Toddler and mud/garden

[TiredButTerrific]

Hi there ! So I’m a FTM to a 17 month old who loves being outdoors (what lovely weather!). We live in a flat with a balcony in which there are several potted plants. DC goes to the balcony and often lands up playing with the soil (and pouring it on the floor-messy to clean everyday)or lifting up the plants (small ones, with pot-so pot could fall on his foot or there could be mud spilling everywhere) or tries to push the pot (resulting in mud everywhere).

I can’t have the pots on the balcony railing as it’s very windy where we stay (maybe few for some time but not always)-the little garden is a loved place and I don’t want to get rid of the pots. I’m trying to boundary set around handling the mud but DC goes into meltdown mode.

any tips on handling this ? Also, I’m on a tangent here, but DC tends to sometimes put his finger in his mouth (he is teething !). I’m getting worried about the mud from the park and the balcony-what if some mud doesn’t wash off or what if he puts his hand in his mouth before I can wash them. Would appreciate tips from more experienced parents on dealing with this….

Yeah toddlers love playing with mud/water/sand and pouring it everywhere. Any chance you could get him a set to play with that you wouldn't mind him using? Is there space for a mini mud kitchen of his own?

Regarding the mess, I’d just tidy up at the end of each day and see it as a positive childhood experience. You can keep correcting him but I’d rather let them explore.regarding eating some, it’s mud. My 18months old goes to an outdoor nursery and probably consumes as much mud as he does actual food. Outdoors is good for children.

Personally, I would take the plants in the pots somewhere where they can be looked after for the summer, family friends... and put in a PlayStation with mud and sand space for a washing up bowl of water tested containers trowel et cetera and just let him enjoy the space for the summer. You have plenty of years to have a nice balcony garden when he's a bit older you have a nice summer if you make it a good place for him to play

@Welshfiver I am looking for a sensory play type set for him so he could play with some sand/water and even mud-is that what you mean ? Not sure there’s space for a mini mud kitchen but will keep that in mind…thanks for responding !

I would also remove/relocate the pots for now. It’s in his nature to explore and be curious at this age.

Yes, you can get sand and water tables that are quite compact and good fun for that age.

Can you give an idea of the space? At this age they just want to clart about and make a mess. So a small mud kitchen, or buckets with sand mud and water, or even bowls.

I used to give mine water based paint, potatoes, and a bowl of soapy water. Paint, wash. Paint. Wash.

on the kitchen floor.

but outside wise try and give his own wee area. So not to touch the plants.

@Maraudingmarauders fair enough ! Think the mud worry is more about the mud in the park as dogs use the park on their walks-most owners pick up after their dogs but you never know ! We’ve been up and down with nursery acquired illnesses over the last couple months so I’ve become a bit neurotic…

@SpringIsSpringing25 hmmm I have been thinking of a play area for him in the balcony so will work on that ! You made it sound lovely. Will find a way to deal with the plants. Thanks for your reply.

Yes really you need to toddler proof the balcony so he can go and explore and not be told no all the time. How big is the space? Is there room to put the plant pots behind an outdoor sofa/chairs and then have the rest of the space as a play area for him?

I would recommend: a tea set and access to water, a water table (we used to have a small one) or washing up bowl with water/bubbles in and selection of plastic measuring jugs, paint brushes etc. You could also get a piece of ply wood and paint it with chalk board paint for him to draw on.

I think you need to make the balcony child friendly, so that might be either getting rid of the pots or just letting him use the pots to play with for a year or two until he's old enough to understand that they are Mummies flowers and not for play.

Just buy some Milton baby hand sanitiser and clean his hands after the park?