https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 09 Apr 2026 06:07:45 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anxiety-about-lo-getting-hurt-outside#post-2158680 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 14:55:23 +0000 jedeve 2158680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you feel like the outside is genuinely more dangerous than the inside? To me it seems like there are plenty of ways my kid can hurt himself indoors (jumping off the couch, grabbing a knife off the counter while we cook dinner (please tell me this has happened to someone else!)). I think toddlers somehow immediately gravitate to things that are dangerous. But after they've been in a place for a while, those things (the road, the stairs) just become part of the background after a while. </p> <p>In the long run, there are so many benefits to being outside. Kids tend to be calmer, less over stimulated and more engaged. They can practice gross motor skills. They learn about nature, are exposed to good bacteria, are less likely to develop allergies and more likely to develop good eyesight. It's better air quality. To me, it's one of the most important things we do in our family, and we aim to go outside every day. Although yesterday it snowed, so we didn't!<br /> And one big benefit is they can't get the house messy when they are outside!</p> <p>Would more directed activities help? Going on walks, riding a balance bike, planting in a garden? Or eating snack outside?</p> <p>The other day my LO was playing outside with some friends. They kept running up a "hill" (a mound a tree was planted in) and falling down it on purpose (it was raining). My LO ran up to me and said, "I'm gonna fall down and get another owie!" and then ran back, as excited as can be. Kids don't really seem to mind bumps and scrapes. As a kid, I certainly didn't - I thought they were badges of honor! Your LO will be okay. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anxiety-about-lo-getting-hurt-outside#post-2157909 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 08:18:17 +0000 looch 2157909@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Applesandbananas: What about some visual clues for boundaries, so your LO doesn't run out into the street? I put cones up at the end of our driveway and my son respects them. He didn't at first, but now he knows the rules.</p> <p>As for getting hurt, I try not to think about it. My son had a couple of really bad falls this weekend, but he dusted himself off and got back up. He's learned how to manage his falls, if you can imagine that visual. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anxiety-about-lo-getting-hurt-outside#post-2157860 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 07:48:33 +0000 hotchildinthecity 2157860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah I'm one of those that lets the kiddo get hurt to learn boundaries and such. When he first came home I kept telling him to stop standing on the couch because I thought he would fall off and hit his head on the coffee table. And about the 900th time, that's exactly what happened. And guess who never stood on the couch after that?</p> <p>We're in the city so we don't have a grassy backyard or closed in safe space so I just have to not worry and let him be a kid! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anxiety-about-lo-getting-hurt-outside#post-2157851 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 07:39:58 +0000 lamariniere 2157851@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with the others who said you kind of just have to let them experiment (provided they are safe).</p> <p>But on street safety, I absolutely agree with you about keeping him away (even if there are no cars), and taking away the privilege of being outside if he goes into the street. As city-dwellers with no yard, street safety is one of my MAJOR areas of anxiety and I am draconian about safety. One wrong move (not holding hands, not stopping at the corner, even stepping a tiny bit off of the sidewalk) and there are consequence. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anxiety-about-lo-getting-hurt-outside#post-2157654 Sun, 26 Apr 2015 20:55:40 +0000 Smurfette 2157654@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>R was walking on our front retaining wall like a balance beam cause our neighbor's 4 yr old was. It pretty wide stones but she still fell. I ran and jumped down and picked her up and she was fine. Cause of course she fell at the highest part. Our yard has a big slant. Luckily she fell between the wall and hydrangea bushes. So she didn't cut herself on the bushes since they were all sticks since it was winter. But you know 3 mins later she was trying to do it again. But I think it was good she wasn't so scared to try it again. Now she is definitely more careful so she doesn't fall again but she is so happy when she can walk the whole thing. Kids are going to fall. Just like us they have to learn from their mistakes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anxiety-about-lo-getting-hurt-outside#post-2157644 Sun, 26 Apr 2015 20:47:11 +0000 blackbird 2157644@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>E totally flips out of her cozy coupe all the time, heh. </p> <p>What's the worst that can happen? Break a bone, I guess? E's a daredevil and all that's happened so far is a lot of nasty bruises and scrapes. Kids like fun bandaids, so there's that :)they heal quickly, they learn their boundaries....I think you have to decide how big the box is you'll let them play in and just let them go. I have to remind myself to trust my kid to know herself-and yeah, it's a lot to ask of a two year old! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anxiety-about-lo-getting-hurt-outside#post-2157559 Sun, 26 Apr 2015 19:11:53 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2157559@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For scraped up knees I would often make her go out in jeans so she at least had some barrier/protection. