How practical is gardening with a baby?

Question

I love gardening. I like to keep a veggie garden out back, and will do the front flower bed too and a mini one in the back. I’m expecting my first in March though (which is normally when I start seeds) and will be on maternity leave through early/mid June, depending when he comes, so all the plants would need to be in before I go back to work anyways. I’m fully expecting to be exhausted and overwhelmed at first, but I’d really love to still put a garden in so we can have at least some fresh homegrown produce. We have a monitor with video, and our yard isn’t that big, so I was thinking I could work on the garden while the baby is napping and just keep the monitor with me so I’d know if he woke up. Or is this completely impractical as a new momma?

Answer

I'm expecting my first in August and still intend to plant a garden this spring. I know i probably won't get as much done as I want to but it seems silly to not do it at all just because I'm pregnant. Baby will be small enough to just nap in a car seat or something while I'm out there if necessary. Or I'd be totally fine with just having the monitor with me while they sleep.

Answer

You could always wear your baby in a sling while gardening.

Answer

when i lived in florida i’d set up a play area in the shade (he wasn’t mobile yet so i knew he wouldn’t go anywhere) then when he started walking/being interactive he’d help me by doing small jobs

Answer

If babe is a good napper I don’t see anything wrong with going outside while they sleep and keeping your video monitor on you. I’d do that myself just to get some sun. I took his monitor but stayed right by his window so I could even just look inside lol. But with the monitor on you you’d know if/when you needed to go inside to tend to them.

Answer

My first was born mid May, so my planting was later than normal and not maintained as well as I had hoped. My second due this April I’m betting I’ll be better this time around but it’s still hard. I used to go out in the evenings or during nap (but nap was usually so hot out), so evenings were best. Either way it’s still a little more of a chore than when we didn’t have kids and I had more time to
Enjoy it. 😂 hoping this summer the toddler will
Enjoy it too.

Answer

I bought a little pop up tent to put my boy in (so he would have some shade) while I garden right next to him. He preferred to be on a blanket on the grass though. It's a little annoying sometimes as you often only have short spells where you can do the work, in between feeds and nappy changes and naps. My boys are bigger now, and they have almost learnt what they can and can't weed, and are good little helpers.

Answer

You can go about your day in literally the same way you would have before. Bring monitor outside, wear baby, put baby on a blanket on the grass. There’s no reason you couldn’t garden.

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I had gardening goals with my January baby but failed. My husband did most of it thank goodness. I think maybe I didn’t try enough. I hope you find a way! So therapeutic. Could try before baby wakes up in the am and have baby monitor nearby!

Answer

A lot will depend on what kind of personality your baby has, if they’re super chill & nap well then yeah your plan should be fine. My baby was not chill & a terrible napper & I was exhausted all the time, I honestly didn’t get back into yard work until she was like 1 year old.

How practical is gardening with a baby?

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