Leaving the house during winter is always a hassle. The cold and bitter wind in Iowa makes you think twice about heading out the door. Things get a little harder when an infant is involved. Why would you want to expose your sweet little baby to the harshness that winter can bring? Well, sometimes you just need to get out of the house and enjoy a change of scenery. When your baby can’t walk yet, the options are limited. Plus, there’s the fact that you can only handle so many trips to Target, and by you I mean your wallet! This is why I’ve put together a list of a few infant-friendly indoor activities in Cedar Rapids!!
Cedar Rapids Public Library
With two locations, the Cedar Rapids Public Library system offers a great space for little ones to explore. They have an area specially designated for kids with play area, activity centers, craft table, and all the books you can imagine. They even have a specific section for board books. Infants can crawl around, explore the books, and interact with the play tables. Plus, there’s plenty of people watching! The Downtown location just introduced a new class called “Play, Sing and Read” which is specifically designed for kids ages 0-5 and only 30 minutes long. By becoming a member, you can check out up to 99 items (yes, that many!) and there’s multiple drop off locations around town.
Winter Swim Lessons
The Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of swim lessons at Bender Pool. The PuddleJumpers class is specifically designed for small children, ages 6 months to three years. Classes are available in 6 week sessions on weekdays or weekends, so they can work with a variety of schedules. The group gets together in the shallow end of the pool, one parent per baby. An instructor goes around and interacts one-on-one with each baby and shows skills such as blowing bubbles, kicking, floating on their back, splashing, and putting water on their face. The facilities include locker rooms with showers (perfect to rinse the chlorine off),restrooms, and a changing table. It’s a fun outing to look forward to, where your baby will be exposed to water and interaction with other kids and parents. Plus, it’s a great bonding experience for you and your baby.
Prices range from $20-$42, depending on class schedule and if you’re a resident. Click here for details.
Babies R Us Events
Located on the southwest side of Cedar Rapids, Babies R Us offers a Baby’s First Birthday event on the second Saturday of every month. It’s a free event where they aid you with your party planning. You can browse outfit options, gifts, and party supplies. The event also includes activities and giveaways. It’s pretty informal. Not to mention, a great way to get out of the house and get some party ideas. Multitasking! They also offer similar events for some holidays, such as Easter and Christmas.
UnityPoint Health Classes
The Cedar Rapids campus offers a variety of classes in their Helen G. Nassif Women’s & Children’s Center. Breastfeeding Friends offers new moms much needed support as they learn the art of breastfeeding. With support from some great lactation consultants and a baby weight check, this is the place to get much needed answers to the millions of questions that nursing brings.
Mommy & Me, newborn to 4 months or 4 months to 8 months, provides a place to interact with other moms, get information and answers from a nurse, interaction with other babies, and a baby weight check. The Mommy, Daddy and Me version invites dads to the meetings and are available on weekends. Apart from getting out of the house, both your baby and you will be able to interact with others. It’s a great way to keep those baby blues in check. Some, but not all, classes are offered free of charge.
Baby and Me Yoga
A couple of yoga studios in Cedar Rapids offer baby and me yoga classes. Yoga is a great way to let go of stress, stretch sore muscles, relieve some pain, and interact with your baby. All in one class! Connect with other yogi moms and babies while enjoying a little time away from home. Both Toula Yoga and Soundness with Sayde offer these classes.
Music & Play Classes
Two local stores offer interactive classes for babies and parents. Kids love making noise, so playing with instruments seems like the perfect cure for that cabin fever. These classes includes songs, games, and interactive activities to keep your baby engaged throughout. Contact Baby Time or Birth, Baby and Beyond for more information and class schedules.
Having a winter baby doesn’t have to make you a prisoner in your own home. There are plenty of opportunities to socialize with other moms and to have your baby interact with other infants in the area. With a little bit of planning, you might just get addicted to taking a daily trip with your bundle of joy.
How do you and your baby beat cabin fever? Do you know of any other infant-friendly indoor activities in Cedar Rapids?
Make sure you never miss out on a parenting or community-related blog post: sign up to receive CRMB posts in your inbox. While you’re at it, join our VIP List to ensure you’re one of the first to know about upcoming Cedar Rapids Moms Blog events and promotions!!