What do you do on maternity leave that's free?

[Lavender14]

I've decided I need to get out a bit more with my 6 month old but being on maternity things are very tight and I'm trying to stretch to the year. I have a wee group Ive been meeting up with but they've all cancelled a lot recently with the good weather and I've realised I feel much better in myself when I've a plan for the day and get out a couple of times a week. However I really can't afford to do much like classes/ coffees etc. So my question is what do you like doing with your little ones that they also enjoy that's free?

At present I go to the park for picnics when its dry and I walk our dog a lot and just wear baby in a harness but he's getting really heavy for that! Any suggestions welcome!

Churches often do baby / toddler groups that are either free or very cheap, I went to a new mums one that was free until DD was about 7 months old then she moved up to the older baby & toddler one at the same church that was £1 I think. It doesn’t matter whether you are religious or not and they were run by a really lovely group of ladies, I miss it now I’m back at work!

Rhyme time and/or story time at the library is good as well, that’s always free and it’s on a few times a week, I take DD on a Saturday morning now when DP is at football. Sometimes they have free coffee too 😊.

Sell stuff on vinted and do a bi-weekly drop off of parcels to the shop.

Have a look /ask on Facebook re local church hall type groups. Usually about £2 or something, with a cup of tea included.

Feed the ducks.

Take a coffee in a thermos and some homemade cake and sit by the river/seafront/other nice place local to you.

Local library for rhyme time or other free group.

Children's Centres in my area do free sessions for babies and toddlers and they are all free and good quality. NCT groups often orgabuse activities for free. If you are breastfeeding there might be a free group in your area too. As already mentioned, libraries put free sessions on and churches are either really cheap or free if you can't afford to pay.

Before your baby is crawling/walking and won't sit still is the ideal time to do something you are interested in as well as the usual baby & toddler activities - so I used to go and wander around art galleries and museums (lived in London so lots of free options) interesting for me and different colours/things to see for DC who would usually fall asleep in the buggy or carrier.

Playgrounds (mainly swings and sandpits at that age)
Splash parks/fountains.
Stay and Play at Children's Centres and some churches.
Museum play areas (Science Museum, Docklands Museum).
Local arts centre has a creative soft play that's free.
Soft play at leisure centre, local family organisation hosts a free session once a week.
Galleries with play/activity areas (Tate, National).
Library Rhyme Times and Toy Sessions.
Swimming (free for all DC & I get in free as a carer in my borough).
City farms.
Canal walks.
Under 5s poetry at Southbank Centre.
Free outdoor concerts at bandstands.
Free community festivals.
Free outdoor film screenings.
Play areas in shopping malls, and browsing in toy shops.
Watching entertainers at touristy spots like Covent Garden.