1 year old exploring front gardens and Xmas decs decd

[FamilyofTrees]

When we've been out walking recently in our fairly small village, my 22 month old has been wandering into front gardens and having a look around. Especially if they have Christmas decorations up, like reindeer or a Santa.

I say to him not to touch and that it's not our stuff, but beyond carrying him away or putting him in his trike (I'm 8 months pregnant so can't carry him if he refuses to walk so we always bring his trike with us, but I give him the option to walk) there's not much I can do to stop him and I'm not particularly inclined to cause a screaming meltdown over a quick little detour that I personally wouldn't be bothered by. He isn't causing any damage.

YABU - You shouldn't let him go into front gardens at all

YANBU - As long as he doesn't break anything or stay too long it's fine

YABU

YABU. This is why reins exist.

YABU, even though your child is small you should still parent them and teach boundaries, not let them do what they want so you can have an easy life. If your child stands on dog or cat poo it will be more hassle for you in the end anyway

Just hold his hand?! And tell him to stay on the path.

Yabu, you shouldn’t be allowing them into people’s front gardens, these are not toys and potentially dangerous too if electricity is involved. If you can’t control them you need to put them securely into a buggy. Be a parent

Ps I highly recommend proper traditional reins, not the back back kind, very useful once you have two kids

I mean I wouldn’t really care if a toddler walked into my front garden to look at the Christmas decorations but I wouldn’t assume everyone would be fine with it.

I have a 2 year old and he happily looks at them from the pavement, he’s never tried to open gates or anything and seems to understand it’s someone else’s house

A wandering toddler managed to smash all our ceramic pumpkins (Halloween) so yes yabu.

I wouldn't be letting my child go into other people's front garden but equally I wouldn't have an issue with him coming into mine. I'd be inclined to put him in his pram. Ultimately he needs to learn boundaries while walking with you, especially if you've another on the way. And you've no idea if those houses might have a dog. I think you need to be a little tougher and stop giving the option for him to walk if you aren't able to lift him and carry him. Especially if he went to run out into the road or similar.

He should not be crossing the boundary into other people's gardens. If he tantrums he goes home, he will soon learn if you teach him

YABU

You need to hold his hand or use reins.

People's front gardens aren't parks and there might be hazards you don't know about.

YABU. He needs to stay on the pavement. Agree with reins.

He has never opened a gate to go into the garden, they are literally just off of the pavement.

YABU
I wouldn't take too kindly to random toddlers "exploring" my garden.

Presumably you have a voice? Distract him or put him in a buggy. Straying into one front garden would be one thing but using them as entertainment and giving him free rein is an interesting choice.

Wrist rein. Don't let him wander about just anywhere. My DC are 18m inbetween and my eldest was always on a rein.

I’m sure you can manage to stop them from wandering out into the road, why can’t you do that with front gardens?

Are you the same poster who thought their toddler should be allowed to run wild and free in the Japanese garden at Kew? YABVU. Get reins.

Why are you so passive? Parent your child.

No, I am not.

He’s too little to be able to roam wherever he wants to. What if he ran into the road?
And yes, YABU to let him wander into people’s gardens.

"there's not much I can do to stop him"

I'm sorry??? He's 1 fgs! Be a parent and stop him.

An under 2 should not be roaming freely on the street or in private property.
It's not safe. There could be moving vehicles, dangerous objects etc.
And you are the parent - you need to teach him boundaries. Not just let him wander where he likes!

He should not be going into unknown people's gardens. Firstly for safety -electrics. Second some people have dogs who are territorial and may have easy access to the garden. Thirdly manners.

If he can't look from the path without going in people 's gardens then you put him in the pushchair, strap in the trike or reins. Pregnancy isn't an excuse. Get him used to holding hands and not wandering off before you have a newborn to factor in as well.

Thanks for everyone's responses. It's helpful to get a general consensus on this.

I won't let him do it at all in the future (it has literally only happened about 3 times so far) and will put him straight into his trike if he refuses to come away.

I think will also buy some reins.