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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To cover babies pram with a muslin?

139 replies

onebadmum · 08/09/2023 16:33

My child had an appt today in a hospital clinic. I had my 6 month old baby with us too.

There were delays and we ended up in the clinic for 4+ hours, waiting for the plaster, then x-ray and consultant.

Anyway- baby was getting exceptionally fed up after all this time. I'd tried feeding the sleep, rocking, popping her in her pram and rocking but all the lights/noise/people and she was just far too distracted. She was overtired due to the wait.

I decided to try putting her down in her pram again, popped my phone on with white noise and put a muslin over the top to block out the lights/distractions while I rocked the pram.

There were gaps on both sides so I could see her. I could see she was finally nodding off when a nurse appeared and pulled the muslin off without even looking at me or addressing me (I think I was quite taken aback and thinking "oi you've just woke my baby up")

She started talking to my baby and making a fuss of her (without so much as looking at me)... and said to baby "we don't have this over you do you, you'll be far too hot"... before walking off.

I realised then that she clearly had an issue with the muslin. But as it had been working to get my baby to sleep before the nurse had come over, I just pulled it back over and continued as I was before.

A short time later the nurse reappeared and spoke directly to me this time, and told me off and how dangerous having blankets over babies are.

I'm prepared to be told I was unreasonable to do so... however we were inside, with plenty of fans and the temperature while warmer then average for this time of year was far from sweltering?

I would never cover my baby out in the hot sun. I've had four children so like to think of myself as fairly experienced, but was I wrong?

OP posts:
Original poster
onebadmum · 08/09/2023 16:51

Thementalloadisreal · 08/09/2023 16:49

Nurse had a good point but made it badly. You don’t wake a baby, you speak to the parent. She could have just said “oh you know that’s not a good idea actually because the baby can get too hot”

OP could have said something like “I know, but I’m only using it to get the light out of her eyes for a bit while she goes off to sleep, the sides are open to allow airflow and I can see her at all time, as soon as she’s asleep I’ll take it off, but thanks for your advice.”

She wasn't asleep when the nurse did it- she was drifting and about to finally go to sleep!

And your response is more or less exactly what I said when she came back.

OP posts:
Original poster
onebadmum · 08/09/2023 16:52

I wouldn't have left it over the park once she's gone to sleep, I was trying to get to sleep.

OP posts:
Clymene · 08/09/2023 16:52

Just because you've seen lots of other people do stupid things it doesn't make them a good idea

Bearbookagainandagain · 08/09/2023 16:56

She was wrong and was extremely disrespectful. If they were gaps on both sides so you could see your baby then there was enough ventilation to prevent overheating, she is just applying "rules" she doesn't understand....

QueenOfWeeds · 08/09/2023 16:56

They really do. Try putting one over your head for a short while and you will notice it, especially if eg holding a sleeping baby.

But yes, OP, the nurse handled it badly.

UsingChangeofName · 08/09/2023 16:57

I have to agree with @modgepodge too.

It goes against all the guidance and she is right in making sure nothing happens on her watch, although in an ideal world, she could have tackled it more politely, she was right to challenge it.

Upsizer · 08/09/2023 17:01

Yeah I’m with the nurse… it’s exceptionally hot at the mo and hospitals are hotter than anywhere. Fans are irrelevant unless they are on the baby.

I’ve seen a few people with babies in blankets this week and it’s made me shudder.

SuperiorM · 08/09/2023 17:02

So was the canopy up? If so then the muslin is just resting on it blocking out light and not a lot of air. In some countries there would be a mosquito net and it’s not much different from that.

museumum · 08/09/2023 17:04

My baby would ONLY sleep in the pram with a Muslin over it and white noise, he was such a curious/nosy bugger anything else over stimulated him. I understand about overheating, but babies are born and live near the equator, I’m sure ours can survive in the mid to high 20 degrees C.

Original poster
onebadmum · 08/09/2023 17:04

All the guidance I've read on this states it's using blankets to "block Sun" or "shade baby" in heat... which is why I always thought the guidance was aimed at being outside in the heat...

No one says anything about breastfeeding covers or blankets? I actually got a dirty look by an older lady while I was breastfeeding my baby today in the waiting room (I don't usually use a cover unless I feel really uncomfortable)... and I actually thought to myself as if anyone would expect me to put something over my babies head when it's warm today.

