The Baby Bucket List: Must-Do Activities for the Early Years

Get inspired by our list of adorable activities for you and baby, and catch 7 Little Johnstons every Tuesday at 10/9c!

November 03, 2025

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Best Activities for Making Memories

It’s no lie — those early years go fast. Just ask Elizabeth and Brice of the 7 Little Johnstons as their daughter Leighton just turned two years old! The days may feel long, but before you know it, your baby will be a toddler moving everywhere. Make the most of those moments with a baby bucket list: activities you’ll want to do in the early years. Here are some of our favorite ideas to help you start making memories!

Mark the Months

Babies change so much in the first year, but it’s not always easy to see in a haze of early parenthood exhaustion. Taking a photo each month (or as close to it as possible!) is a great way to see the growth. Get a set of blocks or a sign to prop up by your baby so it’s easy to remember the moment in time.

Take a Music Class

Taking a music class with your baby has so many benefits! As a parent, it’s a good reason to get out of the house and an awesome way to meet new parents. For your baby, it’s a chance to hear music and get exposed to musical instruments. Together, you’ll make some awesome memories.

Go Swimming

Truth be told, babies don’t always love water. So, your first swimming experience can go, well, swimmingly, or there may be a few tears. Swimming is an important skill for baby and we promise that they’ll get used to the water and have fun with it. Just dipping in is a memorable moment and must do in the early years.

Blow Bubbles Together

Bubbles are magical even if it’s just soapy water. When they’re little, you may have to blow most of the bubbles for them, but they’ll get such glee from chasing and popping. Sing songs or play music while you do it and it’ll make for a fun afternoon. 

Go to the Zoo

The zoo can be a place of wonder for all of us, especially the little ones. If they are a little older, they may be able to identify some of the animals! Even if they can’t, it’s still great to get outside and expose them to all of the sights, sounds and patterns that you see at the zoo. If there’s a carousel, it always makes for a cute photo too.

Get a Smash Cake

When baby turns one, getting a smash cake is a super fun, albeit messy experience. Don’t worry, babies won’t eat the whole cake, but it’s fun to get them their own small cake to explore taste and smash for their first experience. Plus, the photos turn out super cute!

Take Professional Photos

Time moves fast and you’ll want to capture the moments. You’ll get plenty of them on your phone, but it’s nice to sit down and take professional family photos that you can cherish forever. Find a photographer who will take pictures of babies in their element, playing and laughing, so you can capture their true essence.

Play on the Swings

The playground will be a frequent locale, but before they can climb the jungle gym and slide down the slides, put them in the baby swings. They’ll find such delight in swinging that you may even get a few giggles. The local park is often a great place to meet other new parents.

Visit the Beach

Whether it’s a family trip or just a visit to a local shore, exposing babies to the beach for the first time is awesome. Sand is a new experience for them and they will love (well, not all of them) feeling it under their toes. If you’re by the ocean, the waves are a sight to see and if you’re by calmer waters, it’s fun to dip their toes in and feel the cool water. Bring a sun tent and they can stay and play for hours.

Bake with Baby

Baby might not be too much help in the kitchen just yet, but that’ll change in the blink of an eye. For now, your little one can help stir, add in chocolate chips to cookies, and just get used to the textures of dough, sugar, flour, and other ingredients. It may be messy, but it’ll be memorable.

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