It takes intentional planning to figure out activities that are both fun and friendly to the baby + toddler age. I'm right there with you as a parent of 3 kids 5 and under. Here is a round up of some of our favorite baby & toddler friendly activities in the Indianapolis area.
The Playscape at the Children’s Museum
We are incredibly lucky to live in the same city as the best Children’s Museum in the country. The Playscape on level 3 is specifically designed for kids 5 and under. Inside the Playscape is the Babyscape, a gated soft space for babies and young toddlers to crawl and explore. It's also home to the nursing mom's area at the museum. The Playscape also has a check-in, check-out system at the entrance monitored by a staff member at all times.
Children’s Department at Local Libraries
Local libraries are fantastic resources for families with littles. Lots of branches have programming specific to this age group, as well as open spaces in the children’s department to play and read. We love the spaces and programming at the Carmel Main Library, Hussey-Mayfield Library (Zionsville, IN), Westfield Library, and Fishers Library. All library programming is listed on the IN List every week!
Baby and Toddler Friendly Parks + Nature Centers
Finding parks that are friendly to the baby + toddler age range can be tricky! I wrote a blog post with detailed reviews for parks for babies and pre-walkers, but below is another list of parks that we’ve visited and love for the baby/toddler age. They are all mulch free, have equipment low to the ground, and are stroller friendly. I’ve also included a couple local nature centers to explore in the winter months. Both are also stroller friendly, have reptiles/fish to see indoors, and are free to enter.
Simon Moon Park - Westfield, IN
Tot Lot at Lions Park - Zionsville, IN
River Heritage Park - Carmel, IN
Panther Park - Whitestown, IN
Meadowlark Park - Carmel, IN
Holliday Park Nature Center - Indianapolis, IN
Cool Creek Nature Center - Carmel, IN
The Park at Traders Point
The Park at Traders Point is a free indoor playground in Whitestown, IN with a separate space for babies and toddlers to play. Kids need socks to play and parents need an ID to check in. You can pre-register in advance and see current operating hours, here. Check out more insider tips from our visit to The Park from this reel on @keepingupincarmel.
Trampoline Parks with Toddler Times
Sky Zone Indianapolis North: 9am - 12pm, Monday - Friday (our personal fav)
Adrenaline Action Park Fishers: 9:30am - 11am, Saturday & Sunday
Urban Air Noblesville: 10am - 1pm Friday
FunTime Open Gym at Wright's Gymnastics
Funtime Open Gym at Wright’s Gymnastics is open to the public. At the Westfield location, there is a designated preschool area for kids 5 and under to test out their gymnastics skills and play. Wright’s offers funtime at multiple locations including Westfield, Noblesville, Fishers, and the south side. Explore available times, here. See more tips for registering and what to expect from this reel on @keepingupincarmel.