Classes, lessons and sports
Mommy and Me Classes: Baby and Toddler Classes by Age
Thirteen kinds of parent-and-child classes, from newborn music and baby yoga to toddler soccer, with the age each starts, what a class is like and what it costs where it’s posted. Dads, grandparents and nannies welcome.
Mommy and me classes are weekly parent-and-child classes for babies and toddlers in which you join in alongside your child; dads, grandparents and nannies go too. Music classes, play gyms, baby yoga and library story times start from birth or the first weeks, swim and baby ballet from about 4 to 6 months, and toddler soccer and art from 18 months. Most run 30 to 60 minutes. Library story times are free; studios we checked charged $109 to $119 a month, or $27 to $35 for one yoga class.
On this page
13 kinds of mommy and me classes
Grouped by kind, with the age each starts. The brands are examples; independent studios, YMCAs and parks departments teach most of these too. Prices are what one location posted in October 2026.
Mommy and me music, play and art classes
Gentle, song-filled classes that work from the first months, when your baby mostly watches and listens.
Music classes (Music Together, Kindermusik)
- Cost
- Kindermusik at Bucktown Music, Chicago: $109 a month
- Ages
- Birth to 5
Good for Babies from the first weeks
A teacher leads songs, rhymes, dancing and play with simple instruments, and you sing and move along with your child. Music Together’s mixed-age classes take children from birth through age 5 with any caregiver, meet weekly and come with a songbook and an app for home. Kindermusik’s Foundations class is for babies up to 1; at Bucktown Music in Chicago it’s a weekly 45-minute class for $109 a month plus a $25 registration fee, and $59 a month for a sibling.
- Weekly classes
- Mixed ages, birth to 5
- Songs to use at home
Baby and toddler play classes (Gymboree Play & Music, My Gym)
- Ages
- Birth to 5
Good for Crawlers and new walkers
Play classes use soft climbing equipment, bubbles, puppets and songs, with a teacher guiding you through activities for your child’s stage. Gymboree Play & Music groups its play classes by stage: Babies (0–8 months), Crawlers (6–14 months), Walkers (10–18 months), Runners (16–24 months) and Explorers (22–36 months), with music, art and open gym too, though what’s offered varies by location. My Gym runs parent-and-child classes as well. Neither posts prices nationally, so ask your local one.
- Grouped by stage
- Open gym at some
- Prices set locally
Toddler art classes
- Ages
- 18 months and up
Good for Toddlers who like to get messy
Toddler art classes are about the doing, not the finished picture: finger paint, play dough, stickers and glue. Gymboree Play & Music offers Art 1 for 18 to 24 months, Art 2 for 2-year-olds and a Family Art class for 18 months to 5 years, where available, and local art studios, museums and parks departments run toddler-and-me art too. Dress your child in clothes that can get paint on them, and if your toddler still puts everything in their mouth, ask what materials are used.
- Starts around 18 months
- Wear messy clothes
- Process over product
Baby sign language classes
- Ages
- About 6 months to 2
Good for Babies who aren’t talking yet
Sign language classes teach you a handful of simple signs, such as ‘more,’ ‘milk’ and ‘all done,’ to use with your baby before they can talk, often through songs and books, and many use signs from American Sign Language. Classes are usually for babies from about 6 months, and you’ll find them at libraries, early childhood centers and music studios; library classes are often free. The signs only stick if you use them at home every day.
- Simple signs, often from ASL
- Often at libraries
- Practice at home
Mommy and me gymnastics, dance, swim and soccer
Active classes for crawlers, new walkers and toddlers who need to move, with you on the mat, in the pool or on the field.
Tumbling and toddler gymnastics (The Little Gym)
- Ages
- 4 months to 3 years with a grown-up
Good for Busy toddlers who climb everything
Parent-and-child gymnastics classes set out low beams, bars, mats and obstacle courses, and you spot your child as they crawl, climb, roll and jump. The Little Gym’s parent/child classes run 45 minutes: Bugs (4–10 months), Birds (10–19 months), Beasts (19 months to 2½) and Super Beasts (2½ to 3), with songs, bubbles and basic tumbling, and you can book a free intro class. Gymnastics clubs and YMCAs often run parent-and-tot classes too.
