Free Fun for Babies

Having an itty bitty baby at home can get a little Groundhog’s Day really quick. Wake up bright and early, feed baby, change diapers, nap time if everyone is lucky, more feedings, more diaper changes, bath time, bed, repeat!

When my first son was born in October of 2011, I was a stay at home mom. At that time, our family lived in a 1,000 square foot condo, and my days with baby were spent rotating from bedroom to bedroom, to the living room, kitchen and bathroom. Obstacles keeping me from visiting the outside world included: cold weather, everything being so stinking expensive, having to pack up the whole house in the diaper bag, new mom jitters and oh yeah, germs.

I felt myself sort of self-isolating, but not on purpose, and I remember getting burnt out on the monotony of it all. I loved (and still love!) being a mom, but I had to really pick myself up by my bootstraps to make my own fun. For anyone who resonates with my tale of stay-at-home motherhood, here are some indoor and free places I would frequent, just to break up the repetition of infancy.

INDOOR, FREE, FUN PLACES TO GO WITH BABY

Hear me out. I know this is partially just a list of places you can shop. But sometimes during the winter, you just need a safe, warm, stimulating place to go with baby.

Lowe’s or Home Depot

There is no cost of admission!  Highlights for baby include the light section, ceiling fan section, and if it is near a holiday- the inflatables section is sure to be a big hit!

Pet Stores

You can definitely grab some treats for Fido, but you can also walk out of the store without buying a single thing. Simply hauling yourself to the pet store, and walking every aisle is a welcomed break from boredom. Chat with baby about the different animals you see!

Antique Malls

This has become a staple for cold months with my family, and we even visit antique malls on vacation if there is a rainy day! With older kids, you can create a BINGO sheet for them using common things they may see, or challenge them to find items for every letter of the alphabet. I am telling you, add antiquing to your bored-day docket. Whether baby-wearing or pushing a stroller, moseying around the antique mall is seriously a great way to spend an afternoon! Need a recommendation? Check out Ohio Valley Antiques , and Flamingo Haven .  On the Kentucky side, there is Route 27 Antique Mall!

Grocery Stores

Well, specifically a trip to Jungle Jim‘s during the week. It is less crowded, and there is SO much for baby to look at including animatronic soup cans, an Elvis lion, live fish, colorful candies, and more. You will certainly get your steps in, and you don’t have to spend any money. Again, this has become a cold-month staple for my family into my kid’s teenage years!

Local Libraries

Don’t just check out one library, check out all of them! Every library branch is a little bit different with different toys in the children’s section, different books! and beyond just visiting the library on a whim, every branch also offers different baby programming. Free, fun, engaging, inside. Overall, libraries are literally the best for babies! Here are the main branches around these parts… Cincinnati Public Library, Mason Public Library, MidPointe Library, Boone County Public Library, Campbell County Public Library, Kenton County Public Library.  While you are checking out books, be sure to inquire about Dolly Parton’s FREE Imagination Library, which will send a monthly book right to your doorstep for FREEEEEEE.

Malls

Sometimes a change of scenery, and some space to stretch your legs is all you really need to get a little boost of energy. Visiting local malls is a unique way to check both of those boxes. It is interesting to see how malls have changed over the years, see what stores are actually still open, and we definitely did list this as a free activity, even though we know you will probably hit up the pretzel stand (no judgement!)

Cincinnati Art Museum

It is free and fun and cultural, oooooo! The CAM also has limited strollers available for use, free of charge, so you don’t have to lug yours in. Monthly free baby tours can be found on the CAM calendar, too, and those encourage baby-wearing so your little can get a good view of the art! Any time you head to CAM with kids in tow, be sure to stop by the Rosenthal Education Center. This space is made specifically for families, and they have wonderful free programs, too, such as REC Reads! Overall, this is a free and fabulous place to visit on a chilly day with babies and beyond.

You can do this! You can break free of the stir-crazy feeling of having an infant or toddler at home during the winter months. I promise it won’t be single digit weather forever, and soon I can share some free outdoor adventure ideas with you. For now, bundle up, and break out of the house and have a little adventure.