I honestly would have never considered it a massive issue to drape a thin muslin over my babies pram to block out distraction in a fairly cool room inside.

There were gaps on both sides and it was only a small muslin (more of cloth than a blanket but that's all I had with me).

OP posts:
Original poster
onebadmum · 08/09/2023 17:05

SuperiorM · 08/09/2023 17:02

So was the canopy up? If so then the muslin is just resting on it blocking out light and not a lot of air. In some countries there would be a mosquito net and it’s not much different from that.

Baby is still in the bassinet attachment and the canopy was up.

OP posts:
MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 08/09/2023 17:09

Annaishere · 08/09/2023 16:44

I doubt muslin would trap a lot of heat

But it does, it's not safe and it shouldn't be done at all.

Dinojump · 08/09/2023 17:09

It doesn't matter if there were gaps either side, it is still unsafe.

The nurse was right. She might have been going for tough love though. As a childcare professional, I gently point out the danger to people when I see prams covered but I know damned well it won't make an ounce of difference, because sadly people don't take notice of these things until something really bad happens.

If I went in like the nurse did, however, I guarantee people would stop and think next time.

SuperiorM · 08/09/2023 17:10

onebadmum · 08/09/2023 17:05

Baby is still in the bassinet attachment and the canopy was up.

Show quote history

It sounds fine to me. I often see people walking around with babies lying in a pram staring straight up at the sun or electric lights. That is really bad for them. All you were doing was extending the canopy to give baby a chance to rest

SausageMonkey2 · 08/09/2023 17:11

This is a prime example of why taking advice from strangers on the internet is a bad idea.

ThePoshUns · 08/09/2023 17:12

modgepodge · 08/09/2023 16:35

I think all the advice is that covering the pram with anything, even a muslin, js an exceptionally bad idea. Even inside. She handled it badly but I think she was right.

Ye this. I used to do this years ago but advice has changed

SevenOhOne · 08/09/2023 17:12

She was right. She could have handled it better though.

I can see as a parent we all sometimes decide to follow the spirit of the guidance rather than the letter, eg to decide that the muslin is ok if there are gaps. A HCP isn’t going to take this approach though, nor should they. For all she knew, you weren’t aware of the risks.

Flakey99 · 08/09/2023 17:14

The nurse acted very unprofessionally and I’d make a complaint about her, if I was you.

She had no idea whether the child was too hot as she didn’t take the time to stop and check or even speak to you.

Bearbookagainandagain · 08/09/2023 17:14

It's about trapping hot air in the pram, so generally fine if the air is cool - outside or inside - and also fine if there are gaps big enough to let the air flow through.
The guidance is because some people put blankets or muslin to cover all openings. Also it's better if you can see baby.

From what you described you were fine!

TheBarbieEffect · 08/09/2023 17:16

YABU. It’s very dangerous, it traps heat (feeding with a muslin isn’t the same, no heat is trapped there).

She was right, but she handled it badly.

Original poster
onebadmum · 08/09/2023 17:17

Are rain covers okay though?

OP posts:
MillenialAvocado · 08/09/2023 17:17

She was right to point it out, but the way she went about it was disrespectful and totally rude

TheBarbieEffect · 08/09/2023 17:18

onebadmum · 08/09/2023 17:17

Are rain covers okay though?

Yep. Rain covers are breathable.

Original poster
onebadmum · 08/09/2023 17:18

TheBarbieEffect · 08/09/2023 17:16

YABU. It’s very dangerous, it traps heat (feeding with a muslin isn’t the same, no heat is trapped there).

She was right, but she handled it badly.

Do you have a link or can you explain how covering baby with a muslin while feeding is different? I would have thought it would be worse due to the close proximity?

I'm genuinely interested as today has made me think why is why I posted.

OP posts:
DappledThings · 08/09/2023 17:18

Can I ask, if I was breastfeeding my baby in the exact same scenario with a Muslim draped over us would that also be dangerous and unacceptable?
No, because the rest of your baby wouldn't be covered by the thick hood of the pram with the heat building up.

Although I find it very hard not to stare for a bit at anyone using a cover over their baby to feed them as I find it so odd.