Baby sleeping outside: How to get off to a safe start when your little one is sleeping in the pram

Is it time for your baby to sleep outdoors? It's deeply ingrained in our Nordic DNA. Our little ones are meant to sleep outside in their prams in the fresh air. And for good reason, because there are likely many benefits to letting our little sleepyheads take their midday nap outdoors.

At least when the conditions are right.

In this article, we'll help you get off to a good start when your baby is going to sleep in the pram.

Once you've read the article, you'll know, for example:

• What are the benefits of letting your baby sleep outside?
• When can a baby sleep in a pram?
• How should the little one be dressed in the pram?
• Can a footmuff/sleeping bag for a pram be useful?
• Where should the pram be placed?
• When should a baby not sleep in a pram?
• What do you do if the baby doesn't want to sleep in the pram?

Why sleep in a pram: Benefits of letting your baby nap outdoors

Foreigners repeatedly drop their jaws at the Danish – and Scandinavian – tradition of letting our tiny children take midday naps in prams outdoors. Alone. In (almost) all kinds of weather.

It's a cultural heritage that we barely actively consider. It's not if, but when and how we can let our little ones sleep outside during the day.

But is the fresh air and deep sleep just a cultural myth, or is there truth to it when we lovingly put our little ones outside?

A Finnish study from 2008 shows that Nordic parents experience their children sleeping both deeper and longer when they sleep outdoors. Furthermore, they felt that the children's general health was better due to the fresh air and sounds of nature (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18767347/).

The crucial factor for the potential health benefits is that the child is dressed correctly, the pram is optimally placed, and the weather conditions are safe.

When can your baby sleep outside in the pram?

The authorities' guidance on when your baby can sleep outside in a pram is that the child:

• is gaining weight and weighs more than their birth weight
• is thriving.

An old rule of thumb suggests that a child can sleep outside from two weeks old or when they weigh at least four kilograms – but this depends on the individual child and should be discussed with your health visitor.

Simply put, it's about your child's fat layer being thick enough to keep them warm out there.

Young children cannot yet regulate their temperature very well. Since they lie completely still, they struggle to stay warm if their surroundings don't help them.

So, let's look at how to dress your child well for a lovely nap.

Clothing in a pram: How should the little one be dressed for a midday nap?

Your child's clothing in the pram depends on factors such as weather conditions, the pram's insulation, and the child's ability to retain warmth.

On warm summer days, a short-sleeved bodysuit might be enough, while on cold winter days, it requires several layers of clothing, a hat and mittens, and a good duvet or sleeping bag.

The weather in Denmark can be very changeable. Not just between seasons, but from day to day – and sometimes even from hour to hour.

Therefore, it's important that you keep an eye on the actual conditions when your child is sleeping outside.

Today's pram bassinets are extremely insulating – with a thick base, insulating foam mattress, a cover over the top, and an enveloping hood. Often, the pram is even in dark colours, which retain warmth. And it gets even warmer if you place a rain cover, a mosquito net, or a muslin cloth over the opening.

So, it's about being aware of the temperature and adjusting the clothing and the duvet or sleeping bag you put the child in.

During the nap, you can check if the child is comfortably warm by feeling their neck. If it feels warm, you should remove some clothing, lighten the duvet, or open the ventilation channels in the pram so the temperature around the child drops a little. If it feels cold in the neck, you might need to add a sweater or duvet to help the child stay warm.

Can a footmuff/sleeping bag be useful in a pram?

Instead of clothes, outerwear, and a duvet, many choose to use a footmuff or sleeping bag in the pram.

There are many advantages to this, for example:

• the child doesn't need to have clothes taken off and on
• it's easy to put the child in the sleeping bag instead of extra clothes and duvets
• the sleeping bag embraces the child and helps create security
• over time, the child learns that the sleeping bag means it's time to sleep
• some sleeping bags help the child regulate their warmth, so they don't get too hot or cold.

It's a personal matter which sleeping bag you should choose for your pram. We have designed the Sleepbag baby sleeping bag with a focus on it:

• keeping the child comfortably warm at temperatures between -10 and +20 degrees
• helping the child regulate temperature as needed due to the special technological material we use
• folding according to the child's age, so it always envelops the little one as best as possible
• folding according to the season, so you only need one sleeping bag
• being washable at 60 degrees, so you can easily keep baby's sleeping environment clean and hygienic in a busy everyday life
• being combinable with accessories, so it fulfills many basic functions in life with small children, e.g., carrycot and playmat
• having an extra long duvet that covers the child up to three years of age – without an extension.

You can see more about the benefits of a Sleepbag baby sleeping bag 0-3 years here. 

Can your small child sleep outside in winter?

Yes. Small children can certainly sleep outside in winter. As long as the temperature is above -10 degrees.

