Suggestions for days out?? Please!!??!!

[sparklymams]

I have a nearly 1 year old and one or two times a month me and my partner like to do a nice family day out but it's so hard to find of things that involve baby that isn't soft play or take them to the park!? She's so active and interested in everything but too small to do anything such as peppa pig world or CBeebies land.

Is there anything out that for not babies but not toddlers!?

Open to any suggestions.... TIA

Whereabouts are you? DD is 13 months and we do days out most weekends, mostly for the sake of her older sister but she's always enjoyed tagging along. We've done theme parks, play cafes, role play centres, museums, kids theatre shows, concerts for under-5s, family raves, immersive gallery shows, aquariums, big leisure pools, splash play areas, farm parks, the zoo, beach trips. With playgrounds and soft play, we've made it interesting by looking up the best reviewed ones within travelling distance and making it a destination. Some of them are really creatively designed.

Are there any local petting farms near to you? Mine sways liked feeding the donkeys and maybe a treat in the cafe if we were feeling flush

How about swimming too?

These are some great suggestions thank you! I always think of something then completely forget about it such as family raves. We're based in East Midlands so most places are easily accessible

Parks to feed the swans / ducks ( not bread ) join the National Trust and visit properties as many have great gardens to walk around with cafes. Take them to your local pool to get them started on learning to get used to the water / swim . A picnic somewhere.

If you're in the East Mids, I don't know if Markeaton Park in Derby is close to you?

Always find sealife centre is a big hit!

The Deep
Doncaster wildlife park

Don't know how close they are!

Quite a few forests/country parks have character trails - if you Google gruffalo trail for example there’s about 15 around the country.

Farm parks and aquariums are fun too, but at 1 your DD would probably also be thrilled with a trip round pets at home 😄

Look on Tripadvisor for your local area and then check the websites of the places that come up.

Swimming and interactive museums are always a favourite. Different parks a bit further away. Paint your own pottery places are fun with toddlers (maybe a bit older). Local farm parks etc.

Oh yeah pet shops and garden centres and weirdly IKEA is my kids favourite place 😂

Omg yes IKEA! The kids meatballs, which they love is £1.50. There’s all the show apartments to explore. The children’s bit has all the dream kid’s bedrooms with toys they can play with. There’s a small playpark in the car park. Choose a stuffed toy on the way home. Mine think it’s a great day out too.

When its warmer... splash pads.
I seem to remember the one at Magma (near Sheffield, off the M1) was quite good.

Some of the things we have done the last few weeks as we had loads of long weekends

Day trip to the beach
Maritime Museum (they have a kids play section too)
London Transport Museum
Owl Sanctuary
Toddler gymnastics
Swimming
Aquarium
Splashpark

But there are lots of lowkey things to do to - DD loves when we go pets at home!
Feeding the ducks at the pond

Honestly, do things YOU would enjoy. At that age, they get excited over a spatula.

While she's so small and portable, why limit your selves to child-interest?

You could take her swimming. camping, bike ride, for long hikes. To museums, shopping, stately homes, historic ruins, the zoo, wildlife park. To watch a match, watch you in the garden or allotment.

To her its all new and interesting and all she "needs" is a bottle/breast/ jar of
baby food and a sleep in the baby carrier.

Honestly I love a trip to the garden centre, going around all the plants, especially now weather is bit nicer, and tend to have decent outdoor areas. Ours also has a mini aquarium/fish section which is a big hit! And also the small animal garden ornaments are great for teaching animal names, etc.

Small animal/country zoos are good shouts also for that age group

Thank you so much for all your responses really appreciate every one of them!! This has made me realise how much there actually is to do x x