25 Best Things to Do With a Baby in the East Bay

Spending time with a newborn is all about adjusting to your new role. Building your confidence to take your baby on errands and outings is important. Here are some activities to put on your bucket list for the first six months.

Thank you to East Bay Music Together for sponsoring this post. 

Fun with Pre-Crawling Babies (babes in arms)

1. Practice using your stroller and find a café with outdoor seating. We like The Hidden Cafe in Berkeley, Zocalo in San Leandro, and Kaleidoscope Coffee in Point Richmond, right next to an adorable collection of fairy houses. Here’s a whole list to check out >
2. Join a new mom’s group. Other parents with babies the same age as yours are a treasure! Find more places to meet new moms >
3. Paint your baby’s footprints onto pottery for a sweet little keepsake. You can do this at Brushstrokes in Berkeley and Color Me Mine in Alameda’s Southshore Center.
4. Have a family date night at a baby-friendly movie showing. We like the Baby Brigade showings at the New Parkway Theater in Oakland on select Thursdays where babies and all their noises are welcome in the theater.
5. Find music and movement classes. East Bay Music Together (sponsor of this post!) offers free trials of their award-winning classes in Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, Albany, Lafayette, Orinda, and Moraga in various locations and spaces.

What to Do with Babies Over 6 Months (sitters, crawlers, eaters)

Two things happen in the second half of your baby’s first year. The first is that your little one can sit up and participate in life more fully and the second is that you will be more comfortable using your gear and leaving the house. Here are a few more activities for babies 6-12 months old.

1. Sign up for a bring-your-baby exercise class. There are a bunch of creative ways to get a workout with a baby in tow in the East Bay.
2. Visit a playground and try out the baby swings. The East Bay has a bazillion to choose from.
3. Shop at a farmers’ market. The people-watching and fruit-tasting are perfect baby activities. Find one near you.
4. Take your baby swimming. Sounds intimidating, but we have faith in you! Here are the local pools to choose from.
5. Visit a pet supply store with your older baby. The tanks with turtles and mice are right at their eye level. Five more places where little ones can see animals for free in the East Bay>
6. Seek out a fantastic photo op. Here’s a round-up of gorgeous local wall murals for your photoshoots.

Upcoming Local Baby-Friendly Events From the {510} Families Calendar

Babies Over One Year

Congratulations! You are now a toddler wrangler and there are hundreds of things to do with toddlers. Here is a handful of ideas to try as soon as your baby begins to walk.

1. Buy a zoo membership. You’ll use it a lot. Here are the deets on the Oakland Zoo.
2. Sign up for a class. From toddler gardening to ballet, this list will help you find a class to put on your schedule weekly — and meet more local parents.
3. Get to know the local hikes. We’ve put together a guide to the best places to take little ones on easy trails.
4. Go to library and bookstore events for toddlers. Free storytimes are just the best.
5. Visit an indoor playground. These admission-based playspaces are toddler fantasyland!

More About East Bay Music Together for Babies

Fun. Fabulous. Uplifting. Magical. These are just a few of the ways that parents describe Music Together. Access to the music, an illustrated songbook, and other print and online resources are given to each family at the first class to help you continue the music-making fun at home and nurture your child’s musical growth—even if you don’t think of yourself as a great singer or dancer. Like parenting, making music requires no previous experience or expertise, just a willingness to get down on the floor and get silly with your child!

Babies Classes are appropriate for newborns through 8 months. Or join a mixed-age class, also great for babies and siblings together. Register for Babies Music Together

The joyful, musical, magical teachers of East Bay Music Together will lead activities for you and your baby to sing, play, and jam along together. Your baby will begin on their path of musical development as they become confident and joyous music makers. Your baby is a natural-born music-maker—cooing when you sing a nursery rhyme or wiggling when you dance to your favorite song. Even wee babies are alert to musical sounds and respond to melody and rhythm. In one of our Babies or Mixed-Age classes, you’ll learn musical ways to interact and bond with your baby, support their brain development, and nurture their inner musician.

We appreciate East Bay Music Together for sponsoring our post today. Buy your baby a gift certificate for a clutter-free holiday gift! Simply email info@eastbaymusictogether.com.  They look forward to welcoming you and your little ones for singing, dancing, music-making, and laughing for years to come.