- 45-minute classes
- Free intro class
- You’re on the mat with them
Dance and ballet (Tutu School)
- Cost
- Tutu School Seattle: $119 a month
- Ages
- 6 months to 3 years with a grown-up
Good for Little ones who dance to everything
Baby and toddler dance classes mix music, simple movement and stories, with you dancing alongside. Tutu School’s Baby Ballet is for 6 to 18 months and Tutu Toddlers for 18 months to 3 years, both with a caregiver taking part, in 45-minute classes. In Seattle, $119 a month covers a weekly class and unlimited make-ups, you can cancel anytime, and the first class is free. Local dance studios often call these mommy and me or parent and me dance.
- 45-minute classes
- Free trial class
- Unlimited make-ups (Seattle)
Parent-and-child swim (Goldfish Swim School and others)
- Ages
- 4 months and up
Good for Water babies
In a parent-and-child swim class, you’re in the water holding your baby while a teacher leads songs, splashing and floating. Goldfish Swim School’s Mini class is for 4 to 35 months, with a parent helping, in a pool kept at 90 degrees. The American Academy of Pediatrics says swim lessons can start for many children at age 1; before that, a parent-child water play class is fine for getting used to the pool, though there’s no evidence it lowers drowning risk. See our infant swim lessons guide.
- Parent in the water
- Warm pool
- AAP: lessons from age 1
Toddler soccer (Soccer Shots, Lil’ Kickers)
- Ages
- 18 months and up
Good for Toddlers who love to run
Toddler soccer is mostly running, kicking, stopping and listening, with games built around bubbles, cones and parachutes. Soccer Shots’ Mini program is for 18 months to 3 years; coaches lead it, and parents are welcome to join in. Lil’ Kickers’ Bunnies (18–24 months) and Thumpers (2–3 years) are adult-interactive classes that meet weekly for 50 minutes, and you can try a class free. Programs vary by location, so check what’s near you.
- Starts at 18 months
- 50-minute classes (Lil’ Kickers)
- Free trial class
Mommy and me yoga and fitness
Classes built around your own recovery and fitness, with your baby along.
Baby-and-me yoga
- Cost
- $27–$35 a class; $180 for a six-week series
- Ages
- About 6 weeks until your baby crawls
Good for New parents easing back into exercise
Baby-and-me yoga is a gentle postpartum class for you, with your baby on a blanket beside you or in your arms for some poses, and plenty of breaks to feed, change or soothe. The Happy Yogi’s class is for babies 6 weeks to 1 year: 45 minutes, $27 a class or $120 for five weeks. Honey Yoga in San Diego runs six-week series of 60-minute classes for babies who aren’t moving yet, for $180 or $35 a class. Ask your doctor or midwife when you can start.
- Feeding breaks welcome
- Best before crawling
- Ask your doctor first
Stroller fitness (FIT4MOM Stroller Strides)
- Cost
- First class free; local prices vary
- Ages
- Babies and toddlers who ride in a stroller
Good for Parents who want a real workout
Stroller workouts are an exercise class for you with your kids along for the ride: the instructor mixes in songs and games to keep the children happy while you work. FIT4MOM’s Stroller Strides is a 60-minute total-body workout of strength, cardio and core training, with the little ones in their strollers. It’s run by local franchises that set their own prices and schedules, and the first class is free. FIT4MOM also runs Stroller Barre and other classes.
- 60-minute workout
- First class free
- Prices set locally
Free and low-cost baby classes
Libraries, parks departments and Early Head Start run classes and play groups that cost little or nothing.
Library story times
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- Birth to 5
Good for A free weekly outing
Public libraries run free story times by age: lapsit or baby story times with songs, rhymes and bounces for babies on your lap, toddler times for walkers, and family story times for mixed ages. They usually last 20 to 45 minutes. Brooklyn Public Library’s 30-minute Babies and Books lapsit, for example, is only for babies who aren’t crawling or walking yet, and registration opens 48 hours ahead; many others are drop-in. Check your library’s events calendar.
