Kids Patch lists 865 parent-and-toddler groups and baby classes across all 26 counties. Most are small, local and run by volunteers, so they rarely have a website and are hard to find from a search. We went through every listing to work out when these groups usually meet, what they cost, and where to look for one.
The short version
- Most meet on a weekday morning. Of the 311 groups that give a start time, 213 (68%) start at 10am, and 299 (96%) start between 9am and noon.
- Weekends are rare. Of the 319 groups that list their days, only 16 (5%) meet on a Saturday or Sunday. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are the busiest days.
- About one in five is free. 187 of the 865 listings are free to attend. When a community group does charge, it's usually €2 to €5 per family per session.
- Your local library is a good first stop. We list 76 library parent-and-toddler groups, and 66 of them are free.
- Babies are welcome too. 628 listings (73%) take children from birth up to age 4 or 5, so you don't need to wait until your child is walking.
When groups meet
Parent-and-toddler groups fit around naps and the school run, which explains the pattern. A typical group meets once a week on a weekday morning. Of the 283 groups that list both a start and an end time, 228 (81%) run for either 90 minutes or two hours. Many run during school terms only and take a break at Christmas, Easter and over the summer.
If you work weekdays, the choice is much smaller. Only 16 groups meet at weekends, and 5 of those are support groups for families of children with Down syndrome or autism.
What they cost
Community groups run by parents, family resource centres, parishes and libraries are either free or charge a small amount to cover tea, coffee and toys. Typical fees we found:
- €2 per family per session
- €3 per family, or €3 per child with a family cap of €5
- A voluntary donation
Paid baby and toddler classes are a different thing. These include music, sensory, baby massage and messy play classes, often run as franchises. They're usually booked by the term, at roughly €14 to €19 a session. Our guide to what kids' activities cost in Ireland has examples.
Where groups meet
The names of the groups give a good picture of where they're held: libraries (76), family resource centres (30) and community and parish halls. Several combine a toddler group with a breastfeeding support group.
Many groups are listed on a government list of parent and toddler groups. Others are listed by county childcare committees, and some only by word of mouth. 265 of our listings come from the government list on gov.ie.
Parent-and-toddler groups by county
| County | Listings |
|---|---|
| Dublin | 148 |
| Cork | 89 |
| Donegal | 56 |
| Galway | 54 |
| Limerick | 44 |
| Tipperary | 42 |
| Kildare | 35 |
| Kerry | 33 |
| Meath | 32 |
| Wexford | 30 |
| Wicklow | 28 |
| Mayo | 27 |
| Louth | 26 |
| Monaghan | 23 |
| Clare | 21 |
| Sligo | 21 |
| Cavan | 20 |
| Waterford | 18 |
| Laois | 17 |
| Leitrim | 17 |
| Offaly | 17 |
| Roscommon | 16 |
| Westmeath | 16 |
| Carlow | 13 |
| Longford | 12 |
| Kilkenny | 8 |
Each county links to its own page, where you can filter by age and see every group on a map.
Tips for your first visit
- Ring or message first. Volunteer-run groups change days, pause for a term or move venue, and a website or Facebook page is often the last thing to be updated.
- Ask about term breaks. Many groups close for school holidays.
- Bring a snack and a drink for your child. Many groups mention tea and coffee for parents, so check what they provide for children.
- Go more than once. It usually takes two or three visits for a toddler (and a parent) to settle in.
How we counted
These figures come from the 865 parent-and-toddler listings on Kids Patch in October 2026. They include volunteer-run groups, library groups and paid baby classes. Not every listing gives a day, time or price, so each figure says how many listings it's based on. We gather listings from gov.ie's published list, county childcare committees, libraries, and the groups and providers themselves.
Run a group that isn't listed, or spotted something out of date? Add your group for free or let us know.