1 year old exploring front gardens and Xmas decs decd

As much as I would think it was cute seeing a toddler in my front garden I'd also be worried about other people's dogs, breakables, other hazards. I also think you'll be making it harder for yourself in the long run but not creating these boundaries now. They're not my favourite thing but I did use reins for a short while when I was working on making sure my eldest wasn't making a break for it when I was heavily pregnant and couldn't make leg it after him - but this really made me focus on ensuring that I could walk with him safely without them.

Oh for goodness sake, be a parent and parent him!!

reins and trike!

you never know what hazards/dogs etc are waiting in peoples gardens. I would not be happy with some random toddler wandering into my garden either - mostly if they got hurt

Parents cause themselves (and others) so many issues in the long run by not setting boundaries in order to avoid tantrums when their dc are little.

I used to think of every tantrum as a learning opportunity that would also make life easier for myself when they were older. It gave me patience and kept my sanity. And stopped me from being scared of tantrums and therefore trying to avoid them.

There’s a difference between gentle parenting and failing to parent, and in my opinion you’re failing to parent here. Whether you think it’s an issue or not, it isn’t your property so doesn’t really come down to whether you do or don’t want to teach your son not to wander off. If I were you I’d spend the next month trying to instil this as it will be 10 times harder with a newborn in tow!

Reins? I highly recommend parenting.

It would make smile to see a little tacker having a nosey around my front garden but it appears I'm in the minority.

eugh I hate this. At least once a week there is some child wondering up my drive while a gormless parent looks on.

Then we wonder why as they get older and wonder the streets alone they cannot behave either. Private property is private property.

Above all else I think this could be dangerous. Someone driving or with their pet may not be on the look out for a toddler on their property.

Most people in England are insane... Why would a young toddler running in and then out of your garden bother you?

YABU

putting lights up isn’t a personal invite for you to wander about on their private property.

I can sort of see both sides here. We have some decorations outside and I wouldn’t be bothered at all if a toddler wandered over to have a look at them, but equally I also have a toddler and I wouldn’t let her wander into other people’s gardens to look at their decorations

Honestly, this is the easiest age to parent and set boundaries, it will get ridiculously harder if you don't do it now.

Personally it wouldnt bother me if a toddler wandered into my front garden but you dont know its safe or if everyone would be ok with it!

there's not much I can do to stop him
You need to have him strapped in his buggy when outside if this is actually true and you literally can’t stop your child going where ever he pleases in public places.
I suspect it isn’t, though. You’d just rather not parent.

I would be so charmed if a toddler came into my front garden to look at the lights OP, what a nice activity with a little one.
But I take the point people make that others may feel differently and that there may be unsafe things in their gardens so I agree you should follow the good advice those posters have given re reins etc.

That is barely a toddler. You move them away. They could get electrocuted.

Bit weird... electrical cables and general electric items on show. Plus - manners?

If you wont say no just to avoid a meltdown for a quiet life, you'll have more of a rod for your own back in future.

Is this for real ? How are you going to manage when you've got 2 of them

Reins are a godsend and far more comfortable than hand-holding when they're tiny

But if he won't stay on his bike, use a buggy

Is this a reverse? Of course you need to teach him not to go in other people's gardens. I'm sure you could manage stopping him running into a road so you can stop him going in gardens.

The idea that there is not much you can do to stop him seems strange - suppose he wandered into the road not a garden?

If you can’t stop him wandering from pavement to someone’s garden you can’t stop him wandering from pavement into the road. Therefore the current arrangement isn’t safe!

keep hold of his hand or use reins.

YABU
I presume you would be inclined to stop him if he ran into traffic?

In the long run, your parenting life will be much easier if you set boundaries now.

Although it doesn't feel like it when they're tantruming, children get a sense of security knowing that sensible boundaries exist.

I wouldn’t be bothered if a 2 year old came into my garden to look at decorations, I’d find it quite sweet.
However I do understand people’s points about keeping him safe from dogs etc