September 2015 Moms

Its almost Summer time! - STM advice or hacks?

So summer is right around the corner and my mother has a great place we go to on the weekends -- almost every weekend it is nice out. She has a huge deck with patio furniture, a yard, an in-ground pool, etc. I was there this past weekend (pool is not open yet but will be soon) and I was with LO. I realized there isn't much I realized even sitting him down is an issue because his "crawling" is pulling himself on the ground dragging belly...and its a wood deck! :( So my question is for STM (or even FTM who are apparently more creative than me) on what to do to make our lives easier here with a deck, pool, etc.? All we have so far is a gate from the deck to the pool so he can't get that way... (My mother was thinking a walker, but he is SOOO fast in that thing I am worried one day the gate isn't up and bam..so that may be out)

Re: Its almost Summer time! - STM advice or hacks?

  • We have a lakeside cabin trip planned. I'm going to bring a big inflatable pool for lo to crawl around in. Hopefully it's tall enough that he can't crawl over the side. I think it comes up to my knee. It's definitely long enough. Not putting water in, just toys so he has a clean place to crawl around while we're outside. And bug repellent wipes. I'm so nervous about mosquitoes this year.

    I'd love to hear other ideas!
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  • ElleMF728ElleMF728 member
    edited May 2016
    I just throw a big blanket down on the yard for DS2 with some toys on it.  He crawls around, sometimes he crawls onto the grass but he stays pretty happy there. I know it's kind of mind blowing but a lot of our LO's may be walking by the end of summer.  Not much to do then except shoes ;) 

    ETA: DS1's bday is only a week before DS2's and he was walking by early June.  It doesn't seem possible but it really is right around the corner. 
  • Big sheet or picnic blanket over the wood deck. And by summer our LOs will be pulling up to stand and on hands/knees with belly up, so it won't be too bad. DD1 was 6-8mo during her first summer, and even then she cried if left in a playpen. I made sure she always had closed toe shoes (she pushed off with her toes), and leggings to protect her knees on concrete. For bare legs I put her on a large sheet. We have a separate pool deck, and no minors are allowed on it without an adult specifically there to watch them. If LO is down there with us, she'll be held (either on a lap or in the water).
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  • @elleMF728 wow funny how I just pushed that right out of my mind ha like he is going to stay this way all summer. :( Your absolutely right!
  • I would get some of those interlocking foam floor pieces (like the ones for a playroom)  they are pretty inexpensive and you can use as many or as few as you like. Maybe that with a playpen around it on the deck?
  • picked this one up to use when we vacation this summer and set it up just to see how it works. I love it already and its onsale at toys r us right now 
  • I would bring the pack and play outside.  It's been working for me on weekends now! 
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  • FatPonyFatPony member
    Do you guys slather baby in sunscreen or have shade?? We are Canadian, so this hasn't crossed my mind yet bc summer shouldn't be here yet. But we are going through a heat wave and I have no idea how you southern Americans cope with the heat!!!
  • My LO skin is too sensitive for even baby Sunscreen with zinc!! Put it on him at 7 months, horrible rash for DAYS.....I felt awful. It showed up within minutes of application. So, now it's long sleeve and long pants in light colored cotton. White sun hat for baby and CONSTANT shade cover. No direct sun from 10-2 when the suns the strongest. He has a long sleeve long pant swim outfit with UVA UVB protection for when swimming. Where I'm from, the horrible humidity and 100 summer days all summer long. We will be in AC a lot. When we go out it will be early AM or afternoon evening. I am also worried about mosquitoes!! They have been so bad the past few summers and falls. 
  • @Fatpony I researched and asked around to fellow mommy friends about this issue. I plan on keeping him in the shade as much as possible, but if we are in the pool or other areas the sun is going to be there so I found a sunscreen that is all natural and tried it on him the other day... Badger is the name. It is a little pricey but it is a block and from the reviews is great. I also plan on using a suit that has a top with long sleeves (hopefully he doesn't get too hot..he tends to run hot normally).

    @akdewald that is a great idea with the foam floor pieces! We have one now with the ABC's on it I can use that on the deck for him -- just will need to make sure they don't get wet from the pool, I could see them getting slippery ha and Thanks for the heads up on the sale at ToysRus!

  • I second the foam floor pieces! Picked up a massive collection of them for $10 at a yard sale and now it's somewhere soft and easy for my boy to roll and army crawl or a safe spot for his friends to sit and visit. Best purchase I've ever made.
  • I'm a FTM but my DS loves when I bring the pack n play outside or just a big blanket in the grass :) I'm def concerned about wooden decks too! 
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