How to Stay Safe in a Pumpkin Patch

Yearly trips to the pumpkin patch are one of those memories that stick with you for a lifetime. They’re a ton of fun when you’re a kid and then when you grow up you’ll want to bring your kids to them too. But, they aren’t without their safety concerns. Most pumpkin patches are on working farms which means that there are hazards everywhere.

But, with a little bit of effort, your family can have a safe trip to the pumpkin patch. I’ve put together this guide on how to stay safe at the pumpkin patch so you can continue to make wonderful memories with your family.

Here are ways to Stay Safe in a Pumpkin Patch:

Find an Age-Appropriate Pumpkin Patch

Not all pumpkin patches are created with everyone in mind. In fact, many pumpkin patches offer activities that aren’t friendly for the littlest ones. Others don’t offer anything for teens. So find a pumpkin patch in your area that fits your family. This will help kids stay safe as they won’t be introduced to activities that they aren’t old enough to do as well as keeping everyone from getting bored.

Remind Your Kids About Parking Lot Safety

Pumpkin patch parking lots are not the safest, lets just be honest. The cars are packed in tightly, there are no clearly defined spaces, and of course, there are kids running around everywhere. So it is important to remind your kids about parking lot safety. Ask them to stay close to you or give them a parking lot buddy who they have to hold hands with while they’re walking through the parking lot. They will likely need another small reminder as you’re leaving the pumpkin patch because their excitement will be so high.

Warn Your Kids to Walk Carefully

To avoid any falls it’s important to remind your kids to walk carefully and to watch where they walk. This is a farm and they won’t have perfect ground. There will be vines, stumps, rocks, and a whole lot of other tripping hazards. You may also need to watch out for snakes if you live in an area where they are a concern. Remind your kids not to run and that they need to keep their eyes on the ground because they could get hurt.

Dress for the Weather

It’s also important to remember to dress for the weather when you go to the pumpkin patch. Depending on where you live and what the weather is like the day you go you could end up stuck in a sudden rainstorm or you could end up experiencing a bit of a heatwave. Fall is a bit unpredictable like that. So the best thing you can do is be prepared for all weather. Everyone should be wearing layers that include a light rain jacket and a hood as well as a tee-shirt for hotter day.

For the bottom, half jeans are the best option. This is not only for weather but it will help save legs from getting scratched up, which is very possible. Finally, make sure that everyone is wearing tennis shoes or boots that have good grip and good coverage. The pumpkin patch is likely to be slippery and muddy.

Wear Sunblock

No matter what the weather is like make sure everyone is wearing sunblock. Because yes, you can get a sunburn on a cloudy day, even if you have darker skin. Don’t take any chances with your skin! Make sure it is applied to the faces, back of the neck, and arms of everyone in your family. That way if the sun is out everyone is protected as much as possible. My favourite brand for my baby is ThinkBaby! I wear Aveeno usually!

Bring Hand Sanitizer

Most pumpkin patches have animals of some kind that you can pet or even ride which isn’t the most sanitary situation. They also don’t always have somewhere you can wash your hands. That’s why you need to bring hand sanitizer. You don’t need to be militant about applying it. Just make sure it is applied after you’ve all finished petting the animals or before you’re going to eat anything. 

I hope you enjoyed this post on how to stay safe in a pumpkin patch!

If you liked this post make sure you check out these fall posts too!:

• 8 Ways to Treat Yourself This Fall
• 9 Best Canadian Destinations to Travel to in the Fall
• 25 Things to Do Before the End of Fall