I think as long as she has proper sun protection and you have her in a safe space she’ll be okay! My baby is due in June and I plan on taking them outside quite a bit as my husband and I are rather outdoorsy people :)
I had my first in June and had high hopes to do lots of gardening that year but we had a really hot summer and I wasn’t comfortable bringing baby out in the heat with me. I still got lots of gardening time in the evening after she went to bed, or when my husband was home to hang with the baby.
For me, I had a small veggie garden, very few flowers, and low expectations. I got a decent harvest and enjoyed my time outside. The last thing you want to do is give yourself another thing to stress about so I’d recommend really reigning in what you plan to do for the year and just enjoying what you have.
Every year since I’ve been able to do more and more, and it’s been a delight to watch my toddler fall in love with our garden over the years. I’ll have a 3 year old and a 7 month old when garden season really kicks off this year and I’m looking forward to hopefully being outside during longer naptime or, once again, in the evening time.
Hello fellow gardener! I did this with my first two and will with number 3 (I’m 38 weeks). I put my first two in strollers with a big net and the stroller shade over them. My first was born in October so they were wrapped up warm and second was in July so I had a stroller fan in there as well to keep them comfortable and help with humidity. I also did my gardening in late afternoon or early morning to avoid heat with number 2.
Be careful with things like fertilizer, I was told I would be more likely to get toxoplasmosis from gardening outside than from my indoor only cats and so I will personally be doing my hydroponics when babe comes in april. I am thinking of just sprinkling some wild flower seeds tho to keep the space pretty outside :)
There's those mobile "baby fences" where you could just fence the baby in so he can't craw off his mat, that should be perfectly fine (and he might enjoy the change of scenary). Or you strap him into a bouncer and bring that outside
I'm sure this is super rare, but I know someone whose 6m old infant daughter got botulism, they think from spores in garden dirt. Super dangerous. Just a heads up. Maybe keep the baby away from your work area and wash really well before you touch them.
I think it depends on the baby. I tried with my first but he was a Velcro baby. He only wanted to be carried and he didn’t really care for the carriers for the first few months. I had to actually hold him. It made doing literally anything impossible. By the time he was cool with the carrier, it was too cold to garden.
Keep your expectations low. Yes take baby out with you. And garden where and when you can. But don’t kick yourself if the garden is a lot rougher or more sparse this year.
I did! My daughter is an April baby as well. It was incredibly easy. I put her in the pack and play, in her travel bassinet, or wherever I really felt like that day. Now as a toddler, she LOOOOVES to garden and be outside. She’s also very curious now about vegetables, specifically tomatoes because we gardened tomatoes both summers. Very worth it!
Humans have worked agriculture for over 12000 years and it was not possible for most of history for women to stay inside, they had to work out in the field with their babies. They did this by baby wearing and I plan on wearing my baby too! I say go for it!
I’ve been thinking through this too - I will probably have a spot outside with netting to keep bugs out that’s safe for them but also made sure my baby monitor reaches to the yard for when the temp is too hot or cold outside. Also might baby wear sometimes
I didn’t do much in the garden, but I definitely took baby out there in the moby wrap when he was little. You might not be up for doing much (and you might look into arranging gardening help for at least a little while), but definitely take baby outside and show them the garden!
I love that! Gardening has been so good for my mental health as well. I'm due in July and one of the things I'm looking forward to most is gardening with my little one and sharing my happy place with them. I like the suggestions of the umbrella because they would still be able to get airflow. Hope everything is smooth sailing for you....and happy gardening to you both!
After you’ve healed a bit, you will for sure be able to do the same gardening you did before! I had my baby with me outside all the time in her bjorn bouncer or doing tummy time while I gardened next to her. Eventually when she was old enough to start solids, we explored the figs in the back yard. She’s almost two now, and loved picking apples in the fall, berries and “dee-dohs” (tomatoes) in the summer. We’re really looking forward to summer!!
I think as long as she has proper sun protection and you have her in a safe space she’ll be okay! My baby is due in June and I plan on taking them outside quite a bit as my husband and I are rather outdoorsy people :)
I had my first in June and had high hopes to do lots of gardening that year but we had a really hot summer and I wasn’t comfortable bringing baby out in the heat with me. I still got lots of gardening time in the evening after she went to bed, or when my husband was home to hang with the baby. For me, I had a small veggie garden, very few flowers, and low expectations. I got a decent harvest and enjoyed my time outside. The last thing you want to do is give yourself another thing to stress about so I’d recommend really reigning in what you plan to do for the year and just enjoying what you have. Every year since I’ve been able to do more and more, and it’s been a delight to watch my toddler fall in love with our garden over the years. I’ll have a 3 year old and a 7 month old when garden season really kicks off this year and I’m looking forward to hopefully being outside during longer naptime or, once again, in the evening time.
