Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Pram left overnight in the garden!

282 replies

dontcomeatme · 30/06/2025 08:24

Definetly not "end of the world" stuff, but I got quite angry about this.
We have a double buggy that doesn't fit through our front door so needs to be built up outside every time we want to go out, not an issue. Monday mornings are nursery run mornings, I need to get the 7:20am bus. DW always at work. We're both females.
She was sorting jobs out last night while I got the baby settled for sleep. She came upstairs and told me she had built the pram up and just left it in the garden! We have never done that before and I don't like the idea of it. She said it wasn't going to rain so didn't see the issue. Problem is we saw a rat in the garden last week and after speaking with the neighbours turns out that 3 doors down have a rat problem.
I didn't shout at her but I did irritably tell her to go and get the pram in the house because I didn't want rats touching it and she said I was being absolutely ridiculous.
So..
YABU - Leaving the pram outside (weather approving) clearly saves time.
YANBU - Rats carry diseases and its not safe to leave it out.
And would you leave a pram outside at all regardless of the rats?

OP posts:
Mumble12 · 30/06/2025 10:14

I wouldn't have been rude to someone trying to help me save time

Sandandsea123 · 30/06/2025 10:14

Our pram lives outside unless it’s raining; we don’t have the space for it indoors really and it’s so convenient being outside already!

inasillyfrillydress · 30/06/2025 10:15

All our prams live outside!

Top tip: get a big garden bag that fits over the top

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 30/06/2025 10:15

gottakeeponmoving · 30/06/2025 08:29

You need to throw foxes, cats and slugs into the mix. Foxes and cats will piss all over it. And slugs .. 😱

And it will get darked on! 😱

SErunner · 30/06/2025 10:19

We’ve left ours outside on quite a few occasions by accident. It’s not something I’d lose sleep over. Just give it a wipe over?

funinthesun19 · 30/06/2025 10:23

Toddlerteaplease · 30/06/2025 10:04

Forget the pram, I’d be more irritated if I was your wife by your refusal to lean to drive. For no good reason, other than you don’t want to

Why do people get so irritated by non drivers? If everyone had a car you wouldn’t like that either.

Coffeeishot · 30/06/2025 10:32

funinthesun19 · 30/06/2025 10:23

Why do people get so irritated by non drivers? If everyone had a car you wouldn’t like that either.

Show quote history

They see it as a selfish weakness, in reality non drivers get on with their lives just fine. In this case the op doesn't want to drive and that got heckles up as if it is their bussiness.

MrsSunshine2b · 30/06/2025 10:37

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

I don't know about OP but I don't think anyone would want me driving. I'm highly dyspraxic, very easily distracted, and have no spatial awareness whatsoever. I did try to learn and my driving instructor ghosted me.

I will learn eventually, maybe in an automatic, because it's so hard to get by without driving, but driving isn't for everyone and it's a big flaw we have in society that everyone has to do it.

Krakinou · 30/06/2025 10:39

I think you’re overreacting about the rats but my partner would definitely react the same way you did. My first thought was you both sound understandably knackered to argue about this, and also like you have a very healthy relationship dynamic to talk it through and make up. So congratulations on that and I hope you both get a decent nights sleep soon.

Dontlletmedownbruce · 30/06/2025 10:41

Do people not randomly sit on their garden furniture without freaking out over fox piss and slugs? What the worst that can happen, your baby builds a bit of immunity after exposure to some germs?

Personally I wouldn't leave it outside regularly without a cover. If it saves time I'd leave it outside most of the time with the cover on. If occasionally on a warm dry night the cover was forgotten I don't think I'd care.

This really is not a big issue and I don't think its worth an argument

JustGoClickLikeALightSwitch · 30/06/2025 10:41

It was a hot day, you're probably both knackered from dealing with two young children. It happens. I'd personally consider getting a good raincover or even lawnmower cover (they're more robust imo) and letting the pram live out there. Just make sure no food stays in it.

Sincerely,
Woman who was in first floor Victorian flat with baby twins and a three y.o.

Original poster
dontcomeatme · 30/06/2025 10:42

Krakinou · 30/06/2025 10:39

I think you’re overreacting about the rats but my partner would definitely react the same way you did. My first thought was you both sound understandably knackered to argue about this, and also like you have a very healthy relationship dynamic to talk it through and make up. So congratulations on that and I hope you both get a decent nights sleep soon.

Thank you 😊 we think it's quite healthy. We're all just human, trying our best x

OP posts:
Crunchymum · 30/06/2025 10:43

It would have been nicked within about 30 seconds here!

Original poster
dontcomeatme · 30/06/2025 10:43

JustGoClickLikeALightSwitch · 30/06/2025 10:41

It was a hot day, you're probably both knackered from dealing with two young children. It happens. I'd personally consider getting a good raincover or even lawnmower cover (they're more robust imo) and letting the pram live out there. Just make sure no food stays in it.

Sincerely,
Woman who was in first floor Victorian flat with baby twins and a three y.o.