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anxiety-about-lo-getting-hurt-outside#post-2157558 Sun, 26 Apr 2015 19:11:06 +0000 Foodnerd81 2157558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh- and thick pants like jeans are best when they are still getting used to running around outside. We went on vacation at the end of the winter and C was used to being cooped up inside for so long, so she was SO excited to run outside and promptly fell and skinned her knees so many times, since she was just in shorts. Poor baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anxiety-about-lo-getting-hurt-outside#post-2157555 Sun, 26 Apr 2015 19:09:34 +0000 Foodnerd81 2157555@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Applesandbananas: everyone pretty much said what I would, but as far as stairs, C is obsessed with them too. I am trying (not always successfully) to teach her which are ok to play on and which ones she needs to wait for mommy and aren't for playing. So at the playground she can go up and down the play structure stairs all day, though I stand there and spot her). But at home she can climb the stairs in our condo but I have to be with her and she can't stop and dawdle. (This is easier to enforce since they are in the common area, not in our condo, so she can't access them without me!). At my parents house she can climb their stairs but she has to wait for me to come help her. She follows these rules at least half the time so it's progress. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anxiety-about-lo-getting-hurt-outside#post-2157549 Sun, 26 Apr 2015 19:04:39 +0000 Greentea 2157549@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think that's stressful for anyone. I would just make a safe space, fenced in grassy yard? Kids will get hurt no matter what, but that would help reduce the stress. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anxiety-about-lo-getting-hurt-outside#post-2157513 Sun, 26 Apr 2015 18:15:45 +0000 birdofafeather 2157513@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also think there is an important part of kids exploring and yes, getting hurt, to learn their physical limits and boundaries. I've let my daughter explore and climb and fall and she has cuts and scrapes and has lost her big toe nail 3 times but she has figured things out along the way and I can really trust her not to do anything too crazy. Granted, I know there is a limit to this as I have a guy friend who was a crazy daredevil and always breaking his limbs, and otherwise seriously injuring himself, but for most kids, I think the falling and having consequences is a part of growing and learning. </p> <p>I agree with PPs though about the running into the street but we also live on a cul de sac and I'd rather teach my child about street safety on a safe street than never expose them and them still be running in the street when we're on a busier street. So yeah, there will be an element of watching and teaching for a while but I think it's better to do it at home where you have more control until he figures stuff out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anxiety-about-lo-getting-hurt-outside#post-2157494 Sun, 26 Apr 2015 17:58:11 +0000 PurplePeony 2157494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would try to keep him on grass and let him be. Kids need to experience things to learn. My DD has wiped out on pavement before and skinned her hands (I'm always worried about her hitting her face and hurting her teeth, but knock on wood it hasn't happened yet). She's tripped on things at the park, gone down the slide too fast and wooshed off the end, etc. She LOVES going up and down stairs so I help her practice -- I feel like doing it more makes her better at it, and therefore she'll be safer on the stairs in the long run. Plus, it helps her burn off excess energy, haha. Running into the street would be the only big issue for me, do you have a place to play that's away from a street? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anxiety-about-lo-getting-hurt-outside#post-2157448 Sun, 26 Apr 2015 16:47:32 +0000 Applesandbananas 2157448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: I think we've made the yard as safe as we can. I do take stuff away/make him go inside if he isn't following the rules. These days it seems like all I do is tell him no :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anxiety-about-lo-getting-hurt-outside#post-2157446 Sun, 26 Apr 2015 16:42:53 +0000 hilsy85 2157446@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would make the space as safe as possible (so if he keeps trying to climb out the window of the cozy coupe, take it away. Do you have a fenced in area?) and then just let him go. Kids get hurt-LO has had more scratches, cut knees, and bumps on the face than i can count. Somehow none have been too major. But if he doesn't get to practice and learn his physical limits, then it will just be a longer process for you guys! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anxiety-about-lo-getting-hurt-outside#post-2157440 Sun, 26 Apr 2015 16:39:15 +0000 Applesandbananas 2157440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've had a couple of super nice days over the last few weeks and I've been trying to get LO, 2, outside as much as possible. </p> <p>It seems like every time we play in our yard, LO comes really close to getting hurt. Today, I looked down at my Fitbit for a split second, to see how many steps I had, and LO nearly flipped himself out of his cozy coupe truck on to the driveway. I managed to catch him, just barely. </p> <p>Then, he tripped over nothing and landed hard on the pavement, thankfully he only had a few scratches. </p> <p>He likes to climb the stairs too, but I emphasize stairs are not for playing and make him stop, unless we are truly going in or out. </p> <p>It's so anxiety-inducing. I know kids get hurt and we can't protect them from everything, but the cozy coupe flipping freaked me out big time. </p> <p>He's also testing boundaries and trying to run into the street (for which he gets one warning and then we go inside). We live in a quiet cul-de-sac, with families, so the few cars that come down our street are going slowly and generally paying attention, but him randomly running into the street freaks me out too. </p> <p>It's at the point where going outside just sucks for me. Unless I watch him like an absolute hawk, he's going to wind up hurt. Ugh. Any advice? </p>