Looking for the best things to do in Indianapolis with a baby or toddler? The Indy area has plenty of places where little ones can crawl, climb, splash, dig and explore without needing to keep up with bigger kids. From museum play spaces and indoor playgrounds to baby classes, storytimes and toddler-friendly parks, this guide rounds up 21 current activities for babies and toddlers around Indianapolis.
Jump to:
- Museums
- Indoor activities
- Classes and storytimes
- Play cafes and coffee shops
- Playgrounds for babies and toddlers
- Upcoming baby and toddler events
Museums for Babies and Toddlers
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
3000 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is one of the easiest museums to visit with a baby or toddler. Children younger than 2 receive free admission, and the museum has stroller rentals, changing tables, family restrooms, nursing rooms and sensory-friendly resources.
Playscape, located on Level 3, is reserved for children ages 5 and younger. Inside Playscape, Babyscape gives children ages 2 and younger a protected place to crawl, climb and explore. The larger Playscape area includes a water table, sandbox, climbing structures, blocks, art and music activities. Private nursing rooms are also available inside Playscape.
R.B. Annis Western Family Experience at the Eiteljorg Museum
500 W. Washington St., Indianapolis
The R.B. Annis Western Family Experience is part of the Eiteljorg Museum’s Nina Mason Pulliam Education Center. The interactive area introduces children to five contemporary families from the American West through imaginative play, art and hands-on activities.
The experience is designed for a broad range of children rather than babies specifically, but young toddlers can still explore the play areas, books and child-size features with a caregiver. Children ages 4 and younger receive free museum admission.
Firefly Landing at the Indiana State Museum
650 W. Washington St., Indianapolis
Firefly Landing at the Indiana State Museum is an early-childhood learning space for children ages 6 and younger. It is used for preregistered programs and select events rather than general drop-in play.
Toddler Time is designed for ages 18 to 36 months and includes circle time, stories, movement and hands-on stations. Programs are generally offered at 10 a.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays and 9 a.m. Saturdays. Admission is $13 per child, with a 25% member discount. The child’s museum admission is included, and accompanying family members receive 50% off museum admission.
Families can also look for Stay and Play, a 90-minute program for ages 18 months to 6 years with sensory activities, STEM exploration, music and open play. Advance registration is recommended for all Firefly Landing programs.
Indoor Activities for Babies and Toddlers
Holliday Park Nature Center
6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis
Hiking gets much of the attention at Holliday Park, but the year-round fun inside the Holliday Park Nature Center is worth a visit too. Families can see live animals, watch a working beehive, browse children’s books and explore hands-on nature exhibits. The indoor stream and play areas give toddlers room to investigate without committing to a full trail walk.
The Nature Center is free and is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Dig Dig for Kids
12800 Ford Drive, Fishers
Dig Dig for Kids is an indoor sandbox where children can dig, scoop, build and move sand using toy construction equipment. The space welcomes children ages 10 and younger, although the setup is especially well suited to toddlers and elementary-age children who enjoy repetitive sensory play.
General SandPlay admission is $16 per child for one hour. Adults and non-playing infants are free. Walk-ins are accepted, but reservations receive priority when the sandbox reaches capacity. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Sundays are reserved for private events.
Kid’s Planet
499 Southpoint Circle, Suite 101-102, Brownsburg
Kid’s Planet has a multi-level indoor playground for children of different ages, plus a smaller toddler area where newer walkers can play away from the tallest equipment. The larger facility includes slides, tunnels, a trampoline area, ball cannons and arcade games.
Admission for children younger than 3 is $10 for a 90-minute play session. One adult may enter free with each admission for a child younger than 3. Kid’s Planet grip socks are required and cost $2.50 unless the child already has a reusable pair.
Kid’s Planet is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Monday and Tuesday hours are generally limited to school breaks and summer.
KiD CiTY at the Greenwood Community Center
100 Surina Way, Greenwood
KiD CiTY is a two-story indoor play space with STEAM-focused activity areas. Younger children can explore a pint-size grocery store and kitchen, art activities, a Lego table, oversized foam blocks and other ground-level play features. The outdoor Musical Garden is open to KiD CiTY visitors when weather allows.
