Why Do Babies Avoid Grass – This is Why!

Babies are adorable, fun, and explorative little creatures. The world is new to them and they seem so eager to get their hands on everything – so why do babies avoid grass? Truth be told, there are some babies that love grass and some that loathe it. So, what makes the difference? We’ll explore those answers in today’s post. 

Why Do Babies Instinctively Avoid Grass?

If you find that your baby or 1 year old doesn’t like grass, it may come as a complete shock. After all, who doesn’t love sinking their toes in warm, plush, soft grass? Your baby, that’s who! And it seems that they aren’t changing their mind anytime soon.

Now what?

First and foremost, relax. Many things your baby does now he or she will grow out of in due time. For now, there are reasons he or she is avoiding the grass–but what could those reasons be? 

Since your baby isn’t old enough to talk yet, you’ll have to do some investigating on your own. Consider these possible reasons your baby could be avoiding grass.

Texture

Yes, you know it’s true. There are some things your baby can’t stand the texture of, and it’s possible that grass is one of them.

To us, grass feels warm and pleasant–most of the time. But to a crawling or newly walking baby, the sensation may feel itchy, scratchy, and unpleasant. 

Foreign Entity

To most of us adults, grass is a part of our everyday norm. We’ve seen it so much, we don’t even pause to take notice of it. But to a baby, especially a very small baby, everything is new. Even grass!

For this reason, you may see your baby retract themselves as you try to put them on the grass. They aren’t sure what it is, and yet you are trying to thrust their entire body onto it? Um, no thank you.

There’s Stuff IN the Grass

Yes, you read that right.

An older baby or toddler may be old enough to know that there’s more to grass than just grass. Beetles, ants, rocks, dog poo–You name it! And it is possible that they’ve already had a negative experience with whatever they’ve found lurking there before.

Therefore, maybe–just maybe–this is the reason your little one avoids grass like the plague. But it can be hard to know for sure!

Is It Good For Babies to Walk on Grass?

Despite your baby’s reservations concerning grass, it can help to know that allowing your baby to walk on grass can be very helpful for their sensory development. 

Not only does walking on the grass provide your baby with something in nature to feel with their hands and feet, but it also provides them with opportunities for exploration. By allowing your baby to sit, walk, and explore grass, you encourage the use of imagination while exposing your baby to elements they can use their senses to learn more about. This in and of itself can be very enriching and educational for children this age. 

Having said that, there are some downsides to placing your baby on the grass. 

Your baby can encounter objects in the grass that may eventually make their way into their mouths, turning an adventure out in nature into a choking hazard. Additionally, your baby may step on something sharp or may begin to mouth plants that are poisonous. Add to that the fact there can be dangerous insects and creatures hiding about in your grass, and, well, you’ve got enough reason to think twice about leaving your baby there unsupervised. 

When Can You Put Babies on Grass?

Now that you know some of the advantages and disadvantages of placing babies in grass, you may be wondering what age is right for introducing grass to your baby.

In reality, there is no one set age to introduce grass to your baby. However, it may be helpful to wait until your baby is at least 6 months old to ensure that he or she can at least begin to support themselves on their own. There’s plenty of activities they can start with!

Remember that it is also fine to let your baby crawl in the grass. However, we don’t recommend laying young babies directly on the grass due to the insects and creatures that may be living there.

How Do I Introduce My Baby to Grass?

A good way to introduce your baby to grass is to do it slowly. Avoid hurling your baby onto plush green pastures, especially if they are showing hesitation.

Instead, patiently allow your baby to explore the grass at their own pace. You may even allow them to hold a few blades of grass, sniff it, tug at it, and do whatever else they need to do to get used to it. 

After that, try having your baby sit on the grass on a blanket or activity mat while doing something they enjoy, such as playing with their favorite toy. You can even try doing tummy time with your baby at the edge of the blanket while allowing them to explore the grass at their own pace. 

Why Do Babies Avoid Grass? Some Babies Simply Don’t Like It!

Remember that not all babies balk at the idea of grass, but there are a few that do.

Rather than force your baby to play in it, try more indirect approaches that allow your baby to explore at their own pace. The more pressure you apply to make them play in the grass the more they will likely avoid it.

We hope this has helped! 

FAQs

Maria Wilcox

Former instructor with an M.A. in Education turned grateful stay-at-home mama to one, I look to share helpful insights related to babies, toddlers, kids, and families for the benefit of real people just like you.