Trend in the Netherlands
So in Scandinavia, sleeping outside is very common. Some parents even put the stroller outside the door of a restaurant when they go for lunch. Is it cold? Then children are well wrapped up and monitored with a thermometer and baby monitor. The healthy trend of letting children sleep in outdoor cots is also growing in the Netherlands. You see it more and more at daycare centers as well as at home. Parking your child on the doorstep of an eating establishment still seems a step too far in our cold little country.
Healthy and restful
Outside, your child not only sleeps more restfully, longer and deeper. Your child also creates more vitamin D. This is good for his resistance, bones and teeth. Especially for children up to four years old, vitamin D is needed. Research shows that children who sleep outside have fewer colds, due to better air quality. At a daycare, an outside bed might also be a solution for "difficult" sleepers. They often sleep more comfortably outdoors, surrounded by soothing sounds of nature instead of the sounds of multiple children in one room.
Mother Esther: 'My daughter didn't want to sleep inside. She had too many distractions there. Partou suggested putting her in an outside bed. I thought it was a bit weird, but I wanted to try it anyway. It had results! She sometimes slept for up to three hours at a time!'
Safety first
Outside beds look a bit like a luxury rabbit hutch, but they are very safe. At our place, of course, they meet government requirements. Plenty of fresh air comes in and it actually keeps insects out because of the special screen mesh. The cots are at eye level, so there is always some sunlight coming in and we can easily lift the children in and out. Around the age of 2, most children have outgrown the outdoor beds.
More good measures
Most child care organizations have their own rules for outdoor crib safety in addition to general regulations. For example, our beds are mobile, so we can put them away from the sun, rain or wind. They must be visible from the group and are not used in fog and thunderstorms. When it’s colder than -10 the children do not sleep outside. And in heat and bright sunlight only if placed in the shade and the temperature remains low enough. Your child will only sleep in an outdoor crib after consultation with you and not all of our locations have them. Ask for more information at your location.