am i wrong? baby sleeping outside - Page 3

[townmouse]

Originally Posted by Llyra

Mamas, I think you maybe misunderstood. When I say on the other side of a screen door, I mean literally that. My babies are not out of my sight at all; they are on one side of the door and I am on the other, right where I can see them. I sit there so that I can keep an eye on both my babies and DD1 at the same time; DD1 often won't go outside. She's 2 and busy with her own games and play and often I can't persuade her to go outside, and if I force the issue she throws a tantrum and then wakes both babies up and then where am I?

Frankly, I worry more about DD1 being left alone. She's mobile and active and curious and much much more likely to run into trouble than two newborns securely strapped into carseats and in a sturdy, braked stroller.

See, now I'm getting all defensive. I mean geez I asked for your opinions and you gave them nicely and I shouldn't be all defensive. It's just I'm so thrilled to find some way to get the babies a nap without at least one and usually all of my kids crying, and now I guess I have to give it up. You're right about CPS; that's exactly the sort of thing my neighbor would do....



But it's not like I'm upstairs folding laundry while they're outside sleeping. I'm casual with my kids, but not stupid.

I have 4 dc, and for awhile there I had 3 who were 3 yrs. old and under. I soooo sympathize!

What about making a special Naptime Playplace for your daughter, outside? Now that its warmer maybe you could set up a tent for her and you to play in, in the yard. Far enough away to not wake the babies, but close enough to satisfy the neighbor.

Puzzles, toys, crayons etc in a tote with a lid, take out snacks earlier in the day so they'll be there in the tent when she goes out at Naptime?

Or on of those yard cabana things; could have a picnic table and (again) toys and stuff in a tote that can be easily brought out.

I think what you are doing is fine, if you are literally a step away. I'd try to get daughter out in the yard somehow before I messed up a successful sleep arrangement for the twins!

Don't do another day of babies outside, you inside. Your neighbor has basically tipped you off that he's not going o be OK with that, and CPS is just a phone call away.

[Ellie'sMom]

If my twins had been born in spring I would have absolutely used this method! It sounds like a great solution.

When one of my twins falls asleep on a walk I wheel the stroller to the backyard and let him sleep...and sometimes I even let him out of my sight for a minute so that I can pee or get a drink or tend to my other kids.

In reality this is less risky than driving down the highway. Minimizing risk in life must be balanced with actually being allowed to live our lives.

My (very sweet) older neighbor was concerned because I let my boys sit in the grass on our front lawn when they were about 7 months old. I think sometimes people just have to find something to worry about. I wouldn't worry about CPS. They have much bigger fish to fry.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I think it is good they can sleep outside but I dont think it is the best thing to do to go in the house. Here is the thing that went through my mind. Babies sleeping peacefully you inside with your dd. She falls down hits her head and bleeds you run with her to the bathroom in a panic and the babies are outside. You are gone maybe 5 min max but when you come back they are gone.

Yes I am paranoid probably overly so. I know the odds of a child being kidnapped are very low but some children ARE kidnapped. Why make it easy for someone to do it. I know someone will probably say I am being silly but things like this do happen to people. They are the ones you see on tv all the time saying "I never thought something like this would happen to me"

[edamommy]

Originally Posted by mom2bja

Tru dat.

An airplane can careen into the roof of my home and kill us all. Extremely rare? Yup!!! But I certainly can't keep looking up, can I?

Your child will be fine - what a wonderful thing to do - the fresh air is great, even in the wintertime!

BUT--- if the airplane were to do that... it wouldn't be YOUR fault. If someone took your babies it WOULD BE your fault! So, don't bother looking up all the time as you have no control over that. But please, never stop looking after your babies... they are totally in YOUR control

[HollyBearsMom]

Originally Posted by fek&fuzz

You should tell him that it seems like he has a pretty close eye on him so they should be safe.

:

[pumpkinhead]

Originally Posted by Aimee21972

my concern is more -- wind blows someing into storller, wind blows stroller over.....cat jumps in storller, animal knocks storller over......

babies get bigger and more active and wake up and tip storller before youcan get to them.....

etc etc

but i think -- if someone saw the patteren of leaving the babies in a stroller out side day after day .... hummmmmmm ... i doubt they'd be trolling by and just grab them, but anyone doing the leg work to find trouble to get into.....

Aimee

With respect, I refuse to live my life constantly worrying about the what ifs. If you think that way, then just getting out of bed is a risk. You could trip and break your neck. Also, you should never be alone with your children. What if you slipped on the stairs and broke your neck and they were left all alone? What if a bald eagle flew down and tried to take off with your scalp in his talons? What if a jetliner crashed into your house?

The only certianty in life is that there is no certianty . I think it's normal to worry and we should absolutely try to minimize daily risk, but I do not believe the OP is putting her babies at any more risk than normal.

[pumpkinhead]

Originally Posted by edamommy

BUT--- if the airplane were to do that... it wouldn't be YOUR fault. If someone took your babies it WOULD BE your fault! So, don't bother looking up all the time as you have no control over that. But please, never stop looking after your babies... they are totally in YOUR control

This thread is moving too fast for my refresh button

I disagree completely. I think if someone is looking to kidnap a baby, they're going to kidnap a baby. It's nobody's fault but the kidnapper.