In fact, it's not snow and cold you should worry about, but heavy rain, wind, and fog. These are hard on little lungs, as we'll discuss later in the article in the section on when your child should not sleep outside.

If the child is dressed appropriately, you can easily go for a stroll or let the little one sleep in both frosty and snowy weather, as long as the temperature doesn't drop below minus 10 degrees.

Where should the pram be placed?

It's extremely important that you place the pram in a spot that is both safe and comfortable. Not just when you place it, but throughout the entire nap. Perhaps the pram is in the shade when you put the child down at 10 o'clock, but as the sun moves around the corner towards midday, it might suddenly be in scorching sun.

It may be necessary to have several different locations for the pram during the day – or between morning and afternoon naps – depending on where there is shade.

The authorities' recommendations for pram placement state: sheltered from rain, wind, and hoarfrost.

But also keep a close eye on the sun and the temperature in the pram, as small children are at risk not only of hypothermia but also overheating.

Supervision in the pram: Keep an eye (and ear) out when your child sleeps outdoors

You should, of course, be able to see or hear when your child wakes up and is ready to get up – or needs you during the nap if they become uncomfortable, thirsty, or anxious.

In cold weather, you should pay extra attention so you notice if the little one gets cold during the nap. Small children cannot communicate if they are cold or too warm, and they are also too immature to regulate their temperature themselves yet.

As mentioned, you can check the child's temperature by feeling their neck. This way, you can adjust the amount of clothing, to what extent the duvet or sleeping bag covers the child, or how the pram is closed, so you can help the little one to stay warm or cool down.

When should a baby not sleep in the pram?

Fresh air is good, but there are days and circumstances where it's not safe to use the pram, and you should therefore let your child sleep indoors.

Your baby should not sleep in the pram:

• when the temperature is below -10 degrees
• on warm summer days
• in heavy rain and wind
• in frost or fog
• if the child is unwell or distressed.

Pay particular attention if your child is a newborn, premature, or particularly vulnerable for health reasons (e.g., asthmatic bronchitis, chronic middle ear infections, or a heart condition). Ask your health visitor if you are in doubt.

Too hot for the pram: What do you do then?

Is it one of those days where it's simply too hot for the pram? No need to close the curtains and (try to) get the little one to nap indoors... where it's often super hot on warm days too.

If you have a Sleepbag, you can give it a summer fold or transform it into a baby nest and take it out into the shade.

This way, your child retains an element they associate with their nap, making it easier to settle down, even if the surroundings have changed.

In addition, the Sleepbag sleeping bag's temperature-regulating technology helps the child not to get too hot.

If you have play arches, mosquito nets and/or UV covers, you can truly create a lovely outdoor sleeping oasis for your baby – well protected from the sun's rays and summer insects.

This way, you can easily move your child to a more airy and shady outdoor area on warm days. Away from the pram's insulating box, but still in the fresh summer air.

 

If your child doesn't want to sleep in the pram

Sometimes it's not so simple and idyllic with that pram. You struggle and struggle, but the little one won't fall asleep during the day or takes short naps in the pram.

This is, of course, frustrating – both that the child doesn't get enough sleep, and that you don't get a break for all the other things that need to be done – including getting some much-needed rest yourself.

If you're struggling with the pram, try the advice here, or seek support from your health visitor: 

• Wait to put the child down until they show signs of tiredness. It's a hopeless battle if the child isn't ready to sleep at all. If the little one refuses to close their eyes in the pram, it's a good idea to wait to put the child down until they actually show that they are tired. 

• Familiarity and clarity are important tools when you want to create a good sleeping routine in the pram. This means that things happen the same way before each nap, so the little one easily understands that it's time to sleep. 

• Even if it's frustrating to be with a child who (again and again and again) won't sleep, it's important to stay calm. Show the child that they can safely close their eyes and surrender to sleep. How many of us could really sleep if the person we were most attached to showed irritation or worry? 

• Push or not push? It can be tempting to move the pram to help the child drift off to sleep. And for many, it works. But it can also lead to the child only giving in to sleep when the pram is in motion. There are pros and cons to both, and it's a personal assessment of what you prefer. 

• Many benefit from a sleeping bag in the pram. Partly because the child will quickly associate it with bedtime. Partly because it embraces the child like the womb and therefore creates security for many children. Precisely this enveloping function is one of the core ideas behind the Sleepbag product, which in this way helps your baby find peace and surrender to a good, long nap.

Ready to take the nap outside?

We hope you feel better equipped to let your little baby sleep outdoors. There's not much that beats the feeling of picking up a well-rested, rosy-cheeked baby after a lovely, long nap.

Please check with your health visitor or in the Danish Health Authority's guide to young children's outdoor stays in the cold if you are in doubt about anything.

If you need a sleeping bag or other clever items for nap time, you'll find our selection of baby equipment for sleep time here.