Neighbour neglectful? Or overreacting?

[Anon19]

Over reacting?

So today I came home with kids and they wanted to play in the garden & next doors pram was in the garden, I was in the garden for about 2 hours playing with my son and his cousins then next door comes out & lifts her 7 month old baby out of the pram just wearing pjamas, and a really thin blanket I know it's thin coz we have the same one. Bassicly the baby had been napping in her pram in the garden for at least 2 hours in the freezing cold (all our kids had snowsuits on with boots hats gloves and loads of layers!!) with their back door shut she never came out to check on her once!! I can't believe it I really can't am I over reacting here? Should I say anything to her im fuming the babys tiny I was freezing never mind her :-/ I don't know her well by the way it's a new estate and everyone just moved in a few weeks ago so I've never spoken to her.

If they had been cold then they would have cried. You are overreacting

it's an mn pile on ,op. Someone starts the ball rolling and the rest pile on. My mum's generation let us sleep outside in the pram , smothered in hand knitted woolies =jacket, pants, mitts, bonnet, booties and hand knitted blankets on top of that. Babies cannot temp adjust that's why. And no they do not like to be cold . And no you are not wrong,op.

Anon are you for real?

Mums have left their babies wrapped up in their prams for years!
My dm talks very fondly of wrapping me up and leaving me in the garden even on the coldest of days whilst she cleaned up! Hasn't done me any harm. I often left mine outside, as long as the garden is enclosed, they are warm and you can see/hear them I do not see an issue!!

We left both our boys outside in the pushchairs to sleep.

What are you afraid might happen OP?

My mum sold her old pram recently and was reminiscing about how we had most of our naps out in the garden even if it was snowy. I think fresh air is far better for babies than stuffy warm houses but I would make sure they had enough layers on. I agree that a cold baby of that age would soon let you know about it.

I was in the north east today. It actually didn't feel that cold to me.

Babies were always left to sleep outside as recommended practice for generations.

Snosidge - maybe you live in a really lovely warm part of the world where you knew your little person was safe

I see this as the OP does, it's so cold her kids are wrapped up warm, and a seven month old next door was left with a tiny blanket and the backdoor shut and originally I assumed it was a communal garden.

Not my intention to offend anyone

I wouldn't leave a seven year old outside on their own, without a baby monitor and certainly not in the cold

Further more you go to your own experience and I'd never leave a baby in my garden which whilst safe isn't safe enough for my liking for a seven month old living in a large city - despite the big locks on the gate

Overreacting.

I live in a big city as well, but the chance of someone stealing a child from my garden is pretty slim. Certainly not worth worrying about.

Honestly you wouldn't leave a 7 year old outside in their own garden?

I'm in the East coast of Scotland an it wasn't very cold here today! I was out with my dogs this afternoon with a light top and thin jacket - it was very windy, but not chilly. I'm sure if the baby was out of the wind the temperature would have been fine.

www.bbc.com/news/magazine-21537988 its something people do and have always done, in temperatures much colder than the UK gets in October.

As somebody else said the baby is no colder in the garden than while the pram is being pushed.

The only problem would be the not being checked on - but the parent probably had the window open to hear the slightest murmer and was looking out.

I used to be a childminder and would walk 3 babies between 11 months and 18 months to sleep in a triple buggy then sit on my doorstep writing up their journals etc. with them sleeping. Their parents were all more than happy with that, having picked me as a childminder willing to walk their kids to sleep instead of putting them in a cot and allowing them to self settle/ leaving them to cry, even for a few minutes, as my way suited the way the parents who trusted me with their small children parented... They all wanted them to nap!

OP in Scandinavian and other countries its considered normal and healthy to leave your baby outside in its pram. In Iceland there are always prams with babies in sitting outside cafes etc.

But you clearly want to be judgemental about it so don't let that stop you!

Oh wow.

All mine have slept outside, even my winter babies!

MY gran and mum used to leave me and sister outside in all weathers and temperatures and so did my first wife leave our daughter outside and no harm was done except that all seem to have excellent immune systems FWIW;).

Another childminder who's own kids and mindees have or have had naps outside. Always wrapped up cosy and warm in the winter or with a factor 50 shade cover and in the actual shade in the summer. Always parked right outside the patio doors while I sit the other side of them. I leave a window open too so I can hear if they cry. Inspectors and parents all happy with this arrangment.

I have to say, I could understand your concern if it really was that cold and the baby really was under dressed but your latter posts have made me question your judgement and perspective OP.

But the baby wasn't wrapped up warm was it?

To the people that say 'none of your business' can I just say the welfare of children is everyone's business. Well done to the OP for taking an interest and expressing concern. She could be wrong but she could be right. She's not 'judging' she is expressing concern. She will probably now just continue to keep an eye out.

More people should make the welfare of children their business.

Have a look at Nordic Napping...the Swedes leave their kids outside to sleep in subzero temps!

You would hate the nursery my son goes to then Anon, they are an outdoor focused nursery. All the babies sleep outside (under cover) in prams. I myself leave my child outside in his pram to sleep as fresh air is good for him. Your neighbours child would have cried if s/he was cold. If s/he wasn't crying then I think you are over reacting.

Made, if the baby wasn't warm enough it would have woken up!!

Safeguarding is everyone's business but this baby didn't sound like it was at risk!

How do you (Made) or even the OP know the baby wasn't wrapped up warm?!

Give the OP a break she was worried for a child's safety

I doubt any mums would just leave their kids outside and shut the door - I hope mum of this little person had a monitor

That is certainly not something I would do, however to give a bit of cultural perspective - In the 1950's it was standard practice to leave kids and babies alone. My grandmother would leave my uncle age 1 asleep in his cot while she went to do the weekly shop. She also left him asleep in the pram in the garden while at the next door neighbours house for tea. It was considered very normal and most mothers did the same.
Lots of parents have different ideas about how much to wrap babies up...

Of course, your neighbours may actually be terrible parents, but hard to tell from this one incident.