Baby’s first year can feel like a blur of feedings, naps, milestones, cuddles, and very little sleep. The days can feel long, but that first birthday somehow arrives faster than expected.
You do not need a perfect baby bucket list or elaborate plans to make the first year meaningful. Some of the sweetest memories come from simple moments, like reading together, taking a walk, blowing bubbles, or pausing long enough to soak in a sleepy snuggle.
If you are looking for memorable things to do with your baby before they turn 1, this list is full of simple ideas to help you celebrate, explore, and enjoy this special first year together.
Key Takeaways
- Baby’s first year goes quickly, but meaningful memories do not have to be complicated.
- Simple activities like reading, singing, snuggling, walking, and taking photos can be special.
- Choose ideas that fit your baby’s age, temperament, and your family’s routine.
- You do not need to do all 20 ideas. Pick the ones that feel fun and realistic.
- The best memories often come from being present, not planning something perfect.
Memorable Things To Do With Your Baby Before They Turn 1
These baby-friendly ideas can help you capture milestones, create keepsakes, explore new places, and enjoy simple moments together during your baby’s first year.
1. Soak Up the Snuggles
I know this one may seem obvious, but so much emphasis is placed on establishing a routine and developing sleep and wake windows for babies before they turn one. It’s important to soak in all the cuddles you can before your baby graduates to walking and running out of reach. Sometimes my son falls asleep on me while I’m rocking him, and my initial reaction is to transition him into his crib to maximize my productivity. Instead, I’ll sometimes indulge in a contact nap.
I enjoy feeling his little chest rise and fall in sync with mine. It melts the stress away, if only for a few minutes.
2. Celebrate Milestones With Photos
New moms know there’s no such thing as too many pictures of their little one. While you may have already had to upgrade your phone storage to accommodate the absurd number of photos you snap each week (or even daily), try to remember to capture milestones. It sounds simple, but you’ll be amazed by how each “month” marker passes you by before your baby turns one. Sometimes, weeks would lapse before I’d remember to grab a photo of my son to track his growth.
Set a reminder on your phone or make a checklist of important dates, holidays, or milestones, such as their first smile, first laugh, or first crawl. You’ll be glad you captured those memories in photos and videos.
Related: Baby Milestones Month by Month
3. Write Letters to Your Baby
I’m still working on being consistent with this suggestion, but it’s such a lovely concept. Create a timeless keepsake for your little one by writing to them and expressing your thoughts, hopes, wishes, and feelings during this epic first year. You can aim to jot down your ideas even once a month and tuck the notes into a special folder or a digital file (you can even write emails to them and create their own email address), which you can share later when they ask about their childhood.
The day-to-day grind can feel like a blur, especially in those first few “survival mode” months postpartum, so it’s an excellent way to reflect once life calms down in a few years for you, too.
4. Introduce Your Baby to Music
Music has a wonderful way of bringing families together. Experiment with your favorite ’90s jams, introduce classical music, or rock out to Disney hits with your baby before they turn one. I was on an “Encanto” kick when my son was born, and to this day, he lights up when he hears the lyrics to “The Family Madrigal” blasting throughout the house. It’s a fun, free activity everyone can enjoy together.
Related: What Music Does to Our Kids’ Brains
5. Explore Instruments Together
Once your baby starts developing more interest in the world and grasping onto rattles or toys, try exploring the exciting world of instruments. Light-up play pianos allow your baby to hear different sounds and make their own tunes. Don’t worry about investing much money in fancy equipment, either. Don’t have a drum? Improvise with pots and a wooden spoon from your kitchen.
6. Move Your Bodies Together
It’s never too early to show your little ones the power of moving their bodies. Family workouts don’t need to be as intense as CrossFit boot camps. It can be a simple walk or a demonstration of basic yoga poses for your little one. Allowing them to explore and play with you will make exercise fun and inviting. My son loves crawling around on my spare yoga mat and giggles at me when I practice downward dog. Going on walks outside can help everyone get fresh air and feel recharged. Seeing the wonder of the neighborhood through your baby’s eyes is so much fun.
Related: How To Do Infant Massage (And Why It’s Beneficial)
7. Plan a Small Travel Adventure
Plane, train, or automobile; pick a place, and plan. Traveling with a baby before they turn one can feel intimidating and overwhelming for new parents, so you don’t need to go globetrotting just yet. Take baby steps with your baby and plan a trip to a state park you’ve been meaning to explore or a state you haven’t visited. It’s a great opportunity to introduce your little one to new surroundings, sights, and sounds, and gain parental confidence.
The more I ventured out of the comfort of my own home and into the world, the more relaxed I felt behind the wheel, packing the car, and getting out and about.
8. Read Together Often
During the first few months, it can sometimes feel like you’re reading to a baby who is more interested in sleeping than listening. Don’t give up on the magic of reading just because your little one doesn’t understand the words. Practice does make perfect here. A day will come when the regular reading activity prompts a flicker of familiarity in your baby’s face. Developing a reading routine before your baby turns one will set a standard and, hopefully, launch a lifelong love of reading and learning.
Related: 5 Reasons Why Reading to Your Kids Should Be a Top Priority
9. Make Bath Time Fun
Every baby reacts differently to bath time. At first, my son screamed and seemed scared when we placed him in his adorable blue whale bathtub. I have a hunch it was a bit of sensory overload with a scary, new experience.
