9 Month Hates to Be Outside

I imagine we can safely assume that in 9 months, he
hasn't ONLY been outside the walls of a building when he was at the daycare center, right? :)
Surely YOU'VE taken him outside... does he do this with you?
I think that this is more a case of being "let go" in a large and unfamiliar area, with lots of other kids running around.
I'm sure it's probably a security issue more than anything.
I think if it was a light sensitivity thing, then he'd fuss just taking him from the house to the car.
Did the daycare worker say if he starts to fuss the SECOND they walk outside? When she puts him down? When other kids start running around him? More details from the provider might help you figure out what he's really crying about.

Best wishes!
T.

sounds like he may be sensitive to sun - check with his dr.

Any chance he has light sensitivities? Evidently it runs higher in redheads (my husband and son are both reds). I had to start putting baby sunglasses with the elastic-y strap around his head and a sun hat when he was old enough to play outside.

He's four now, and it's gotten better, but on bright days he'll bury his head on me and scream, refusing to move if we get caught out without his sunglasses or a hat.

He could have sensory issues, my son had this and still does at 5 years old, we actually had to rub him all over kind of making a friction on his skin and then attempt the new sense again. outside is a BIG one, there is the sun, and the wind and the noises and the smell...everything is just different. I would rub him down, and then take him out. 5 minutes no matter how he is acting, and then bring him back inside. Do this several times a day on a nice day, and even if it is raining out as long as it is warm I would make a mad dash outside with him, and then back in. You sometimes just have to warm him up to his senses!!!!
Good Luck!

I run a home day care and have a 13 month old that freaks out also. As soon as I gave her a safe chair to sit on she felt secure and settled in with watching the other children play. I am sure over time she will venture out and play also. Good luck!

On days that you are home with him that its nice outside work on it with him. I had a niece that was the same way around that age. We got a play pen and started her in it and just set it in the shade on the porch. Then slowly moved it into the yard further and further each time we went out. Then she was around the kids more and got used to it easier and less tramatically that way. Then she eventually wanted to be with the rest of the kids and wanted out of the play pen. Poor play pen was bought for that purpose and never used again. But it did help.

hi R. W., i have a little girl that i have watched since she was 6 months old i started watching her in jan so by the time it became nice outside she was 9 months she didnt like it outside either but i would take her out and put her in the grass and try to get her to crawl and move around but she would have it but she would sit in a baby swing that i have on the swing set she loved that. so evertime it was nice i would take her out put her in the grass and walk a few steps away and everyday i would go farther and she would gradually start coming towards me and then we would go swing. now she is 19 months old and i cant wait for this summer and to get outside. i would say just keep doing it, she didnt like to sit in the grass, but she got used to it it took a little time but its all good now. when its nice and you get home before going inside set him the grass for a few minutes try to get him to walk with you shoe him flowers, trees, anything you might have in the yard things like that, hope this helps W.

It could be a variety of things. Maybe it is just that it is a different environment. It is possible that it is just sensory overload for him. Maybe the wind, even a gentle breeze, hurts his ears. Could be that the light is hard on his eyes. Are there other aversions he seems to have?

My 10 month old was scared of the grass and sand at the playground we live by. Why? Because it was different. Maybe your little guy is scared of something like that. The sunny days we've had have been windy here. It could be the wind. Or the bright sun in his eyes. Kids need time to get use to something different. Maybe he is use to going outside only when it's time to go places with with you, and he gets outside and you're not there and it scares him. Have you tried going outside to play with him (not the daycare, but YOU)? Try it, and maybe you'll see what he is afraid of!

I would suggest having him checked out with your doctor to make sure the sun isn't actually hurting him. It's not very common, but it could happen. Otherwise, you could try taking him outside, but in the shade, give him some cute little sunglasses and see how he does with that.

Dear R.,
You might take him to the Doc and see if he has any allergies. Or, he might just feel very insecure out in the big wide world, so try holding him and keeping him near for a while, and have a favorite toy or blanket for him.
Good luck!
L.