Family day out ideas with a baby are not in any way easy to come up with. Making short trips out to the store around the corner with a baby is enough hassle to force you to forget any plans you might have for an entire day out. And a weekend or several days away? Forget it!
Fun family things to do with a baby take a lot of thought and some careful planning in order to fully enjoy the day. It helps to have a few ideas of the kinds of locations, events and activities that might work with a baby.
On the bright side, know that your baby will never be this portable again so absolutely enjoy it while you can!
In this article, you will find a list of the most practical and fun family day out ideas with a baby. You will also find some tips on the most important things to have with you to make sure you are prepared for all that the day might bring.
What can you do on a nice day with a baby?
- The zoo
When you are looking for fun family day out ideas, the zoo is highly likely to come to mind. Depending on how young your baby is, you might be put off by the idea that they will not enjoy the experience.
Do not worry about that. They will have the experience of seeing different animals and just generally being in a new environment and spending time with you.
Meanwhile, zoos have restaurants and cafes that you can stop to take rest breaks or breastfeed in if you need to as well. You could spend the whole day there if you needed to.
- Beach picnic
Sensory days out for babies, for example, can be super fun for the whole family when it is a location that everyone in the family can enjoy. The beach is one of those great sensory locations. What’s not to enjoy for your baby? The sand and water present excellent opportunities for sensory play for your baby. The family can all build sand castles and get at least your feet wet in the water.
- Safari park
A safari park, interestingly, is also one of those fun family things to do with a baby. Feeling anxious about the safety of the baby while you’re there? Simply make sure they are securely strapped to one of the adults in the family in a baby wrap or baby carrier. They do not get more secure than that.
READ: 13 Diaper Bag Essentials for every newborn, baby and toddler
- Escape rooms
This is a fun way to bond as a family. Escape rooms get the adrenaline flowing but they also give you the chance to collaborate on a task as a family. No, your baby will not be able to actively participate but they will be fully entertained by all the activities going on around them.
- Soft play
It really does not get much easier than soft play centres. You do have to watch your baby to make sure they do not hurt themselves or get stuck in dangerous positions. However, it is soft play for a reason – to limit the chance of injury. That makes it one of the safest places for your baby to spend time. They may also get the chance to interact with other babies which is great for their development.
The rest of the family can relax and watch baby play, go in the soft play with them or have a drink or snack in the cafes that are usually attached to soft play centres.
- Airports
I had a mom friend say to me once that she sometimes took her 3 year old to the airport for fun as they live close to one. I wondered what they could possibly get up to. Now I understand.
You might not think of this one if you are looking for places to go with babies under 1 but it is a fun option! Don’t restrict yourself when searching for fun family day out ideas with a baby.
The airport is a good place to go with your baby as you can find a place to sit and watch planes take off and land. It can be therapeutic for both yourself and the baby.
- Local farms
Even better than a local park, in my opinion, is a local farm. Find some farms in your area that are open to the public. Apart from supporting local businesses, yourself and your family will be able to wander around seeing animals, different kinds of vegetation and maybe even tasting some of the farm’s produce.
- Ikea
Believe it or not, if you are wondering about sensory days out for babies, Ikea is an option! Not only do they get to spend time in a different environment, but there are also an abundance of different textures that they can feel there from all the fabrics and materials used to manufacture the goods there. You get to do some shopping and spend time together as a family too. The restaurant is available for you to stop and have a meal and of course, there is no shortage of places to stop and relax in the store.
Another good thing about Ikea is that it is good on a rainy day. Literally. It is an indoor location where you can all shield yourselves from the elements while spending the day together.
- Museums and art galleries
These do not have to be a boring and stuffy experience. Museums and galleries are good places to go with a 3 month old, for example, because the rooms are quiet enough for you to walk through while your baby sleeps. They are surprisingly kid friendly.
As a family, you can see what the museums and galleries have to offer you while you are with a baby. It is helpful if you can time the start of your visit to coincide with the start of baby’s nap. However, even if they are awake, they will also enjoy looking around with you and being in a new place.
The cafes that you find in museums are usually quite good areas for eating a little snack and feeding your baby too.
Once you have picked out a few from this list of fun family day out ideas with a baby, you need to make sure that you are well-equipped for success. That means packing everything you could need while you are out and about with your baby.
READ: 15 Ultimate Mom Purse Essentials (+ Criteria for The Ideal Mommy Purse!)
10 Important things to pack for a family day out
Disclaimer: At no additional cost to you, I may gain a small commission for purchases made through links on this page.
This is your day trip with baby checklist.
- Bouncer. Depending on which family day out location you choose, you might be able to set up a portable baby bouncer in a seating area for them to entertain themselves for a bit in.
- Baby wipes
- Nappy sacks
- Diapers
- Baby wrap/baby carrier
- Muslins
- Toy. There are some especially portable and also very entertaining toys on the market that you can keep especially for outings. You can also keep a stash of new toys that your baby has not seen before just for days out so that they have something new to explore for the day.
- Change of clothes
- Snacks
- Water, milk and food (if not (exclusively) breastfeeding)
A family day out with a baby might sound daunting to you but if you’re well-prepared, it will always go that bit easier than if you decide to wing it. Yes, you can continue to have good times and tick of items on your family bucket list even while you have a baby in the family.
What are some of your best locations for a fun family day out when you have a baby?