Would you allow your baby to sleep outdoors?

[lady007pink]

When my brothers were babies, I remember my mother feeding them in the afternoon, putting the in the pram, wrapping them up then leaving them outdoors to sleep for an hour or two. She did this every day with all of us as babies, whether there was rain or snow (though I wouldn't imagine she did if there was gale force winds!) but the pram was always sheltered. This was encouraged as it's supposed to strengthen the baby's immune system. I must admit I never took an antibiotic until I was 11 years old, so I believe there's some truth in that theory.
The reason I ask is that recently in Dublin a woman in Dublin was reported to the police for leaving a baby she was minding sleeping in it's carrycot on a balcony. This lady, who was minding her grandchild, was from Scandinavia and this is apparently a normal practice over there (and the temperatures are much lower there!!).
At the moment the weather is mild here and I'm letting DD2 sleep outdoors in the afternoon, though she never sleeps more than half an hour during the day! I live in the country, and don't think I'd do it if I was living in a town.

I am of the opinion that fresh air is good for them!
Often put mine out in the garden in their pram as babies slept for much longer!!

If mine are alseep after a walk they stay in the pushchair in the garden. After all they've wrapped up well enpough for fresh air on a walk so it's the same as standing still iyswim

Me too, and parked the pram under the whirlygig with washing on, to give them something to look at, should they wake up. Worked a treat, but only if weather not too bad.

As long as the baby is warm, can't see any harm

Don't see how it is any different from them sleeping in the pram if you are out for a walk ?

Do be careful where you leave the pram though... a poor friend of mine left hers in her back garden on the patio, a gust of wind blew it along and it rolled down some steps, tipping her poor DS out of his pram. He ended up in A&E with a hairline fracture

deviousdaffodil..like the name...
yes ds always slept better in the garden..its good..its fresh air and birds and green things...yes!

The thought never crossed my mind to put them to sleep in a pram in the garden but then our garden is very exposed. However, if they fell asleep when out for a ride, I used to leave them outside the French windows and stay in the living room.

I stick mine out in the garden in their prams for naps in the summer months- I think the fresh air does them good. I wouldn't if it were raining or snowing I have to say, but in good weather I can't see why not. Doesn't everyone?

I'm suprised that lady was reported, I wonder if she was prosecuted? I live in a town but our garden is secure and I'm never far away. You've got me thinking whether this is a strange idea now!!!

Itwasbanou, nobody was able to tell me if that lady was prosecuted. She was reported as it was raining that day, even though the carrycot was well sheltered!
Gameboy, what happened to your friend's baby was terrible - is he okay now? I always keep DD2 tied in with the 5-point harness, and the brakes applied.

I used to leave mine asleep in the pushchair. Down by the side of the house by the back door.

However, one day when dh had been on nights and was his usual sleep deprived grumpy self I told him I was going to the baby clinic. He fell asleep on the sofa. A while later he woke up, remembered that ds2 had been asleep outside and went to check on him. Obviously he wasn't there - was with me at the baby clinic (well he would be wouldn't he ). Dh, with his fuzzy sleepy head, panicked, thought ds2 had been snatched and dialled 999 . I strolled into the street 10 minutes later to find it filled with police! Managed to sort things out just in time for them to halt the take off off the helicopter.

He's never lived it down.

Mine used to go out in the porch with the door open, in a big traditional silvercross (garden was shared so not wau out there).

My MIL was a childrens nurse and they had a whole ward that was outside on a big open balcony, the kids were out there day and night and only brought into a sheltered area if strongs winds were blowing snow or rain in, still had windows wide open though.

It think it was very commen in my Mums day to put kids out for a sleep in the afternoon in all weathers, perhaps the big silvercrosses were more suited to this.

Yep - me too. All mine went outside in their prams if the weather wasn't too bad.

When ds was small and it was warmer he had most of his daytime sleeps in the pram outdoors. We have a secure garden, wouldn't have left him out the front obviously. He was always lulled to sleep watching trees blowing in the wind. Nowadays he's too noisy and won't lay down in the pram

I put mine outside to sleep. When I had my first baby almost 20y ago the midwife told me the only weather not to put a baby outside in was if it was foggy. As long as the baby was appropriately dressed and protected from the weather then the fresh air would do them good. In fact, the cold weather was especially good as it killed any germs.

I have done this if they have fallen asleep while out on a walk. I think it is fine.

Reporting someone for leaving a carrycot on the balcony Presumably whoever did the reporting is on the phone to the police every time she sees someone out for a walk with a pram

My little darlings would never go to sleep in their prams, more's the pity. I would have had no hesitation in leaving them outside as long as they were tucked up warmly.

DS was born in and spent his early years in Denmark where as you mention it is the norm for babies to sleep outside in all weathers. At his nursery after lunch all the kids were tucked up really cosy into outside pram beds and had a nap. The Danes really do live up to their viking reputation, big strong and healthy and DS is the same. I'm sure sleeping outside had something to do with it.

I don't do it here but that's due to foxes happily coming in the garden in broad daylight

At my mom's in the countryside no problem

I'm relieved I posted this thread, and that so many agree with me! I was afraid I'd be reported to Mumsnet.
I never heard this discussion on the radio, it was my brother who heard it and gave all the details. I told my aunt (Mum's sister, but she and mum differed on childcare issues) and MIL who thought what this woman did was terrible (the Scandinavian lady, not the b**ch who reported her!) and it was wonderful to know there are people out there who are so caring!!!! So I was afraid to ask someone else about it in case I'd be reported for admitting I let my baby sleep outdoors!
Thank you all!

At DS1's nursery, the babies are always put outside in buggies to sleep, rain or shine, and we're in Scotland, so not exactly the tropical south. Perhaps it's the Viking thing - I think it's fairly common practice at nurseries up here.

If dd wasn't allowed to sleep outdoors I'd never get her to sleep during the day! She just hates sleeping indoors.

i always used to put mine outside - in fact, my gp used to insist on it when they were ill. (not deaths door ill, you understand) "put him outside for some fresh air" and "flat coke, not diet coke, proper coke" when they had the trots!

ds used to sleep in pram outside during the day - he slept much better.

Obv well wrapped up and we wouldn't leave him in high winds etc.

I saw someone leaving a double buggy outside a shop today while they popped in (probably couldn't get the buggy through the door, small shop and buggy in view all the time) and was reminded about when I was young, mothers used to leave their babies in their prams outside shops - often while they did a full supermarket shop.