BABY'S HERE!: out and about

Photo: Lane Johnson

Mamalú Play & Munch Ground

Photo: Lane Johnson

1Baby Loves Disco
At this monthly shimmyfest, DJs play ’70s and ’80s tunes while moms boogie down with their little ones. Where else can you find a wet bar and diaper changing stations? Club Element, 225 E Houston St at Essex St (212-254-2200, babylovesdisco.com). Southpaw, 125 Fifth Ave between St. Johns and Sterling Pls, Park Slope, Brooklyn (718-230-0236).

2New Baby, New Body
Here, the babies have the easy part: resting. Meanwhile, moms engage in core-tightening exercises at Pilates guru Brooke Siler’s studio—with breaks, of course, for breast-feeding and otherwise tending to their infants. Re:AB Pilates West, 54 W 21st St between Fifth and Sixth Aves, eighth floor (212-620-3800, reabnyc.com).

3Rattle and Reel
A gorgeous cinema on the Lower East Side opens its doors to parents and caregivers for lights-on screenings that welcome feedings and midmovie strolls. Sunshine Cinema, 143 E Houston St between Eldridge and Forsyth Sts (212-330-8182, landmarktheaters.com).

4Priti
New moms flock to this organic and—more important—nontoxic salon for pedicures. Babes play with a handy stock of toys while sitting pretty on mom’s lap. 35 E 1st St between First and Second Aves (212-254-3628, pritiorganicspa.com).

5Mom & Baby Yoga
Screaming and crying don’t disturb the mom-and-baby pairs practicing downward dog, cow and cat poses at this tyke-tailored yoga center. The gentle mini-exercises are said to aid babies’ digestion, as well as strengthen little arms and legs. Karma Kids Yoga, 104 W 14th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves, second floor (646-638-1444, karmakidsyoga.com).

Baby Loves Disco

Courtesy Baby Loves Disco

6Mommy & Me: Chicks
Let the pet coveting begin: Introduce new babies to the sweet-tempered bunnies, chinchillas and doves at the Upper East Side’s indoor petting zoo. The Art Farm, 419 E 91st St between First and York Aves (212-410-3117, theartfarms.org/afic).

7Water Babies
A movable floor in the teaching pool allows babes to crawl and splash in warm, six-inch-deep water. The class acclimates youngsters to the basics of swimming, dispelling all inklings of fear. Asphalt Green, 555 E 90th St between York and East End Aves (212-369-8890, asphaltgreen.org).

8Sign-a-Song
Through interactive songs and American Sign Language vocabulary, babies learn very useful hand motions, like those for “more,” “milk” and “eat.” Various locations throughout Brooklyn and Manhattan (718-832-8060, sign-a-song.com).

9Gymboree Level 1 gym class
Props, songs and parachute games help infants pay attention and grow up to be thoughtful observers. In the meantime, in-class baby massage keep them cooing. Gymboree, various locations throughout the five boroughs (877-449-6932, gymboreeclasses.com).

10Mamalú Play & Munch Ground
Soak up wisdom from the toddler-toting veterans who frequent this kid oasis, complete with delicious snacks to tide mom and dad over. 232 North 12th St between Driggs and Union Aves, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-486-6312, mamalu.us).

Click here for more fun places to take your baby.

In this issue:

9 MONTHS TO GO: Plan and deliver Three of the first things expectant moms need to decide: where, how and with whom they want to labor. In New York City, your birth options range from heavily high-tech hospitals to fully natural home births.
8 MONTHS TO GO: Back to school As your new reality begins to set in, certain labor- and delivery-related questions (“How will I know if I want an epidural? Can you really learn to relax?”) are bound to arise. One sure way to reduce stress: Get informed.

Get some class Pregnant? We have a feeling you’ll want to sign up for one of these courses.

7 MONTHS TO GO: Perfect fit Feel like you’re about to burst seams and pop buttons? It may be time to update your wardrobe. If you fear a swelling belly will mean a shrinking wallet, read on—New York City has options to suit every style and price range.

Best dressed Though pregnancy does present some unique clothing challenges, NYC offers plenty of maternity shopping options to suit any style (and budget).

6 MONTHS TO GO: Make room for baby In NYC, the definition of a “nursery” may be even looser than that of a “bedroom,” but what you lack in square footage you can recoup in style. From no-frills to high-design, these pieces will make your baby’s room rock.
5 MONTHS TO GO: Oh baby! Your little one will be small, but she’s going to need a lot of goodies upon arrival. Load up on all of the newborn’s requisites—bibs, onesies, receiving blankets, booties and more—at these four must-visit city spots.
4 MONTHS TO GO: Take good care You’re still months away from meeting your baby—odds are you haven’t thought much about entrusting him to someone else. But the sooner you can land high-quality help, the better. Here’s a cheat sheet:
3 MONTHS TO GO: Get into the sling of things Wondering which carrier is right for you and your baby? We put four to the test.
3 MONTHS TO GO: Which stroller is the best if you want to…
2 MONTHS TO GO: Rubbed the right way Five NYC massage therapists helped one very pregnant mama manage her prebaby stress.
THE BIG DAY: Before “it’s Time” The bags are packed. The playlist of “birth songs” is on your iPod. You’ve researched the current popularity of your future child’s name on ssa.gov. But there may still be a few things you haven’t considered.
BABY'S HERE!: Out and about The long wait is over; now it’s time to get busy! New York City is loaded with baby-friendly destinations. When you’re ready to take that new stroller for a test drive, put some of our favorite spots on your to-do list.