- Free
- Grouped by age
- Some need registration
Parks and rec and community education classes
- Ages
- Birth to 5
Good for Low-cost classes close to home
City parks and recreation departments, YMCAs, community centers and school-district community education programs run parent-and-tot classes, from tumbling and music to baby yoga and toddler art, usually in seasonal sessions. Look in your city’s activity guide or online registration, sign up early because popular classes fill, and ask about resident rates and sibling discounts.
- Seasonal sessions
- Sign up early
- Ask about resident rates
Early Head Start and home visiting groups
- Cost
- Free for families who qualify
- Ages
- Pregnancy to 3
Good for Families with lower incomes
Early Head Start is free for families who qualify: mainly pregnant women and children under 3 whose family income is at or below the poverty line, who are eligible for public assistance, or whose child is homeless or in foster care. In its home-based option, a home visitor comes weekly for at least 90 minutes, and families meet for at least 22 group play sessions a year, under federal rules. Parents as Teachers affiliates also send parent educators to families’ homes.
- Free if eligible
- Pregnancy to age 3
- Home visits and group sessions
What to try at 6 months, 1, 2 and 3
Choose by stage more than by birthday: a crawler and a new walker want different things. These are good fits at each age, not must-dos.
| Age | Good classes to try | What it’s like |
|---|---|---|
| Birth to 5 months | Music, baby play classes, library lapsit, baby-and-me yoga, stroller fitness | Gentle. Your baby watches, listens and lies on a mat; much of the class is for you. |
| 6 months | Music, play classes for crawlers, baby ballet, parent-and-child swim, sign language | Sitting up and starting to crawl: rolling, reaching, splashing and peekaboo. |
| 1 year | Play gym or tumbling, music, parent-and-child swim, baby ballet, library toddler time | New walkers climb, explore and copy. Expect to follow them around the room. |
| 2 years | Toddler soccer, tumbling, toddler ballet, art, music | A little structure: taking turns and short games led by a coach, still with you beside them. |
| 3 years | First classes on their own: soccer, ballet, gymnastics, swim lessons | Many programs move 3-year-olds into classes without a parent on the floor. |
At The Little Gym, for example, parent/child classes end at 3, and parents of children 3 and up watch from the lobby. Tutu School’s grown-up-and-child ballet classes also run to age 3. If your child isn’t ready to let go at 3, look for a class that still welcomes parents, such as Music Together, which runs to 5.
How to choose a mommy and me class
- Time it around naps. A rested baby enjoys class; a tired one won’t. Pick a slot that fits the nap you’d least like to move.
- Try a class first. The Little Gym, Tutu School and Lil’ Kickers offer a free trial class, and FIT4MOM’s first class is free.
- Check the commitment. Some studios bill monthly and let you cancel anytime (Tutu School); others sell a set series with no make-ups (Honey Yoga’s baby series); many yoga and library classes are drop-in.
- Ask about make-ups. Babies get sick. Tutu School allows unlimited make-ups while you’re enrolled.
- Same age or mixed ages? Classes grouped by stage, like Gymboree’s and The Little Gym’s, fit the activities to your child; mixed-age classes like Music Together’s let siblings come together.
- Ask about siblings and second adults. Some charge for a sibling (Kindermusik at Bucktown Music: $59 a month), so ask before you bring the whole family.
- Look at the room. Clean mats and toys, a teacher who learns the kids’ names, a class size where everyone has space, and somewhere to change and feed your baby.
What mommy and me classes cost
Prices depend on the city and the studio, and most brands don’t post them nationally. Here’s what one location each posted in October 2026:
| Class | Where | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kindermusik Foundations | Bucktown Music, Chicago | $109 a month; $25 sign-up fee | Weekly 45-minute class and the class music; sibling $59 a month |
| Baby Ballet and Tutu Toddlers | Tutu School, Seattle | $119 a month | Weekly 45-minute class, unlimited make-ups |
| Baby & Me Yoga | The Happy Yogi | $27 a class; $120 for 5 weeks | 45-minute class |
| Baby & Me Yoga | Honey Yoga, San Diego | $180 for 6 classes; $35 a class | 60-minute classes; no make-ups |
| Stroller Strides | FIT4MOM | First class free | 60-minute workout; prices set locally |
| Babies and Books lapsit | Brooklyn Public Library | Free | 30 minutes; registration opens 48 hours ahead |
| Early Head Start | Nationwide | Free if eligible | Weekly home visits and group play sessions |
To spend less, start with a free trial or a drop-in class before you sign up for a month, ask about sibling discounts, and look at what your library and parks department offer before paying a private studio.
