Park visits – Things to do…

When I had my daughter, the first few days were total haze for me. Instead of enjoying the bliss of motherhood, I felt absolutely tired and imprisoned. In all this fuzz the only thing I wanted to do was get out.  But the baby needs to be shielded so much from the germs and other environmental factors that getting out become difficult. So after some serious mommy blog surfing and elderly advice taking we decided to take her out to a nearby park.  The idea was perfect! The bright natural light and fresh air did great for us both. Now my daughter is a toddler who loves her everyday park routine and waits eagerly for her daily visit.

Most of the time the question I asked myself was what guidelines to follow when we I take my daughter out. I am sure a lot of new mothers have similar questions. So I am putting down some of the wisdom passed on to me by other experience holders.

• Be most careful with a baby less than 4 months old. As infants have low immunity, keep them away from sick people. It is easier to do so with adults but harder with kids around who always want to touch a newborn. Try carrying a small pack of sanitizer along with you and encourage kids to use it before touching the baby. You can also ask them to touch baby’s feet and tummy as much as they want rather than the hands and face. Especially avoid kissing.
• Be prepared for mosquitoes and bugs. Parks are green places with small gardens which attract a lot of insects. Covering the child up is very important. Make them wear light material full sleeve clothing. You may also use mosquito repellant creams or patches. These are easily available in the market and pretty much safe for use.
• Dress them according to the season. Generally it is recommended to dress your baby in same number of layers as the adults. But you should also carry an extra cover, just in case. Although infants have good amount of brown fat that helps them keep warm, but still you may want to skip a day’s stroll if the weather isn’t favorable.
• Feed them before you go out. It is always ideal to take them out with a full tummy. If the park is far off then it will not be convenient for you to move to and fro. You may also carry a feeding apron with you, I case the child needs to be fed again. A hungry baby will become cranky after some time and won’t be able to enjoy.
• Let the baby play. If your baby can sit with support then let them enjoy some of the rides with your help. Babies love high back swings. In fact swinging helps gain balance faster. You may hold your baby on the swing set and give her a sway. You may also try those mini slides. You can just help your baby slide down by holding her from front.
• Supervise but from a distance. If your child is a toddler and is comfortable moving around the rides on their own then let them be. Help only when needed. Interacting with other kids at the park helps them build social skills. Do keep an eye on them for any kind of trouble. Make sure they don’t start stuffing their mouth with all kinds of “precious” pebbles and dirt.

All in all, relax and enjoy your visit. It is an enjoyable experience for the mothers to be able to spend some time with their kids in the open environment with fresh air. Make friends with other mothers, have a stroll around the park, exchange experiences. It will surely cheer you up.