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  Discussion on Underage Children in Barn
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Member:
Paix

Posted on Friday, Feb 18, 2005 - 12:24 pm:

Im wondering if there are any health reasons to keep my infant (6 mos) away from a barn setting? As a new mother, I appreciate any feedback on having my little guy at the barn with me!

THX!
Member:
Christos

Posted on Friday, Feb 18, 2005 - 1:50 pm:

I guess it depends on the barn, Dina, whether you allow him to crawl around or not and whether you leave him unattended for any length of time.
Rodents and snakes are an issue with infants, even in their cradles. They smell milk from a mile away.
Member:
Green007

Posted on Friday, Feb 18, 2005 - 2:15 pm:

I took my son with me to the barn since he was 2 weeks old, with no adverse effects. One thing I did as a precaution was to keep him in a snugli, and close to me at all times. Even a playpen can get run over by a loose horse. If I did have to put him in a playpen in order to handle a horse that was being difficult, I would put the playpen in an empty stall momentarily.

While my son was in the snugli, he really enjoyed being at the barn, and even laughed out loud as a youngster at some of the horses' antics.

However, use caution. It only takes a moment for a horse to headbutt your baby if you are too close to the horse. Avoid horses you know are flighty, and ask a barn teenager to hold him while you are working with a horse, if you have any at your barn (I got through many horse shows this way - I have video footage of me riding a dressage test while a fussy baby with "Mommyitis," that dreaded disese where only Mommy's arms will do, is screaming in the backgound)!

Also, keep watch for hay allergies and such.

Other than that go for it! I don't regret any of the days I brought my son to the barn with me, though it certainly limited what I could do.
Member:
Jojo15

Posted on Friday, Feb 18, 2005 - 2:32 pm:

what about all the dust. wouldn't that hurt a babes lungs so little? I would ask your doctor
joj
Member:
Paix

Posted on Friday, Feb 18, 2005 - 3:01 pm:

Thanks for all the quick replies!

...Never unattended and never out of an adults arms. Yes, I was wondering abt the dust and any possible disease (salmonella, etc) from fecal dust.

Thanks again - I have REALLY missed being with my horses!!!
Member:
Green007

Posted on Friday, Feb 18, 2005 - 3:25 pm:

I am not a doctor myself, but I do read a lot. From what I understand, it is the children that are overly protected from dust and germs early in life that most frequently get allergies and asthma later in life. Low grade exposure is actually good for them (within reason of course). Horse dust and dander is much thicker and more irritating than house dust, so probably couldn't be considered "low grade exposure."

That said, my son turned out fine! No allergies or asthma, 9 years old now, healthy, with half his classroom made up of children with allergies and asthma.

Member:
36541

Posted on Saturday, Feb 19, 2005 - 8:36 am:

Hi Dina! Isn't it great to be back with the horses? My four at home continue to recharge me spiritually, and the kids have been growing up in the barn(ages 2yr and 4 mo). I am an ER doc and my opinion about the dust is that if you have a problem with visible dust it will be a problem for anyone with respiratory sensitivity. It is not going to cause asthma or increase illness. I would strongly recommend the website www.kangarookorner.com for a babysling that is more barn friendly than a snugli. I can fill haynets, put blankets on and off, and clean stalls with my 15lber in it, and her face is protected while she sleeps. She often sleeps through the whole farrier and/or vet visit, and I can chase the two year old as well. Try the original fleece sling that the site owner designed - best baby money I have spent and my husband uses it too.
My broodmare is the only horse I allow my two year old to be on the ground around, as she has demonstrated a motherly interest in him, and never moves her feet at all when he is near the crossties. I did have a very scary moment when the same two year old was trying to climb over the wall of an injured yearling's stall - said he was going to "kiss bo-bo and make all betta"!
Good luck riding, I have become a "night rider" for now... Stacy
Member:
Paix

Posted on Saturday, Feb 19, 2005 - 11:33 am:

Thanks for the great sling website. I use a sling now, but it doesnt really allow me to be hands-free. The Kangaroo pouches have more material and appear more snug. Im going to give it a try.

Ive been hoping someone might respond with a sling-barn-horse success story!

Thanks again - Take care.
dina
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