In Denmark and other Scandinavian countries, it is common to see strollers parked outside shops, cafés, or homes. What often surprises visitors is that babies are often sleeping inside, resting peacefully while a parent stays warm indoors. Outdoor napping is a long-standing tradition across Scandinavia and is practiced year-round, not just in the warmer months. With the right clothing, gear, and precautions, outdoor naps can offer fresh air and calm, uninterrupted sleep for babies even during winter.
In this article, we cover everything you need to know to adapt to the Scandinavian way of baby napping, including the whys, whens, wheres, and hows of letting your baby sleep outside.
Why should babies sleep outdoors?
Outdoor naps have been part of everyday family life in Scandinavian countries for generations and for good reason. Fresh air, natural sounds, and gentle movement from the surroundings can help babies settle more easily and enjoy deeper, more restful sleep. Many parents also notice that outdoor naps support longer sleep stretches and a calmer transition between sleep cycles.
There are benefits for caregivers, too. When babies nap outdoors, families often find daily routines more flexible. It feels more possible to run errands, enjoy a warm drink indoors, or move about the house without worrying about waking up a sleeping baby, making the day feel a little calmer for everyone.
1. Daylight supports healthy sleep patterns
Spending time outdoors during the day exposes babies to natural daylight, which helps their bodies learn the difference between day and night. This contrast between outdoor light and indoor lighting supports the development of a healthy circadian rhythm and can contribute to more settled sleep at night.
2. Fresh air can support the immune system
Spending time outdoors is believed to strengthen the immune system by reducing exposure to indoor air pollutants, dust, and recirculated air. Babies may even experience fewer stuffy noses as they’re exposed to the fresh, moving air in the months when indoor heating and closed windows can dry out the air inside the home. Additionally, napping outside allows babies greater opportunity to adapt to bacteria they will continue to encounter in the outdoors throughout their life, giving their developing immune system a chance to become more familiar with the environment.
3. Many babies sleep better outdoors
Parents frequently report that their babies nap for longer stretches of time when sleeping outside. Cool air and the calming sound of our surrounding environment – rustling leaves, distant traffic or chatter, wind blowing – can create a soothing environment that helps with restful sleep. If your baby struggles with background noise at first, you can place a noise machine in their stroller to gently support the transition to outdoor naps. Our white noise speaker uses pink noise sounds from the natural world, creating a calm soundscape with soothing waves, rustling leaves, and gentle summer rain. This mirrors the steady background sounds babies are used to and helps them settle more easily. Over time, you can gradually lower the volume as your baby becomes comfortable with the natural sounds around them.
When is it safe for a baby to sleep outside?
If your baby is developing normally and is overall healthy, it is generally safe for them to begin sleeping outside in their stroller. Although, to be extra safe, it is advised that your baby be at least 2 weeks old, weigh more than 4kg, and should always be dressed appropriately for the weather. Moreover, it is best to keep the naps inside on days where you are unsure if the weather is too hot or cold for your baby to be comfortable outside for an extended period.
While leaving your baby unattended outside of shops is common in some places – such as in Denmark – it is important to use your own discretion when it comes to choosing when and where your baby will be safest. Depending on where you live, it may not be safe, or even legal to leave your child in public places without a caregiver nearby. Here are some tips on deciding if it is a good idea to let your baby have an outdoor nap.
Outdoor sleeping is best when:
- You have a private, enclosed garden or balcony
- You are always within hearing distance or using a baby monitor
- The stroller is visible or very close by
Outdoor sleeping may not be safe if:
- You live on a busy street or shared public area
- You cannot access the stroller quickly if needed
- You live in a place where local regulations or cultural norms discourage it
Monitoring your baby during their nap
When leaving a baby to nap outdoors, it is important that you can still monitor them, especially if they are out of sight or earshot.
A classic gadget that most -- if not every -- parents in Scandinavia are familiar with is a baby monitor. A baby monitor is a device that provides a continuous audio feed so you can always keep an ear out for any sounds your baby might make. You simply leave the input half (microphone) with your baby while you take the output half (speaker) along with you, providing a portable and convenient way to hear even the smallest of sounds.
Less common in Scandinavia but popular in other countries (although they are gaining popularity in Scandinavia) is a baby monitor that includes a camera. The added camera is great if you want more information than just sound, such as monitoring your child’s sleeping position or checking to see if they have kicked their blankets off.
One consideration with visual baby monitors is that many models are designed to stay in one place, such as mounted to a wall or crib. This can make them feel less flexible if your baby naps in different spots throughout the day. That said, newer visual monitors, such as the Moonboon Intelligent Baby Monitor with Camera, are designed with portability in mind. With flexible mounting options, they can be easily moved and attached to a cradle, crib, or other safe nap locations.
In general, audio baby monitors are often a more budget friendly option, especially if portability and simplicity are top priorities. Visual baby monitors tend to come at a higher price point, but they also provide added reassurance by letting you see your baby as well as hear them. For many parents, that extra layer of insight and peace of mind makes the investment feel worthwhile, particularly when choosing a model that fits seamlessly into everyday family life.
How to dress your baby for an outdoor nap
Another important thing to keep in mind when it comes to putting your baby outside for a nap is their clothing. In most environments, outdoor naps are possible year-round as long as your baby is dressed in weather-appropriate clothing with adequate layers.
For napping in colder weather:
- Put your little one in a footmuff or baby sleeping bag
- Dress them in a one-piece designed for staying warm outside while still allowing free movement, such as a driving or bunting suit
- Use breathable wool layers for underneath the bunting suit that will help with temperature regulation
- Put a blanket at the bottom of the stroller for additional insulation (some strollers may have this already built-in)
- Avoid placing the stroller in direct sunlight as this can quickly heat up the canopy, even in cold weather
- Remember to use a rain cover if it is lightly snowing or raining!
For napping in hotter weather:
- Always place the stroller in a shady area, avoiding any direct sunlight
- Dress your baby in few layers, foregoing any blankets if possible
- Ensure there is proper air circulation
- Lowering or removing the canopy will help with this
- Additionally, you can clip a fan to the stroller to move air around and help keep your little one cool
Regardless of the weather, it is extremely important to check on your little one regularly to ensure they are not too hot or too cold.
When should babies not sleep outside?
While outdoor naps can be beneficial in many conditions, there are certain situations when they are not recommended, such as when:
- Temperatures fall below -10°C
- It is hot enough that overheating could be a real risk
- There is heavy rain or snow
- The air quality is poor or there is thick fog which can irritate developing lungs
- You cannot guarantee or are unsure the environment is safe for your baby to sleep
Final thoughts
Outdoor naps are a beneficial and calming tradition in Scandinavia that give babies the chance to breathe fresh air, experience gentle natural rhythms, and enjoy deeper, more restful sleep. When dressed appropriately, placed safely in a stroller, and carefully monitored by a caregiver, babies can benefit from outdoor naps throughout the year.
