Tumbles
Designed specifically with the under 5s in mind, this is a great place to introduce your baby to the joys of soft play. Based within the Craiglockhart Tennis Centre, the Tumbles’ Jungle offers babies and young children the chance to explore and use their imaginations in a colourful, safe and fun environment. And for the grown-ups there is a snack bar serving tea and coffee.
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Odeon Newbies
Odeon Newbies is only for parents and guardians with new babies. Just because you now have a baby doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the latest film releases. And everyone is in the same position, so you don’t have to worry about your little one making a noise. Screenings are held on weekday mornings and most venues have baby-changing facilities. Tickets are priced as normal and, of course, your baby is free! The volume during Newbies films will be a little bit quieter and the lights will be a little brighter to create a calm environment for you and your newby!
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Music Bugs
Suitable for children aged 6 months and above, Music Bugs offers fun, lively and entertaining classes for children and grown-ups. Sessions run for 40 minutes and are made up of a mixture of nursery rhymes, action and counting songs, finger rhymes and much more. There is also a selection of fun props including scarves, puppets, bubbles and parachute games to add to the excitement. Children also get the chance to try out a selection of instruments. There is also a free trial session (which must be booked in advance) for you and your child to try.
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Water Babies
Water Babies is an innovative programme to get your baby swimming. It teaches babies right from birth how to be water confident. Through carefully structured training, babies can be taught life-saving skills such as turning on their backs or swimming to the nearest solid object. Parents are given detailed explanations and demonstrations of the techniques needed to make their children confident little swimmers. Classes are available in the city and surrounding area.
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Silverknowes Beach and Promenade
Running the length of the promenade from Granton to Cramond, Silverknowes is the perfect place to take a stroll with the buggy. On clear days it offers great views across to Fife, and when the tide is out you can visit Cramond Island. From Easter to October there are usually ice cream vans on hand. Parking is available, as are toilets. Nearby Cramond is also worth a visit for its pretty harbour, shops and cafe.
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National Trust for Scotland: Malleny Garden
Take a trip out of the city to the small town of Balerno and lose yourself in these beautiful gardens. Set in nine acres of woodland, they feature a magnificent collection of 19th-century shrub roses, a Victorian glasshouse, a walled garden and examples of ancient topiary. Gravel paths are fine for prams and the ground is mostly level (there are gentle slopes in the lower gardens). Parking is available and there is also a restaurant and shop on site.
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Centotre
You and your little one are sure of a warm welcome at Centotre in George Street. It is run by Valvona and Carolla and serves the best in Italian cuisine. It is open right through the day from breakfast until dinner. Families are catered for with a special children’s menu, a toddler taster menu and party bags to keep little ones amused until the food arrives. Booths are available for added privacy should you want them. There are plenty of high-chairs too. Baby changing facilities are offered and even include spare nappies!
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Joseph Pearce’s
A popular Edinburgh city landmark, Joseph Pearce’s has been a bar for more than 100 years. During the day you can enjoy its relaxed cafe atmosphere and sample what it calls “proper housefood”. It is ideal for families as at the back of the venue there is a children’s area featuring wooden toys and a microwave for warming baby food or milk. This area is open between 11am and 5pm. There is plenty of room for prams and there is even Hipp Organic baby food on the menu. High-chairs are also available.
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Adult and Baby Pay-As-You-Go Swimming
Why not take your baby along for some water play at Leith Victoria Swim Centre. Sessions for babies aged over 4 months take place each Wednesday at 2.30pm. You don’t have to book a whole course of lessons - just turn up on the day. This is a fun class, featuring nursery rhymes and play activities. It is designed to increase baby’s water confidence and also teaches parents safe handling in the pool.
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Scrambles Soft Play
A haven for babies and children of all ages, Scrambles offers an ideal day out for the whole family. Soft play areas offer babies a great chance to explore and develop in a safe environment. There is a separate area for babies aged 0-18 months, so they can play without being disturbed by the bigger kids. And while the older ones are scrambling and swinging on the large apparatus, the climbing theme continues right down to the babies who can enjoy the tiny wall complete with child-friendly hand holds to help pull themselves up.
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