they nap, that's why they try to encourage it. Once she got older and started messing around, it was way harder to get her down in a cot, so then slept on the floor on a mat when they'd get her off to sleep. Eventually she'd lay down on a mat herself and go to sleep. It was a natural stage of progression that was really important for her.

Where in the UK are you? It's warmer so fine to sleep outside, I would have had a nap outside this week. Kids will wake up if cold though! Cold and sickness will be a thing for a while, it won't be down to a nap outside just so you know.

This really wouldn't bother me. I'd rather that than sleeping in a stuffy room with other kids.

He can't 'catch a cold' from sleeping outside.

I don't know where you are in the uk but I'm in Scotland and it was plenty warm enough to nap outside.

I used to regularly leave ds asleep in his pram at the back door even in the winter. I'd have no problem with a 1yo being on a mat with a blanket assuming they're closely supervised.

Sorry, forgot to add with covid they are encouraging them being outside as much as possible at the moment. It might also be why.

I can't see why you'd be angry but perhaps discuss what other practices you were not aware of/potential dealbreakers for you that you might not have anticipated.

If he's new he may not have settled in the sleeping area for his nap because it was unfamiliar after the day in the indoor/outdoor play area. This may have been where he felt safe - next to the bustle of the rest of the room and with staff on hand to help him relax. Sometimes when they're new they just crash where they are. He may have settled only while sitting with someone and they have helped him transition to the mat from a lap.

Ultimately, your child was safe and cared for and got his nap. Which is why they sent the photo. To show he was relaxed and happy enough to sleep.

Sleeping outside is good for young children. I'm sure as he settles and gets used to the environment and it gets colder outside he'll learn to sleep in the cot area.

Not in the UK, but outdoor ‘rabbit hutches’ for sleeping are very common here lol year round. As others have said, it’s considered a huge plus. The crash mat thing would raise an eyebrow to be honest, but just because I am not used to it. He was clearly supervised and was happy to sleep so I would say all good!

It’s something they should have mentioned though, it’s weird they didn’t tell you this is a thing they do so I can understand why you feel a bit uneasy.

I think it sounds lovely, some of my fondest memories are falling asleep in my nana's garden & listening to the wind & birds & kids playing. If he was cold or uncomfortable he wouldn't have slept. You don't catch a cold from being cold & he is less likely to catch one sleeping outside than sleeping in a small room with several other children. Sending or kids to be cared for by others is an anxious time and it feels weird to give over control & have things done in a different way, maybe that is clouding your judgment a little.

My kids always napped in the pushchair on walks. I'd then leave them in the garden as they'd instantly wake up coming indoors. Also in winter, they wake due to me trying to get their coat offs. I do think my childless neighbours might think my I'm quite neglectful with leaving them outside. I have a baby now so still do this!

Op @bigmamama I'd be surprised at outdoor naps, don't think it's bad but because I've never heard of it. I've never used a nursery though, I'm a lesser spotted stay at home mum.

Babies and children sleeping outside is very popular in nordic countries. It has lots of health benefits.