climbers and playmats

[maeby]

ds is very very active and i need to get him outdoors everyday if possible and we live close to a park but still just far enough to not be able to make it everyday. we have a huge front and back yard but we live in arizona so grass yards are just not realistic or good for the environment. ds is crawling and climbing but not walking yet and he does not wear shoes, he wont keep them on and i forget anyway. i want to buy an outdoor little tykes climber of some sort (suggestions welcome) and put it out front and let him go nuts but i dont want him crawling around in the dirt all the time, ouch! and i hate bathing more than every couple of days. so i want a mat or something to put under the climber. are those rubber squares good for outdoors? it is about to be monsoon season so i need something that is quick drying and okay in the rain. is it realistic to buy astroturf? haha. anyway, would love some thoughts on this! should i just not worry about it considering he will be walking sometime this summer? thanks!

[crazydiamond]

The foam mats are totally fine for outdoors, at least the ones I have are. I bought them at Costco and they are advertised as being good for indoor and outdoor and are mold-resistant. They dry very quickly. The biggest issue that I have is that the pieces blow away easily. They fit together like a puzzle, but the edges get caught on the wind and blow away. So you'll maybe want a tarp over it all and something holding it down on the corners, or something.

FWIW, I live I live in NM and while I have a small patch of grass, most of my yard is xeriscaped. DS, who is 14 mos, really has no problem walking on the rocks and cement in bare feet. I thought the rocks and stuff would hurt his feet, but he's really tough. I just wash his feet when we come inside.

[ewe+lamb]

If grass is not an option could you not get some of that fake grass, people over here use it on the balconies, but I've seen it used in gardens too, just something to think about.