27 Things To Do On Maternity Leave With Baby (Free and Cheap!)

Snuggling with your newborn and binging Netflix are mainstays for new moms but after a week or two you might want some fun things to do on maternity leave with baby.

You want to make the most of your parental leave by that getting fresh air and enjoying your time off work.

It’s really easy it is to blow your maternity leave budget on Starbucks and “window shopping” at the mall and next thing you know, you need to go back to work just to get your financial house in order.

The last thing you want is to feel that you wasted your precious time off with your new baby but it can be hard to think of things to do.

The good news? There are tons of things you can do to alleviate boredom during maternity leave that don’t cost a bomb.

In this article we will give you tons of ideas for making the most of your new life while you take care of your baby.

While we can’t get rid of the sleepless nights, we can make sure that you thrive as a new parent by having a great time with your baby. Read on for all the fun ideas!

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27 Things To Do On Maternity Leave

I had two maternity leaves and here in Canada, that means I had 2 years off work with my babies. We are so lucky and in fact moms in Canada now can get up to 18 months off to bond and spend time with their little one.

Whether you have 1 year or 1 month off work, your maternity leave should be the best time of your life, I honestly look back at those two years as my favorite times ever.

First and obviously, I didn’t have to work. No boss, no deadlines, no stress.

Second, life took a gentler pace. It can be tempting to create “routines” and be go-go-go on your maternity leave but this really is a time to relax and just enjoy your baby. Trust me, this time will fly by.

Also, remember that you are a new mom and are recovering from the postpartum period. Give yourself a break.

You might also be learning to breastfeed which can be tricky at first. You might want to stay close to home for the first days just for this reason.

If you need help breastfeeding, check out these online breastfeeding courses you can watch from your phone while baby sleeps.

Read on for some great ideas for making the most of your maternity leave without breaking the bank.

Most of the things on this list are free or really cheap. One tip I have is to make the most of any community events for new moms and try to get out there and make friends.

Even if you are an introvert, it really does take a village and making new mom friends will make your maternity leave that much more enjoyable.

Some of my closest friends are women I met on maternity leave 6 years ago, it’s been fun to have playdates and watch the babies grow up together.

20 Things To Do On Maternity Leave With Baby

Now your baby is here – what can you do with them that won’t cost you a bomb?

First of all, be realistic, your baby may or may not sleep a lot and for the first few weeks you might not want to venture out too far. Once you get comfortable, you might start getting stir-crazy and need to get out of the house.

1. Go For A Walk

You probably won’t be cleared for strenuous exercise right away but you can start walking around the neighbourhood as soon as you feel ready.

A daily walk will help you set up a routine and is great for your mental health too.

Walking with the stroller is a great way to start burning off that baby weight and your baby will most likely doze off with the movement of the stroller.

Even if you are just walking to the grocery store for milk, incorporating some fresh air into your daily routine can make a huge difference in your well-being and ward off postpartum depression.

2. Join A Mom and Baby Group

Many communities have mom and baby groups that will allow you to socialize with fellow moms on maternity leave while your babies can get to know each other.

Sharing a glass of wine with people in the same boat can really help you have lots of fun on your maternity leave.

To find local groups, check out local churches and community centres.

3. Start A Blog

I have to add this in because I started Seaside Sundays when I was on maternity leave and it was the best thing I ever did!

It can be a great way to make some extra money and if you use photos of your baby, it can also act as a time capsule of your life as a first time mum.

If you have always wanted to start a blog, now is the perfect time. I worked when my baby napped and sometimes in the evenings if I wasn’t too tired. You could start a blog recording your new mom life or about any topic you like.

It’s super cheap to get started and you might even make money on maternity leave! Here is my step by step guide to starting a blog that makes money.

4. Take Lots of Photos

This may sound obvious but with so much time on your hands, you can really enjoy taking cute photos and videos of your new baby. Look on Pinterest for inspiration and have fun recreating some of those professional photos.

One of my favorite days on maternity leave was when I attempted to take my own Christmas photos of my baby for our Christmas card. You can see the results here.

I’ve also got some ideas for DIY Easter photos for babies and baby Valentines photoshoot ideas too.

When you baby is napping, try to make up your photo books and build an online photo album to keep track of all their milestones.

