Getting out of your home with your baby

You had your baby! You're doing the things! Now it's a few weeks or months in and maybe you're feeling a little stir-crazy being inside all of the time. Or you are not (totally fine!), but I was. So the question becomes, what should I do with my baby? Here are some ideas!

Get outside!

Seasonally and weather dependent, go for a walk. It can also help to do this walk a stroller nap if that works for you. When my child was down to two naps, the second nap was always a mobile nap. I needed to get out of my apartment for my own sanity, and rocking her for another 45-60 minutes for her to only contact nap for 30 minutes was not for me (if you love it, that's great too!). 

If you're like me, I needed a destination when I got out of the apartment. I decided to try every coffee shop within walking distance. You could seek out your neighborhood's best croissant, best pizza, best bench with the nicest view, most interesting library! Find what's interesting for you and incorporate it into your routine.

Explore the park! It took me a while to realize I could just bring a blanket to the park and sit outside with my baby and read. This is so great when they are still immobile. 

Find a parent group online and post looking for other parents

When my husband was returning from his short paternity leave, I was a little panicked. Who was I going to talk to all day? I am incredibly shy, so it is not like I was just going to go up to other parents and introduce myself. I decided to post (anonymously, because I was nervous) on my local Facebook moms group looking for other moms who were also on maternity leave who would potentially want to meet up. Let me tell you that SO many people replied and I created a Facebook messenger group to connect everyone. I went on little coffee and park mom dates with the other moms and we did some big group get togethers as well. Did I make best friends this way? No. But I still see the other moms in the neighborhood and it’s so nice to chat and know some of the other parents on the playground while we chase our toddlers.

Try the Peanut App

Perhaps your target ads already directed you here, but if not, they probably will now. Peanut is like a dating app but for mom friends. It’s definitely strange, but it really helped me find some of my people. (And as the theme of this suggests, something to do).

Look into baby classes

These are not for the babies. There are for the parents and caregivers. A three month old baby does not need gymnastics, but perhaps you need to be surrounded by people other than your baby. Some places have free baby classes because they want to get you in the door. Take advantage! I met a lot of nice people this way and then some of them ended up being the parents of my child’s peers at daycare, so it’s nice to have that connect.

I’m going to list some of the ones I know of that are largely Upper West Side-based. If you happen upon this and have suggestions, please let me know and I’ll add them for any geographic location!

Discovery Gym (free up to 8 months), 251 West 100th st, New York, NY 10025

https://www.discoveryprograms.com/classes/baby-social-free-baby-classes/

Elliot’s Gym (free up to 6 months), 550 W. 110th St, New York, NY 10025

https://www.elliottsclasses.com/class-schedule

Prenatal Yoga Center Baby and Me, Postnatal Yoga, and New Parent Support Group,

https://prenatalyogacenter.com/

Disclosure I am currently running the new parent support group here, we'd love if you joined us!

New York Public Library (free), multiple locations

https://www.nypl.org/events/calendar?keyword&target[0]=cr&fbclid=IwY2xjawNI2YNleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF2NnUwUVlvOThybEMzSW1TAR4IS9jNhj0qF7iHhxlGhmBlBHRP2pcgvPraMdqPxQzjKDFytmqaiYHweT0mEg_aem_KraTxZ7ODuQtWZG1eHd1ow

Hopalong Andrew, multiple locations

https://hopalongandrew.tumblr.com/schedule