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Best FREE Things To Do in NYC with Your Baby

Check Out Story Time at Stavros Niarchos Library – Manhattan

This huge, newly renovated branch of New York Public Library is worth a visit, whether you're in Manhattan or traveling from another borough. The cozy children's center takes up the entire basement. It's full of nooks and crannies for little ones to play and read (or chew on books). There's even a big stuffed giraffe and Clifford the Big Red dog. My kids' favorite part is the book return on the far wall, where you can watch your books move down a conveyor belt as they're routed into bins. Check the library's website for story times based on age, and be prepared to call up to a week ahead to reserve a spot. For more reading fun in all five boroughs, check out our list of the most kid-friendly library branches in the city.
 

Stroll the High Line – Manhattan

This groundbreaking park winds above the city along what used to be elevated train tracks used to deliver supplies to factories along the Hudson River. With elevators every few blocks and an accessible path, this is an ideal spot for a stroller outing. Just plan your trip ahead of time, because the park is about a mile-and-a-half long. It's easy to start out at the south end near Gansevoort Street, wander for a while, and realize you've traveled more than 20 blocks to Hudson Yards. Read all our parent-tested tips for visiting the High Line.
 

Visit Socrates Sculpture Park – Queens

Let's face it: most baby-related NYC activities during the first few months center around walking. Whether you're walking to entertain your baby, to put your little one to sleep, or to keep your own boredom at bay, variety is key. Socrates Sculpture Park is open year-round, and it's FREE. Enjoy waterfront views, public art, and cool events that might just make you forget how sleep deprived you are.
 

RELATED: Postpartum Support Resources for New Moms in NYC
 

Explore Snug Harbor – Staten Island

The beautiful grounds at Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden are FREE to roam year round. Check out our guide to this unique oasis from the city for more reasons to visit.
 

Relax at Lincoln Center Atrium – Manhattan

Lincoln Center has plenty of FREE and choose-what-you-pay programs, including a full lineup of family-friendly shows. But what a lot of people don't realize is that the Lincoln Center lobby is completely FREE and open to the public. Enter through the Welcome Center to find the adjoining Karen and Richard LeFrak Lobby, self-described as "Lincoln Center's living room." Here, you'll find comfy chairs, free Wi-Fi, and a 50-foot digital wall showing off the art and performance live streams. The David Rubenstein Atrium is another great, free, public space with lush vegetation, plenty of seating, a snack bar, and occasional shows.

Ride the Staten Island Ferry – Staten Island/Manhattan

It's one of the best deals in town: Free round trips to and from Lower Manhattan to Staten Island, all day every day. Baby's first views of New York Harbor and Lady Liberty included. You can carry your baby or roll your stroller onto the boat, which departs both locations every half hour (and every 15 minutes during rush hour, but do not try to take a leisurely ride during these times, as the boat will be packed). Once you arrive at your destination, you can explore the area or turn around and hop right back out the next boat.
 

Explore Central Park – Manhattan

There's a reason this park is movie-famous. It's full of natural beauty and fun activities, and you may even spot a celebrity. Whether you want to take your baby out for a stroll, ride the carousel, or do some incredible people watching, Central Park is always bustling.
 

Walk the Prospect Park Loop – Brooklyn

"Brooklyn's Back Yard" is surrounded by a 3-mile, stroller-friendly pedestrian loop that makes for a great place to walk with your little sidekick or meet up with friends. Pause for a coffee or snack at the Picnic House, or stop to watch the skaters at the LeFrak Center, which has a rollerskating rink during the warm months and two ice rinks during the winter.
 

Crawl Around at a Destination Playground – Multiple Locations

Once your baby passes the crawling stage, consider venturing to a destination playground. We've profiled many, but my mom-tested recommendations include Riverside Park's Hippo Playground, the Imagination Playground at South Street Seaport, Central Park's Tarr-Coyne Tots Playground, Brooklyn Bridge Park's mega sandbox, and the Vanderbilt Street Playground in Prospect Park.
 

Swim in the City’s Newest Pool – Manhattan

A splash in a local pool is a big first for baby. NYC has tons of FREE outdoor pools open during the summer, though a word to the wise: There are lots of rules (like bringing a lock for the locker room, only wearing certain types of cover-ups, and showering before getting into the pool), and most pools aren't heated. There are still some great options for families with little ones, including the Gottesman Pool on the northeast corner of Central Park. It just opened in 2025, and it's massive. The zero-entry area and splash pad make this a good option for little ones. Just be prepared to hold your baby the whole time. At last check, NYC public pools do not allow flotation devices.
 

