IF YOU’RE ON maternity leave and are struggling to find events that A. you can attend with your new arrival in tow and B. you find genuinely interesting, we’ve got you covered.
From baby massages to family-friendly art gallery tours, there’s plenty of opportunities to be entertained, and hopefully build a wider support network while you’re at it.
Visit your local library: Libraries nationwide host a range of carefully curated events for mothers and babies, with musical baby book clubs in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council libraries and rhythm and rhyme sessions in Donegal, to name a few.
Suits: parents and babies. When and where: various dates and settings around the country. Costs: free. Find your local library here.
Music for Babies: Part of the wider Classical Kids calendar, Music for Babies is a relaxed classical music concert series for parents, kids, toddlers and babies in a local community setting. The upcoming series takes place in Dublin, but Classical Kids regularly runs concerts in other areas of Ireland, so keep an eye out.
Suits: parents, babies, toddlers and under 3s. When and where: various dates and settings every week. Costs: €13. Find out more information here.
Water Babies: Take your little one to a swimming class that you’re both sure to enjoy, while boosting their confidence and helping to improve co-ordination and balance. There are Water Babies classes in over 75% of the country, and their youngest swimmer to date was just one day old!
Suits: up to four years. When and where: find your nearest centre here. Costs: contact your local centre for prices.
Baby massage: Bond with your new arrival at a baby massage class, which combines Indian and Swedish massage with reflexology techniques and gentle yoga-based exercises.
Suits: up to nine months. When and where: find your nearest class here. Costs: up to €150 for a course running over several weeks.
National Gallery of Ireland: The National Gallery of Ireland has a wide range of classes and events for babies, including workshops and free tours for new parents.
Suits: all ages. When: throughout the month. Where: Merrion Square West, Dublin 2. Costs: free. Find out more information here.
Mum and Baby Yoga at Yoga Next Door: A mix of yoga and Pilates, these classes are a chance for mum to get a quick workout in while bonding with her baby.
Suits: from six weeks up to crawling age. When: Thursdays mornings from 11am. Where: Malahide Road, Dublin 17. Costs: €55 for a six class pass or €16 drop in.
We’re teaming up with Irish Life Health to give away a Fitbit Charge 3, perfect for blasting your health and fitness goals. Enter right here!
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