To think shortsleeved rompers for babies are pointless and irresponsible?

[RunnerBeanz]

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?

Like this?

I loved them. Used all the time with my summer babies

I thought this was a wind-up until I realised about a third of the responses were essentially agreeing with OP.

Is this advice that is given out now? Mention of health visitors etc makes me wonder if a well meaning public information campaign has gone a bit too far.

Have you got kids???

@RunnerBeanz the op doesn't even have a child but is giving out judgemental and bollocks parenting advice to others

Surely they’d be hot in full length in the weather you describe?

I agree to keeping them in the shade though.

I used them all the time. I live in a very hot country. Would you honestly suggest that I dress my baby in a vest and sleep suit in 40C+?

Overheating is very dangerous for babies and they overheat faster than adults because their bodies have a much smaller surface area.

They should obviously be out of the sun but that has nothing to do with their clothing.

I find it very odd that you would describe this as ‘an upsetting sight’. Were you actually upset by seeing a baby wearing a short-sleeved romper? Really??

I love them. weird over reaction from you OP. how on earth do you know if the baby was wearing suncream or not?

This is the kind of thread that's so silly it's impossible to parody. Warnings on romper labels. Brilliant.

@ReggaetonLente

I live in Asia where it's 35+ most of the summer and still people will put their babies in double layers. In the spring, when it's about 25 degrees, they'll still be in pram suits.

I get yelled at by old ladies in the street for having DD2 (4 months) in just a vest or romper!

We don't really use prams here so she's always in a sling and I use a parasol. I've also used sunscreen on her occasionally from 2 months - even a few minutes in the sun here can be dangerous and I figure it's the lesser evil.

I guess my point is, there are many ways to skin a cat and the baby will in all likelihood be fine.

Yes, same! I live in the Middle East and once saw a baby dressed in a snowsuit!!

Really, in Kent today the wain would need a jumper, gloves and hat.
Anyways, if you are in some place where is even still feels remotely like August, then MYOB.

Yep, I live in the Caribbean and that’s all my babies wore.
What a weird thing to concern yourself with OP. You’re better off getting your knickers in a twist about amber necklaces or headbands on baby girls. Mumsnet hates them!

Mine wore them all the time (summer babies). I kept them in the shade. They’d have been too hot in a sleepsuit. Not sure what the issue is?

It also sounds like you were practically stalking them too.

My two babies were born in the summer in the south of France and both always wore rompers.

@NotMaryWhitehouse - When was it shown to do nothing for jaundice? It doesn’t seem that long ago that I was told to lie my newborn babies inside in front of a sunny window, in just nappies because they looked a bit orange (told by the midwifes that was, with more than one of my children)

@PurpleCurtain

Also in yorkshire and now feel doubly useless as I had baby's ankles exposed today AND had him in long sleeves!

My midwife said wearing suncream was an absolute no, but I'm not sure if that was mostly to get the message home that they shouldn't be in the sun to start with?

Please don't feel like this, I know that's exactly what the OP wanted to achieve with her post but please, please don't let it.

Surely it is a matter of keeping out of direct sun. If you dress a baby too warmly that can't be too good either.

If you knew the "bee in my bonnet" was recently losing people I love to skin cancer, would you still be shooting me down for this thread?

Sunburn in infancy is a huge deal and looks like greatly increases their skin cancer risk. I therefore think babies should be covered up - even if you push your baby in a pram's bassinet and their legs are exposed, it's likely their legs stick out beyond the bottom of the pram hood, so if you're taking them for a walk without permanent shade or the perfect set up of parasols, their legs may get burnt. Even a one-time exposure could be enough for them to develop skin cancer in later life, so not worth the risk. There are means of cooling a baby down so that they can still wear a sleepsuit/ something that covers everything exposed.

I don't think the short sleeved romper is the issue here OP... I agree about babies being in the sun, but maybe it was just for a short while? My DD wore nothing but short sleeved babygros for several weeks because it was 29 degrees in our flat.

Putting babies in a sleepsuit and vest and risking them overheating is far more irresponsible and dangerous.

My first HV who was excellent told a whole waiting room of mums to get vests off babies on a hot day and said it should be nappy and shorts and t shirt or short sleeved & short legged romper only. Anything more and babies would be too hot. But yes, they should be in the shade- but definitely no vest on on a day like today ( hot here).

This is crazy. Babies are going to get exposed to the sun.

Unless you are going to carry on like Nicole Kidman in the Others, you are going to have to take a baby outside and the sun’s rays will touch its skin.

I am imagining people taking their babies outside in August in a balaclava now.

There are means of cooling a baby down

The first one being removing layers of clothing.

Gosh I'm amazed my child has survived. No sunscreen, short sleeves, enjoyed some sun on their skin in a hot summer... are you supposed to keep them indoors all day?