People-Watch on the Coney Island Boardwalk – Brooklyn

During the warm-weather months, there's never a dull moment at Coney Island. America's Playground attracts people of all kinds. It's not uncommon to see a spontaneous dance party on the boardwalk, which has plenty of concessions as well as public bathrooms (as you might expect, these are not glamorous). Just be mindful of some of the more unique visitors, including the guys who pull massive live snakes out of their backpacks to make a buck posing for photos.
 

Visit Bryant Park – Manhattan

This midtown park is small but mighty, and there's always something going on there. Spread out on the grass in the summer, watch the ice skaters during the winter, and take a spin on the carousel year-round. Check the website ahead of time to see what's happening. You may be able to catch a magic show, a juggling act, live piano music, and much more. I like combining a trip to Bryant Park with a visit to the Stavros Niarchos Library a block away.
 

Picnic in Brooklyn Bridge Park – Brooklyn

Stunning views of Manhattan, multiple playgrounds, public bathrooms, and plenty of nearby restaurants—Brooklyn Bridge Park has it all. You'll usually find plenty of parents with babies strolling along the massive waterfront park on the East River. The playgrounds at Pier 1 and Pier 5 are especially baby- and toddler-friendly. 

Brooklyn Bridge Park is a great hangout! Cool off in the bamboo at Pier 6 when your little ones need a break. Photo by Matt Nighswander

Indoor Activities to Do With Your Baby

Roll Around at a Padded Gym – Manhattan

Chelsea Piers is home to a colorful and well-padded toddler gym. Visit the website ahead of time to book a session for $20. The gym is small, which can feel less intimidating, but you also need to keep a close eye on your little one, since bigger toddlers will be running around.
 

Sip and Play at Good Day Play Cafe – Brooklyn

This bright and airy indoor play space in Park Slope is a parent favorite thanks to the strong coffee and beautiful play areas. Many of the toys are wooden and encourage creative, screen-free play. You can book a two-hour session online, and walk-ins are accepted if space allows. Remember to bring socks for both you and your little one. For more indoor fun, check out our full list of the best play cafes in NYC.
 

Take a Parent & Baby Gymnastics Class – Multiple Locations

When you're ready to level up your baby's gym game, try out a parent-and-baby gymnastics class. There are plenty of options throughout the city, including Baby Bobcasts classes at Industry Gymnastics, which are geared toward babies ages 3-15 months. 

The Brooklyn Children's Museum has plenty of fun, sensory-filled experiences for the youngest museum-goers to explore. Photo courtesy of the museum
 

Explore the Brooklyn Children's Museum – Brooklyn

This popular museum features an area called Totally Tots, a colorful and padded place where little ones can practice crawling, toddling, and exploring. Just know that this space can be packed during peak times like weekends. If you're not quite ready to plunk your baby down into the chaos (and germs) of a children's museum, keep in mind that most of NYC's world-class museums are a great place to stroll around, especially if you're wearing your little one.
 

Watch a Movie With Other Parents and Babies – Multiple Locations

Head to an NYC movie theater offering special screenings for babies, where the sound is turned down, house lights are left on low, and no one cares if your baby needs to fuss for a few minutes or you need to stop to rustle about to change a diaper. Options around town include Nitehawk's Adults with Infant series and Alamo for All.
 

Flutter with the Butterflies – Manhattan

The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) is home to a year-round butterfly vivarium. It's especially nice to visit in the winter months, since it's always a balmy 80 degrees inside. AMNH is a pay-what-you-wish museum for New York residents, so locals can visit often without breaking the bank. Note though that some exhibits and activities including the Butterfly Vivarium require a paid add-on ticket. Also keep in mind that the museum is a major tourist hot spot. Lines have been known to wrap around the block on weekends, so arrive early or visit on a weekday if you can. Once your little one is a bit older, we've got you covered with our guide to NYC's best kid-friendly museums.

Experience Baby's First Theater Show – Multiple Locations

Head to an outdoor performance at Lincoln Center or Bryant Park during the summer months. The rest of the year, there are tons of theater options geared toward kids in the city, so keep an eye on our Family Activity Calendar for interactive performances you can book straight from our site, plus more picks ranging from storybook-inspired puppet shows to productions at the New Victory. They're all geared toward little audience members, so plan to step out for some culture to build baby's love of the arts and prep them for a lifelong love affair with Broadway.
 

