When you’ve got a little one on the way, there are so many
preparations to be made you might start to wonder if you’ll get it all done in
time! For many of us, the focus is on the inside of the house where your little
one will be spending most of their time. You might buy a fireplace cover,
install a couple of baby gates and start re-arranging your furniture for a bit
of extra crawl-space, but have you thought about your garden?
Parents often overlook outdoor spaces, but this is where a
lot of hazards tend to live. Pebbles, thorny plants and water features can all
be potentially dangerous for your little one. But don’t worry, I’m going to
talk you through a few different ways you can address these problems and
thoroughly baby-proof your garden.
Garden surfaces
While you want your garden to look great, you don’t want to
choose an outdoor flooring option that’s dangerous for your child. Small stones
and gravel can be a choking hazard, so if your garden is covered in them – it
might be time to consider a garden renovation.
Grass is an obvious choice, it provides a soft, luscious
space for your little one to play, learn and develop. Of course, the only
downside with having your garden turfed is the amount of upkeep that real grass
requires. You don’t want to be spending the summer holidays trudging up and
down with a lawn mower when your little one wants to have a teddy bears picnic
and enjoy the sunshine!
A great alternative to grass is composite decking, it offers a forgiving
surface that (although not as soft as grass) won’t cause your little one a
significant injury if they do happen to fall over. High-quality composite
decking is designed not to split or chip, so unlike traditional wood decking,
you won’t need to worry about your little one getting a nasty splinter. Better
yet, composite decking will last a lifetime with minimal maintenance, giving
you more time to spend with your family!
Plants
Having plants in the garden is a great sensory and
educational experience for your child. When they get a bit older, they might
even help you plant new seeds and begin to take an interest in the natural
world (something that’s so often neglected nowadays).
Make sure you remove toxic plants and mushrooms, prickly
plants and plants that bear fruit and berries, these plants might look nice in
your garden, but they can cause real problems if children get their hands on
them.
Instead, you should think about planting vegetables, larger
fruits and herbs, the leaves of which are generally non-toxic and safe for
curious children to explore. Better yet, if you get a good harvest of carrots
and apples, you can add some home-grown vitamins into your baby’s diet.
Some beautiful non-toxic flowers are also a great choice.
Pot Marigolds, Amaranthus (shown above), Lemon Balm and Daylilies are sweet
smelling, taste rather delicious and will add a touch of colour to your outdoor
space.
General Safety Tips
Here are a few other baby-proofing tips to help you keep
your garden accident-free!
·
Keep the garden hose out of the sun – If
you’ve ever picked up or stepped on a hose pipe that’s been left out in the
sun, you’ll know that they can get incredibly hot! Make sure you store them in
a shaded, cool place whenever possible.
·
Use plants to protect sharp corners – There
are plenty of permeant features in our gardens that might pose a risk to little
ones. Use greenery to create a buffer between your child and any sharp
edges.
·
Update your garden furniture – Ditch the
glass tables and wooden chairs and treat yourself to a brand-new garden set
with padded cushions, rounded edges and removable, washable covers (thank me
later).
Hopefully these baby-proofing tips will help you relax
and enjoy your garden as your little one explores, grows and changes!
*Guest post
*Guest post
