Gardening when got 6wk old - How is this possible?

[Jen010717]

Please could I have any tips/advice on how to continue maintaining the garden when got 6wk old.

Partner currently cuts grass for me once a week. However he has a bad back from work & this can be a struggle for him at times.

Before my pregnancy I would religiously spend at least 5 hours or more a week gardening. This was mostly due to my passion of gardening as well as minimising weeds! Feel so disheartened when haven't been able to do anything for weeks and only seeing minimum get done.

Any advice is warmly welcomed, thanks

I managed to do some bit and pieces in the garden with baby in a sling. Obviously have to be careful and it's a bit limited to what you do but pruning, weeding etc was fine, just takes a bit longer.

Sling or pram.

Pram? Bouncer on the grass?

Car seat for a while? Pram?

You're only a few weeks away from baby being able to see further and be more interested in things. From around 11 weeks I've been able to put baby in her bouncy chair in the French windows so she either watches me in the garden or she's just starting to be interested in toys so will entertain herself for maybe 20 minutes if she's got plenty to look at and play with.

Pram, shaded from sun, under the washing line. Is fascinating stuff - or at least mine used to think so! Watching the washing dry 👍

Ooh good idea Once. I might try that.

It's not the 6 week old... the 3 year old presents more challenges ha ha

Hahahahaha welcome to parenthood. Mine found watching me garden both boring and an outrage - still do in their 20s. Suggest you pay someone or lower your standards. Certainly pay someone to do the grass and the edges.

My mother routinely put us in our prams in the garden for the strictly regulated 4 hours between feeds and considered the howls from the garden a sign she was being a good parent and helping us strengthen our lungs. But she was hadnwashing our nappies at the time.

Pram in the garden. Accept that you are probably going to have to do it in 20 minute chunks. Sling for pruning and mowing the lawn. To be honest, it's a lot easy when they are this tiny than it is once they start crawling around and eating god knows what every time your back is turned.

Can you go for a walk around your home/in a loop until they nod off and then go for it. Maybe wise to pay a student for the next few weeks though.

Great advice thank you, especially love the idea of using the washing line as entertainer for Alfie!

Will consider having someone to cut and trim edges, only thing that puts me off is the cost whilst on maternity pay.

I think what I struggle with is how the weather could effect little one as well as how to keep him settle and contented.

Old gimmer here, but anyway...
I found dc1 quite liked to be outside in the pram when little, even in chilly weather if well-wrapped!
Give it a go - if it doesn't work, it doesn't, but it might!

Plonk baby in pushchair/pram whilst they sleep and mow away to your hearts content. If you have a door from house to garden, leave them inside the door so you can hear them if they wake, or bring them into the garden with you.
I currently pop ds in his baby walker or jumperoo and he watches me from the patio. Done that since he was about 6 months. Can't put him on the ground as he likes to put stones in his mouth.
If dc isn't a great sleeper on their own, try a sling. Alternatively a baby bouncer type thing that they can see you in and just give them a running commentary whilst you garden. Just make sure they are in a shady area and it's not too hot.

Also, (I think you are doing well to even consider doing the garden - take it easy), but if you do enjoy your garden, could you have a routine where your OH has baby consistently solo for half an hour every evening, so your garden can give you some space too? (Or go and have a bath!) Harder in winter of course, but could do the weekends.

Just take them outside with you! When i sorted my garden yesterday the baby was playing on a blanket in the shade and the toddler was "helping".

Its the same as when you want to cook,clean the house etc. Babies are fine on their own for a bit provided you can see and hear them. Too many first time parents seem to think they are doing something wrong if they aren't phsyically holding their baby all the time, you really aren't!

I love gardening too op, it's very hard to get a decent chunk of uninterrupted time to garden now. When the children both go to school, that's when I'll get my chance again! For now I have to make do with maybe an hour or two once every 2/3/4 weeks and one of us will mow the lawn when possible.