Dimming the lights, playing calming music, and introducing interactive bath toys and cozy towels or robes are all wonderful ways to create an enjoyable environment your little one will love. For us, bath time signals bedtime. We love to lather our baby up in soothing lavender lotion post-bath and incorporate a mini baby massage to signal wind-down time.
10. Try a Baby Swim Class
Speaking of splashing around, consider a baby swim class. Regardless of the time of year your little one was born, there are many options for indoor swim classes that babies can partake in. This is a wonderful introduction to water. It also encourages swim safety early on and offers excellent tips and advice for safe water practices for parents. Choose a class designed for babies, stay within arm’s reach at all times, and remember that swim lessons never replace close supervision around water.
11. Join a Baby Storytime
Storytime is a fantastic opportunity to join in on a fun, low-pressure group activity before your baby turns one. Not only is it a chance for parents to learn fun nursery rhymes they can repeat during playtime at home, but it’s a chance for your baby to meet and interact with other little ones. You may also meet your new best friend at storytime.
12. Take Your Baby to the Beach
Depending on where you live, a beach day may take a little extra planning, but it can be a wonderful sensory experience for your baby. Watching the waves, feeling the sand between their toes, and listening to the sounds of the ocean are all new experiences they’ll enjoy.
Bring plenty of shade, a hat, extra water, and anything else your family needs to stay comfortable. If your baby is old enough, follow current sunscreen recommendations. Keep the outing simple, follow your baby’s cues, and enjoy the fresh air together.
Related: Beach Essentials for Baby You’ll Need This Summer
13. Capture Tiny Fingerprints and Footprints
This is one memory you don’t want to miss. Grab some non-toxic paint and some construction paper. Dip those tiny toes and fingers into the paint, then gently press them onto the paper. Not only is this a keepsake for your family photo album, but you can recreate this after your baby’s first birthday and beyond. It’s incredible to see the passage of time through the size of your baby’s prints. (Also, this makes an adorable card to mail to the grandparents!)
14. Sing Together
You don’t need a perfect singing voice; your baby will simply love hearing yours. Belt out nursery rhymes or classic rock and put on a show for your little one. Over time, singing will be a fun activity that your baby will likely chime in on as they become more vocal.
15. Book Professional Photos
If you debated getting professional maternity photos and opted not to (guilty), consider this your sign. Book the photographer to freeze this moment in time. Before your baby turns one, carve out an hour to dress up a little, if you’d like, and capture this special season together. You can’t get this time back, and I think you’ll be glad you did when you receive beautiful photos of your little love.
16. Try Fun New Foods
When you decide to introduce solids, try to have fun with them. I initially felt overwhelmed by the idea of new foods. Still, I learned to love introducing new flavors to my son. Whether you are seeing your baby taste a tart strawberry for the first time, fumble with a messy, mushed banana, or spit out green peas in protest, every new flavor is a learning moment worth watching.
It can be hard to embrace the drooly, sticky messes at mealtime, but try to have some fun. Your little one will pick up on your energy and associate food with fun before you know it.
As you introduce solids, follow your pediatrician’s guidance on readiness, introducing common allergens, and offering foods safely for your baby’s age.
Related: How to Introduce Solids to Your Baby
17. Plan a Baby Playdate
Okay, so maybe your baby can’t talk yet or play make-believe. That doesn’t mean you can’t plan a playdate with your best friend and their tiny tot. It’s remarkable to see your baby explore playtime with someone their size. Babbling, pointing, giggling, and mimicking one another’s facial expressions as they explore your living room or a picnic blanket provides endless entertainment (for both parents and babies). No pressure to load up on too many overstimulating toys; just let the little ones roll around together, and they’re sure to have a ball.
18. Visit the Zoo
Chances are, you’ve been showing animal photos to your baby through toys, books, and images for a while now. Watching your baby’s reaction when they see an animal for the first time is something you’ll always remember. A zoo day provides a perfect backdrop for a family stroll and fresh air. It will also be an exciting and memorable sensory experience for your baby before they turn one. Have fun mimicking the animal sounds you’ve probably been making together for months, and feel free to bring along your baby’s favorite stuffy for the adventure.
Related: Family Adventures and Activities for Every Letter of the Alphabet
19. Shop for Baby’s First Shoes
There is nothing quite like the delicious, adorable image of baby feet in pint-sized shoes. Practical? Perhaps not. But those tiny toes deserve nothing but the best. Ditch the digital shopping plan and opt for an old-school shoe store experience. Bonus points for supporting a small, locally-owned business in your community. You can show your baby a few options and see if they gravitate toward a particular color or pattern. The shoes you pick together can be the perfect pair to practice walking with your little one, and the memories you make are priceless.
20. Blow Bubbles Outside
For those wary of indoor messes, this is a great activity to check off your list before your baby turns one. Bubbles are a thing of magic and are bound to offer hours of entertainment as your baby marvels at their disappearing act. Bubble wands can be an attractive sensory learning opportunity and an excellent way to get outdoors.
There are so many sweet ways to enjoy your baby’s first year, but you do not have to do everything on this list to make it memorable. Choose the ideas that feel fun, realistic, and meaningful for your family.
Your baby will not remember every outing, photo, song, or story, but these moments help build connection. And one day, you will be grateful for the memories, photos, and little keepsakes that remind you just how special this first year was.
