ideas for outside time with baby/toddler?

[lyrebird]

I would love some suggestions for what to do outside with a baby/toddler.

He is just one and not really crawling, not walking, which is why I say baby. Big bro needs time outside and so does he, but what to do with him other than stick him in the sandpit? He mouths EVERYTHING – sticks, stones, snails, you name it end up in his mouth. I can’t sit next to him all the time getting things out of his mouth. Well, I kind of have to but it drives me crazy. Putting him on a blanket doesn’t work as he doesn’t stay there.

Ideas for cold weather most welcome … starting to warm up where we are, but usually very cool still (the ground is cold and damp). I can’t carry him much as my back doesn’t hold out.

I guess I just grin and bear it while it lasts, stay on snail patrol and change him into warm clothes as soon as we come inside. What do other people do?
Thanks and sorry about the grumble.

[WindyCityMom]

I had to chuckle at this, as my 8.5mo old is very much alike. Though she crawls. ALOT.

Since you're approaching warmer weather, I'll comment on that since I'm not too sure about colder weather (though if anyone comments on that I'll be glad to read the responses!).

We usually try and put a blanket down for her in the grass- she picks at grass and mouthes everything, we just try to keep things out of her mouth though. She doesn't really stay on the blanket either though

How old is your other child? I have noticed that when we build fairy houses, my 8mo sits there with us just fine.

Could you perhaps provide a bit of distraction for your LO? A few toys? Teether?

And how old is he... 1 as in 12 months, 18mos, or 23mos? 1 year olds vary greatly

[CookAMH]

My 16mo loves to play with a hose that is on low, he'll just sit there and lift it up and down and splash. He's not into the kiddie pool but loves this. He loves digging in the dirt, playing with cars outside, holding sticks. I let him eat dirt some (I also let him climb on a whole pile of bark/compost ) but he also listens well if I tell him not too. He also just likes to look around and watch cars go by. All of this he has enjoyed for a good few months.

As for cooler weather, I'm not sure what we'll do. Dig in the dirt, probably, ride his car.

[lyrebird]

How old? He’s 13 months. He gets around fine on his bum and is most eager to explore, he’s just not getting the crawling action happening yet. Eldest is nearly 5 and is off doing very important “work” around the garden all the time we’re out there, unless I stick DS2 in the sandpit, then DS1 suddenly feels the need to play in the sandpit with his toys all by himself … sigh.
We did some bubbles this morning, that was fun – until the jar was knocked over and there went our bubble mixture…
Maybe I should leave sticks around for him to grab – too cold yet for hoses, but I like that idea so I’ll try it when it gets warmer! Not ready for ride on toys just yet, shouldn’t be long though.
I’d love to be able to do some gardening while we’re out there but I just have to be so vigilant all the time. Sometimes I wish he'd taken a dummy - then he probably wouldn't be so mouthy. DS1 leaves little things lying around everywhere inside and outside so that gets a bit stressful sometimes.
Maybe I could put him in a play tunnel - it would take him ages to crawl through to the end, that would keep him busy for a few minutes just joking!
Thanks for the ideas, keep them coming!

[Tashakittie]

I have a crazy little 1 year old too, as well as a 4.5 year old big bro. We spend a lot of time outdoors. The boys like chalk, climbing on the trees, playing with water. Before the little one was walking or crawling, he was very upright, and would walk if I held his hands and guided him. He is still in a massive phase of everything going into the mouth, and it drives me crazy too. He loves sticks. We have a play tunnel, and it gets a lot of play by the little one crawling in it, as well as by the big one getting really creative with it. Letting the baby hold flowers, we have plumerias, he is fascinated with them. He holds them, peels the petals off, really loves the colors. We just got a hand-me-down outdoor play thing, with a climbing wall on it, and baby loves it like crazy. Holding larger rocks, inspecting them (after I've made sure there is no dirt or funk on them) is always fun. HTH!!!!

[zoebird]

my guy didn't mouth much, so i literally let him range. pre=crawling, i would go on walks with him and point things out and chat with him. he would hold leaves and such.

once he was crawling and walking, i would let him range around in all weather, just made sure he was dressed appropriately. denim as an over layer is great for rugged ranging, and DS was outside on the ground from mid-late spring onwards (to the present! lol). he was walking by winter, so it wasn't as big of an issue, and now that we are in a wet/rainy place (in nz), his rain gear is essential to our survival.

we go out in all weather, with the rain gear layer on pretty much no matter what. we haven't had a full summer here yet, so . . . we'll see what that looks like when it comes.

otherwise, i would just let him range, and try to keep things from going into the mouth. or, not worry about them if they do.

my guy *needs* to be outside at least 2 hrs a day, so it works out.

[coyotemist]

We also find outdoor time very very important. Once he was walking, I just made sure all the gates were latched and went around doing my stuff and find that he's never very far behind.

The physical activity over all the different ground surfaces, and uneven ground, have done wonders for both his gross and fine motor skills, and also his language development.

It will be a challenge until he starts walking, but it won't be very long and he'll be running everywhere.