[SandraS]

Since you're not breaking any laws, why would anyone call CPS?

[pumpkinhead]

Originally Posted by ThreeBeans

Yeah, but a wild animal thinking 'yummy' depending on where they live is not unlikely at all.

Most wild animals are afraid of humans and keep their distance if they so much as smell one. This is even more rare than stranger abductions. If a wild animal starts seeing humans as prey, then they're pretty dangerous indeed, but then they're a threat to anyone and everyone outside.

[NCjen]

i have 2 babes 18 months apart and I know how important it is to have them nap together! I have a double jogger which is where they nap during the day and how we put them to sleep at night. They love to walk! They always sleep on my back porch, we have a privacy fence and I feel very safe about it. I have a monitor set up on the stroller as well, and I check on them a lot. I think if you feel good about it then that is what matters. Personally the front yard seems a little too out in the open for me, but I dont know your neighborhood. Just tell your neighbor you appreciate his concern but you are a good mom and you are doing your best! People are so nosey!

[GamineNoir]

Originally Posted by Llyra

It's just I'm so thrilled to find some way to get the babies a nap without at least one and usually all of my kids crying, and now I guess I have to give it up. You're right about CPS; that's exactly the sort of thing my neighbor would do....

Please don't give it up. It's a big deal to be able to get more than one baby to sleep at the same time without any upsets. I would be suprised if your neighbor really did call someone about it.

[Llyra]

Originally Posted by pumpkinhead

Most wild animals are afraid of humans and keep their distance if they so much as smell one. This is even more rare than stranger abductions. If a wild animal starts seeing humans as prey, then they're pretty dangerous indeed, but then they're a threat to anyone and everyone outside.

Besides, I live three miles outside of Trenton. The biggest wild animal we have here is a squirrel or a pigeon.

[KMK_Mama]

It honestly never crossed my mind to let a baby sleep outside. It just goes to show that I was born and raised in the good ol USA.

Although we were just in Hawaii and my son slept great by the pool on a lawnchair or on the beach! Here in AZ I can't do it because it's already 100 degrees out.

I think if you are comfortable with it, it's probably fine. I couldn't imagine having twins, so I think you are doing a great job!

If it was me though, I would probably bring them around to the backyard if it was an option.

Tell your neighbor if he has a problem with the way you do things then he can come over and help.

[MysteryMama]

I think your neighbor needs to mind his own buisness.

[Momma Aimee]

the OP asked for opnions, and that is what she has gotten --

I may very wekll be over prtecting, I don't mind at all. there are enough risks in life, i do not see any reason to take extra ones, no matter how small. I would rather live in a world of "what if" than to have something happne and live the rest of my life in gulit because i didn't think it though.

AImee

[junipermuse]

Originally Posted by edamommy

BUT--- if the airplane were to do that... it wouldn't be YOUR fault. If someone took your babies it WOULD BE your fault! So, don't bother looking up all the time as you have no control over that. But please, never stop looking after your babies... they are totally in YOUR control

Kidnapping is not your fault. Anything that is taken off of your own property is the fault of the person who takes it, that goes for everything including children. On the other hand if she left her two year old alone in the house and she got hurt that might be her fault, but she isn't doing that. Kidnappings are more rare than plane crashes I believe, and giving up a good napping situation, which I'm sure benefits all the children and mommy too, just for the prevention of this statistically unlikely event seems like a misplacement of parenting priorities. But once again if the stroller could be pushed to the back yard it might be better, just because the neighbor wil be less likely to complain and you really won't have to worry about some one wandering by and seeing the babes "unattended." (I know that you are really watching them, but it may not look like it and you wouldn't want someone to call CPS)

[Twwly]

I think what you're doing sounds fine to me.

Now that it's nice where we live, DS will be outside as much as possible. Naps, play, the lot.

[BelgianSheepDog]

Originally Posted by edamommy

BUT--- if the airplane were to do that... it wouldn't be YOUR fault. If someone took your babies it WOULD BE your fault! So, don't bother looking up all the time as you have no control over that. But please, never stop looking after your babies... they are totally in YOUR control

No. This is incorrect. If someone kidnaps a child, it's their fault. NOT the fault of the child's mother.

Ugh.

[Momma Aimee]

If someone kidnaps a child, it's their fault. NOT the fault of the child's mother.

depends on teh situation

the adult in change is not always blameless

the adult is change is not always at fault

all depends on how it happened

what matters more is how the adult in change feels -- even if it is not actually your fault, would you feel it was?

Aimee

[Trillian]

Personally, I think what you are doing is probably perfectly safe and it's great for the babies to get fresh air and sunshine. But if you are worried about nosy neighbours, then I would try to move the stroller to a more hidden spot. Often I can only get DS to take a morning nap by going out for a walk, and I just bring the stroller inside when we get home and let him keep sleeping there.