Learn Sign Language Together – Multiple Locations

Your baby is never too young to start learning sign language, and there are plenty of parent-and-child classes throughout the city. One popular program is the local mom-founded Baby Fingers, which incorporates music and play into its online and in-person lessons. There are many other options on our list of sign language classes in NYC.

 

Outdoor Activities to Do With Your Baby
 

Take a Spin on Jane's Carousel – Brooklyn

NYC is home to more than a dozen beautiful carousels, but this one is a standout. Located right on the waterfront in Brooklyn Bridge Park, Jane's Carousel has some of the best views in the city. Tickets are $3 per ride. Nearby, you'll find lots of grassy space in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge, perfect for rolling around or sharing a picnic lunch. While the carousel is open year round, it is often closed on certain days (for example, it's closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays in the winter), so check the website before you make the trek. For more fun spins, check out our list of the best merry-go-rounds in the city.

A visit to the Bronx Zoo is fun in any season, and there are always some fun animal encounters to enjoy. Photo courtesy of the WCS

Visit the Zoo – Multiple Locations

One of my best annual family purchases is our Wildlife Conservation Society membership, which grants admission to the Central Park, Prospect Park, Queens, and Bronx Zoos, with the option to add on the New York Aquarium. While the Bronx Zoo is a lot to handle with a little one, the Central Park, Prospect Park, and Queens Zoos are small enough to let a new walker wander a bit. Little ones can pet and feed farm animals at Central Park's Tisch Children's Zoo and at the Queens Zoo's Farm. If you visit the Bronx Zoo, the gorilla exhibit includes a theater with a short documentary on conservation efforts and makes an excellent, quiet place to breastfeed.

See Colorful Fish at the New York Aquarium – Brooklyn 

This beautiful aquarium has a great mix of indoor and outdoor areas. Little ones are mesmerized as they peer through the glass at the colorful fish darting by. There's also a small toddler-friendly play area. The outdoor theater features 20-minute sea lion shows that can keep both you and your baby entertained. Plus, the Coney Island beach and boardwalk are just steps away.

Take in the Views from the Empire State Building – Manhattan

One of the fun things about infants is how portable they are. And when it comes to raising a baby in New York City, the sky's the limit. Your little one may not appreciate this architectural wonder, but you can. And let's face it, the sleep deprivation and sweet but sometimes monotonous rhythms of babyhood can leave you seeking some mental stimulation. After winding through the museum portion of the building, ride the elevator to the top, take in the amazing views, and remind yourself how awesome it is to be in the Big Apple.
 

Exercise with Your Tiny Workout Buddy – Multiple Locations

Why not include your baby in your workout? Relax with some mommy and me yoga, or check out these postnatal exercise classes for new moms, all of which allow you to bring your infant in a stroller or to the mat.

See the gorgeous cherry blossoms at New York Botanical Garden.

Bask in the Cherry Blossoms – Brooklyn

Baby's first year is full of eye-opening moments, so don't forget to stop and smell the roses—and the cherry blossoms. New York City is surrounded by lovely, curated gardens perfect for an early spring stroll and plenty of pretty photo-ops. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a standout during cherry blossom season, and it has a kid-sized Discovery Garden. The massive New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx also blooms with family-friendly programming every season. Nearby Wave Hill is an underrated gem, and the Queens Botanical Garden is known for its spectacular festivals and reasonable admission.

Explore Governors Island – Governors Island

It's just a short (and cheap!) ferry ride to Governors Island, but it feels like a world apart. If you're itching for a change of scenery but don't want to leave the city, this is the outing for you. It's just a few hundred yards off the tip of Manhattan and makes for a great place to stroll around with a baby strapped to your chest. It's also stroller friendly and has plenty of concessions and bathrooms. During warm weather, pack a picnic and let your baby crawl around on the green lawns. On certain days, you might even spot some visiting goats chowing down on the grass.
 

Share a Treat at Chinatown Ice Cream Factory – Manhattan

We're listing this as an outdoor activity because this Chinatown institution is standing room only, and the line sometimes spills out onto the sidewalk. With flavors ranging from classics to creative options like lychee rose and black sesame, this is the perfect place to expand your baby's tiny palette while treating yourself.
 

Move to the Music – Multiple Locations

Baby-and-me classes are a great way to break up the monotony of the day. We've got a roundup of the best baby-and-me music classes, plus an entire directory dedicated to classes and drop-in fun for everyone from babies and toddlers to tweens, teens, and beyond.

This article, first published in February 2015, has since been updated, most recently in 2026.

Unless noted, photos by the author