Gardening with your baby

When my son Cedar was a baby (4 mos) we moved to a new state, and I started a new garden. At first I’d wear Cedar in his baby carrier while I puttered around the garden, but that was sort of a ordeal, and I couldn’t really bend over well. I eventually moved him into a bouncy seat with a cover.

If you’re trying to garden and your baby is along for the ride, here are some tips…

Cage them: I’m not into baby jails, but in the case of gardening, babies will put everything and anything in their mouth, so it is best to have them confined. You can seat your babe in a bouncy seat, move a play pen outside, or even seat your baby in a stroller or car seat as you work. Make sure that whatever you place your baby in it’s shaded or covered.

Sunscreen them up: I lived in Humboldt (what sun?) so didn’t worry about blazing sun in his eyes and heat, but I did make sure to put sunscreen on Cedar because even in cloudy weather, uv rays are a danger. Use a baby safe sunscreen each time you garden.

Use other sun and heat precautions: Sunburn is not the only sun danger for your baby. If you’re gardening in the summer, and it’s hot, read up on how to protect your baby from the sun (lightweight clothing, a good hat, and so on) and prevent overheating.

Buggies can bite: Prevent bug itch before it starts, always apply safe bug spray for babies, look out for bee stings, and learn how to treat bug bites on babies.

Use nap time to your advantage: Use times that your baby is sleeping inside to do indoor tasks like sorting seeds, filling potting containers, or reading your gardening books. Not all gardening tasks actually need to be done in the garden.

Once your baby is walking: In my case I was lucky because we lived in a tiny house, in a town of 300, on a small peninsula, so no traffic. However, a baby walking away from your yard can easily be hit by a car in a traffic prone area. I still think a playpen is smart for even walking tots when you’re in the garden. Although, once your baby is a little older you can help them find some gardening tasks that even toddlers can help with.

Use some of the time for your baby: Outside time is fun for babies. If you make gardening fun from the start, your baby will learn to enjoy, not hate gardening time. Take breaks and introduce your baby to nature.

How do you manage gardening with a little one in tow?

[image via stock.xchng]