Gardening and Homesteading with a Baby: Stroller vs. Babywearing

Advantages of Using a Stroller While Gardening and Homesteading

When it comes to gardening and homesteading with a baby, I've found I prefer a stroller, for a variety of reasons. I see this question come up a lot on the gardening groups I'm a part of, in asking for baby wearing options or saying they have tried baby wearing and it's just not working for them. After all, babies get heavy and can be very awkward while bending, especially if they are on your front. I've watched videos of Justin Rhodes carrying his son on his back in a carrier but I've found I can't maintain carrying my older kids for that long and when they are younger I can't put them on my back by myself. My daughter was one that wanted constant skin contact so I baby wore her a lot but basically had to give up on harvesting berries because she kept getting scratched. I'm pretty sure I gave up on weeding that year too.

One of the primary advantages of using a stroller is not carrying the (heavy!) baby. Carrying a baby while bending, squatting, or working close to livestock can be physically demanding and potentially hazardous. A stroller provides a safe and secure place for your baby, allowing you to focus on your tasks without the added weight and pressure on your body. You can garden with baby next to you but without the extra weight as you bend over. You can keep baby close by and within eye distance while maintaining a safe distance from the livestock you're attending to. Some animals can kick, some can ram you over, and some can trip you. This can be dangerous if you're baby wearing. Side note: if you baby wear with larger livestock, I'm not casting any shame! I've been shamed on social media (before I learned to lurk and not post much!) for kayaking with my baby and toddler (despite being in a small calm lake, in a sturdy kayak, with life jackets) or letting them gasp climb higher than a foot off the ground, etc. I only bring up that there's potential for injury that should be considered, just as I carefully evaluated each place I took my kids kayaking and left room for error.

Here's my <1 min video on my favorite stroller features https://youtube.com/shorts/gdUdX5UCSPk?si=Ky92rhDaE8GP01IS

Other bonuses I appreciate: Built-in water bottle holders ensure that you stay hydrated, while sun shades and rain covers protect your baby from the elements. Snack trays can keep your child entertained and nourished, allowing you to work uninterrupted. I also used the step in front to sit on while breastfeeding. While not super comfortable it was better than sitting in the woodchips for me.

The only downsides are you have to maneuver the stroller around your garden so, depending on your terrain, you'll likely need larger wheels (for me with thorny blackberries that grow like weed coming up everywhere I also had to switch to the puncture proof tubes) and there has to be space to fit (but hopefully there is, as you should have room for a wheelbarrow or other garden cart anyway). And if you have a baby that is only calm with skin to skin contact (as one of my kids was) then anything besides babywearing doesn't last long.

Alternative Options: Blankets, Play Pens, and Babywearing

In addition to strollers, blankets and play pens serve as practical alternatives that provide a safe and comfortable space for the baby, allowing you to work hands-free.

Blankets are a straightforward choice; they can be spread out on a grassy area, giving the baby a soft and safe place to play or rest. This method allows the baby to be in close proximity, making it easy for the caregiver to monitor them while attending to gardening tasks. However, blankets may not be ideal in wet or sharp terrains (such as near those pesky thorny blackberries) and baby quickly learns how to be mobile and get off the blanket. I'm happy to say that so far I haven't seen any adverse affects from my kids eating small amounts of grass, dirt, and who knows what other natural things that are out there (it's best not to think about it too much). So definitely scan the environment to make sure there's nothing close by you don't want baby to put in their mouth, just as you would anywhere you put your baby down.

Play pens offer a more secure and contained environment. I especially appreciated this when I had transplants on the ground or tools that I didn't want a more mobile baby getting into. I was able to buy bug netting nd a sun shade to go over the top of mine as well. The only downside is my kids were interested in whatever toys I put in there for a little while but once they wanted out they were fussy until I took them out. Unlike baby wearing (where they often settle down) or the stroller (where usually a little change in scenery or another toy could distract).

Babywearing, where the baby is carried in a sling or baby carrier, presents another great option in general (when I'm out and don't want a stroller, such as going to the grocery store, or when I'm doing something in the house). Baby wearing allows that close physical contact that's so good for both parent and baby. You get to be hands free, and I even found I could breastfeed in the carrier so didn't necessarily have to stop other things I had to get done, in a pinch. However, as I mentioned before, it's extremely physically demanding to bend or squat with baby on your, and may pose safety risks near livestock or heavy machinery.

Each of these options has its unique advantages and disadvantages. Blankets and play pens provide a stable and secure environment but may limit mobility and comfort. Babywearing fosters close contact and hands-free operation but can be physically taxing and potentially hazardous depending on the surroundings. Ultimately, the choice will depend on the specific needs and preferences of you and the baby, as well as the nature of the tasks at hand. My personal vote is to have all these tools available to you, easily at hand so you can switch as you need to. Especially if you can find used items, you can have a dedicated collection for the garden. You're less likely to use the stroller in the garden if you have to go out to your car and pull it out, for instance. And if you have to wash your garden baby carrier more often then you don't want to realize on your way out to the grocery store yours is still drying (or hasn't been washed yet and covered in dirt and straw....).