Gardening with small smalls - how do you do it??

[MrsD'ville mkII]

Hello,

I need to dig some soil improver into the PT and do some weeding, but Sir, 4 months, is not keen on this idea! I wheeled him into the PT in the pushchair earlier but he whinged and grizzled so I gave up. I wrapped him up, but he's not used to the pushchair as he doesn't spend much time in it. It's not warm enough to put him on the grass on his mat, and he only sleeps 45 mins max (boom boom) for his naps, so I'm a bit stuffed really. I'm worried my cuc seedlings are going to die off if I don't get them in the ground soon. Sling not a goer as he weighs a ton.

Does anyone have any magic suggestions?

[Mr and Mrs luvpie]

We have struggled with trying to get things done with Master luvpie (15 months) down at the lottie. What has worked well for us is having a travel cot which we take down with us and lots of toys and/or a tired baby. Hope this helps.

Rob and Sarah

[Clara]

An Ergo or a Manduca carrier - I have the former but I've seen the latter and there are a few small differences which I think make it a better carrier. On your back is far easier than a sling, I was using mine til DD1 was 22 months (then she wasn't too heavy, I was pregnant).

Fortunately I had a breakthrough with Nancy-boo (7 weeks) yesterday, she decided it was just fine to lie in the grass for an hour or so . Keep trying he'll really benefit from being around the lottie and seeing the process of growing your own.

[rockchick]

We used a little popup travel cot quite successfully in the garden and on the beach. Was reallygood because it was so light and easy to carry but as soon as they can sit of propel themselves it was useless! Luckily ours was a borrow.

[citizentwiglet]

When I'm out in the garden, I tend to position Himself The Elf near the honeysuckle bush - he is absolutely fascinated by the leaves and, I suppose, the whole light / shade and constant changing effects it makes. He can just sit and gaze up at this bush for hours, giggling away to himself. I just make sure he's not out in the hottest part of the day. It's actually getting a bit more problematic now because he's outgrown his neglectomatic (bouncy chair) as he keeps thinking it's funny to lean forward in it; but I laid him on a doubled-up fleece on a picnic blanket (the sort with the waterproof backing) yesterday and he had a whale of a time laughing and waving at things. My only worry is that Sprite Face, who is now a very mischievous wee man, might decide to bury him in the garden whilst my back is turned.........

[MrsD'ville mkII]

Hi CT :) HtE is how old now - 8 months or so? He's older than Max, that much I *can* remember. I'm impressed that it's honeysuckle-gazing weather in Lanarkshire, it sure ain't in Herefordshire! I've just been to rescue my sodden washing from the line.

I went for the travel cot option in the end and it worked well, albeit the TC now has distinctly muddy legs, but right now I'm more concerned about my seedlings than my floors (and may it ever be thus!).

[Annpan]

I never managed very well when Shortie was tiny... she would just get fed up and cry to much, and I am no good at blocking it out. Also, I hate my hands getting dirty then having to deal with her, so I really only worked when she napped.

Luckily, we got her into a nap routine early on and if it hadn't been for that (and the fact that my 'allotment' is in my garden) I don't think I would ever have managed.

Well done you folks that take your little ones down to the allotment, its hard work.

E was helping me plant onions the other day, and helping me dig over the ground for the peas... so we will all have a merry gang of mini-gardeners in a few years

[citizentwiglet]

Mrs D, Himself is 6 and a bit months now.......as for Gazing at Honeysuckle weather, we've been making the most of the past few days believe me! In fact, any time where there isn't torrential rain, we're all outside! He was getting far too comfortable and house-bound.....Sprite Face was an April baby, and was outdoors in his pram a LOT from the time he was first born. As Himself is a November sprog, he got FAR too used to radiators, and hated sun, rain, wind and snow for a while. In fact, he just hated being outdoors full stop. Now he can face forwards in the Baby Bjorn he's realised there's a whole wide world to gurgle and blow raspberries at, and now he's in his horrors if we don't go out every day at least three times regardless of the weather!

[2+bump]

I tended to put my daughter in the pushchair under a tree for shade and so she could watch the leaves. kept her happy for a little longer than usual, and singing songs and talking to her helped too.
ds is 2 and a half and tries to help by digging up what a plant any tips about that would be great too

[Masco&Bongo]

ds is 2 and a half and tries to help by digging up what a plant any tips about that would be great too

Could you give DS a patch of their own 'garden' to dig/plant/mess about in?

A friend at work solved the problem by giving their son a small area of ground to make a 'building site' on - he drives his cars round it, and his diggers and tipper trucks, and makes them carry soil and seeds etc.

Worth a try if DS is digging up your planting!!

[citizentwiglet]

Yep, that's what we do. We actually gave him a tub of soil, he grew better salad leaves than me last year! But the tub was useful because the neighbourhood cats like to use our garden as a toilet, so we could cover the tub over with a bag to stop any nasty incidents..... You can't keep gloves on a 2 year old, LOL!!

[lilypotter]

I too suggest push chair is good option and its easy to carry one, col for moms.

[prison break fan]

I think you are all jolly brave!! I struggle with keeping the dog amused when I'm down the plot! pbf.

[Urban Ayisha]

my LO is almost a year now but I did struggle quite a bit when i first started takin her down to the lottie, at 6-7 months. She would just BAWL the second i walked away from the pram, one of those real end of the world cries! i just persevered through the tears, took a blanket down with me and a bagful of toys to keep her occupied and gradually she got more and more used to it. we've had a couple of 6 hour days down there! of course, things will all change soon as she becomes more and more mobile. it is a lot more difficult, and the days you can get someone to babysit are a real blessing. i usually celebrate these days by treating myself to a couple of tins while im down there!! just PERSEVERE, i really believe that it will be such a good thing you are doing for them in the long run, for them to really grow up in that sort of environment! i know its hard.