As a stay-at-home mom, I need to get out of the house every day or I’d go crazy! Summer is the best season because there are so many options for activities to do with your kids outside of the house. With both a baby and toddler it can be daunting for some parents to think of outings to take with young children that are fun yet realistic. You certainly want the effort it takes to get everyone packed up and out of the house to be worth it! Here are some fun summer outings to go on with a baby and toddler.
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Mom Tip: What do you do with the baby during all these adventures? You wear your baby! Seriously, my baby is always in the carrier. I rarely take the stroller on day trips because I find it cumbersome. Plus, my toddler refuses to stay in the stroller. The carrier is a lifesaver!
During summer we go to the zoo every couple of weeks. It never gets old. Because we go so often if the kids are getting cranky and/or sleepy we can leave and I don’t feel bad about missing exhibits, I know we’ll be back soon.
Our local zoo is free (amazing!) but if your’s is not look into getting a family pass. A family pass will most likely save you a ton of money if you plan on going to the zoo multiple times a year.
If your child(ren) is anything like mine then he/she loves animals! The spring and summer are the perfect seasons to go to a petting farm because of all the baby animals being born. Plus, the weather is nice enough to enjoy the animals outside and not in a smelly barn.
We are lucky to have a number of farms within driving distance. My daughter’s best day ever was going to a large petting farm with a bunch of different animals to see, pet, and feed.
This summer I plan on taking the kids to a dairy farm that gives tours and sells delicious ice cream. Farms are great spaces for toddlers to run around and get a little dirty.
A simple, easy outdoor summer activity is to go on a picnic. Kids are happy because they’re outside. Mom is happy because kids actually eat their food, win-win.
In the summer there are festivals and parades almost every weekend. Festivals rock because there is usually a kid zone with bounce houses, face painting, etc. Plus, you don’t have to plan a meal because there is always food.
Facebook Events and HulaFrog are great sites to find local community festivals. You might be surprised how many take place within a short driving distance.
Mom Tip: Research parking and prices ahead of time so there are no surprises!
I love going to the botanical gardens with my kids. The setting is peaceful, we get to see flowers and plants, and there are plenty of semi-private places to sit and breastfeed.
The walking paths will wear your toddler out – the ultimate goal of all summer activities!
Hiking provides endless opportunities. You will never run out of new trails to explore with your kids. We often find great trails in state and county parks. Otherwise, ask your local Hike It Baby group for suggestions.
Tailor the hike to the ability of your children making sure to consider distance and terrain. Don’t forget your bug spray!
Read More: Summer Essentials for Your Baby
What would parents do without splash pads? I guess put out a sprinkler (this is the sprinkler we have at home) but splash pads are so much more fun.
Mom Tip: Try to find a splash pad that is less crowded, toddlers tend to get run over when a lot of big kids are around. Going over lunchtime is a great time for smaller crowds!
We are a little spoiled to live where we do when it comes to farmers’ markets. But if you have one in your city make sure to take your family! You can pick up wonderful produce to make your own baby food. There are often fun treats for the whole family to enjoy and live music.
Summer is the time for berry picking! Find a local farm that lets you pick your own berries. Toddlers will love this activity but it may be a tad hard to bring your baby if you are kneeling on the ground. I’ve found picking cherries is easier than strawberries when wearing a baby.
Mom Tip: Make sure to dress your toddler in clothes you don’t care about. The clothes will get stained. Toddlers tend to eat more berries than they pick.
The beach can be a slightly riskier destination depending on the ages of your children. You want to be confident that you can keep all your children safe at the same time.
Read More: Toddler Beach Essentials
Get a little exercise by going on a nice bike ride. The ages of your kids will determine the appropriate biking equipment.
The library is one of our favorite places. Check out your local library’s calendar. I’m sure there are tons of fun (and even better free!) programs and summer activities for kids.
It’s a great place to go on rainy days or days that are unbearably hot. We go to four different libraries on a rotating basis.
Mom Tip: Sign up for the summer reading program. The incentives are worthwhile and reading goals are wonderful to implement at any age.
A perfect toddler activity no matter the weather is an indoor play gym. Many gymnastics places have open gym times during the week. Kids love to go and are exhausted after playing (yay!). A bonus is there are other parents standing around meaning you might get in at least a partial adult conversation.
An obvious and easy summer outing is to go to the park. Hopefully, you have a number of parks with playground equipment near you so you can rotate locations. We happily drive 20 minutes to other cities that have really cool playgrounds multiple times a week.
Some parks have much safer equipment than others. Some parks tend to be more crowded than others. Most importantly, sometimes you want to go somewhere without a sandbox (Am I right?).
Another great day trip to take during the summer is to go to a children’s museum. I love that there is usually a separated area for babies and toddlers. Kids can climb, explore, and play for hours.
I hope you are able to enjoy summer to the fullest and get out of the house a lot!! If you have any questions about how to manage both a baby and toddler during summer activities please ask in the comment section below. I’d be happy to help!
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My grandaughter's only request is a new museum every weekend! I was sitting here thinking, would she know if I told her the Farmer's Market was an outdoor museum? These are great ideas! Moms can never have too many ideas for activities.
Ha - I say tell white lies to children as long as you can get away with it! My daughter still thinks chocolate milk is mommy's coffee (I just don't want to share and she certainly doesn't need more sugar!).
These are all such great summer activities! My little one loves anything with music, children or animals! These are such fun options!
Music is a big draw for our family too! I love that in summer most towns will have at least one night with free outdoor music. Once my kids are a little older hopefully we can take advantage more (bedtimes are too early for the moment).
Always looking for fun activities during the summer for the kiddies and these outings are perfect! Anything outdoors is always a huge favorite!
Our favorite places are the beach, splash pad, and play gym! I wish there was one close by to us.
I love the fact that you put farmer's market here because it makes for such an amazing family outing - especially in the summer! Can't wait to go to ours!
I wish we went more often. At the end of every summer I can't believe how few times we made it to the farmers' market.
Ahhhh we love a picnic over the summer months - if always feels like such a sweet adventure!
I love all of these summer outings for toddlers! We love museums, splash pads, and hiking! Thanks for sharing!