We all know the importance of getting your kids outside and into nature. The benefits of spending time in the great outdoors are not limited to children. They also extend to new parents and babies. Taking an infant on outdoor adventures may sound crazy or overwhelming, but we’re here to tell you that even small amounts of time spent outdoors will do wonders for you and your baby’s health, mood, and spirit. Today, we’re sharing why it’s so important to get your baby outside, tips for taking your baby outside and 15 simple outdoor activities for babies that a new parent will easily be able to incorporate into daily life.
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Benefits to babies of being outside
There are so many wonderful benefits of being outside for babies. During the first few years of life, infants and toddlers are trying to make sense of the world as their brain synapses form at a rapid rate. These synapses are formed based on the richness of the child’s sensory environment. Spending time outside is an exciting sensory experience for babies. It gives your little one the chance to look around and learn from every sight, noise, and sound.
Infants need interesting things to look at, as well as a variety of sounds, temperatures, and smells. Research shows that being outside gives them a more meaningful sensory experience than being indoors. Imagine the difference between lying on a blanket outside watching the flickering leaves of a tree, feeling the sunshine and the breeze, hearing a dog bark nearby and smelling freshly-cut grass. Now contrast that to lying on a blanket in the house and looking up at a ceiling or mobile. The sensory experiences cannot be matched.
Babies that spend time outside are often healthier and sick less often. The fresh air and sunshine (Vitamin D) can do wonders for anyone’s health. Spending time outdoors also gives your baby an escape from indoor germs and bacteria. Re-circulated air in closed environments and germs on commonly touched indoor items are the main causes of children getting sick. In fresh, outdoor air, babies do not have to rebreathe the germs of others, and the chance for spreading infection, viruses, and illnesses is reduced.
And if those weren’t enough to convince you to take your baby outside right away, research also shows that babies sleep better at night if they’ve had some fresh air and sunshine during the day (particularly in the afternoon). The daylight helps babies make the day/night adjustment and get on a more consistent schedule.
Tips for taking babies outside in extreme temperatures
Before you take your baby outside, here are a few things to consider to ensure a safe outdoor environment for them.
If it’s hot or sunny, consider staying in a cool shady location. Use a sunhat (we love these “Noggins” by Veyo Kids) or umbrella to block the sun’s harmful rays. Most pediatricians don’t recommend sunscreen for babies until they’re at least 6 months. After that, we recommend this brand of baby sunscreen. If you’re baby-wearing, be sure to use a baby carrier that’s breathable (we love the Solly wrap) and your baby is properly situated and isn’t overly dressed. Make sure to limit your baby’s time in the heat and exposure to sun. If it’s cold, make sure your baby is properly bundled and warm. We love these winter one-piece kickee pants quilted coverall for extra warmth in colder months or this full-body fleece from North Face.
Outdoor activities for babies
You’ve probably heard us shout from the rooftops about the amazing benefits of unstructured outdoor play for kids. And while that sounds fantastic once your kids are old enough to play by themselves, what do you do outside with a baby? Luckily, there are a variety of fun and simple outdoor activities for babies that you can do with very little prep work or planning. Just having a few ideas of easy activities can sometimes be all the encouragement and motivation you need to give it a try! We’re here to show you just how easy* it can be to get outside with your baby. However, just remember that for babies, the actual activity is not as important as being together, being outdoors and giving your baby new experiences.
*Depending on how things are going with your little one, taking a baby outside might sound easy or incredibly overwhelming. Sometimes the simplest things can feel like too much when you have a newborn. This list of activities is not meant to stress you out or add one more thing to your to-do list. These are merely things that you are probably already doing that you can take outside to add an extra layer of sensory experience and get you some fresh air and sunshine.
1. Take a walk
One of the simplest things you can do outside at any age, is to take your baby outside for a walk with you. Outdoor activities for babies don’t have to be complicated or need a lot of planning. Whether your little one is in the stroller, baby carrier or just in your arms, a short walk around your yard or neighborhood will do you both a world of good. Simply being outside is a wonderful way to engage baby’s senses without overstimulating them. There’s something about just being outdoors that seems to calm babies. If your little one is having a hard time, melting down, crying for no reason – go outside! This is my go-to trick when our kids were babies (and it still works with school-aged kids!). A walk outside in the fresh air is more beneficial than you’ll ever know! Trust me, try it!
2. Eat outside
You’re already feeding your baby multiple times a day, so if possible, take a few of those feedings outdoors. If you’re a first-time mom trying to get the hang of nursing or feeding your baby, by all means, just do what you need to do to get your baby fed and stay sane. But once you get the hang of things, consider a change of scenery and feed your baby outside. Start in your backyard and move on to park benches or next to a stream once you get comfortable. Babies spend an unbelievable amount of time eating, so why not make the most of it and get some fresh air while you’re at it.
Once your baby is old enough to start purees or solids, continue to feed them outside! Move the high chair outside or set them in a Bumbo seat if they need support. Eating outside is a particularly great outdoor activity for babies because the cleanup is a breeze! No more scrubbing floors or walls when food gets spit or thrown!
3. Tummy time
This is another activity that you’re probably already doing inside, so take it outside! Grab a blanket and some toys and move the action outdoors. Babies will love reaching for and touching new things, like grass and leaves. And when they’re finished with their tummy time, roll them on their back and let them see the sky.
4. Take a nap
If you want your baby to truly benefit from all the wonders of being outdoors, try napping outside! Bring out a travel crip (we love this one from Baby Bjorn) or just set up a safe space on the ground for your baby to sleep. Babies in Scandanavian countries take naps in prams year-round as young as tw0-weeks old and in temperatures as low as -4F for up to three hours! Research by Marjo Tourula of the University of Oulu, Finland, shows that frigid napping not only promotes better daytime sleeping, but it also increases the duration of sleep. Other benefits, not yet borne out by research, purportedly include children being happier, more energetic, able to sleep better through the night, and capable of snoozing in any environment, even loud and bright.
