Kids + Homestead = Spiders/Dangerous Critters!!??

Hey all! Little Miss E is six months old now, and is finally having long and consistent enough naps during the day for me to get some work done in the much neglected garden. Hubby and I have started off making one new veggie bed and going to let that sit until Spring (just ticked over into Autumn here in Aus). Plans for many more beds, but don't want to get overwhelmed.

My main thought is that I'd love to spend more than a stolen half hour at a time out there, and would like to be able to get out into it every day, which I'm struggling to do at this point. I'm trying to figure out a way for Miss E to spend more time in the garden with me, but I'm petrified of all the spiders (it's Australia, a lot of them can do damage) and hurtful bugs (bull ants, etc) we have here since our yard is a working ecosystem and has no lawn. Another consideration is the harsh Aussie sun.

I have an ergo carrier, but can't really lean over with her in it. Also worried about her getting sunburned.

We grabbed an old beefy pram off the side of the road, cleaned it up, and that worked well (she could last sitting in there for 45m or so) until she was sitting in it and a big spider ran up beside her and disappeared in behind the cushioning of her seat 😬

I have an easy-to-set-up sun tent meant for the beach that she could sit in, but pretty easy for anything to just crawl in there.

I could also get a portacot to set up with some mesh netting over the top, though would need something thicker for the sun. Also, to stop any bugs moving in, it'd have to be taken down and set back up every time.

This is all before she's on the move as well, which she's very much working on every day!

I grew up in Vancouver with nothing of the sort to worry about so I haven't had to think about this sort of thing before. Anyone else have suggestions as to what could work? Also a way to minimise as much risk for nasty bites once she's older and going playing in the yard...I mean, surely she's not the first child to grow up in this sort of environment, haha, how do all the other parents cope!?

Rather than a cute Praying Mantis, I wish you had posted what an ergo-carrier, a pram, or a portacot as I am not familiar with these.
I am sure others probably know what they are.

I am a DIY type person so I am posting these to give you some ideas.


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These look to me to be bug-proof when zipped closed and offer some shade.

I don't have any suggestions except maybe mosquito netting if the "enclosure" she's in permits it-- Anne`s ideas for "things that close" look good.

I do hear you, however, on it being overwhelming. I moved my 6-year-old daughter to the Brazilian capital for brown recluse spider bites. I remember finding a brown spider in her bed when we moved into our first house and being absolutely distraught. We also have venomous caterpillars, snakes almost on an Australian scale, and all sorts of stingy bugs and scorpions. We are people who like to go around barefoot. I underestimated the amount of courage required.
On the other hand, raising small humans involves lots of courage anyway. The kid made it to her senior year of high school without a brown spider bite (I knew it was coming sooner or later). I would see what other people do, they can`t all stay indoors!! And maybe see if there are any folksy things that people do to keep spiders away (certain smells, certain herbs here. Not sure if they actually work but they make me feel like I`m doing something.

I like Tereza's suggestions about using herbs.

Here is a pictures from a thread that might help:


Tips Tricks Gardening with Wee Ones

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and words of encouragement so far!

Anne Miller wrote:Rather than a cute Praying Mantis, I wish you had posted what an ergo-carrier, a pram, or a portacot as I am not familiar with these.

Sorry about that, Aussie terms, haha.
Ergo carrier = a brand of baby carrier, the one  I have can wear them on front or back (though I haven't been game enough to try her on my back yet and don't like the thought of her getting sunburned because I can't see her)
Pram = stroller
portacot  = portable crib like the one pictured above

Anne Miller wrote:I like Tereza's suggestions about using herbs.

Here is a pictures from a thread that might help:

Tips Tricks Gardening with Wee Ones

That thread is fantastic, thank you so much for linking it! A lot of great ideas and I absolutely love this quote:

justplainmarie wrote:No matter what you’re raising on your homestead, and no matter where it’s located, remember that your number one crop, your most important harvest, will be your children.

It also brings back the importance of why I'm doing all this and why it's so important not to just take the easy route and leave her inside...want her to be just as comfortable spending her days outside as in, no matter what her age.

I'll see what I can find re:spiders and different herbs etc as well, great idea Tereza!

I have always had a fascination with Australia, but yeah, your bug/spider/snake situation freaks me out.  I live where the only real risk is rare, bears and cougars, but at least you can usually see, hear or smell them; no poisonous snakes and only two spiders that are relatively mildly poisonous, the brown recluse and black widow!

My suggestion is similar to Anne's; no offence, but look at these dog/cat outdoor playpens.  I get them 4-5 feet across, WITH (not all come with solid top) a zip on roof.  Canadian Amazon sells them for $50-$60 new; I get mine cheap from their "warehouse" department where returned items sell for less.

That said, any portable enclosure (lightweight or ideally on wheels) would allow you to keep it close by, covered with mosquito mesh should fit the bill; depending on the design of your garden, longer and narrower might be best; perhaps repurpose an old wheeled cart with PVC pipe frame and hot glue or use clamps (like they do for holding on greenhouse plastic) to attach mosquito mesh so there is no wood to hold splinters or dampness.  

Mosquito mesh comes in a lot of options.  Metal, plastic, fiberglass...  you may want to go the extra mile, if building, and get the heavy duty stuff that is supposedly cat and dog proof - a cat can climb it and not damage it.

The second option is to build a largish structure such as a meshed in gazebo or get a free standing mesh tent and place it on a solid wood base and secure the bottom to the base.  These would allow for much more freedom to crawl or have a suspended cradle or jumping swing (Jolly Jumper) now and later provide more space for a toddler to cruise around say with a push bike, climbing structure, desk/table for coloring etc.  Heck, you could even make it two stories so later it becomes a fort...  my inner child is imagining all sorts!

The floor could be covered with those interlocking foam squares or heavy duty, vinyl encased wrestling mats or gymnastic tumbling mats for fall safety.  If it were adequately roofed it would be protected from rain/sunlight.  If the mesh was firmly attached, I would think this outdoor room could be used for everyone; maybe even a hammock for MUM!

Good luck!

I personally can't help you since I'm from the PNW where there are no native poisonous bugs or spiders or snakes. But last year I attended a virtual conference on risky play and nature schooling. There were a lot of presenters especially for the little ones and one was a preschool in Australia. I'm wracking my brain trying to remember the name of the school because there was a lot of information for educating the permies. I bet they would have lots of good knowledge about the poisonous wildlife and how to protect little kids. Maybe try googling "nature schooling Australia" or "forest schooling Australia" or "bush school" and looking for places that might be willing to answer your questions. I'll post again if I remember the school/website I'm thinking of.

A quick search turned up "Raising Wildlings" a podcast from Australia that addresses along other topics "tips for... a mother wanting to learn more about why play is so important and how to get children outdoors safely, then this is the podcast for you." wildlingsforestschool.com

Natureplay.org.au looks like it could bea good resource to ask your questions. There was specifically an app on their website for ages 0-3 about playing outdoors in nature.

I'm sure there are lots of other good resources out there once you know what to look for! 😊

Jenny Wright wrote:A quick search turned up "Raising Wildlings" a podcast from Australia that addresses along other topics "tips for... a mother wanting to learn more about why play is so important and how to get children outdoors safely, then this is the podcast for you." wildlingsforestschool.com

Natureplay.org.au looks like it could bea good resource to ask your questions. There was specifically an app on their website for ages 0-3 about playing outdoors in nature.

I'm sure there are lots of other good resources out there once you know what to look for! 😊

Thank you so much!!!