Those impossibly tiny toes and perfect rosebud lips. The softest skin, with that intoxicating baby scent, as they snuggle close. Those mischievous smiles and baby giggles! Life with a baby is magical, captivating, and on some days, oh, so challenging.

Calgary is a wonderful place for families, with many events and locations that kids love. But this guide is just for our littlest Calgarians! We’re collecting all our best ideas for inspiration to get out of the house and find something to do with your baby. Your baby might enjoy these, but let’s be honest: this list is really for Mom and Dad!

Movies

We’re not exactly talking about watching a movie with your baby. We’re talking about going to watch an adult movie in a baby-friendly environment. Sure, it might be easier to wait until you can stream a movie at home, but sometimes it’s nice to have an excuse to get out!

Cineplex Stars and Strollers: Usually held weekly (but always double-check), Cineplex hosts Stars and Strollers so parents can watch their movies in a baby-friendly environment. Baby-friendly features include lowered volume levels, dimmed lighting, stroller parking, change tables, and other parents who will understand if your baby starts to cry! Check with your local theatre to see when they are playing Stars and Strollers. At the time of writing, Calgary theatres seemed to run the films on Monday or Wednesday afternoons.

Landmark Cinemas Park the Stroller: Landmark Cinemas host a Park the Stroller event every second Tuesday, more or less. (This event doesn’t seem to run through the summer and is not always consistent.) The movies are generally adult movies, although they sometimes offer kid-friendly options. The house lights will be raised, and the movie volume will be lowered. Talking or moving with your baby is encouraged.

Movies for Mommies: Movies for Mommies is at SilverCity CrossIron Mills on alternating Wednesdays. It runs in partnership with Cineplex Stars and Strollers but deserves a special mention for their community additions. You can expect an accommodating environment for babies, including bottle warming and changing tables. They also frequently have samples, prizes, and even special visitors.

Get Moving!

Let’s get moving! Whether you’re taking your baby swimming, dropping them off in childcare so you get your own movement break, or meeting up with friends to play, Calgary has a number of options. There are also lots of ‘Mommy and Me’ classes to take with your little ones, so you can get a workout in without paying for childcare.

Gyms with CHILD CARE: Child care services in rec centres and gyms are not as common as they once were. But sometimes you just need a physical break to calm your mental state! Some places don’t take babies until they are 8 months old. But some, like the YMCA, will take babies as young as 6 weeks, so you can enjoy a workout baby-free.

Indoor Play Places: Calgary has a variety of indoor play places and centres to burn energy. It might be a while until your baby grows into some of these ideas, but many indoor playgrounds also have a dedicated baby area.

Playgrounds: So many playgrounds, so little time! And your baby probably doesn’t care which one you go to. But check out some top playgrounds in Calgary.

Recreation Centres: Recreation centres are great places for families to stay fit and have fun together. Facing a long day? Just add water and take the baby for a swim! Some rec centres have specific baby-friendly gym times, too, or are attached to a public library. There are lots of different options in the city, and that’s especially great when the weather is unpredictable.

Storytime

To be sure, many storytime events are geared towards children, not babies. But there’s no age limit on early literacy, so take a look at some options in Calgary.

Little Red Reading House: The Little Red Reading House is a wonderful place for book-loving families to explore. You can find a cozy nook to curl up in and enjoy stories together. It’s a place of discovery, with themed rooms and special reading places. At the end of your visit, children can take a free book home for their own library.

Storytime Guide: Most of these storytime events are geared towards children, but it’s worth taking a look to see what might work for your family. The Calgary Public Library has a Baby Rhyme Time program designed for babies under 12 months. It’s an oral program with lots of singing, swaying, and tickling, plus there’s playtime for the babies, where the adults can visit, too. This program is very popular, so be sure to register early. Some library locations offer a drop-in Baby Rhyme Time.

Shopping

Okay, so shopping with your baby is not much of an outing unless you meet a friend or hit up a play place. But we wanted to highlight a few ideas!

Calgary Farmers’ Market: Do a little shopping, meet a friend for coffee, and when your baby gets a little more mobile, check out the interactive kids’ play area. The Calgary Farmers’ Market is a lovely, easy place to embrace community.

Community Sales: Babies tend to come with a lot of stuff — a lot of stuff that doesn’t get used much before they move on! Check out our Community Sales place to find the best baby gear and clothing for the lowest prices.

Shopping Mall Play Places: Shopping malls are a refuge for parents who need to get out of the house. You don’t need to worry about the weather, it’s easy to navigate your stroller, and you can get a few errands done or meet a friend for coffee. But it’s even more fun when you squeeze in visits to your favourite shopping mall play places!

Baby Events

Below, we’ll highlight some specifically baby-friendly events in and around Calgary. Be sure to check each event for the current dates.

Calgary Marathon Diaper Dash: That’s right. Your baby can sign up for the Calgary Marathon! Cheer them on as they crawl or toddle through their own 42.2-foot event on May 24, 2025.

Butterfield Acres Spring Babies Festival: What could be cuter than bringing your baby to meet the new animal babies at the Butterfield Acres Spring Babies Festival? This festival runs on weekends from April 5 – 20, 2025. It’s a day filled with the excitement of new life, hands-on experiences, farm fun, and fresh air!

The Hangar Flight Museum: From time to time, The Hangar Flight Museum hosts Fly Babies. It’s an engaging morning with your little ones, although it’s more focused on kids ages 2 – 5. It includes story time, crafts, and aircraft-inspired activities. The next two are scheduled for April 25 and May 27, 2025.

They say the days are long, but the years are short. Before you know it, your baby will be running, climbing, and generally getting into trouble. Enjoy those snuggles!