1. Paris Baby cafés

There is no shortage of baby cafés in Paris and its suburbs. A toy-dedicated space for tiny people while sipping on a hot coffee is a godsend for burnt-out parents. Most offer ateliers (workshops) too – check out the café’s websites for the current schedules. Where to head? Here’s some top picks:

• Petite Forêt (8e), is a green-themed space with an organic feel. There’s a focus on the natural world, with wooden toys and walls depicting forest scenes.
• Pépites de Familles keeps things fresh with a theme that changes in the play area three times a year.
• At the foot of Montmarte you’ll find Ernestine Café (18e), they offer free storytime sessions on the first Saturday of each month (10.15am-11.15am). Over the other side of this district, you’ll also find Tribu café too.
• SPACE 12 Café Poussette is a cosy space in the 15th serving up lunch as well as coffee, with a secure area for baby or toddlers to play in.

See the full Paris baby cafe round up here

2. Inside ‘theme parks’ and soft play

Like a baby cafe – but on a while other scale! Favourite inside play areas in Paris include:

• Palomano offers a HUGE indoor playground for kids in its three Paris locations, each one offers an immersive, pretend world for kids to explore, including a toy supermarket, fire engine, airplane, doctor’s cabinet and more! Expensive, but a great shout for birthdays and special occasions!
• Royal Kids has soft play locations in and around Paris – find them via our Paris Toddler & Baby Map
• Octopia Kidz is the new HUGE soft play on the scene in Paris with a mega 600m² of play space, from ball pits to climbing spaces, a library chill zone and workshops too!

3. Kid-friendly Paris art museums

Many Paris art museums now offer a ‘family room’ – a safe space where the kids can play with games, look at books and be creative! Museums incluse, Musée de l’Orangerie, The Louvre and Atelier des Lumières

Find out more info about kid-friendly Paris art museums in our round up here.

4. Other kid-friendly Paris museums

• La cité des enfants is a must-visit with young kids, with areas especially designed for certain age groups. With babies, be sure to check out Cité des bebes, a cosy nest where under 2s can explore their senses in the colourful space. Find out prices and more info here.
  **PLEASE NOTE** The Cité des enfants (for 2-7 year olds) is currently closed for renovation until June 2026 (!) But, there are still family-friendly activities to enjoy while we wait, with a Dance and cats and Dogs exhibtion currently on.
• See more info here on current exhibitions for kids at La cité des enfants

Explore more kid-friendly Paris museums on the Tots City Guide toddler and baby map

5. Paris Cinema for kids under 6

• Baby cinema: L’Entrepôt (14e) on Tuesday afternoons.

• 2 yrs + Check out Pathé La Villette (Salle Kids) (19e), Forum des Images (2e) and MK2 Bastille (11e)

• 3+ years at Bar du Louxor (10e) and Cinema Balzac 
  

6.Inside animal activities in Paris

• Aquarium de Paris – explore the incredible world under the sea without leaving the city! The aquarium is located just across the road from the Eiffel Tower – it makes a great break for little ones from all the sight seeing!

• Le Monde de Noé – Here, little kids can exert their imaginations to the max, pretending to be explorers and saving the animals. Along the way they get to meet and pet the furry and scaly (!) friends, receiving a certificate at the end. **Note this is an expensive activity, costing 39.99 euros per child, 20 euros for an additional child (!)

7. Inside Paris Guingol (puppet) shows

Some Guingol shows are set outside – a joy on a sunny day, but when it’s cold outside, head to one of our favourite inside Paris puppet shows include Marionnettes du Champ de Mars Paris (7e) (bring cash for tickets) and Puppets from the Luxembourg Gardens (6e) (you can pay by card)
**PLEASE NOTE: if it’s raining the buggy park is outside!

Explore more Paris puppet shows here via the Tots City Guide Toddler & Baby Map

8. Inside sport activities for kids in Paris

• Swimming pools – the top pick for family-friendly swimming pools in Paris has to be Aquaboulevard (15e). This huge swimming complex has it all, with slides galore, wave machines, saunas and a faux indoor ‘plage’ with a shallow area for little ones.
• Explore all the Paris family-friendly swimming pools on the Tots City Guide Toddler & Baby Paris Map
• Climbing – From 3 years: Blocbuster La Defense and Le Triangle (Bercy) 4 years: Vertical’Art Pigalle (9e)

9. Palais Des Enfants / Children’s Palace at Grande Palais

Explore this totally immersive exhibition for kids Transparence, set in the stunning Grand Palais. See the above video for a sneak peek of what to expect!

Cost: Free for under 2. Ticket for 2+ years: 13 €. All adults must have a ticket. Reduced price of 8 € if you have a Pass GrandPalais

More info here about Children’s Palace at Grande Palais