As the nation’s fourth largest city, there are an endless amount of activities to entertain your little—or more importantly you—in your baby’s first year of life. And just because your babe might not appreciate these outings as much as you do, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go! You’ll score some awesome photos of you together, and still have the ease of keeping baby in a stroller when you want. So without further ado, here are 40 ways to get yourself out of the house and exploring Houston before your baby’s first birthday!
1. Don’t let the Houston heat prevent you from getting out of the house. Take baby to one of the city’s many indoor, air-conditioned play spaces. Main Street Park is a personal favorite for the littlest of littles.
2. Your little one doesn’t need to read in order to enjoy story time. Take your tot to baby story time at your local branch of the Houston Public Library—some include music. May we recommend starting with the Heights branch?
3. Or for a story time that is uniquely Houston, try the versions at Brazos Bookstore or Nature Discovery Center.
4. Enjoying a meal or a beer is actually easier before your wee one starts eating something other than milk or formula, so make sure to try these kid-friendly bars and beer gardens.
5. Bring a blanket, pack a picnic and let your little one crawl on the lawn at Discovery Green. Plus, even if your baby isn’t a quite yet a toddler, you’ll be in good company at Toddler Tuesday.
6. Take baby to the Cockrell Butterfly exhibit at HMNS. It’s free for kids under two, and at the very end of the exhibit, there’s a fantastic playroom that’s appropriate for crawlers and pre-walkers.
7. Explore Houston’s Downtown Aquarium—another spot where children under two are free! There’s also a totally free splash pad here for those really hot days.
8. Feeling brave? MFAH also offers a couple of baby-specific programs. Try their Playdates on Tuesdays at 10:45am or Our Youngest Artists, which happens once a month on Fridays; both cap at 35 months and might involve a story, music, games and art creation.
9. Help your baby find that zen he needs come bed time at a yoga class. It’s available at many studios in Houston, but most importantly it’s available for free at certain branches of the Houston Public Library (The Heights and Kendall branches most notably). Keep in mind this is actually yoga for your baby.
10. One of the challenges of being a new mom is meeting other new moms with similar aged children. Sign up for a baby class at the local Little Gym and get to know other mommas with babies the same age.
11. The Children’s Museum can be overwhelming for new parents, but the baby-friendly Tot Spot is located away from the hectic first floor and limited to children under 35 months. It’s the perfect meeting spot for mom friends, too.
12. Escape the Houston heat in a unique, air-conditioned and stroller-friendly way by exploring the underground tunnels in Downtown Houston.
13. We know, we know—Houston is seriously flat. But thanks to Hike It Baby Houston, you can still get in a workout, fresh air and bonding time around the city’s trails.
14. In Houston, it’s never too early to get your baby splashing. While your little one won’t be equipped to swim on his/her own for some time, you should definitely check out Mommy and Me Swim classes at the YMCA. They’re available at many locations and geared specifically towards babies under one.
15. Take your baby to a brewery! Before they start moving, you’ll be able to enjoy some suds while your little one sleeps quietly in his/her stroller. Houston has many that are suitable for babies: Saint Arnold, 8th Wonder and Karbach.
16. Everyone tells you time flies. While they may be annoying, they’re also right! These are a few of our favorite places for a mini photo shoot, so you can remember just how tiny and adorable they once were.
17. Taking your child to the Houston Zoo is the quintessential new mom experience in Houston. Not only is it a right of passage to survive the parking lot, it’s probably one of the easiest outings for you and baby. Strap him or her into the stroller and walk around for hours. You can even stop for lunch while there.
18. You can’t properly celebrate the holiday season without a trip to Zoo Lights! Make an evening of it and even enjoy sipping wine while you stroll through the park’s dazzling lights.
19. Enjoy lots of train rides at Hermann Park. You’ll be glad you squeezed in tons of rides while it’s still free for them. After age one, the cost of a ride on this Houston staple is $3.50.
20. Pictures at the pumpkin patch are much easier before your baby can walk. Make sure to dress up your child in the most adorable fall clothing, and make the trek to Old MacDonald Farm for a fall portrait sesh.
21. When the summer heat won’t let up, cool off at one of Houston’s many splash pads. Many of them have areas that are safe and accessible for pre-walkers and crawlers, and it’s way less stressful than braving the pool.
22. Attend a Houston Astros Game or Houston Dynamo Game. They’re free when your baby is still under one, and they’ll happily enjoy the game in the comfort of a carrier, without a million trips to the bathroom or requests for snacks.
23. Explore different parts of the city by taking the Metro Rail from downtown to the museum district and back. You get a fun adventure and baby’s just along for the ride.
24. Boost your postpartum endorphins at a local branch of Baby Boot Camp, a stroller fitness routine that is geared towards moms who want to get fit while spending time with their kiddos.
25. Strap your baby into a stroller and take advantage of the trails at Memorial Park, Hermann Park, or Buffalo Bayou Park. We’ve got a whole list of our favorite local walks, all which happen to have lots of shade.
26. Climb up the mound, stroller and all, at McGovern Centennial Garden for a spectacular view of the city.
27. Head to The Woman’s Hospital of Texas for Birth, Baby and Beyond where you can voice any and all new-mama concerns with women going through the same exact thing.
28. Strollers, wagons and push toys welcome to skate on the rink at the Dairy Ashford Roller Rink just on Friday mornings from 10am to noon.
29. Date night gets a lot more complicated once you have a baby. Have a family-friendly date night by seeing an evening show (with baby) at Miller Outdoor Theatre. Wear your baby while you enjoy a picnic on the grassy lawn.
30. Make sure to explore the Health Museum! Kids ages two and under are free, and there’s a play area that is suitable for pre-walkers and crawlers.
31. Practice baby wearing and get your groove on with dance classes at Frame Dance! Caregivers wearing their babies are welcome at Everybody Dance Now! classes and MultiGen Framers classes.
32. Make a day trip to Galveston to give baby her first trip to the beach!
33. Take a class at the Motherhood Center—whether it’s help with breastfeeding or baby yoga, there are so many resources here for new moms.
34. Cool off at one of Houston’s many public pools or our favorite, Noah’s Ark Pool at Quillian Rec Center—totally baby friendly!
35. Snap photos of your little one in front of some Houston’s most funky landmarks like the We Heart Houston sign, Houston is Inspired Mural, or the President’s Heads.
36. If everyone keeps telling you just how beneficial music classes are for baby, go ahead and try one at Prelude, Fundamentally Music or Kindermusik.
37. Houston New Moms has more resources than you can count: local Facebook mom groups to join, playgrounds organized for crawlers, walkers and climbers, and lots more.
38. Bring your baby to Float Baby Houston for the spa experience you don’t even know they needed.
39. Cross this milestone off your list, even if you know it will end in tears. The Houston Galleria is one of the best/favorite spots to snag your Santa pics.
40. Download the Mommy Nearest app on your phone! You can find recommendations on-the-go, and travel with baby becomes a breeze.
Photo credit: Lee Davenport, Katya Horner, Trish Badger, CMH, Hike It Baby, Aiming for August, Stephanie Adams, John Chandler, Galveston.com, Float Baby Houston
