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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think shortsleeved rompers for babies are pointless and irresponsible?

143 replies

RunnerBeanz · 28/08/2021 15:47

Saw a tiny baby in one of those short-sleeved romper things today...can only have been a few weeks old. Firstly in their pram (which wasn't particularly in the shade, no parasol), then on parents' laps, midday sun bearing down. Why do people buy these things, for babies of this age, when they should be covering them up and can't yet wear suncream? Am I unreasonable to think they're pointless and irresponsible - and that there's not really a situation where vest and sleepsuit won't do?

OP posts:
SionnachRua · 28/08/2021 16:06

Unsafe! Grin What a funny take on a romper. Of course it's not unsafe, the sun is the issue here - not the clothing.

UnsolicitedDickPic · 28/08/2021 16:06

Surely a vest and sleep suit would be too warm in the situation the OP described? I would've thought a short-sleeved romper would be perfect. I'm a pretty slack parent though when it comes to clothing!

SmidgenofaPigeon · 28/08/2021 16:07

I tend to think babies are dressed too warmly in this country, if anything 🤷🏻‍♀️

Original poster
RunnerBeanz · 28/08/2021 16:07

You've convinced me that they work indoors - but outside, I guess it depends what we're classing as "direct sunlight"? I imagine these parents thought that the hood of their carrycot was enough protection, but without a parasol I can't see how baby's legs were sufficiently in the shade, whereas with legs covered in a sleepsuit, baby might have been okay? In the shade, I wouldn't have thought it was hot enough today (yorkshire) for overheating in a sleepsuit - but sunny enough to cause damage, absolutely.

OP posts:
Jillish · 28/08/2021 16:07

I don’t understand. I would never have put my babies in direct sunlight especially when under 6 months old when sunscreen is not recommended. But in the summer
it was still hot in the house, in the shade etc. Some nights they just slept in a nappy to keep them cool.

Jumpingintosummer · 28/08/2021 16:08

The clothing isn’t the issue, the baby needs to be cool. The problem is the lack of shade.

Blossomtoes · 28/08/2021 16:08

@SmidgenofaPigeon

I think random judgement directed at new parents is pointless and irresponsible, actually.
Absolutely. Mind your own business.
Di11y · 28/08/2021 16:10

My August born wore them but we were obsessive about having her in the shade. She would have overheated in a sleepsuit

ChristmasArmadillo · 28/08/2021 16:10

It was 40° the year my summer born baby was born. She’d have died of heatstroke in double layers! Light colored romper or vest and sun cream and she was fine during every outdoor activity we did.

Askingforfriend · 28/08/2021 16:12

I live in a hot country and my kid wore as little as possible for a big chunk of the year. This included a lot of short rompers and bubble rompers.

The clothes are not the problem, the sun is.

Pigeonpocket · 28/08/2021 16:13

@RunnerBeanz

You've convinced me that they work indoors - but outside, I guess it depends what we're classing as "direct sunlight"? I imagine these parents thought that the hood of their carrycot was enough protection, but without a parasol I can't see how baby's legs were sufficiently in the shade, whereas with legs covered in a sleepsuit, baby might have been okay? In the shade, I wouldn't have thought it was hot enough today (yorkshire) for overheating in a sleepsuit - but sunny enough to cause damage, absolutely.
Ah OK, so because it's not hot in Yorkshire today, rompers shouldn't be sold for outside use and sleepsuits should be used by everyone instead?
Hardbackwriter · 28/08/2021 16:17

@RunnerBeanz

You've convinced me that they work indoors - but outside, I guess it depends what we're classing as "direct sunlight"? I imagine these parents thought that the hood of their carrycot was enough protection, but without a parasol I can't see how baby's legs were sufficiently in the shade, whereas with legs covered in a sleepsuit, baby might have been okay? In the shade, I wouldn't have thought it was hot enough today (yorkshire) for overheating in a sleepsuit - but sunny enough to cause damage, absolutely.
Christ, you spent a lot of time staring at these people didn't you? Did you know them - in which case why didn't you just say 'do you think it's a bit hot for baby here, shall we find some shade?' - or were these strangers that you were judging the every move of?
Mrsjayy · 28/08/2021 16:18

Why is it unsafe to have a baby in. Short sleeves/legs ? You are saying items of normal clothing for summer is dangerous,isn't that slightly over dramatic.?

PurpleCurtain · 28/08/2021 16:19

I've been the parent you're judging - maybe they're now beating themselves up about it like I am, and being sleep deprived it's something they just hadn't thought about? I've only just invested in a parasol this afternoon, having been worried about my baby's ankles being exposed in his pram when in dungarees (or maybe you'd describe them as rompers, not sure!). I'm hoping I'm not as awful a parent as you suggest from this one 1hr walk with his ankles out.

Nosferatussidebit · 28/08/2021 16:20

I think my concern is that people think it's 'safe' to dress small babies in them because they're sold as cute outfits.

They ARE safe.

Keeping a baby in the sun regardless of what they are wearing is irresponsible. A short romper is a perfectly reasonable outfit.

DifficultPifcultLemonDifficult · 28/08/2021 16:21

I based all my parenting decisions on what was happening in Yorkshire at any given time 🤣🤣

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 28/08/2021 16:22

I'm in Yorkshire and its 24 degrees out. Romper weather!

Miniroofbox · 28/08/2021 16:22

I’m with @SmidgenofaPigeon

Original poster
RunnerBeanz · 28/08/2021 16:26

It's sunny in Yorkshire but not that hot, is what I'm trying to say! I saw them in a park, whilst also walking round the park - you tend to cross peoples' paths a few times when this happens. Yes 'unsafe' probably a tad overdramatic but I guess I was thinking that a warning on products like this for babies that they should still be kept out of the sun would be very helpful. Obviously sleepsuits wouldn't mean they shouldn't be kept out of the sun, though! I'm sorry for upsetting people this much - the crux here was me caring about sun safety, so I'll bow out now!

OP posts:
Porcupineintherough · 28/08/2021 16:26

Babies are not vampires. It is actually ok if the sun's rays touch them occasionally. Mine not only wore short-sleeved babygrows, they went outside in them.

PurpleCurtain · 28/08/2021 16:30

@Porcupineintherough

Babies are not vampires. It is actually ok if the sun's rays touch them occasionally. Mine not only wore short-sleeved babygrows, they went outside in them.
At a few weeks old? Seeking reassurance rather than judging as I'm beating myself up about having gone out without a parasol with a 7 week old with his ankles out!
Bouledeneige · 28/08/2021 16:30

OTT reaction and judgement. I'm sure the parents are trying to do their best for their baby.

For what it's worth I was left in the pram to sleep when I was a baby and the sun moved round and I got badly burned. My mum felt terrible and it wasn't the best thing to happen but I've not suffered any long term effects.

BigWoollyJumpers · 28/08/2021 16:34

I'm glad you didn't have a jaundiced baby OP. DD1 was under a UV lamp for the first two weeks of her life Shock.

Mrsjayy · 28/08/2021 16:37

My eldest is 28 and had a touch of jaundice advice was let her lie in her pram short sleeved in the sun

Kanaloa · 28/08/2021 16:40

Perhaps they were in and out of the sun briefly, keeping the child shaded for most of the day. Not everyone likes to have their child in a sleep suit all the time.