5. Water play
If your babies are anything like mine, they love water! If it’s warm outside, consider giving your baby a few bowls or trays of water to touch and splash with their hands. A baby pool filled with just a few inches of water could occupy my little ones for hours! Add measuring cups, spoons and scoops for extra fun. If your baby can stand, try a water table (we’ve had this one for years). And older babies love the novelty of the hose. There’s something about running water that absolutely fascinates them!
6. Visit a playground
Babies need time and fun places to work on developing new large motor skills, such as crawling, pulling up and climbing. Playgrounds can be perfect places for babies to experience new surfaces and textures, climbing on different levels and sliding! Plus, once your little one can sit up and has good head and neck control, try the swings! The swinging sensation is sure to bring on big smiles to your little one.
Pro tip: Consider visiting playgrounds during off-hours (school hours during the week), when there are not as many big kids around.
7. Read a book
Spread out a blanket under a shady tree and read your baby a few of her favorite books outside. Babies enjoy reading books anywhere, but taking them outside adds a whole new layer of fun and connection. Consider reading books that take place in nature, so you can point out natural elements (trees, grass, leaves) in the story as well as around you.
8. Nature hike
If you’re feeling a bit more ambitious than a walk around your neighborhood, consider taking your baby for a hike. Hiking is one of the easiest outdoor activities for babies and doesn’t require much beyond what you’d need for a walk or quick outing. Hikes don’t have to be long, intense or elaborate (we recommend that they’re not). Wear baby in a sling/wrap or backpack carrier (we love this Osprey backpack) and simply go for a walk in the woods, nature center or local park. Choose a hiking trail where you can interact with nature and point out all the different sights (trees, flowers) and sounds (birds, water) to your baby. The sights, sounds, and smells of nature will stimulate their senses and the motion may even lull them to sleep. Remember to take your time and don’t overdo it.
9. Jam session
Most babies are very intrigued by sound and making noise. Grab a few toy instruments and head outside for a fun music-making jam session. For instance, maracas, tambourines, keyboards and drums all make for excellent baby-friendly instruments. However, you don’t need special tools to jam out. Pots, pans, metal bowls and wooden spoons are also baby-safe and make plenty of entertaining noise.
10. Sensory experience
Babies benefit greatly from new sensory experiences and the outdoors is a great place to explore. Have your baby sit on a blanket with a pinecone, a few large rocks, some sticks, etc. Encourage her to touch and explore the different textures. Let your baby feel the grass with her bare feet and touch it. Allow her to touch, feel and taste snow. Hand him dry leaves to crunch in his hands. These activities are great for babies to be able to experience sensory experiences at their own level.
11. Observe a busy place
Once your baby is old enough to take in his surroundings and not get crazy overwhelmed by activity, take him somewhere busy to observe the sights, sounds and smells of a new place. From a safe vantage point, let your baby discover the hustle and bustle of a busy farmers market on a Saturday morning. Watch and listen to heavy equipment work at a construction site. Take your baby to your local zoo or aquarium to look around at all the animals in action (as well as the zoo of people all around). Or go to the beach to experience the sound and feel of the water, as well as the sounds of the people, seagulls and waves.
12. Play with balls and bubbles
Some of the simplest and easiest toys for little ones to play with are balls and bubbles. Take your ball game outside for new fun variations. Roll balls back and forth on a flat surface or throw them and watch them bounce. Bring out a variety of balls of different colors, textures, and sizes. Outside is the perfect place because there is plenty of space to spread out and nothing to break. Add some bubbles to an outdoor experience and watch your little one delight in the experience of touching and popping them. Bubbles are a super simple and easy outdoor activity for babies that you can do anytime and anywhere.
13. Mow the lawn
Another easy way to get your baby outside is just to take them along on the activities you’re already doing. One of our favorite outdoor activities for babies to do when our kids were little was to “help” daddy mow the lawn. My husband would put the baby in a carrier and go about mowing the yard, as usual. The noises, smells, and sights they experience while doing this simple chore are thrilling for a little one. So make sure your baby has protective eyewear to keep them safe from any flying debris. And once your little one is old enough to walk, get them a little push mower to use and let them mow by themselves! This toy has been a big hit with all my kids and lasted years.
14. Garden, plant and weed
Let your little one participate in gardening and observe you taking care of your garden. From the earliest age, my kids loved lying on a blanket outside or in a bouncer while I worked in the garden. Just spending time outside together doing things that makes the parent feel good is a great outdoor activity for any baby. Little ones can listen to the natural outdoor sounds, feel the breeze, look up at the sky and watch the birds. Or play some music and have a little dance party while you weed! Talk to your little one while you plant and explain what you’re doing and way. Of course, she won’t understand, but that’s not the point! Show her your harvest and even let her taste it (if she’s old enough).
15. Practice walking
When your little one is ready to start walking, take her outside! Outdoor activities for babies don’t have to be complicated. Let them do what’s natural for them, but take it outside! Learning to walk outdoors gives her more space and fewer sharp edges. Start off in the grass, which is a nice soft surface for the inevitable trips and tumbles. Although don’t be surprised if your child becomes more interested in the grass, leaves, and sticks she finds on the ground and doesn’t get very far! Once she’s more steady on her feet, try the sidewalk or driveway. Moreover, if she needs a little assistance pulling up or balancing, walker toys move great outdoors.
This is a great list of ideas! I love that it’s all simple things and anybody could easily make it part of a routine! It’s a perfect foundation for getting kids connected with and loving nature.