5. Baby Barre Class

If you are not quite ready to leave the house but want to stay fit, try some free baby and me workouts on YouTube. I especially liked the barre classes where I could put my baby into a carrier like the Ergobaby 360 carrier.

Working out with your baby in a carrier is great exercise is a great way to use your spare time and the movement may also lull your baby to sleep.

6. Make Some Keepsakes

Get a head start on your Christmas or Mother’s day shopping with some cute handprint artwork. You can buy a clay kit like this one or you can grab some paint and salt dough and make your own.

These kinds of projects take very little time and are one of the little things I cherish from my maternity leave.

Here are some ideas:

Super Cute Mom and Me Handprint Craft

Heart-Shaped Hand Print Photo Frames

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Footprint Craft

7. Show Off Your Baby

Is your baby really cute? Of course she is! Why not sign up to get them into commercials or magazines?

There are special modelling studios for babies and you can often find audition calls on Facebook and Instagram. This is one of the most fun things to do on maternity leave to make money but even without getting paid, it is a fantastic experience.

8. Library Story times

Most libraries offer community programming such as baby story time and sing-a-longs. T

hey are normally free and are a great way to start exposing your baby to music and reading while you make new friends.

If you have a library card, make the most of their offerings during your weeks of maternity leave.

This is a great way to have a baby on a tight budget and still have a fantastic maternity leave.

9. Go Swimming

Ok, you will have to wait a little while before you take baby swimming but there is something so cute about a little baby floating about in the pool.

Look for local baby swimming classes to get your little one used to the water or just go to open swimming times.

10. Start a Baby Book

Believe me, if you don’t start that baby book now, you never will. Especially if you have more than one kid. Filling out the baby book is one of the most productive things to do on maternity leave that you will love for years to come.

Don’t have a baby book? I like this one as it takes you from newborn right through to age 5 so you can capture their first day of school too.

11. Go To The Movies

Many movie theatres hold special mommy and me movie showings so you can watch an adult film while your baby (hopefully) sleeps.

The great thing about these special sessions is that its full of other babies so you don’t have to worry if your newborn cries or fusses.

12. Plan Your Childcare Strategy

Ok this is one of the most boring and productive things to do on maternity leave but it’s really important to start thinking about booking a daycare slot sooner rather than later.

Many centres have waitlists so if you don’t get going on this quickly enough, you might miss out on your preferred place.

Need some help choosing a daycare? Check out these Important Questions To Ask A Home Daycare Provider (Free Printable).

13. Catch Up On Netflix

Not everything you do on maternity leave has to be super busy and productive. This may be the only time in your life (until you retire in 40-50 years) where you can just do nothing and not be judged for it.

Snuggle with your baby and binge all your favorite shows, guilt-free.

14. Make Some Money

If your leave is unpaid or you just need some extra cash, you are probably wondering how you can make money while on maternity leave.

You can make some money for gift cards by using sites like Swagbucks. I routinely make $25-50 a month that I use for funding my Amazon habit.

Here are some more ways to make money on maternity leave.

15. Bring baby to meet coworkers at the office

You might not want to ever think about work again but taking baby to meet the team is actually really fun. It’s also good to give you a reality check that real life is still continuing while you are in your new baby fog.

Repeat again for your partner’s office and you have two awesome days filled with people cooing and admiring your progeny.

16. Attend a Stroller fit class

Once you are feeling up to it, look for a stroller fit in your neighbourhood.

Obviously this will be a fair weather activity but it is fun to get out and exercise while your baby naps in the stroller.

A quick Google in my area brought up a bunch of different stroller fit classes so you should be able to find one easily.

17. Facetime and Skype With Loved Ones

If you have friends and family living faraway, spend some time catching up via video chat. Lots of us got used to this in 2020 and it is a fun way to keep in touch and let everyone see how cute your baby is.

18. Nap

I’m adding this in because while you may envision your maternity leave to be full of activities, you will be tired.

Even if your baby sleeps through the night from day 1 (quick, buy a lottery ticket, you lucky girl), you will still be recovering from childbirth and possibly a c-section.

The key with successful napping is to not expect too much. Most of my naps on maternity leave consisted of laying on a recliner chair with baby sleeping on me in a carrier after I tired her out during a barre class (all those squats are great for both your thighs and getting baby to sleep).

