We all know that getting babies and young children off to sleep is difficult enough at the best of times, but during a heat wave it is a whole new challenge, some mums and dads have been opting to put their baby outside for a nap in the fresh air while its so warm out – but others have argued that this isn’t safe. Luckily, some experts on the internet got together and debated the issue, so we can tell you the definitive truth on how safe it is.
A spokesperson for Children’s Charity NCT said it was ok to let babies sleep outside if the temperature was lower than inside, but they should be kept out of direct sunlight and a parent should stay with them to make sure they don’t overheat.
Another charity dealing with sleeping among children suggests that parents letting their children sleep outside should make sure they are appropriately dressed for the weather and that if they start to look sweaty or hot, to move them inside.
Parents should also invest in a bug net for their buggy to avoid bites and should make sure that your child is in an area where they can’t be harmed by wildlife, especially in the evenings when foxes and the like start moving around.
Many parents debating the issue were concerned about moving a baby’s sleeping location and breaking their routine, making it harder to get them to sleep in the long run, which does have an element of truth to it, once babies reach around five months old, they start to become more aware of their surroundings, so being put in a buggy or bed outside might distract them and keep them awake.
The outcome of the debate was that as long as you’re sensible, it is perfectly safe for your baby to nap outside, but would you be happy doing that? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.
