Baby

Back in my pre-parent days I would travel all over the city for my groceries and one of my favorite places to shop was the Chelsea Market.  I loved the industrial look of the worn factory floors and exposed brick combined with the European food hall feel of the place. What did I care that I had to schlep up and across town get my stuff back home?  I was just one person back then and I could hail a cab if I had to.  Once my son was born all that changed —now Chelsea Market serves another purpose in my life, a great indoor place to while away some time with a young child in tow.

If I had to give one piece of advice to a new parent in NYC, or anywhere for that matter, it would have nothing to do with stroller choice or sleep schedules. It would be to find a parents group and find it fast.

Being a new mother (or father) in NYC can be surprisingly isolaing. There's people all around, but it's hard to actually meet other new parents and we need that essential support network of mommy and daddy friends here in the city more than anyone. While there are lots of resrources, from community groups to fee-based classes or clubs, what worked wonders for this Manhattan mom was the internet, specifically Meetup.com.

In New York State, legally, you can nurse in public anywhere you want, but knowing you’re protected under the law doesn't always make it easy. The great thing about breastfeeding is that you don't need much, but a comfy chair, a quiet spot, maybe even a little privacy certainly make nursing on the go a little more pleasant.

Finding a good place to breastfeed your baby in New York City can be a challenge. We asked moms from all over the city for their secret nursing spots and got the goods on where to go and tips on which places have extra benefits, like some toys on hand for older children to play with while they wait.

The flurry of city snow flakes might make you feel like popsicled parents and even your French bulldog might be in a snit about the salt on her tender tootsies, but it's "the more the merrier" when it comes to kids and those billowy drifts of white. Snow days are sure to be some of the lasting memories for your child, get out there as much as you can (as long as it is safe). But if the snowballs lose their luster, the snowman falls down and or maybe your child is really too young to do those things anyway, we have some ideas for colorful ways to enjoy the snow with kids.

Need a night out?  Wouldn't it be fun to go out on a date?  Or just do a little shopping?
Many children’s facilities nowadays are offering fantastic drop-off programs, giving parents an opportunity to enjoy an evening out.  You can rest assured, knowing your child is in a safe, stimulating environment.  Many parents take advantage of "Parents' Night Out" to go out to dinner locally, but it is not unusual to hear of parents who use this time to clean or run errands.  Even families with children who are too young to attend, can drop off the older children in order to have some free time when the younger ones go to sleep.
 

We've been dying to check out the newest YMCA location that just opened to the public at the Park Slope Armory. We finally got over there to check it out. The great new space has lots of unique offerings for families and is really inexpensive. Find out what all the hubbub is about: