Indoor Activities for Babies & Young Tots

Isaac at Together in Motion in Arlington, Aug. 2010.

One of the biggest parenting challenges for me when Isaac was younger was WINTERTIME.  Now that he's older, I find it much easier on those ice cold days, but when he was a baby and younger toddler, sometimes I'd go crazy.

Here are some of the things that kept me sane during those first 2 winters without breaking the bank:

• Lapsits at the Library.  Isaac was only 3 months old when we started frequenting "Book Babies" at the Wellesley Free Library.  The Watertown Free Public Library also offers storytime for babies as young as newborns, and the best part about the WFPL is that they also have the Red Leaf Cafe so before or after the storytime you can enjoy coffee, pastries, or lunch.
• Tiny Tots at Together in Motion in Arlington.  The first time I took Isaac to Tiny Tots was when he was 9 months old.  It's perfect for just mobile babies up to 24 months, so you don't have to worry about your little ones getting knocked down.  Everything is padded and there are tunnels, mats, etc for the babies to play on.
• Museums.  The Museum of Science is free for kids under 3, so definitely try to go before you have to pay admission!  The Discovery Center is the best for younger kids and there's even a little play area for pre-walkers.  Afterwards, bring your stroller or baby carrier and enjoy the exhibits while your little one (hopefully?!) takes a snooze.   The Boston Children's Museum is only free for kids under the age of 1, but it's a pretty affordable outing even once they're past that age and most libraries have discount passes.   There's an area for pre-walkers there as well, and an entire area for kids 3 and under.
• The mall.  I've never been much of a "wander aimlessly around the mall" person, not since I was a teenager growing up in New Jersey, but after Isaac was born I began to do it again.  In fact, it was a life saver that first winter because I was paranoid about Isaac potentially crying in a public  place, but I was desperate to get out of the house on freezing days.  My mall of choice is the Natick Mall because there is a lot of room to walk around, there are plenty of other kids and it seems more bright and less blah than a lot of other malls.    There's also family restrooms with baby changing tables and areas for nursing.   On cold boring days, we still go there sometimes to have lunch, walk around, and hit up the play area.
• The Freedman Center in Newton.  We started off with their fantastic New Babies/New Moms Groups and then graduated to their Free Playtimes.  I don't know what I would have done without The Freedman Center during the first 2 years!
• Box Office Babies in Brookline.  Ahh, going to the movies when Isaac was an infant somehow made me feel human again!  The volume is a little softer and the lights are only dimmed, so you can cuddle with your baby and watch a grown-up movie!
• Studies.  A lot of the universities run developmental studies.  We've been doing them since Isaac was only 3 months old!  You can do your part to contribute to the scientific community and do something fun, too.  When it's not too cold a lot of times we'll walk around Harvard Square after a Harvard study or hop over to Newbury Street after a BU study.  After a Boston College study, sometimes we'll walk around the Reservoir.