OT:Babies not walking playing outside in the Summer?

[Fall1]

I know this is off topic, but I need advice. With the Summer coming, I'd like to take my DD1 and DS1 outside to play, but neither of them are walking well at all. What are my options to let them play outside and keep them safe?

Do you use an outdoor gate with a blanket underneath to keep them contained? I know they'll want to play outside and I'm looking for the easiest options. Thanks!!

 

[jack hannah bananah]

I remember with my first trying to keep them on a blanket when they were outside Doesn't work.
If they are not big climbers (all of mine were), try a baby swimming pool with no water in it.
Unless you put a lot of chemicals on your yard, just let them free on the grass. If you need to keep them contained, play yards work great, unless they are like my third and climb over them by 12 mo.
If you are not trying to get other work done in the yard, let them go free with toys. They may also like a little sandbox - eating a little sand won't hurt them (as long as it if kept covered )

 

[foltzy]

My 1 year old just starting walking right before his first birthday in May but we would go outside on warm days before he could walk and I just put him in the grass and he'd crawl around.

 

[dougsmom98]

We always just put a blanket down, but if the kids crawled off it I didn't worry about it. With 1 year old twins, I know things aren't easy because I had twins myself. The BEST investment we ever made was a fence for the yard. Your kids might not be walking/running yet, but when they do it is a nightmare. One kid would take off for the road, and then I would chase him and by the time I turned around, the other one was going towards the road at the other end of the yard. Have fun with the kids this summer!

 

[Disneychix]

I am in a similar situation. My DS is just begining to walk and few the last few weeks we've had him outside. I got a BIG inflatable ball (sell them at Target or Walmart for like $2.50) and he walks and pushes that around for awhile. I do let him crawl/walk on the driveway but I make sure his shorts are long enough to cover his knees or put pants on him. He likes to go after my gardens if I put him on the grass so I rarely do that. The hardest thing is keeping things out of his mouth!
I also have some wheeled toys that he'll push around and we have dogs so he chases them and trys to take their toys.
We do have a fenced in yard. That helps.

 

[_queenie_]

I agree with the pool idea, I always used to do that because our old house was on a bay. We had a big enough yard but it would have been so easy for babies to toddle on over into the water. If you can stay right by them as they play that's your best bet, but otherwise confine them to a little area.

 

[Aliceacc]

Not exactly an answer to your question, but....

For your daughter at least, capri pants are your friend when they first start walking (and again down the road when they first learn to ride without training wheels.)

They'll save her lots of skinned knees!!!!

My son learned to walk during the winter, so it was indoors-- not a problem

Also, as far as the safety thing goes: Yes, a fence is your friend. That way, should one of the twins get the aforementioned skinned knee, you can look away from #2 for a second without fearing a crisis.

But as to the other dangers in a back yard-- try not to stress. Yes, they may eat a bit of dirt; it won't kill them (and from all reports, tastes so nasty they won't go back for more.) They may touch a worm or something else most civilized people prefer not to touch, but that won't kill them either.

Sit back, get the camera and the sunblock ready, and enjoy these days!!!

 

[mrs.explorer1977]

My 11 month old isn't walking yet, but I don't have this problem...on the grass is the ONLY place he'll stay put! He HATES the feeling of grass on his hands and feet! It's kind of hysterical, but it serves its purpose -- we don't have to worry about crawling around outside!