How do you stop your child and other mindees putting wood chip in their mouth (at the park)

[ButtonMoon88]

^^
That's it really? The two children In question, one of which is mine, both do it, I'm at the point where I just leave them, but I'm well aware that could make them ill, I'm thinking dangers of cat wee and so on...putting a dummy in their mouth doesn't work and I can only move them away so many times before they crawl back. Any ideas? Would other parents be horrified?

Perhaps pop to a different park that doesn't have wood chips and then hopefully next time you go, they will have forgotten.
Without seeking rude, I have to say it's a bit of worrying thought if you're a child minder and need to ask this question.

Surely than the first worry being about cat week, I'd be more worried about choking hazard? As a parent, if you were being paid to look after my child. I'd expect you to limit the risk of choking as a first priority.

How old are the children? You need to use a firm voice to explain why they aren't to do it and then divert their attention if that doesn't work. If they are putting wood chips in their mouths, what's to say they put in pebbles etc? If however, you are sat down just letting them crack on, it's inevitable they might hurt themselves or get into mischief. They sound quite little if they're still putting small objects in their mouths so surely you would be right next to them to remove any forbidden objects?

Oops,autocorrect.....

Cat wee not cat week.

I would just keep moving them away. There is no limit on number of times you can do it. I would move them each and every time they try to put things in their mouth. Eventually they'll get bored with it. Letting them get on with it is not an answer.
If that's to exhausting I'd stop going to that park until they're old enough to understand.

They are 9months and of course I am with them, (or my assistant is before any questions are raised re ratios) we are usually playing together and I will bring toys from home whilst the older ones are on the climbing equipment. But like the babies toys, the wood chips often enter their mouths I take the chips out immediately and will often move to swings or other part of the park, but they often crawl right back. What I left my child do is my concern but I just wandered what other parents of pre-1s did to try prevent everything going in the mouth.

As for suggestion going to other parks, we do, and to indoor activities too, but this particular park is a favourite of the older ones so we will haveo to go there from time to time

'What I left my child do is my concern' - be careful with this ... people will judge you on what they see ... and if they will see you letting a child do unsafe things and won't care the child is yours or not. You are like a walking advert for your business ...

Of course and I would never let any child, mine or not come to harm, I was merely trying to deflect the critics before they came out in force, but have instead portrayed a bad image but that wasn't my intent.

I have a nearly 10 month old, and I take him to the park with his older brother. He sits in his buggy with toys, or in the sling. Or sometimes he has a little go on the swings or down the slide. But he doesn't just crawl around by himself! I'm not sure I've ever seen children that young actually crawling around at the park,and the wood chip would be just one of the reasons why! Parks aren't really designed for little ones before they can toddle and start to properly enjoy the actual equipment. Obviously if it's a park with a big grass area we might sit down and let him roam around, but always fairly close and not near to things that he will obviously put in his mouth!

To answer your question, I'd take them to the other parks, or keep them in the buggy apart from a little go on the swings or whatever at that one. I'm not sure there is any way to teach a baby that young not to put things in their mouths!

At this age my DD would also be in the sling, crawling on the grass, or being helped to go on the swings/baby see saw/baby slide. If I had put her down to attend to toddler DS, and she had crawled somewhere she shouldn't (no wood chips but there are nettles growing in the fence round the baby part of the park), I'd grab her back and if she kept on crawling off, back in the sling or the buggy or on my lap on the roundabout.

She's now 16 months and still lazy crawling but allowed to crawl a little bit more independently. I still grab her back and remove things she's not allowed though. And she's not too big to go in buggy or sling.

Thanks for replies, I guess it's just another issue you encounter when having children of different ages, it doesn't feel ideal in keeping a child in sling whilst at park, (what's the point of taking them out) but if that's what other parents do I won't feel so bad by doing it.

… It's how you start your relationship with the child. If they know you are in charge and respect you and feel safe, they will comply with your instructions. A 'no' should be a 'no' every time and they will get to know that.

Take them away from the wood chip until they get the message, do it in a kind and informative way, if it means putting them in a buggy to watch when they'd rather play, then do it. They'll get the message.

As a childminder you often are in situations where not all the children can be fully involved in an activity. Safety has to come first, above all else. If you are at the park with a lot of kids of varying ages then sometimes the littler ones do have to go in a buggy or sling. They will still benefit from the change of environment, the fresh air and the stimulation of watching all the other children. Save the crawling around for times when you have less kids or are in a safer and more appropriate place. 'First do no harm' would make a good oath for childminders I reckon!

They can play for a bit while they are safe, and then may have a spell in the sling, up again, down again etc.

I've had DD crawling for half an hour on the grass in a puddle suit and napping for an hour in the sling while at the park in the last couple of months.

OP. I understand what you mean! With my local park it's the sand!! A firm no, or distraction sometimes works. I'm hoping in a few weeks it gets better! Also I have no idea what parks these other people go to, but the ones I go to are full of crawling babies / toddlers. We have to let them explore. You just have to try to distract and discourage them. It's draining I know :( but hopefully it will get easier

I was just about to say SAND ARRGGHH!!

Well all you can do is try distract and move on, hopefully this works, whilst still keeping an eye on the older children you say you have. I must admit I wouldn't want to keep a child in a sling, when will they learn if every time you go out they are locked in?

Like others have said, the little ones take up most of the time. Playing on swing slide, etc while your other eye is on the older children.

I would deal with it in the same way as any other thing this age group keep trying that's not good for them. patient distraction and saying no. As there are 2 of you it should be much easier than with 1 adult who does it on their own 11 hours a day. Sorry but a bit worrying that you are struggling with both and there are 2 of you, what do you do indoors surely its no different when you are doing sensory activities and messy play as at 9 months they would be painting and joining in too.

There isn't anything worrying about me asking this question, please don't try and make out like I'm poor at my job.
We do a variety of activities indoors, when we are painting the children have their own chairs and trays that are strapped into so it's a little different than we are out at the park and they are crawling around.

Have you not risk assessed the park then?
If you can't stop them putting the wood chip in their mouths, then you need to eliminate the risk. Could you take a blanket and put that down OE avoid the chip area and put them on a grass area .
If you can't do that then I do think they need to be in a pushchair.

I'd remove it and give them something they can put in their mouth. They are probably teething

I wouldn't be happy about my 9 month old being put in wood chip! Or sand tbh enough to eat it. They are babies. A crawl on a rug on grass, or swing maybe but otherwise in sling or pram.