Ranch Mama Learns: Bugs, Sun, and Wheels

When I first discovered I was pregnant, I thought that the timing was just about perfect. I would be pregnant over the winter and give birth in the early spring, so we could back in full force for the summer. It turns out, that was kind of true, but having a newborn into the summer presented us with a few specific challenges. As silly as this might sound, figuring out how to protect Huxton from bugs and the sun was a problem from the start. Not only is our boy fair-haired (he gets that from me), but he's little, too little for traditional bug sprays and sunscreens, plus he's prone to getting hot as well. Of course, he'll be the recommended six months old in October, just in time for bug spray and sunscreen to be put away in the cupboard for the winter (sigh...). So we started some brainstorming and research, and we came up with a few solutions that worked for us.

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Stroller

We opted for a BOB jogging stroller after doing lots of research. Let me tell you why this was the most practical option. First, the stroller is built for terrain, and at the ranch, we have terrain. Rocks, gravel, dirt, mud, sagebrush--we have all kinds. And we have hills and valleys too, so a stroller that can traverse these circumstances was imperative. BOB's front wheel can be set to go straight, or it can be set to telescope around. The wheels are sturdy, you can get a handy stroller wheel pump that fits in the stroller console, and when you get the first slow leak, it's easy to squirt some green tire goo in there, pump it back up, and head off. 

The BOB also has an attachment for the use of carseats, so the stroller can be used with little ones, and then you can transition them into the normal, lower seat as they get bigger. Hubs and I opted for this--giving Hux his own space made for much less overheating, which we all appreciated. He could sit in his own little spot, and we could pull the sunshades over him to keep him out of the sun.

We opted for a BOB in orange, but it comes in a few different colors. You can check out the BOB  here on Amazon, and take a look at the car seat adapter for it as well. 

Bug Protection

The whole bug protection thing was a big deal to me. Since we live in a river valley, where farm land is flood irrigated regularly to help crops grow (including our own fields), it was so important to find something to keep the bugs off my boy. His papa and I use a liberal amount of bug spray, but as bug sprays aren't recommended for little babies, we had to find another option. Searching led me to a bug net, which I purchased on Amazon. The net is an actual mosquito net, so it was fine mesh, and it has an elastic, drawstring edge that allows you to put it over a variety of spaces. We regularly put it over the stroller to keep bugs out, and have used it over the top of the pack 'n play too, with great success. With the bug net, I didn't have to worry about Hux sustaining bites, or be concerned about exposing him to chemicals that his body wouldn't be able to deal with. 

Sun Protection

I agonized over sunscreen options. Hux has inherited my fair skin, so aside from being a baby with sensitive skin, he's lightly colored (strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes) and super sensitive to the sun. Obviously, the best way to keep a baby from sunburn and overheating is to keep them out of the direct sunlight, so we have spent a huge amount of time this summer chasing shade. That works, most of the time. But in the case that my fair-haired boy has to see some actual sunshine, I opted to use Olay facial moisturizer with SPF 15. This was a recommendation that our pediatrician made, since the lotion is PABA free, gentle for his baby skin, and has just a slight amount of sunscreen in it.

The Take-away

So far, we've made a good go of ranch life with a little one in tow. Hux has only sustained one small sunburn, three or so mosquito bites, and we've hauled him all over the state in our BOB stroller. Huxton has gone with his papa to irrigate fields, strolled around shopping with me, and bombed around a few Cross Country courses at events, all safely ensconced in the BOB. And what I've really learned is this: 1. babies are incredibly adaptable and resilient; 2. it's best to make a plan for hauling baby around with you; and 3. having the right tools makes hauling baby around much easier. What tools have you found to make your adventures with baby easier?