Day passes are $5 for Greenwood residents and $7 for nonresidents. Children younger than 1 are admitted free, and an accompanying adult enters KiD CiTY at no charge.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Holiday and special-event closures may affect those hours.
Tots on the Turf at the Greenwood Fieldhouse
411 S. Madison Ave., Greenwood
Tots on the Turf gives children ages 5 and younger open space to try toddler-size basketball, soccer, golf and baseball equipment on the Greenwood Fieldhouse turf. This is less of a formal class and more of a chance for little kids to run, experiment and attempt a few sports without anyone keeping score.
Open play is offered from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Admission is $5 per child, and caregivers enter free. Check the current schedule before visiting because Fieldhouse programs and turf availability can change.
Indy Stars Gymnastics Preschool Open Play
8070 Georgetown Road, Indianapolis
Preschool Open Play, usually shortened to POP, opens the Indy Stars gymnastics floor to children ages 6 and younger. Babies and toddlers can move around the padded gym, bounce with help, explore the foam block pit and try equipment at their own pace.
POP runs from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays. Admission is $10 for the first child, $5 for the second child and $3 for each additional child in the same family.
Carter’s Play Place
1021 Kendall Court, Westfield
Carter’s Play Place is an inclusive indoor playground with adaptive play equipment and sensory activities. The space includes a foam pit, trampoline, swings, climbing equipment and quieter areas for children who need a break.
Play passes are $13 for children younger than 2 who are at least 1 or mobile enough to use the equipment. Admission is $18 for children ages 2 and older. Carter’s grip socks are required for children and cost $3.50. Adults enter free, and there is no standard play-time limit.
Kiddie Carter’s, held from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Thursdays, reserves the playground for children ages 4 and younger. Regular hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Carter’s is closed Mondays.
Classes and Storytimes for Babies and Toddlers
Gymboree Play & Music of Carmel
12524 N. Gray Road, Carmel
Gymboree Play & Music offers age-specific classes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Current options include Babies for ages 0 to 8 months, Crawlers for ages 6 to 14 months, Walkers for ages 10 to 18 months and Runners for ages 16 to 24 months. Family play, music, art and open-gym sessions are also available for broader age ranges.
The schedule changes throughout the year, so families should check the Carmel location’s current calendar before choosing a class.
Related Article: Mommy and Me Classes near Indianapolis
Library Storytimes and Children’s Areas
Various locations
Libraries are one of the easiest free outings for babies and toddlers. Baby storytimes use songs, rhymes, movement, puppets and short books to introduce early-literacy skills. Many branches also have play areas that work well before or after a scheduled program.
Programs change by season and may require registration, a free ticket or first-come admission. Check each library’s calendar before visiting.
A few favorite libraries for babies and toddlers:
- Kid Central at Central Library – 40 E. St. Clair St., Indianapolis. The renovated third-floor children’s area includes family programs, games, STEM activities and storytimes.
- Hancock County Public Library – 900 W. McKenzie Road, Greenfield. Baby Storytime is designed for babies up to 24 months and uses songs, rhymes and stories.
- Fort Ben Branch – 9330 E. 56th St., Indianapolis.
- Michigan Road Branch – 6201 Michigan Road, Indianapolis.
- Carmel Clay Public Library – 425 E. Main St., Carmel. Library Babies is for ages 0 to 12 months, while Little Ones is for ages 12 to 24 months. Regular storytime sessions generally run from September through April, with separate summer programming.
Aqua-Tots Swim School
4825 E. 96th St., Indianapolis
Aqua-Tots North Indianapolis offers year-round lessons in a 90-degree indoor pool. Level 1 Tadpoles is a caregiver-and-baby class for ages 4 to 12 months, while Level 2 Minnows is a caregiver-and-toddler class for ages 13 to 30 months.
Lessons last 30 minutes. Class schedules and tuition vary by enrollment, so check the North Indianapolis schedule for current openings.
