When will parents realise that covering pushchair with blankets and muslin sheets is actually dangerous?

[longlocks]

Already seen two mums doing this and its just turned 11:30am. They have no idea that putting a blanket over the pushchair traps air and makes the pushchair area warmer. Babies can die of SIDS if they are overheated. Put a parasol or a sun cover instead.

I don’t think it’s well know as we don’t typically have a climate where it is a problem.

Honestly - in this scenario I think a very kindly put comment saying, ‘I have just learned this, I had no idea’ is fine.

I did this years ago..not all the time but I was horrified to learn what it actually did

I have only selected you are being unreasonable as some of the snooze shades which you can buy are a special breathable fabric to encourage air flow. I also have one of these built into my pram.

Also last summer was my baby was around 6 months I popped a clip on fan pointing into the pram in the hood and it was lovely and cool in there.

I am not supporting using muslins or blankets to cover prams but some parents may have done their own research and using materials to keep it cool.

Ah yes, the yearly summer mum shaming posts have started.

“They have no idea that putting a blanket over the pushchair traps air and makes the pushchair area warmer” - so as the first poster said, a kindly comment might help them to understand. They may genuinely not know this is a thing or that alternatives exist!!

I had a snooze shade too. It let air circulate and I would lie the pushchair down flat which allowed a real breeze through. I wouldn’t cover with a blanket though.

I did this with my DC, I didn't block the entire opening of the 'hood' but say 2 thirds were covered. I thought muslin cloths were breathable, they're even used to strain because they have holes.
I think just tell them with a smile and a gentle tone. If a mum snaps back she could just be feeling vulnerable and exhausted, don't take it personally. She probably will think about what you said and google it then feel bad for snapping at you. I think if you're gentle and discreet in letting them know it should be well received.

Agree!! I see this a lot in Spain 🤦🏼‍♀️ I really think a huge amount of people don't know.

Most mums I know have those pram fans that essentially make it air conditioned.

I think you'll find most mum's do know. Often they've left room for air flow or they're doing it temporarily to protect the baby from direct sunlight. Women are not idiots

It's not really hot enough to be an issue here. I appreciate that it is in theory dangerous, but there's no evidence to suggest babies are actually coming to any harm because of it. The overwhelming majority of parents are attentive enough that it never gets beyond being a little bit warm.

You don't know they have no idea.

It was very common for a lot of African women at my son's nursery to do this and when it was pointed out, two of them they said it's just what they do in their country.

Some parents choose to do different things even if they're not particularly well thought out.

Yeah, it's not that dangerous is it? The air inside might be warmer than without but its not crazy hot. Its to keep the sun off the baby's face, not to keep them cool.

Are babies dropping like flies because of this? I did it for years with DD, with either a cellular blanket or a muslin.

Agree. How about we leave other mums to it, and not interfere.

If mums are being seen doing it in Spain all the time then surely it’s not that dangerous or babies would be dying far more. Muslin clothes used to be super thin so you’d still get air flow and I’ve never known a muslin cloth big enough to cover the whole gap so air would still be getting in.

I’m not trying to be argumentative but putting in a different perspective. Happy to be told I’m wrong and there’s stats showing high rates of SIDS in hot countries where people do this.

I will call every single one of these silly girls out. I would rather have a ‘oh so offended’ mum than a dead baby on my conscience. Pure lack of common sense.

Why would you wait to see if a child died before doing something in a safer way?

Is there any record of a baby dying from this? I can’t find any and it’s exactly the sort of thing newspapers love to report

Midwives and HV’s advise against doing this. It isn’t secret information that is being withheld, it is an active choice to ignore advice regarding infant safety.

Because “mum knows best”.

‘silly girls’

Wow, are you some old battle-axe?!? That likes to be condescending to younger women because it makes you feel better about yourself

Every time the sun comes out someone posts this.
God knows how previous generations of roasted children made it to adulthood.
Do you have a link to the peer-reviewed research about muslin cloth-associared deaths?

https://www.nhs.uk/baby/first-aid-and-safety/safety/safety-in-the-sun/

• “If you go out when it's hot, attach a parasol or sunshade to your baby's pushchair to keep them out of direct sunlight. Do not cover your baby's pushchair or pram with a blanket because it could lead to overheating. Check on them regularly to make sure they're not getting too hot.”

I can guarantee that you've done at least one dangerous thing with your kids, and you've had more than one luck over judgement moment.

Why would you refer to grown women as 'silly girls' and why would you call someone out rather than just have a reasonable conversation. Says more about you than them.

Has anyone ever called you a nosy little girl in retaliation?

You are stating that two women, from Africa, a country a tad bloody hotter than the three days of 26 degrees we get here per annum, have not thought it out? That they are just on a bandwagon?
Why would millions of such women put their babies at risk.
Incredible