Getting 1YO out in the garden

[CLeighannHxo]

So with this lovely weather we've been having I'm wanting to get us out in the garden. Our garden is all block paving so I obviously can't let 1YO DS on the floor, so I was thinking of putting the travel cot/play pen outside in a shaded part of the garden and he can have his toys in that to play in.
But I'm just wondering with him being in the shade, what would I dress him in? Hes just been in either a vest or just his Nappy inside the house. And any other tips or things I should think about when getting him out in the garden?

TIA x

Is yours on the move? I got this UV protecting teepee with air vents and put my baby in there babymoov.co.uk/products/badabulle-anti-uv-teepee-tent They have a quick pop-up version too but I couldn’t pop that down and the teepee will last to toddler years www.naturalbabyshower.co.uk/collections/babymoov/products/babymoov-anti-uv-tent-blue-waves

I bought the interlocking playmats you can get from argos, sainsburys, Wilko or Tesco. www.wilko.com/wilko-eva-safety-playmat-8pk/p/0446869 They’re in all the shops right now.

I just kept my baby out the sun as much as possible. Once they started moving, 100% cotton long sleeve tops or tunics with thin cotton full length leggings.

@BakeOffRewatch thank you for your reply those are lovely suggestions. As my garden is all block paving I'm abit worried he would topple over and hurt himself on the floor, that's why I was thinking of putting him in the travel cot. He isn't walking yet but he cruises ALOT and is a really fast crawler and he will actually walk on his knees! Lol.
What would you recommend Dressing him in now? That he isn't 100% on the move and would be in the shade?

Get a few packs of those foam interlocking pieces. Make a play area. Can be left out in the rain! We have them..

Here..

Even in the shade I would err on the side of long sleeves and long bottoms. Thin material.

I have block paving too, honestly they’re fine. Mine is 1.5 now and very cautious about it, we have a slide going down to the foam now and always supervise. You’ll be there to hover. Last summer mine wasn’t moving, so I just put them inside with the toys with the tent on top of foam mats, be careful if they’re sitting up and fall sideways as can be a bit of a shock for them, but again nothing harmful. If you’re playing with him on the foam and inside tent, I’m sure it will be fine.

I’m from a culture and hot country where you always cover up and I think baggy 100% cotton poplin or other thin, non-knit cotton keeps you cooler than skin exposed to sun. So that’s what I do, I know others might dress them in less.

Fill the floor space with foam playmats
Get a decentish size inflatable paddling pool and put it in the centre.

Fill it with toys and stuff, not water.

He has soft floor and sides to protect him and you can relax. (a bit)

You can definitely just take a 1 year old outside on the ground! If you feel more comfortable then throw a blanket down but at 10 months mine was crawling and cruising around on the ground anywhere I went.

Why can't you put him on the block paving?

Thank you all for the great ideas. The garden isn't really block paving is more square slabs and in scared to just put him down on the ground incase he hurts himself by falling over and hitting his head, and I'm sure I wouldn't like to crawl around on concrete and grazing my knees.

I'd just put him in leggings and let him crack on. But then again I don't have any carpet at all in the ground floor of my house and both my kids learnt to walk on stone flags and didn't come to any harm - I think you're overthinking it!

We used to have a paved back garden which was really uneven and I know what you mean about worrying they would fall over and crack their head open. We just went round with the kids basically following them like a shadow but let them get on with it. The big plus side is you’ve got a fab space for drawing with chalks! Or grab a paintbrush and a cup of water and little one might sit making some water marks on the Slabs. Also great for wheeled toys on your paved garden!

saying all that…. We finally replaced most of the paved bit of our garden with turf and it has been life changing! My smallest child is almost 2 now and I can just let him tear around. Also at this age he would not be containable anyway he just wants to play and explore. So the ideas from PP about mats, playpen etc are all great for now but also have a little think about what you might do longer term, next year your little one will want to run about!

good luck and enjoy your outside time 😊