In Home Daycare and Taking the Kids Outside How Do You Do It??

My son went to an in home daycare when he was 3 months old. His daycare provider put him in a stroller and wrapped him in a baby bunting. The kids at her daycare played on a paved driveway/small yard beside the house so everyone was together and visible. You could also bring the exersaucer outside and put the 5 mth. old in it, that way he can stand up and watch all of the other kids play. I did that a lot w/ my baby while playing w/ my older son outside, worked out great.

When my little guy was that age, his daycare provider took him outside with "the big kids" in a stroller so that if he was tired, he could nap. If he wanted to "chill and observe", he could do that too! As it got warmer, she would bring out a huge blanket and toys and let him (and the other "baby") play on the blanket. Just make sure you can always see him and the other kids know not to run "at" him!

My sitter puts the youngest one, now about 14 months, in a stroller while the bigger kids play. She tries to put him on the slide and all, but he is content to just sit outside in the nice weather and watch the big kids play. I think once he is walking more he'll want out. And then good luck to her becacuse she has him, her daughter is almost 2, and then a 3 year old and two four year olds :).

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My sitter puts the youngest one, now about 14 months, in a stroller while the bigger kids play. She tries to put him on the slide and all, but he is content to just sit outside in the nice weather and watch the big kids play. I think once he is walking more he'll want out. And then good luck to her becacuse she has him, her daughter is almost 2, and then a 3 year old and two four year olds :).

I usually put the little ones in an exersaucer or bring out the take along swing. You could also put the baby in a stroller. He will love to watch the big kids play.

I used the exersaucer outside in the shade while the older toddlers played or I would wait for the baby's naptime and bring the monitor outside with me.

When my daughter was an infant and my son wanted to swim in the backyard all summer, I just kept a playpen by the back door. When it was time to go outside, I just put a few toys in the playpen and rolled it outside with her in it and parked her on the patio near the pool in the shade. She was always content to play in there because there was enough space to move around a bit, and being outside tends to naturally calm babies.

Depends on the weather, but as it gets warmer...I use the stroller or I bring out my spare excersaucer...or the jumperoo...or a blanket for non-mobiles. I have a large 20 foot diameter circle brick patio with an arbor my husband made covering it. It really really provides alot of shade and in the warmer/dry months we eat lunch and snacks out there and play out as much as possible.

If they crawl, they are given free reign as long as its dry, and watched closely for what goes into the mouth, plus I have baby safe swings (tall backed with buckles) and plan to get these neat little sun shades I saw on the Litle Tikes site for about $15 each (its pretty sunny where my backyard playground is).

For me the difficult time is these wet and soggy months. Winter we make do..but I have a 20* threshold.

Currently I have in care an 8 month old, 9 month old, 21 month old, 2 yr old and 3-3 year olds.

Get a wrap or sling & wear the baby.

When I was by myself I situated cribs on the front porch and put the babies or toddlers there and played in the front yard. I'm glad I am not alone in this house because our play space is in the back yard and we don't have a back door.

It's hard to be alone with a mixed group of ages and still promise to take the kids out everyday. Some moms put a big plastic pool in the back yard and fill it with baby safe toys and put baby in it. That way they are not putting leaves and rocks in their mouth as much.

Some moms put the babies in a stroller and keep them in there as much as possible.

We take the kids out all at once and we come in all at once. Little babies who are not crawling can be on a blanket, in a stroller or in a pack n play or carried in a baby bjorn. I like having a safe place to put the baby in case I need to help the other kids, but I carry and hold as much as I can so they can see what's going on too.

Good luck!

I always used a playpen and or stroller for the little ones. We would all go outside at the same time and all come in at the same time. no letting anyone out alone. bring the cordless phone out with you incase of emergency. you can have a carseat inside the door of the house so you can put the baby in it then bring the others in. wow haven't thought about that scenario in a long time. I always had a houseful of daycare kids. I was lucky the house was a ranch so all on one level. no dealing with stairs.

A playpen, or even a carrier on your back- worked for me! ;)