Best museum for newborn

[Anonymous]

Friend visiting and would like to visit a museum or two, especially with this heat. Are there any it's appropriate or better to take a newborn to?

[Anonymous]

Newborns don't care; go wherever the adults want. When I was on maternity leave, I went to museums several times a week and never had any problems. All have benches where I was able to nurse.

[Anonymous]

I love the title, OP. It just sounds like "I'm working on a summer school curriculum for my newborn. Which museums will best supplement the Baby Einstein videos and music we're using at home?"

PP is right. Almost every museum in town is just fine for a little one. Pop her in the Ergo or stroller, and hit the town. I'd avoid the Holocaust Museum since it's likely not as appropriate in the event your baby ends up crying. I'd also probably avoid any place like the National Cathedral or Basilica where visitors might be expecting a more subdued atmosphere. But all the other museums? Go for it. Good for you for getting out of the house.

[Anonymous]

Any. They go where you go and sleep most of the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the title, OP. It just sounds like "I'm working on a summer school curriculum for my newborn. Which museums will best supplement the Baby Einstein videos and music we're using at home?"

PP is right. Almost every museum in town is just fine for a little one. Pop her in the Ergo or stroller, and hit the town. I'd avoid the Holocaust Museum since it's likely not as appropriate in the event your baby ends up crying. I'd also probably avoid any place like the National Cathedral or Basilica where visitors might be expecting a more subdued atmosphere. But all the other museums? Go for it. Good for you for getting out of the house.

That was my instinct too, that you were looking to stimulate a newborn. That said, the portrait gallery or modern art might be fun - lots of colors!

[Anonymous]

National Gallery-East Building.
The newborn might enjoy staring at the giant Calder mobile in the atrium.
Also the lights through the tunnel in the concourse between the two buildings.

Beautifully redesigned galleries for adults to enjoy.

Excellent cafeteria-gelato is awesome.

Great for all ages.

[Anonymous]

Not the hirschorn - the entrance and elevators were tiny and annoying to navigate. And AA history was too crowded to navigate with a stroller. I would guess Air and Space would also be on the annoying crowded side now. I also skipped Holocaust thinking it would be inappropriate.

But all the others were awesome. We especially loved the Portrait Gallery and American History.

[Anonymous]

The art ones are less crowded so easier if you've got a stroller to navigate. Wish I had done this more when I only had one!

[Anonymous]

I tried doing this with my newborn and had epic meltdowns each time lol. But I still enjoyed getting out of the house! National Gallery of Art was my favorite.

[Anonymous]

Agreed, going to museums during my maternity leave are some of my happiest memories. Plenty of places to nurse. Portrait gallery courtyard is a nice place to take a break, same with greenhouse in the botanic gardens. Agreed about avoiding crowds in Air and Space and American History.

[Anonymous]

Any are fine but some have nursing rooms- is it the air and space one that does? They are all pretty family friendly.

[Anonymous]

I think OP isn't looking to stimulate her newborn but is either looking for a quiet one (so baby can sleep), a noisy one (so crying baby is less disruptive), or one with good places for breastfeeding. OP, I'd do Natural History or American History. Dealing with my crying baby in a quiet art museum would stress me the f out!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think OP isn't looking to stimulate her newborn but is either looking for a quiet one (so baby can sleep), a noisy one (so crying baby is less disruptive), or one with good places for breastfeeding. OP, I'd do Natural History or American History. Dealing with my crying baby in a quiet art museum would stress me the f out!

This is op and yes, this is what I meant.

[Anonymous]

I love the Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum. The courtyard is awesome and you can spend hours exploring both of those museums and still not see everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum. The courtyard is awesome and you can spend hours exploring both of those museums and still not see everything.

I'll also add that since there's rarely children in there, you have your run of the family bathroom. I nursed my newborn in there quite comfortably.