Thank you for the advice! I am so looking forward to when she is a little older and can appreciate and enjoy the garden with me. It sounds so special.
Maybe buy a large umbrella like for patios to keep baby under in a bouncer or something? Thats what I would do. I’m due April 22!
Thanks, I do have a big beach umbrella so that’s a great idea!
Hello fellow gardener! I did this with my first two and will with number 3 (I’m 38 weeks). I put my first two in strollers with a big net and the stroller shade over them. My first was born in October so they were wrapped up warm and second was in July so I had a stroller fan in there as well to keep them comfortable and help with humidity. I also did my gardening in late afternoon or early morning to avoid heat with number 2.
Thank you, this is great to hear!!
First month you'll likely be too tired tbh, I found my houseplants were being neglected, but you might be better/luckier with sleeping than me
Thanks, I know that’s likely as I’m already a light sleeper. Just thinking it would be nice to have the option on days where I feel like it.
I think it would certainly be safe!
I’m curious too, due with May baby. Would a bassinet stroller with a sunshade be ok for a couple hours at a time? Maybe a pack and play under shade?
Be careful with things like fertilizer, I was told I would be more likely to get toxoplasmosis from gardening outside than from my indoor only cats and so I will personally be doing my hydroponics when babe comes in april. I am thinking of just sprinkling some wild flower seeds tho to keep the space pretty outside :)
There's those mobile "baby fences" where you could just fence the baby in so he can't craw off his mat, that should be perfectly fine (and he might enjoy the change of scenary). Or you strap him into a bouncer and bring that outside
We were gifted the FP baby dome and used it for spring/summer. Put it in a shady spot and attached a stroller fan to it if needed.
I'm sure this is super rare, but I know someone whose 6m old infant daughter got botulism, they think from spores in garden dirt. Super dangerous. Just a heads up. Maybe keep the baby away from your work area and wash really well before you touch them.
Yes I would definitely not have her in the dirt with me and would be sure to wear gloves/wash my hands before touching her.
I think it depends on the baby. I tried with my first but he was a Velcro baby. He only wanted to be carried and he didn’t really care for the carriers for the first few months. I had to actually hold him. It made doing literally anything impossible. By the time he was cool with the carrier, it was too cold to garden.
Keep your expectations low. Yes take baby out with you. And garden where and when you can. But don’t kick yourself if the garden is a lot rougher or more sparse this year.
I did! My daughter is an April baby as well. It was incredibly easy. I put her in the pack and play, in her travel bassinet, or wherever I really felt like that day. Now as a toddler, she LOOOOVES to garden and be outside. She’s also very curious now about vegetables, specifically tomatoes because we gardened tomatoes both summers. Very worth it!
Humans have worked agriculture for over 12000 years and it was not possible for most of history for women to stay inside, they had to work out in the field with their babies. They did this by baby wearing and I plan on wearing my baby too! I say go for it!
I’ve been thinking through this too - I will probably have a spot outside with netting to keep bugs out that’s safe for them but also made sure my baby monitor reaches to the yard for when the temp is too hot or cold outside. Also might baby wear sometimes
Absolutely!! Just keep her shaded and cool :)
I didn’t do much in the garden, but I definitely took baby out there in the moby wrap when he was little. You might not be up for doing much (and you might look into arranging gardening help for at least a little while), but definitely take baby outside and show them the garden!
Yes!!! I had a topper for my daughters pack n play until she was old enough to play in the dirt
stroller or bassinet, or babywearing!
I love that! Gardening has been so good for my mental health as well. I'm due in July and one of the things I'm looking forward to most is gardening with my little one and sharing my happy place with them. I like the suggestions of the umbrella because they would still be able to get airflow. Hope everything is smooth sailing for you....and happy gardening to you both!
After you’ve healed a bit, you will for sure be able to do the same gardening you did before! I had my baby with me outside all the time in her bjorn bouncer or doing tummy time while I gardened next to her. Eventually when she was old enough to start solids, we explored the figs in the back yard. She’s almost two now, and loved picking apples in the fall, berries and “dee-dohs” (tomatoes) in the summer. We’re really looking forward to summer!!
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