Goldfish Swim School
Carmel and Fishers
Goldfish Swim School’s Mini classes are parent-assisted lessons for babies and toddlers ages 4 to 35 months. Classes focus on water comfort, safety and early swimming skills in a 90-degree indoor pool.
Goldfish has Indianapolis-area locations in Carmel and Fishers. Schedules, enrollment packages and prices vary by location.
Play Cafes and Coffee Shops
The Busy Bee Play Cafe
5635 W. 96th St., Suite 200, Indianapolis
The Busy Bee Play Cafe combines a coffee shop with an indoor playground and imaginative play town. The setup is built for children ages 1 to 10, but much of the pretend-play area works especially well for toddlers.
Admission is $17 per child for ages 1 to 10. Babies younger than 1 are free with a paid sibling or $5 without a paid sibling. Adults are included. Reservations are recommended for weekend visits and weekday mornings because walk-ins may be placed on a waitlist when the cafe reaches capacity.
Related Article: Best Kid-Friendly Coffee Shops in Indy
Schoolhouse 7 Cafe
12125 Cyntheanne Road, Fishers
Schoolhouse 7 Cafe operates inside a converted one-room schoolhouse and serves coffee, breakfast, lunch and baked goods. Families will find a children’s playroom, books and toys, plus a treehouse-style outdoor deck.
The cafe also hosts occasional storytimes and family events. Those programs are not offered on a fixed year-round schedule, so check Schoolhouse 7’s current announcements before planning a visit around an event.
Best Indianapolis Playgrounds for Babies and Toddlers
Related Page: The Ultimate Guide to Indianapolis-Area Playgrounds
Founders Park, Carmel
We have one word: sandbox. Founders Park has a large nature-inspired playground with swings, climbing structures and a giant sand area. The sand area has been relocated within the playground, but it remains available, so bring a scoop, a bucket and realistic expectations about how much sand will return home.
The park also has restrooms, walking trails, open fields and a seasonal drinking fountain.
Holliday Park, Indianapolis
Holliday Park’s playground reopened after a complete rebuild. The new nature-inspired design includes separate age-appropriate areas, including a toddler play zone, along with swings, slides, towers, climbing structures and hillside play built into the park’s natural terrain.
Improved gathering areas and sight lines make it easier for caregivers to supervise children using different sections of the playground. Parking is available near the playground, west of the Ruins and near the Nature Center.
Independence Park, Greenwood
Independence Park is an all-accessible playground designed for children with a wide range of mobility, sensory and developmental needs. The playground includes rubberized surfacing, ground-level activities and accessible play equipment.
The primary equipment is designed for ages 2 to 12, so it works best for older toddlers who are steady walkers. Younger siblings can still use the paths, swings and ground-level features with close supervision.
Tarkington Park, Indianapolis
Tarkington Park has open green space, courts, a cafe and a seasonal splash pad. The splash pad can make this an easy warm-weather stop for toddlers who would rather run through water than climb a large play structure.
Good to know: Indy Parks has planned additional playground work at Tarkington Park. Check the official park page and construction updates before making the playground the main reason for the trip.
River Heritage Park, Carmel
River Heritage Park has an inclusive playground divided between a front play area and a wooded trail leading toward the White River. Both sections include wheelchair-accessible play features, including an accessible swing and merry-go-round.
The solid-surface trails work well for strollers and children who are just learning to walk. The park also has a communication board, seasonal restrooms, a picnic shelter and White River overlooks, making it a strong choice for families looking for a short walk with a baby or toddler.
Quick Picks for Babies and Toddlers in Indianapolis
- Best for babies: Babyscape at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
- Best free indoor option: Holliday Park Nature Center
- Best sensory play: Dig Dig for Kids
- Best calm indoor playground: Carter’s Play Place during Kiddie Carter’s
- Best for storytime: Local library baby and toddler programs
- Best outdoor playground: The toddler area at Holliday Park
- Best for coffee and play: The Busy Bee Play Cafe
- Best low-pressure sports outing: Tots on the Turf
