New York City is one of the greatest cities in the world, and it also happens to be a fantastic place to raise a child. After you adjust to life with a new baby, it’s time to start taking your little one on adventures throughout the five boroughs (and beyond!). Strap on your baby or grab your Bugaboo or Uppababy, and start checking things off our ultimate list of things to do in NYC during your baby’s first year.
1. Download the Mommy Nearest app to help you find the best places in NYC for you and your baby. Plus, keep an eye out for our free play dates at spots all over the city!
2. Bend and stretch with your little one at a mommy and me baby yoga class.
3. Let your crawler attempt their first steps on the soft, grassy knolls of one of New York’s many parks while you sit back and enjoy a picnic in the shade.
4. Strap on baby—and your Fitbit!—and do some laps at one of the city’s zoos (each one even has a petting zoo perfect for littles to see the animals up-close!).
5. Babies love to swing, and your baby likely will, too. These local playgrounds—from Tribeca to Long Island City—are perfect for the tiniest New Yorkers.
Flickr/Peter Dutton
6. Introduce your mini me to the world of literature at one of these free story times around the city.
7. See a performance at Puppetworks, the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre or the New Victory Theater—they often host shows designed for little audiences.
8. Your baby will never be this small again, so make sure you capture every little detail with a professional photography session by a local family photographer. Some of our favorites include Raquel Frechette and Amy Frances Photography.
9. If you’re ready to attempt brunch but would rather eat with other parents and food-throwing babies, you’ll want to grab seats to the next Brunch Baby, Brunch event. Kids eat free with an adult meal and there’s even a DJ!
10. Sign up for a mommy and me class. Most are close to home and you will meet lots of other first time moms.
Stephanie Barnhart
11. Take in a ball game at Yankee Stadium or Citi Field—babies on laps are free!
12. Put baby in a stroller and explore a new neighborhood. Coney Island, Battery Park City and the High Line are great, walkable areas.
13. Afraid to see a movie because baby might cry? There’s a matinee for that. City Cinemas on the Upper East Side and Nitehawk Cinema in Williamsburg offer special viewings for parents with kids under one.
14. Finally ready for an adult beverage after those long months of pregnancy? Grab dad and take a family outing to one of these family-friendly beer gardens.
15. Itching to get back to your pre-baby body? Join other moms in an outdoor fitness class with your baby. You’re sure to make some new friends while sizzling calories at the same time.
Flickr/Ed Yourdon
16. Take your baby to get their first haircut! Several NYC-area hair salons specialize in this milestone, and provide pictures, lollipops, and a special lock of your baby’s hair as a keepsake.
17. Find other moms in your neighborhood through local Facebook groups. Some top ones include the UES Mommas, Upper West Side Parents, Murray Hill Parents and Madison Square Park Mommies among others.
18. The Brooklyn Children’s Museum is home to one of the hippest tot areas in the city (think sand pit and indoor water splash area), plus it even has trendy eats like the Morris Sandwich Shop!
19. You’ll also want to visit the Children’s Museum of Manhattan on the Upper West Side. Playworks on the third floor is perfect for little ones. You’ll find a soft space for crawlers and the popular giant talking dragon who “eats” letters.
20. New York City is home to some of the coolest carousels in the world. Make sure to ride a few during your baby’s first year—and snap a photo for the Instagram.
Flickr/Shinya Suzuki
21. Join other parents in the pool for an intro to the water at a baby swim class.
22. Just before baby’s first birthday, give her a little taste of ice cream. New York City has some amazing ice cream stores with dozens of flavors just waiting to be tried.
23. Spend the day on Governors Island (open May through October). Strollers are welcome on the ferry!
24. You don’t have to give up good food now that you’re a parent. Sign up for a Nibble + Squeak event at some of the city’s finest restaurants. Find a list of upcoming NYC events here.
25. Museum hopping pre-kids may have been easier, but there are still plenty
of opportunities to get your culture fix with baby in tow. The Met, Whitney and New-York Historical Society all offer stroller tours.
Filip Wolak
26. Visit a local pumpkin patch or go apple picking. Wear your baby, hop on a hay ride and take a million pictures of your babe in the middle of some pumpkins.
27. Once your baby starts crawling, head to an indoor play space! They’ll love the ball pits, soft toys and classes.
28. Jam out at Rock and Roll Playhouse‘s family concerts at Brooklyn Bowl. It’s never too early to introduce the kids to the Beatles, Bob Marley and Madonna, right?
29. Take advantage of the city’s many libraries—most offer awesome (and free) programs for kids. Sign up early for events at the main branch on Fifth Avenue (they’re the most popular!).
30. You’ve made it through year one, and now you have to plan the oh-so-monumental first birthday! Be sure to get the perfect cake, maybe from one of these local bakers, to make the party even more memorable.
