'Newborns Are Like Teeny, Tiny Animals': How Bindi Irwin's Wild Life Prepared Her For Motherhood

As a conservationist, TV personality, and the daughter of Steve "The Crocodile Hunter" Irwin, Bindi Irwin has lived through plenty of wild adventures. However, it seems that her journey into motherhood has been one of the most profound. "Having a child, it is this gift of healing parts of you that you didn't know needed to be healed," she told the "Seize the Yay" podcast. "I watch this beautiful human, filled with so much joy and wonder for the world ... Having her, my perspective on so much has changed where I don't have time for the negativity." 

That said, Bindi acknowledges that child-rearing also takes a huge amount of work — not unlike being a zookeeper. "Newborns are like teeny, tiny animals that we get at our wildlife hospital," she told Today. "They have to eat around the clock; they have absolutely no way of communicating other than crying, and you have to figure out what the problem is. They need constant care and 100% of your energy, 100% of the time." She jokingly added, "Crocs are probably easier."

Luckily, Bindi had plenty of wildlife-wrangling experience to draw from as she found her parenting style. Even before her grown-up career as a conservationist, Bindi's own childhood at Australia Zoo was filled with animals and nature — a lifestyle she's now trying to recreate for her daughter, Grace. And so far, it seems to be working. As Bindi revealed on "Seize the Yay," Grace is truly a chip off the Irwin family block. "Having Grace, you know, she always says, I'm your mini! I'm mini-Mama!" Sweet pics of Bindi Irwin and her daughter underscore this sentiment; from learning about wild creatures to embracing the outdoors, Bindi and Grace have clearly started off on very similar paths.

Bindi Irwin was born into one of the world's most famous naturalist dynasties, was raised in a wildlife park, and was even named after one of her dad's favorite crocodiles. So it's no surprise that her upbringing featured a lot of time outside, interacting with all sorts of animals. "Our whole life revolves around wildlife," Bindi explained to Today. "It's not just what we do — it is completely who we are. I've been working with animals since before I could walk ... I was teeny tiny when my mom and dad started introducing me to different animals."

It was a unique childhood, and one that Bindi appreciated from a young age. "I am the luckiest kid in the world. I live in a zoo and get to teach other kids about animals in a fun way. What more could you want?" she told HopeChannel Australia when she was 12. "Every day is a new adventure. After school, I might help feed the echidnas, play with the elephants, or go on a wildlife rescue. One thing is for sure, I am always learning, whether it's at school or out in the zoo with the animals."

Now in her late 20s, Bindi Irwin has had quite the transformation since those early years. But her heart is still deeply rooted in the natural world — a passion that's influenced how she views parenthood. As Bindi told The Bump, "I want to give our daughter the opportunity to experience as much as possible in the world to set her up for life." This includes raising Grace to love animals and understand the passion for conservation that drives the Irwin family.

As a mother, Bindi Irwin is giving her daughter the same fun and free childhood she enjoyed by making nature central to her parenting philosophy. "Grace is a free-range kid; she just runs around and has so much fun with all of our animals ... She has the best childhood," Bindi told SheKnows. Luckily, Grace seems well-suited to this adventurous lifestyle, often displaying the outgoing spirit of her late grandfather, Steve Irwin. "Grace, oh my goodness, she is a wild child," Bindi said, appearing on the podcast "Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce." "She has my dad's personality. I did not expect that ... I was like, 'Where did this come from?' Oh, my dad." 

Of course, living in a literal zoo also means setting careful boundaries — even more than the average mom. "We've started her off really slow, but there are definitely regulations," Bindi continued. "It's tricky, 'cause she wants to be part of everything. So, it's finding that balance ... I want her to be curious and love these animals. I never want her to be worried. But it's also saying, like, 'Hey, a crocodile has a sharp mouth' ... It's finding ways to communicate with them and help them understand."

Fortunately, you don't have to live in a zoo like the Irwins to raise kids who resonate with the great outdoors. For most parents, Bindi recommends a simple approach. "I think the best thing you can do is get outside and explore," she told The Local Moms Network. "Whether it is your local park, wildlife facility, beach, national park or even backyard, anything you can do to connect children back to nature is the key to building a sense of empathy towards living things."