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Parenting

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Original poster

Babies and gardens

14 replies

MsSnellGrove · 16/03/2011 21:23

My DD is 7 months and we've been sitting out in the garden in the lovely weather.
She wants to pick up everything i.e. flowers, leaves etc and put it in her mouth. I'd like her to be able to explore, but should i be working under the assumption that everything in the garden is poisonous/poorly-making?

Is there stuff she can play with in the garden that's safe? E.g. grass.. or should i be careful incase of cats etc.

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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FriggFRIGG · 16/03/2011 21:51

chill out

...i used to eat dirt,so did DD,DS is 6 months so hasnt yet,but will,im sure quite soon... some plants are poisonous but not everything!

Original poster

MsSnellGrove · 16/03/2011 21:58

good cos i do want her to be able to eat dirt...
just don't want her to inadvertantly die whilst doing it. PFB what can i say

OP posts:

FriggFRIGG · 16/03/2011 22:12

maybe get a book or look on line for poisonous plants...and avoid those ones

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tigana · 16/03/2011 22:16

No munching daffodil bulbs. Other than that...in 'yer average garden' it's pretty much all good!!

ChristinedePizan · 16/03/2011 22:16

Don't let her put berries in her mouth but most poisonous plants taste pretty vile so she'd spit them out. Euphorbia's sap is supposed to be a skin irritant but my DS used to pull the leaves off it all the time and never had a problem

FriggFRIGG · 16/03/2011 22:32

dandelions are particularly GOOD for you,direct her towards those!

Bobby99 · 17/03/2011 19:00

Hmm, maybe I'm just a control freak (more than likely) but I'd teach her not to put any plants/leaves/berries etc in her mouth. Lots of common plants are very poisonous - like foxgloves for example, aconite, rhubarb leaves etc. Better safe than sorry. You also don't know whether cats (and possibly dogs - remember she will use the rules you teach her in other people's gardens, the park etc) could have been there and cat/dog poo has nasties in it. Of course little ones will eat things they shouldn't and you'll find them one day with their mouth full of dirt or beetles - but I would try to avoid that as much as possible to minimise the risk. But then, I may be a control freak.

ragged · 17/03/2011 19:12

You should read the thread about "Bizarre things your baby has eaten" Bobby.

8m old DD found and started chewing on a bit of discarded chewing gum in a public park, once.

She's 9yo now and fine. Hasn't grown a spare head, didn't come out in spots, nothing bad :).

FriggFRIGG · 17/03/2011 20:11

my friends DD ate a CIGGARETTE BUTT!!!!
in a local park

her mum managed to hook it out of her mouth,but she had a good chew first

Pigleychez · 17/03/2011 20:31

DD2 is 10mths so just begining to discover grass/garden as she was too young last summer.
I caught her with a blade of grass sticking out of her mouth the other day.

Frigg- Ewww at the cigarette butt

lucysnowe · 17/03/2011 21:35

Just want to second the comment about foxgloves, they are v. poisonous, so watch out!

ChristinedePizan · 17/03/2011 21:39

I grow foxgloves and aconite in my garden. They are impossible to reach without crawling over loads of other plants though so my DS has survived unscathed (he is now 4 and I haven't managed to kill him yet)

Katy1368 · 18/03/2011 04:23

Keeping her away from anything obviously poisonous is sensible and always being present to keep an eye but otherwise go for it. I'm pretty sure there is a lot of research that playing outside is vital for building your immune system. A few years ago there was a channel 4 programme called "eat dirt" that basically said this - that kids should be allowed to eat a little earth as it is invaluable in helping with recognised immunity. Think there may also be a lot of research that the fact we are keeping our kids indoors more is linked to the rise in allergies and things like increasing asthma rates though I couldn't quote you the exact references!

I personally always just stuck a blanket on the ground and went for it, I always found being outdoors equals a happy baby. Once she started moving I put up with the dirt and worn out trousers and let her, of course keeping a sharp eye out for obvious hazards like dog or fox poo. Once they are toddlers you can't stop them anyway - my friend recently found her daughter munching on a small slug!!! Good source of protein I guess!

itshappenedagain · 18/03/2011 19:20

my DS (4) loves the garden, has done since he was small, i just used to say no to certian things, including going near the steps or the edge (6ft drop in my parents garden).

DD (10 months) has only just started to have a little wander about, and yesterday my DS [ blush] I spotted that she has swapped her wrap for a rock and was having a good chew on it. shes fine it appears that she was just sharpening her teeth!

you just have to teach them the same as you do everyhting in life, dont touch it unless you ask, especially if its not yours!

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