Don’t expect a luxurious nap in the bed every day but enjoy whatever sleep you can get at this stage.

19. Build Your Milk Stash

I get it, you only just got started with breastfeeding but if you are planning to pump while at work when you go back, it is a good idea to work on building up your supply now and ideally creating a freezer stash of breastmilk.

This will ease a lot of your stress if your supply dips. Need help building up your supply? I exclusively pumped for 6 months with my second baby and was obsessed with supply.

Check out my top tips:

12 Breast Pumping Tips For More Milk

25+ Helpful Tips For Exclusive Pumping Success

Using formula? You can also consider building up a stash on the cheap by taking advantage of coupons, cash back and sighing up for as many free baby samples as possible.

20. Do Some Salsa

This may sound crazy but a class like Salsa babies is perfect for new moms who want to get active and meet new friends. You can take classes once your baby is 6-8 weeks old and there are locations across the US, Canada and the UK.

21. Fix Your Families Finances

Maternity leave might not seem like the best time to save money but it can be a good opportunity to take stock of your financial house, especially as you will soon have college to save for.

You can have a baby on a budget and not break the bank on baby gear and diapers. Also consider using some free budget printables to get on track.

22. Look After Yourself

I’ll be honest, I hate the term “self-care”. However, there is something to be said for taking some time to look after yourself after your baby is born.

In some countries, especially in Asia, new moms do not even leave their bed for the first couple of months.

Their baby is simply handed to them every few hours for feeding and bonding.

In the western world we are pretty hard on new moms, expecting them to look great, breastfeed, keep the house looking ok and keep baby alive all while experiencing a huge life change.

Make sure to book some time for yourself, whether it is for a bubble bath or a coffee with a friend, sans baby. The book below has 150 tips for looking after yourself while taking care of everyone else. It should be a must-have new mom gift.

23. Start A New Hobby

You might find that your to-do list is way too long to start a hobby but having something to do other than looking after your new baby is a great idea.

Maybe you want to learn a new language or learn to sew your only baby clothes. Whatever is it, why not make a list of things you have always wanted to do and see what you can check off during your leave.

24. Have a Spa Day

A postpartum massage is a wonderful treat for any new mom but even if you can’t manage that, spend some quality time in the bath, using a face mask and just relaxing. So many moms feel that they lose themselves after their first baby, a spa day can really help you to pamper yourself and recharge.

25. Visit Relatives

My favorite thing about mat leave was that it gave me plenty of time to spend time with relatives. Everyone will want to meet your precious baby and it is good for them to get out and meet the outside world.

Make the most of your leave by visiting everyone you can so you don’t have to take vacation time when you are back at work.

26. Take Music Classes

Have fun with your new arrival by attending some baby music classes. These are great because if your baby is a second child, you can likely bring along their sibling to have fun too.

27. Try New Recipes

It won’t be long before your baby is ready for solids so make the most of your leave by planning nutritious meals to enjoy once you are back at work. Try and build a freezer stash by the end of your maternity leave to make your work days easier.

Bonus: 5 Things To On Maternity Leave Before Baby Arrives

Before you baby is born, you may have a bit of time off work to get ready. Enjoy this time! Assuming your baby doesn’t surprise you early, you can really make the most of this maternity leave time.

1. Sleep!

This sounds contrite but take naps and just enjoy relaxing and lounging around. Thank me later when you are struggling with sleep deprivation.

2. Pamper yourself

Get your haircut, go for a mani-pedi and do those cute Korean facemasks that you got from Amazon months ago and didn’t get round to using.

Once baby is born, your attention will be focussed on him/her and self care will likely take a back seat.

3. Prep Some Food

If you have time to prep some easy meals now , it will make your first months so much easier.

Stock up on easy to handle snacks (you will often only have one free hand) and healthy but simple meals. If you are feeling ambitious, prep some of these freezer meals for new moms that actually taste good.

4. Meet Up With Friends

Sure, you will be able to hang out with friends once your baby is born but relish your free time now and become a lady who lunches!

5. Get Your Nest Ready

You probably don’t need me to tell you to do some nesting (I see you, frantically scrubbing the kitchen cabinets!), but if you have the time, do some cleaning so that you are on top of things before your baby arrives.

Anything that makes newborn life easier will help you enjoy your maternity leave.