Planning a trip to Singapore with a toddler? Discover practical tips on transport, weather, family facilities, attractions and more to enjoy a smooth, stress-free visit with little ones.
Visiting Singapore with a toddler is one of the easiest family travel experiences you’ll find in Asia.
The city is clean, safe, well-organised and wonderfully child-friendly, with plenty of parks, playgrounds, museums and attractions designed for little explorers.
You’ll also find most cafes and restaurants have high chairs and are very accommodating of young children. And the city is amazingly stroller friendly too.
But like any trip with young kids, a bit of planning goes a long way.
From navigating the heat to choosing the right transport and knowing where to find family facilities, these top tips will help you enjoy a smooth, stress-free and genuinely fun visit to Singapore with your toddler.
Plan around the heat & humidity
Singapore is hot and humid year-round, so schedule outdoor activities early in the morning or late afternoon.
Keep the middle of the day for indoor, air-conditioned attractions, particularly if you are from cooler climes.
Take advantage of pram-friendly facilities
Public transport, malls, and attractions in Singapore are stroller-friendly, with lifts and escalators everywhere.
So bring a lightweight, easy-to-fold stroller so that you can take advantage of Singapore being such an easy city to explore on foot.
Prepare for sudden rain
What starts as a sunny day in Singapore can very quickly turn into a thundery afternoon with torrential rain. Carry a small umbrella, poncho, and stroller rain cover so you’re never caught out.
Use the excellent MRT system
The Singapore metro (underground/subway) is known as the MRT (mass rapid transit). It is safe, efficient, clean, cheap and air-conditioned and is the public transport method of choice for many visitors to Singapore.
It’s an easy, quick and comfortable way to explore the island and will take you pretty much everywhere you need to go in Singapore.
All MRT stations have escalators and lifts, making it easy with a stroller.
Insider Tip: Children up to 0.9m in height and accompanied by a fare-paying commuter travel free on trains and buses.
Read our guide to exploring Singapore by Public Transport here.
Bring swimwear everywhere
You’ll find water play areas in parks, malls, and attractions all over Singapore. Some of our favourites include:
- Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden at the Botanic Gardens
- Far East Organisation Children’s Garden at Gardens by the Bay
- KidzWorld at Singapore Zoo
- Waterworks at the Science Centre
- Coastal Playgrove at East Coast Park
When your toddler is feeling hot and bothered in the heat and humidity of Singapore, a spare swimsuit, towel, and a change of clothes will save the day.
Make use of family restrooms
Most malls and attractions around Singapore have dedicated family rooms with changing facilities, nursing areas, and sinks.
Many also have hot & cold water dispensers and power points and some even have microwaves.
Choose toddler-friendly attractions
You’ll find places all over Singapore suitable for toddlers – with shaded areas, pram access, and opportunities for free play at places such as Gardens by the Bay and the Singapore Zoo.
We have a full article dedicated to Toddler-friendly attractions in Singapore, but here are a few to get you going:
- Singapore Zoo
- Bird Paradise
- Singapore Oceanarium
- FutureWorld at ArtScience Museum
- Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden at the Botanic Gardens
Take advantage of Singapore’s Indoor Playgrounds and Play Gyms
Having such a hot and humid climate, Singapore is well set-up for indoor play for kids. You’ll find awesome indoor playgrounds and kids play gyms all over town.
Most have onsite cafes where mum and dad can take a load off while the kids play, and kids can refuel mid-play and some even serve wine! Most have free WiFi too.
Insider Tip: Bring a pair of socks for everyone and be prepared to have the kids’ temperature taken and hands sanitized before you can enter.
Some popular choices include:
- Polliwogs at Vivocity
- Amazonia
- Kiztopia
- Waka Waka
- Curiosity Cove at Singapore Zoo
Keep snacks and hydration handy
As we all know, toddlers get hungry quickly, and you may not always find kid-friendly snacks immediately. With the heat and. humidity, they will likely need to drink more water than usual.
Always go prepared with water, fruit pouches, and easy bites. If you’re looking to stock up, you’ll find supermarkets in most shopping malls that will stock a range of toddler-friendly snacks.
Go slow and enjoy the little moments
There’s so much to see, but toddlers are happiest when they can explore at their own pace. Let them splash, wander, climb, and experience the city their way.
Car Seat Laws in Singapore: What Parents Need to Know
Travelling around Singapore with toddlers is generally easy, but it’s important to understand the local car-seat laws. Singapore requires any child under 1.35 metres to use an appropriate child restraint or booster seat — except when travelling in a licensed taxi.
Taxis
Taxis are exempt from the car-seat requirement, so young children may legally ride without a child seat as long as they sit in the back seat.
This makes taxis the most flexible option for families who don’t have their own seat with them. Many parents still prefer to bring a portable travel seat for extra safety, especially on longer journeys.
Grab & Other Ride-Hailing Cars
Ride-hailing services (like Grab) are not exempt. If your child is under 1.35 m, you must use a car seat or booster. Drivers may decline the ride if you don’t have one.
To make this easier, Grab offers GrabFamily and child-seat options that you can select in the app and the driver will provide an approved seat or booster for an additional fee.
Bringing Your Own Seat
If you plan to use a mix of taxis and ride-hailing, a compact travel booster or foldable car seat can be extremely helpful.
Approved standards were recently updated, and newer European-standard seats (ECE R129) are now recognised, so check that any seat you bring meets current requirements.