Days/weekends out with 9-12 month old

[squizita]

I work in a school and will return to work in September full time (going to do some "bits" in July).
This means I will have the summer holidays ... With a dd old enough to want entertaining but still a "baby".

What are your top days out? I'm based in London, drive, and have some cash stashed for summer days out. I have a sling/soft carrier and light weight umbrella fold buggy so can use the tube easily.

I honestly wouldn't bother going anywhere on the basis that she needs entertaining because they really don't at that age (not in a day out sense). Think of some places you want to go and go there while she is young enough to be portable and not care where she is. Maybe meet up with/go and visit friends etc. Take advantage of this time because next summer she'll be two and it will all be so much more difficult (and fun too)!

In terms of entertaining her; bubbles, sandpit, swimming, bowl of water/pasta/mud and some 'tools', a cardboard box, a mirror, paint, some other children....all available at home or in the local park (apart from swimming, unless you have a pool at home ).

London is great with babies at that age. Ideas for places to go: Coram's Fields, Science Museum, Museum of Childhood, Southbank - there are often free festivals with music in the summer, Greenwich Park, Hyde Park and the Princess Diana Playground, Bishops Park and Fulham Palace. Queens Park has a free farm animal enclosure and they've just redone the playground.

DS enjoyed London Zoo at a similar age (closer to 14 months though) and the London Aquarium was a hit. Battersea Zoo also good and Vauxhall has a petting zoo.

National Trust properties are also good for days out. They have baby friendly cafes and generally have paths which are pretty accessible.

Enjoy!

I really need to get out too! I get into a slightly reclusive/anxious cycle where these trips seem such big deals unless I do them regularly.

I'd forgotten about all the stuff in Hyde Park.

Get out and about, but just concentrate on stuff you want to do. The science museum is fab and because of that you'll be there when she is 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10.......don't do it before you have to! In the summer holidays it's crowded, noisy, hot...it's worth it if you've got children who will appreciate it, but a baby won't, she'll have to stay in the sling/buggy because she'll be squished by all the big kids in the toddler area.

Even the Princess Diana playground has a queue to get in when it's the holidays!

If I were you I would head to places you think children would hate , they'll be quiet and queue free and your DD is too little to know the difference between an activity for children and an activity for adults anyway.

Outraged lol also one aspect of my job is organising the annual school trips. I pretty much know South Kensington inside out and hit the museums annually!

As a nanny to a 16 month old I can say day trips are generally just for me. She would love a morning in town running errands, a trip to the park and a possible picnic lunch before home for a nap and then a walk around the block/local field in the afternoon/play in the garden.

However we also love - going to the beach, swimming, local toddler steam train, different playground, zoo, outside pool, walk around the pet shop, local farm, open spaces where we can just walk (push her dolls pram) outside fountains to splash in. Look up your local sure start centre they may run sessions in the holidays. We have stay and play, music groups etc still running.

I was going to say the same as Outraged we wasted a few weekend days and ££ doing 'child friendly' stuff before about the age of 2. It just wasn't worth it. DS didn't care whether he was in the £££ zoo or the park, he just wanted to be with us exploring. So definitely think of the places you'd like to go and just head out there. Have a nice time :)