4–6 months

Childproof

Your bambino has started to roll over; in no time, he’ll be crawling around. You can pack up and move to the suburbs—and confine him to a playroom—or buck up and babyproof. Experts from Childproof-America (212-685-5461, imacuclean.com/childproof) will point out your apartment’s “hot spots” (kitchen, balcony) and install gates, outlet covers and more. Baby Bodyguards (718-332-0511, babybodyguards.com) tailors packages to city homes, provides and installs all the necessary gear, and gives lessons in car seat installation.

Have your building put in guards on all windows that are not fire exits. If possible, choose the brand Guardian Angel ($60 at buybuybaby.com). They’re easily removed by an adult, which could prove vital in an emergency.

Cover scratchy rugs and hard floors with Playspot, a colorful soft mat by Skip Hop that won’t be an eyesore in your living room (at Modern Tots, 53 Pearl St, Dumbo, Brooklyn; 718-488-8293).

Take a break

Leaving behind the new love of your life, even for a few hours, can be rough. But now is the time to do it, before your baby’s separation anxiety peaks. The Barnard Babysitting Agency (212-854-2035, barnard.columbia.edu; average wage $12/hour plus one-time $20 registration fee) has an online message board where parents can post requests for college-age, female sitters with specific qualifications—infant experience, CPR certification or glowing references. Another option is Pinch Sitters (212-260-6005, nypinchsitters.com). For $20 an hour (four-hour minimum), you can hire a CPR-trained caregiver with three years of experience and recent references. Or take advantage of New York City Explorers (two locations in Brooklyn; nycityexplorers.com). At the play space’s date nights ($60), veteran babysitters play with kids of all ages while parents head out for a couples excursion.

Meet other parents

The city is brimming with classes that cater to parents of infants. Whether you’re looking for some “motherly” advice or hoping to enrich your small wonder’s world, here are some options to get you started. Momsupport runs new-mom groups (212-781-6368; $125–$175 for approximately eight weeks) in Washington Heights, as well as at Metro Minis (821 Park Ave) and the Prenatal Yoga Center (251 W 72nd St). While the babies stare at one another, Jessica Shapley, a social worker and mom of two, leads the mothers in chitchat. Parent coaches from Swellbeing (212-924-1913, swellbeing.com; $255 for 16 weeks) host “Chat & Snack” at Apple Seeds (10 W 25th St); as moms and dads bond over issues like co-parenting, division of labor and napping, the under-one set rolls around on a large, soft mat strewn with toys. Hands On! (five locations throughout Manhattan; 212-628-1945; 14- to 16-week sessions, $500–$640) serves up music classes for the littlest listeners. Babies marvel at singing puppets; parents sit on bouncy balls with their tots in their laps.

FYI For many mothers, this is when maternity leave comes to a crashing halt. If you’ve opted for day care, you’ll need to mark your infant’s bottles, diapers and clothes with labels. Appliedlabels.com carries the most practical ones we’ve seen (30 labels for $15; 60 labels for $25). They stick to everything—shoes, sippy cups, winter coat—and are dishwasher and laundry safe.