To approach this mum with this warning?

[swimmingwiththefishes]

Ok so I would NEVER normally approach a mum and 'point something out' BUT,

It's a hot day here (26 when I went to the park earlier) and I took the dog out for a walk in my local park. Took DS2 who's 6 months.

As I walked around the park and across some fields, there were two mums sat having a picnic of some sorts in the sun (no shade).

One of the mums obviously had a baby for a nap in the pram (I assume baby as bassinet attachment). To create some shade she had taken two muslins and draped them over the opening of the bassinet and clipped them with pram clips across the openings.

I'm pretty sure that this creates a hothouse type effect and can be quite dangerous. I actually had DS2 also napping and had a snuzshade draped over to stop the sunlight creeping in (black thin material with air holes to create shade but let the air flow).

I ummed and errd but decided I had to say something so really thought about the least offensive way to say it (I'm sure I could have found better!!).

Below is the convo. My friend thinks I was totally out of order to do this but I think I couldn't in good conscious not say anything

Me; gosh, it's soooo hot today isn't it? Nice to have some sun but poor little ones get so hot
Mum: oh yes, we're enjoying being able to get some sun!
Me: I'm not sure if it's helpful but I've found these snuzshade things really good as they let the air in so much more lightweight and breathable than muslins.
Mum: what do you mean?
Me: sorry, it's just I've read that muslins don't let the air through so can make babies hotter so I just thought I'd mention how great I've found this product as not sure if you're aware?
Mum: tell you what? Why don't you fuck right off and leave us the fuck alone
Me: ok, I'm literally trying to stop your child from overheating, that's all. Look it up.

I told my friend about the above convo and she said I probably came across as patronising and interfering. Yup, I probably did come across like that but that poor baby was probably roasting in there!

I'm sure I could have approached it better but WIBU?

And to all those saying OP should not walk their dog. A dog is much better able to regulate their body temperature than a new baby and knows when to try and seek shade, stop running or whatever. That baby would have been able to do nothing about their immediate environment.

A dog on a lead can't do anything about their immediate environment either.

You did your best.

I'd be willing to bet that everyone saying you were patronising would feel differently if they'd ever seen a fitting baby due to overheating.

Standard shooting the messenger stuff, OP. Hopefully the mum will actually look it up and realise it's not safe.

Whilst I can't fault you trying to protect the baby you absolutely should not be walking your dog anywhere near 26'C. That is grossly cruel and neglectful on your part

Your intention was good.

Maybe you got told to f off today but I bet she researches what you said. In which case it sounds like she will see you were right.

Yeah, a bit interfering really. Also, you know you shouldn't really take dogs out in 26°C heat? Pot, kettle and black would come to my mind of you had a word with me.

I'm so glad you said something. I really struggle with this when I see it but never have the courage to say something.

Also, you know you shouldn't really take dogs out in 26°C heat?

It's not actually come up on this thread yet so thanks, I'll defo take heed and walk him early or late in heat 👍🏻

I don't know whether you were right in your opinion as I don't know anything about it, but if that's what you thought, I think you were right in all conscience to say, as a child could be at risk.

She sounds rough with how she responded.

Whilst I agree that walking a dog in that heat isn't right, what do people who live in places like Texas/India/Florida do when they need to walk their dogs?? 😅

This

Her reaction is aggressive because she doesn’t like being told she’s doing something unsafe with her baby. So instead of being grateful, taking it on board and thanking you — because we all make mistakes — she got nasty and defensive instead.

It’s exactly the same when you tell parents they’re risking giving their babies IBS and Crohns in adulthood by weaning before 6 months, or when you tell them they should be rear facing until age 4 minimum else they risk paralysis or internal decapitation.

They're not interested in actually keeping their baby safe, they just don’t want it pointed out that they’re not doing so.

You absolutely did the right thing.

Ok, but just make sure you don't drape a muslin over its head first.

This thread is bonkers. Must be the heat!

Hopefully they use brain games, training and scent training/games to tire them out. It actually tires dogs out more than a walk.

Exactly, that was the most concerning part of the post.

This.

@starfishmummy I've addressed the dog comments numerous times but he wasnt on the lead (not sure where you got that from). I live literally behind the park. DDog was alongside the pram across the field then in the river while we walked along the bank. He wouldn't be happy on the lead in his lovely park.

Ive not rtft but your just as bad taking a dog out in that heat and you have the audacity to patronise someone else 🙄 i would have told you to fuck off aswell

This was actually debunked by the inventor of snoozeshade, it's on the snoozeshade website.

This is really useful if you're ever unsure.

Have we reached 'cancel the cheque' peak status yet?

No you were fine - you can't just not say anything about an overheating baby because it might be seen as interfering.

Those people telling you, you shouldn't have walked your dog have totally missed the point. It's not about never doing anything wrong, it's about passing on important information if you have it and you think someone else doesn't.

If someone had stopped you and told you you shouldn't be walking your dog, I'm sure you, like me, would have said 'oh ok thanks I didn't realise that' and taken the dog home.

It's called being a community.

I don't think you came across badly, I think they were rude with what they said and it makes them look worse than you. If I had unwanted advice from a stranger I would say, thank you for your concern but we are fine here. Have a good day.
I think your heart was in the right place, I've read about that and stopped doing it immediately with my youngest son.
Like others have said, you did your part and you tried. Don't bother in future it's obviously not appreciated and a lot of people don't like having randomers telling them to do/not to do something. Let them learn the hard way x

I think I would have told you to mind your own business. It wasn’t a thick blanket it was a muslin for one and secondly it’s really not your concern.

Someone came up to me to tell me to not walk our puppy in the heat a couple years ago and i was grateful they did so i do think she was unnecessarily rude.