How To Take Both a Toddler and a Baby to the Park

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Having to handle a toddler, especially when they’re having fun at the park, is enough of a handful. When you add a baby to that mix, things can quickly get way out of hand. Though it can be exhausting, managing two kids at the park can be much easier when you’re prepared for it.

Here’s how to take both a toddler and a baby to the park:

Choose the park carefully.
Dress them properly.
Use sunscreen.
Pack a busy bag with supplies.
Encourage your toddler to “help” with the baby.
Get a baby wrap or baby sling carrier.
Schedule fun activities that’ll involve both the toddler and the baby.
Embrace the possibility of chaos.
Coordinate their naps to give yourself a break.
Ask for help if you need it.

If you find yourself in this chaotic situation and you need to get out of the house, stick around. This article will show you how to not only take your little ones to the park but to have fun in the process.

1. Choose the Park Carefully

Time at playgrounds and parks is fantastic for a child’s development, but you have to be careful about what you’re exposing them to.

If your baby is under 6 months, or either of the kids is ill, a park isn’t the best of choices. While it’s an excellent experience for your toddler, you could end up exposing the baby to germs and pathogens that will be especially dangerous for them because their immune system can’t handle it just yet.

A good alternative in this situation is to set up a mock playground in the backyard.

If the kids are clear to go to the park, you should select the place carefully. It’s pretty tempting to just go to the nearest playground, but there are a couple of factors that are just as important as proximity.

Here’s a short question checklist for choosing a safe park:

Is the park properly fenced in, preferably with a lockable gate?
Does it have age-appropriate equipment in good shape for your toddler?
Does it have a history of child safety?
Does it have a usable bathroom inside or close by?
If your toddler has a disability, does it have inclusive play equipment?
Is the park close to hazardous areas like busy streets, ditches, electrical power lines, or toxic air hazards?
Does the park have a shade where you can keep them safe from the sun?

The FDA advises that babies under 6 months should be kept away from direct sunlight, so a shield from the sun is absolutely compulsory for a baby about that age. Taking both a toddler and a baby to the park will usually mean that your attention is diverted to only one of the kids.

That’s why it’s so crucial that you choose a park where both of them are safe, even when you don’t have your eyes on them.

2. Dress Them Properly

You should take out time to carefully choose clothes for your baby, toddler, and yourself.

Your clothes should be suitable for the weather. If it’s cold outside, opt for warm, layered clothing. The weather can also be pretty unpredictable, so clothes under the layers should be light enough to wear alone if things get warmer.

For hot weather, wear light clothes so they can comfortably move around and explore, but with long sleeves and pants to avoid burns.

Dressing your toddler in a bright color or pattern shirt can also be a pretty helpful hack. It helps you easily spot them from afar, even in a crowd of kids, and keep a watchful eye out while they explore. Even if they’re not wearing bright colors, you should make a mental note of what the kids are wearing before you take off on your park adventure.

3. Use Sunscreen

Toddlers are super active in parks, even when it’s sunny, so it’s important to apply sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher on every part of their body to prevent painful sunburns and protect them from harmful UV radiation. This is one thing you should do before leaving the house because applying sunscreen on a jumpy, excited kid when you’re already at the park can be an almost impossible task.

You could make a game of asking them what parts you haven’t covered, so you don’t get any surprise sunburns.

A baby’s skin is very sensitive, so it may be safe to only apply sunscreen to your toddler.

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that you don’t apply sunscreen on your baby until they’re older than 6 months. You should also rub the sunscreen on your toddler for at least 30 minutes before taking off.

This will ensure that your toddler’s skin absorbs it properly, and it’s less likely to wash off when they sweat while playing.

A hat can also be super helpful, especially with keeping the sun out. If your toddler has trouble keeping the hat on, you can get one with a tie or strap so it can stay on while they’re actively playing.

4. Pack a Busy Bag With Supplies

The park can’t offer everything for every toddler, and most toddlers have an attention span so short that they can get bored and restless with limited activities. Aside from the fun stuff, you also need to pack functional needs for taking care of the kids while you’re out.

Here’s a checklist of some of the things you might need:

A change of clothes, in case the weather changes
A small and large-size towel
Wipes
A lot of water
Juice
Enough low-sugar, easy-to-eat snacks for a small picnic, such as sandwiches, veggie sticks, or raisins.
Diapers
A feeding bottle
Extra sunscreen
Bug spray
Sunglasses

Toddlers are quite inquisitive, so the fun stuff is also important. You can even use your bag as a trick to handle their restless nature.

Restrict access to the busy bag so you can hold their attention and keep them excited about what else you have planned. “Surprise” them one activity at a time, and present it with a flourish, so it seems super exciting.