Before a parent-and-baby swim class
The American Academy of Pediatrics’ advice for the youngest swimmers:
- Swim lessons can start for many children at age 1. Before then, a parent-child water play class is fine for getting used to the pool, but there’s no evidence that programs for babies under 1 lower drowning risk.
- For babies and toddlers, an adult should be within arm’s reach at all times (‘touch supervision’), in class and out.
- For children 3 and under, look for water heated to 87 to 94 degrees Fahrenheit. Goldfish keeps its pools at 90.
- Get in the water with young children and weak swimmers.
Ask the school about swim diapers, how many families are in the water at once and how its teachers are trained. Our infant swim lessons guide compares the programs that teach babies and toddlers.
Questions parents ask
What age can you start mommy and me classes?
Some start at birth. Music Together’s mixed-age classes and Gymboree Play & Music’s Babies class take newborns, Kindermusik’s Foundations class is for babies up to 1, and baby-and-me yoga often starts around 6 weeks after birth, once your doctor or midwife says it’s fine. The Little Gym starts at 4 months, swim and baby ballet at about 4 to 6 months, and toddler soccer and art at 18 months.
Are there free mommy and me classes?
Yes. Public libraries run free baby and toddler story times, and some host free baby sign language or music programs. Early Head Start is free for families who qualify by income or circumstance, with home visits and group play sessions. Many studios also offer a free first class, including The Little Gym, Tutu School, Lil’ Kickers and FIT4MOM, and parks departments run low-cost parent-and-tot classes.
What classes are good for 1-year-olds?
Classes that let new walkers move and explore: a play gym or toddler gymnastics class, music, parent-and-child swim, baby ballet or a library toddler time. At The Little Gym, 10- to 19-month-olds go to Birds; at Gymboree Play & Music, Walkers is for 10 to 18 months. Keep expectations low: at this age your child may watch for weeks before joining in, and that still counts.
What classes are good for 2-year-olds?
Two-year-olds are ready for a little structure: toddler soccer such as Soccer Shots’ Mini or Lil’ Kickers’ Thumpers, tumbling, toddler ballet such as Tutu Toddlers, art and music. Most classes for 2-year-olds still have a parent alongside. Active classes of 45 to 50 minutes are the norm, so choose a time that doesn’t run into a nap.
Can dads go to mommy and me classes?
Yes. ‘Mommy and me’ is just the common name; nearly every class welcomes any caregiver. Music Together’s classes are open to parents, grandparents and nannies, The Little Gym calls its classes parent/child, and library baby times invite whoever brings the baby. A few classes are built around a mother’s postpartum recovery, such as baby-and-me yoga and FIT4MOM, so ask if you’re not sure.
When can babies start swim lessons?
The American Academy of Pediatrics says swim lessons can start for many children at age 1. Before that, a parent-child water play class is fine for getting your baby used to the pool, but there’s no evidence that swim programs for babies under 1 lower drowning risk. Goldfish Swim School’s parent-assisted Mini class starts at 4 months. Whatever the age, stay within arm’s reach. See our infant swim lessons guide.
How much do mommy and me classes cost?
At the studios we checked in October 2026, a weekly class billed monthly cost $109 (Kindermusik in Chicago) to $119 (Tutu School in Seattle), and a single baby yoga class $27 to $35. Prices vary by city. Library story times are free, Early Head Start is free for families who qualify, and many studios let you try a first class free.
How we made this list
We started from an Exa web search of national class brands, yoga studios, library story times and FIT4MOM franchises, then read each program’s own pages in October 2026 to confirm ages, class length and prices, along with the AAP’s swim advice and the federal rules for Early Head Start. Prices come from one location each. We left out what we couldn’t confirm, including class details for My Gym and the YMCA, whose sites blocked us.
No one paid to be on it. It’s information to start from, not medical or legal advice: check services, costs and coverage with each provider before you book. Spotted something out of date, or run a place that belongs here? Write to hello@summerground.com.