😲 I couldn't cope in a flat with 3 small DC. Gold medal for you x

OP posts:
limescale · 30/06/2025 10:44

Krakinou · 30/06/2025 10:39

I think you’re overreacting about the rats but my partner would definitely react the same way you did. My first thought was you both sound understandably knackered to argue about this, and also like you have a very healthy relationship dynamic to talk it through and make up. So congratulations on that and I hope you both get a decent nights sleep soon.

There is a known infestation a few doors down and OP has seen rats in her garden. I wouldn't want to leave my open double buggy out. As a PP says, it's not just the urine, but the risk of them chewing the straps and fabric.

Meandmyguy · 30/06/2025 10:48

Poor kid.

I'm not why you couldn't have just asked her in a normal tone.

Mary28 · 30/06/2025 10:59

I wouldn't leave it out but maybe if you have to could you sort of turn it upside down or leave it at an angle so no creature is tempted to sit on it for any period.

levampire · 30/06/2025 11:00

What would rats want with your pushchair unless you’re leaving food in it?

Rats would probably raid it for bedding material for their nests. They have very strong teeth and can chew threw all sorts of unlikely substances. Plus you'd have no idea whether or not they had walked all over it pissing, etc.

funinthesun19 · 30/06/2025 11:04

Coffeeishot · 30/06/2025 10:32

They see it as a selfish weakness, in reality non drivers get on with their lives just fine. In this case the op doesn't want to drive and that got heckles up as if it is their bussiness.

Show quote history

It baffles me because they moan about it being a selfish weakness that people don’t drive and then in their next breath they also complain about parking spaces/ too much traffic/ the planet.

As you say, people who don’t drive get on with their lives just fine but drivers don’t seem to think we get with life at all. And they think we’re all begging for lifts from everyone. I’m sure some people who don’t drive do ask for lifts all the time, but not me and not millions of others.

When my family member’s car broke down the other week he didn’t know what to do with himself. He actually cancelled plans he had made because he didn’t want to catch the bus or get taxis 🤦🏼‍♀️ I found it quite amusing and annoying in equal measure.

MrsBrett20 · 30/06/2025 11:05

Just to put another spin on it, pushchairs have been known to be stolen. Horrible that people do that, but they do (sad world we live in) we can’t afford to replace ours, so it NEVER stays outside

Pherian · 30/06/2025 11:09

dontcomeatme · 30/06/2025 08:24

Definetly not "end of the world" stuff, but I got quite angry about this.
We have a double buggy that doesn't fit through our front door so needs to be built up outside every time we want to go out, not an issue. Monday mornings are nursery run mornings, I need to get the 7:20am bus. DW always at work. We're both females.
She was sorting jobs out last night while I got the baby settled for sleep. She came upstairs and told me she had built the pram up and just left it in the garden! We have never done that before and I don't like the idea of it. She said it wasn't going to rain so didn't see the issue. Problem is we saw a rat in the garden last week and after speaking with the neighbours turns out that 3 doors down have a rat problem.
I didn't shout at her but I did irritably tell her to go and get the pram in the house because I didn't want rats touching it and she said I was being absolutely ridiculous.
So..
YABU - Leaving the pram outside (weather approving) clearly saves time.
YANBU - Rats carry diseases and its not safe to leave it out.
And would you leave a pram outside at all regardless of the rats?

Put a cover over it. Problem solved.

Roseblooms · 30/06/2025 11:10

NewGoldFox · 30/06/2025 08:31

You don’t want spiders rubbing their willies all over it.

This was never funny.

Sunshineshowers2 · 30/06/2025 11:12

dontcomeatme · 30/06/2025 08:24

Definetly not "end of the world" stuff, but I got quite angry about this.
We have a double buggy that doesn't fit through our front door so needs to be built up outside every time we want to go out, not an issue. Monday mornings are nursery run mornings, I need to get the 7:20am bus. DW always at work. We're both females.
She was sorting jobs out last night while I got the baby settled for sleep. She came upstairs and told me she had built the pram up and just left it in the garden! We have never done that before and I don't like the idea of it. She said it wasn't going to rain so didn't see the issue. Problem is we saw a rat in the garden last week and after speaking with the neighbours turns out that 3 doors down have a rat problem.
I didn't shout at her but I did irritably tell her to go and get the pram in the house because I didn't want rats touching it and she said I was being absolutely ridiculous.
So..
YABU - Leaving the pram outside (weather approving) clearly saves time.
YANBU - Rats carry diseases and its not safe to leave it out.
And would you leave a pram outside at all regardless of the rats?

I honestly thought somebody left a baby in the pram over night before reading the post. 😂 Of course yabu, if it e going to rain there is no problem, perhaps you could buy a cover? Rats would never really cross my mind…

Emmz1510 · 30/06/2025 11:15

I probably wouldn’t like a pram left outside but it sounds like you snapped irritably at her rather than just asking normally, so for that reason only yabu

Bonbon249 · 30/06/2025 11:15

People might be surprised what rats will eat (country dweller here) not just food but polystyrene, loft insulation, all kinds of stuff. Or at least they will gnaw through it - Also rat wee carries quite a serious disease - Weil's disease (Google it - it's not good) which you wouldn't want your child exposed too. Lastly, if it's a nice buggy, it might get stolen.

Swipe left for the next trending thread