You can keep communicating and bonding once your baby arrives. For babies, the journey from the cosy world of their mummy's tummy to the outside world can be quite a big change. Hearing your voice speaking or singing to them might be soothing. They find voices they heard from inside familiar, and these may be reassuring. You may find they enjoy particular songs you played before or they might like to keep hearing the story inside the book. You can gently explore with your baby and learn what they enjoy and respond to.
The families we worked with on this book shared lots of ideas of their favourite things to do in Dundee with their babies. You might get some free ideas for when your baby is born.
Ideas for when baby is here
Out and about in Dundee
Lots of our families enjoy spending time outside in nature with their babies. There are lots of great parks across Dundee like Swanny Ponds and Dundee Law. There is a nice beach at Broughty Ferry. They also like to play by the shore at the urban beach, in the sand or splashing in the fountains.
Families love their local library as a place to hang out to read and play, or to join a Book Bug session to socialise with other babies and sing and play together. You can find more information here.
Dundee Contemporary Arts has a space for families called Create Space with books, wee one’s toys and comfy sofas for feeding. It can be a nice free space to meet friends out of the weather, and there are also bookable baby art sessions. They also have a lovely baby change room and feeding area.
Families like to go to McManus and V&A on a rainy day. V&A run ‘Shake, Rattle and Stroll’ for free baby friendly activity in the museum.
The Science Centre has free ‘Play Space’ sessions for wee ones using their construction play equipment on weekdays. Their café is baby friendly with play areas and reading corners. Find out more here
There are lots of sculptures to see and point out to your baby as you walk around Dundee. Our families told us that they like to say hello to all the penguins, and find the polar bears, dragons and cartoon characters.
There are community groups for babies and their grown-ups across Dundee, just ask at your nearest community centre to find out what’s on near you.
At the end of a busy day bubble baths were a way our families said they relaxed and bonded with their babies.
Further resources
There are lots of resources to find online with ideas for your baby too. Here are a few to get started:
- A collection of activities and things to do with children aged 0-3 months from BBC Tiny Happy People.
- Stories and songs with Scottish Book Trust
- Early Art ideas that are designed for babies from Art at the Start