Places to go with babies: how to make the most of maternity leave
The first time I left the house alone with my newborn baby, I was extremely nervous. In fact, I only managed to go to a café a few streets over, grab a takeaway coffee then walk home. But hey, I did it! As I got further into maternity leave, the days began to merge (likely not helped by the sleepless nights).
Eventually, I knew I had to make an effort to get out of the house each day. Firstly, to find new routines, environments and stimuli to enjoy with my baby, but also to improve my mental health and become the fun mum I knew I could be.
The more I did it, the easier it became. It can sometimes feel really overwhelming figuring out where to go and what to do as a first-time parent with a tiny baby. But believe me, you’ve got this!
Hopefully, the following list will give you the inspiration to help make some of those early decisions with greater confidence, wherever you happen to be based.
20 Top Places to go With Your Baby
1. Baby-Friendly Cafés and Coffee Shops
Relaxed atmospheres with play areas, high chairs and baby amenities allow parents to enjoy a coffee while babies play (or snooze).
2. Libraries and Story/Rhyme Times
Libraries with children’s sections and baby storytime sessions introduce babies to books and early literacy in a fun way. Our local library has a free ‘rhyme time’ session every weekday at 11am, which we utilised many times!
3. Community Centres
Often offering a variety of baby-friendly activities and classes, community centres provide social and developmental opportunities. Many offer baby massage, music classes, and drop-in stay-and-play sessions. Your local council website should have the info!
4. Parent-and-Baby Fitness Classes
These classes help parents stay active while bonding with their babies in a supportive community environment and are a great way to meet other local parents in the area.
5. Garden Centres
Garden centres often have café areas, outdoor gardens, and sometimes pet sections, making them an enjoyable outing for families. Many also have accessible paths for prams and child-friendly facilities. Plus, there’s something so calming about being surrounded by loads of flowers and plants! Just try not to buy all the cute little succulents.
6. Local Parks and Playgrounds
Local parks provide open spaces and fresh air, with baby swings and soft play areas ideal for more mobile infants. Many parks in the UK also feature beautiful gardens and duck ponds. Find me a baby who isn’t enthralled by ducks! Or, when they’re a little older, feeding them.
7. Picnic Spots
There’s nothing quite like relaxing in a natural setting, surrounded by the sights, sounds and smells of the great outdoors. Or as close to it as the city might allow. Keep an eye out for spots to spread a blanket. Living in London, Hyde Park and Victoria Park are perfect for picnics. And if the weather changes…well, you’ve got a story to tell!
8. Department Store Cafés
While many shopping centres have designated play areas, most are aimed at toddlers and older. Rarely the break from the crowds you’re craving when out shopping with your baby. However, unlike most other shops, cafés or restaurants, department stores are designed to be more spacious so that people can take their time. This bodes well for parents with buggies in need of a more leisurely pace or places to eat that give you room to breathe.
9. Music and Movement Classes for Babies
These classes promote physical development, rhythm, and social interaction through music and dance activities. Organisations like Baby Sensory, Hartbeeps, Monkey Music, and Tumble Tots provide excellent sessions across the UK. Warning: you’ll have the songs stuck in your head all day.
10. Indoor Play Centres and Soft Play
These centres provide safe, controlled environments with baby-friendly toys and soft play areas for exploration. Many towns have centres like Gymboree Play & Music, and don’t forget to check your local leisure centre too. Perfect for those rainy days when you need to tire out the little one.
11. Baby-Friendly Cinemas
This was, without a doubt, my favourite place to take my baby on maternity leave. An increasing number of cinemas offer special screenings where parents can watch films with their babies in a relaxed setting.
Event days vary from cinema to cinema, as do age requirements for your little filmgoer, so be sure to check what’s what beforehand. Also, be prepared for the occasional mid-movie nappy change.
Here’s a list of the best venues that I found:
For me, the Everyman took the cake (literally). In part because we were usually able to view from the comfort of a sofa and side table, but mostly because each ticket also came with a free hot drink and slice of cake.
We mums have a tough job. Who am I to refuse a little indulgence now and then in recognition? Treat yourself; you deserve it.
12. Local Farmers’ Markets
Here, the vibrant sights, sounds and smells provide a stimulating sensory experience. Plus, most markets are pram-friendly.
13. Botanical Gardens
The serene environment, colourful plants and gentle nature sounds create a soothing atmosphere for both babies and parents. Though fewer and further apart than parks or garden centres, if you can make the trip you’ll be rewarded by lovely long walks, often through seasonal events.
Kew Gardens, for instance, runs a spectacular light show called Christmas at Kew from November to January each year. Worth putting on the maternity bucket list!
14. Children’s Museums
Some museums have interactive exhibits and sensory play zones that cater very well to parents with young children. Then again, you can also strap your baby into a carrier and take them to any museum of your choosing. They’ll just enjoy looking around at all the new sights!
15. Walking Trails and Nature Reserves
These offer a peaceful environment for pram walks (provided your buggy’s wheels and suspension are up to the task) and expose babies to nature and wildlife. National Trust sites in particular are great options. Fresh air and scenic views are a clear win-win for everyone.
16. Petting Farms
Gentle animals and close encounters provide a hands-on, sensory-rich experience for young children. For example, farms like Odds Farm Park and Barleylands Farm Park are excellent for little ones. Just be ready for your baby’s fascination (or total disinterest) in goats.
17. Swimming Pools with Infant Classes
Baby swim classes introduce water safety and fun, fostering early confidence in the water, basic swimming skills and parent-child bonding. Many local leisure centres offer swimming lessons, or alternatively you can book into any family-friendly session.
18. Splash Pads and Water Play Areas
Designed with children in mind, these areas offer safe water play without the hazards of deeper water. And most young children love to get soaked! Many parks have splash pads, but so do a lot of urbanised areas, particularly those that have undergone placemaking efforts. Although more of a destination for toddlers and older children, they can also be a great place to pause with a baby to watch the water jets dance.
19. Aquariums
The dazzling colours and dynamic movements of marine life are fascinating for babies. As a result, they offer a calming and engaging experience. Sea Life centres across the UK are excellent choices.
20. Zoos
Watching animals and hearing their unique sounds captivates babies, providing a visual and auditory feast. In the UK, we are lucky to have an abundance of zoos and wildlife parks (both large and small) dotted around. Some, like Chester Zoo (Cheshire) even include botanical gardens. Just saying!
Conclusion
Exploring the world outside your front door with your baby can and should be a wonderful adventure.
Whether you’re looking for a quick trip to the local park or planning a full day out, there’s plenty to do and see. More than you probably realise, and straightforward enough to make possible even on short notice.
Particularly at the beginning, I needed activities that were simple yet stimulating, both for me and my baby. The above mix of indoor and outdoor destinations, gathered from research and my own experiences, now informs most of my decisions for days out. Whatever the weather or time constraints, there is always some place for for my baby and I to go, and something for us to enjoy together.
What are your favourite places to take your little one? Share your top spots and any tips in the comments below. Let’s help each other make the most of our baby adventures!
Pssst … If you enjoyed this post, you might like to read our experiences taking our baby to the Natural History Museum in London and Barleylands Farm Park in Billericay, Essex.
