The summer months are often associated with excitement and a feeling of freedom, but families with an abundance of both can feel stuck and out of ideas as the months creep by.
It’s a natural feeling for parents with a newborn to want to find fun activities to enjoy with their child. Still, as any new parent knows, the struggle to find sleep and the adjustment to new routines can make the planning process feel like a challenge.
That’s why we are excited to aid your planning process with this guide that shares some exciting things new parents can do with their infants in Chicago.
Visit Maggie Daley Park
Maggie Daley Park is one of the most popular spots in Chicago for new parents. Its play spaces are designed to accommodate newborns and toddlers, offering plenty of fun discoveries and shared experiences during the summer months.
Some popular spaces that are dedicated to toddlers and infants in Chicago are The Water Hole, which has several water features and animal figures, and The Harbor, a 2,000-square-foot interactive space where children can play with boats and explore a covered marine area. It is popular because of its activities for new parents in Chicago during hot summer days.
Check out the Brookfield Zoo
A busy schedule is a common obstacle for new parents in Chicago, but the Brookfield Zoo’s year-round operating hours make it an ideal counter for these parents to find things to do with infants in Chicago. Visiting this zoo makes for a fun day for children who love everything about animals.
The zoo has acres of wildlife areas, plenty of shaded spaces to cool down on hot days, and locations that allow for time outside of the stroller. These areas have structures that infants and toddlers can crawl on, as well as baby swings.
Baby Story Times
Comprehension is a massive step for infants as they develop, while stories allow them to begin learning morals and building their imagination. Baby Story Times, offered by two local libraries, can take stress off new parents in Chicago, allowing their little ones to hear a new story told by someone else’s voice. The Bucktown Wicker Park Library and the Thomas Hughes Children’s Library are two popular locations for these story time sessions.
Free classes at HelloBaby
HelloBaby, located in the Woodlawn neighborhood of Chicago, is an excellent fit for new parents in Chicago who are looking for fun things to do with their baby in town. The venue has a fun and interactive play area, story times in both Spanish and English, and opportunities to learn baby sign language, making it an excellent space for little ones to learn and grow ahead of attending daycare or preschool in Chicago.
Other notable experiences at HelloBaby include Broadway-themed story time sessions and ample time for parents to play with their little one in a new setting.
Explore the Kohl Children’s Museum
The Kohl Children’s Museum is a great fit for parents looking for things to do with infants in Chicago when the weather isn’t great. The indoor setting inside one of the city’s most popular spots for parents and their little ones makes for a great time no matter the season.
The exhibits are designed to provide a hands-on learning experience for newborns and toddlers, and everything is meant to be explored and played with. Top exhibits include a pretend grocery store and an area for water play that provides new sensory experiences. Crawlers and walkers are both welcome.
Butterfly release at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Parents seeking a magical experience that helps their little one connect with and appreciate nature should look no further than the butterfly release at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. Butterflies are released each day at 2:00 PM, providing a fun and immersive experience for infants in Chicago year-round. It will be warm, mesmerizing, and full of color, and is suitable for children of all ages.
Hopefully this blog has given you a few good ideas for activities you can do with your baby in Chicago.