Things you might find handy are:

Child-friendly toys
Lego blocks
Art supplies
Simple puzzles
A ball
Colorful, illustrated books

Taking them to the park doesn’t have to be all work, as you can make memories while you’re there. You could also pack a camera or phone to record the kids while you’re all having fun. Be careful, though, as a phone can be an easy distraction.

For your toddler’s safety, you must be constantly aware of where they are and what they’re doing.

5. Encourage Your Toddler To “Help” With the Baby

Asking your toddler to “help” with the baby helps them feel older, more mature, and proud of their special task. You could give them a safe task like being the special “baby watcher” or “bottle holder.”

This can help you kill a couple of birds with one stone by helping the kids bond and keeping both of them actively engaged yet safely in your sight.

You might get little actual help out of it, but that’s alright. A toddler is much less likely to throw a tantrum while feeling important and responsible as they care for a younger one. For the baby’s safety, don’t leave the kids alone together.

It’s common for toddlers to affectionately try to feed babies or put them in danger by innocently trying to play. Make sure you keep an eye on your toddler when they’re involved with the baby.

6. Get a Baby Wrap or Sling Carrier

Even when they’re both on their best behavior, dealing with two kids can still be a handful. A useful maneuver is using a baby wrap or a sling carrier to firmly keep the baby close while your hands stay free to handle the toddler. A baby wrap can be handy while you’re all walking.

When you’re in transit before or during your time at the park, you’ll have at least one bag to carry, a toddler to hold by the hand, and a baby to keep comfortable.

With a sling carrier, you can keep the baby safely snuggled against you. Babies are usually quite comfy in that position, so it’s much less likely you’ll have to deal with a crying fit. You can keep your excited toddler in line and carry your park supplies with your hands.

Even if you do have to calm the baby, it’s much easier to do it when they’re already nuzzled against your chest, and you don’t have to worry about carrying them.

7. Schedule Fun Activities To Involve Both the Toddler and Baby

When you’re the only chaperone for fun-time with a toddler and baby, it’s impossible to actively play with both of them simultaneously.

Having your energetic toddler excited to play at the park is great, but when the baby’s also crying, crawling, walking around, putting everything in their mouth, or trying to get some of the action too, things can get downright nerve-wracking. A common hack for staying sane while keeping both of them safe and under control is to prepare for simple activities involving both children.

Here are some ideas you could try out.

Take a Walk

It’s a simple idea, but it can work wonders when your toddler is rarin’ to go, and you need them to burn off some of that energy. You could strap your baby in a stroller or carry them with you if you’re feeling up to it. If your baby’s old enough, they could even do a little walking.

Swings

If your park has a swing, that’s another easy playtime alternative. Swings are age-dependent, so you have to ensure that those around you are suitable for your kids’ ages.

Even swings meant for their age range, make sure you rock them carefully. Only let the baby go in a high-back swing, and be extra slow and very gentle. Before you start pushing the swing, check to ensure that both kids are sitting steadily.

Outdoor Games

The people and nature in the park could also serve as content for your activities. Games like Nature-based Bingo, Color hunt, and Hop-on-over are creative ways to keep the children engaged. For game ideas, check out this list of park games for toddlers curated by Made for Mums.

If you need time alone to nurse the baby and clean up, you could also plan safe, fun stuff for your toddler alone while you attend to that. If the park has attractions like slides and sand areas, they can come in handy during a time like this.

8. Embrace the Possibility of Chaos

If you’re hoping for a quiet day, you should forget about that. Having silence around two little ones is so unusual that quiet should have you worried. Everyone loves a calm, restful day, but you won’t get that while taking a toddler and baby to the park.

Coming to terms with it earlier on can help make your day easier.

With children comes the unexpected because they’re so full of surprises that even with the best-laid plans, there are no absolute guarantees. You may never fully anticipate the curveballs your day will throw you, so it helps to keep your mind prepared for anything and embrace the unexpected if it comes.

9. Coordinate Their Naps To Give Yourself a Break

Trying to keep up with the energy of kids is difficult and more often than not, it can get exhausting. If you need some time to yourself to relax and recharge after your park adventure, a nap can be the perfect way to slip it in.

To get the best break, it’s often better to make both your toddler and baby take their naps simultaneously.

10. Ask for Help if You Need It

Taking two energetic kids into the great outdoors is no mean feat. Sometimes, the task can get so overwhelming that even a break isn’t enough for you to recharge.

You don’t need to have it all figured out. It might be difficult to admit, but if you need an extra pair of hands to help with the children, don’t hesitate to ask a friend, a family member, or a paid caregiver to help you out. Accept their help, and don’t feel less of yourself for it.

Conclusion

You’re all set for your adventure at the park. From preparing for your trip to handling both children while you’re out, you have all the tips you need. It could seem like a lot of planning, but it’s not so complicated.

You don’t need a comprehensive plan, but jotting out points and game ideas on your phone can help keep your time at the park more organized.