Joanne
Dahlia’s got March Madness Fever playing at Gymboree Play & Music.
Don’t be mistaken, maternity leave is not a vacation. Period. It’s a lot of work in the beginning and as a working mama, I found it hard to get out of my pajamas when we first brought Dahlia home. But, as the weeks went by, I got better about getting out of the house & made it my daily goal to get dressed and get out at least once a day. For the first 6 months, this new beginning is a crucial period of time for mom, dad & baby to bond and get acquainted.
So, get out there and get going!
I’ve gathered 10 fun (and mostly free) things you can do with your baby while on maternity leave in the Bay Area and have included some links so you can find similar things in your area! Also, most of these could apply for daddy’s on paternity leave as well 🙂
1. Head to the Library.
Yes, the library. I hadn’t stepped foot into a library since I graduated from college, but man, they are filled with so many resources, information and networking. I looked online and found MANY different and FREE baby classes along the Peninsula like, baby sign language, Bilingual Storytime, TouchPoints, Itsy Bitsy Storytime, etc. This is a great way to meet other new moms, dads, or caretakers in your area and socialize as well.
Tip: Some libraries also have discounted or FREE tickets to museums or zoos if you sign up for a library card. So, be sure to ask the librarian of these special perks.
Here’s a picture of my husband & Dahlia on his Paternity Leave at the San Bruno Library’s Baby Story Time on Wednesdays at 11:30am. Many babies, many books!
Peninsula Library System: http://plsinfo.org/
San Bruno Storytime: http://sanbruno.ca.gov/library_storytime.html
Burlingame Storytime: http://www.burlingame.org/index.aspx?page=1744#KidsPage
San Mateo County Library Events: http://www.smcl.org/en/event
2. Walk the Dogs.
I literally walked to different parks around my neighborhood & waited for my husband to come home from work to walk along nearby beaches & parks as well.
No dogs? No problem. Get out and explore your neighborhood or another neighborhood or an area you’ve been wanting to see. Just go walking.
Tip: Download a walking app on your smart phone and check out the mileage and note the paths you’ve taken & how long it took you so you can do the same ones again or pick shorter ones if you’re in a time crunch.
Here is a photo of my husband pushing stroller with Dahlia & Bella (on the right) enjoying her walk with the view of the Golden Gate Bridge at Crissy Field.
3. Get Baby to get Physical.
Head over to a Children’s Fitness Center like My Gym that offer a complimentary first time trial. Baby will learn how to stretch & move in their fun classes. The Little Bundles classes for babies age 6 weeks to 6 months at My Gym are FREE. So, take full advantage!
Tip: There is a one time initiation fee, but if you wait to go when they have special events, that one time fee is waived.
My Gym: www.mygym.com
Here’s Dahlia at My Gym in San Carlos enjoying the bouncer and tummy timing in the big red circle.
4. Enjoy some Music.
Enjoy places like Gymboree Play & Music also have FREE Trial Classes as well and focus more on music & singing, but also include dancing, tactile play & a bit of exercise too.
Tip: Libraries will also have great storytimes with music as well. The Millbrae Library has a great story time with singers that also play instruments.
Gymboree Play & Music: http://www.gymboreeclasses.com/en/
Here’s Dahlia enjoying a hug from Jimbo the Clown as well as tummy timing with friends at Gymboree Play & Music in San Mateo.
5. Visit Someone at Work.
Most people love babies! So, why not visit someone at work! I visited my husband at work while on my leave. This also gave his co-workers an opportunity to meet Dahlia for the first time.
Tip: Go on a Friday. Work places are usually not as busy as the beginning of week.
Here’s Dahlia visiting her daddy’s desk at work.
6. Plan a Play Date.
In a previous post of mine, my friends and I set up a play date to have our babies meet for the first time in music class at DayOne Baby in San Francisco. They also had a cute little outdoor patio space to hang out after class to chit chat. They also offer FREE trial classes.
Tip: You could also set up a play date at someone’s house or a park.
DayOne Baby: https://www.dayonebaby.com/
Here’s Dahlia and Avery meeting for the first time.
7. Check out a Support Group.
Some breastfeeding centers offer FREE newborn support groups that are good to go to to learn & ask questions about anything. It never hurts to go & mingle.
Healthy Horizon’s Support Group in Bay Area: http://www.hh-bc.com/Support-Groups.html
Tip: Usually all are welcome at these groups. So, grandparents, caretakers, moms and dads can attend too!
8. Seek Help from the Hospital & Lactation Consultants
I was probably seeking help from the Lactation Consultants once or twice a week at the Daly City Kaiser in the beginning to get the hang of it. If I hadn’t done this, I probably wouldn’t have gotten as far as I have in nursing and I owe it all to them!
Hospitals also have parenting or newborn classes you can take for FREE as long as you sign up for them.
Tip: Check with your insurance to see if these offers are available to you. The Kaiser in Daly City made it very easy for me to make appointments or drop-in whenever I needed help. They also have a Newborn Club with snacks, plenty of diapers and comfy rocking chairs so you can get the help you need for as long as they are open. They also have support groups that meet up and offer newborn classes as well.
Kaiser Permanente resources: www.kp.org
9. Check out a Local Farmers Market.
In front of San Francisco’s Ferry Building, they have a Farmer’s Market on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 10am – 2pm and also on Saturdays from 8am – 2pm. Of course, you don’t pay an entrance fee to browse at all the goodies!
Tip: A perk of coming to the Ferry Building Farmer’s Market is going inside the Ferry Building itself. Have lunch at any one of the many different delicious restaurants which are all bustling and kid-friendly.
http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/farmers_market.php
Here is a photo of Dahlia strolling inside the Ferry Building and a bucket of Dahlias at the Farmers Market.
10. Exercise yourself.
Some Yoga and/or Pilates studios will have mommy & baby classes you can try for FREE for the first time. This is a great way for you to get your own endorphins going as well! Here, you can let your baby be a baby without getting looks from others.
Tip: Some studios will also offer deals for new students as well. I went to Yoga at Change in San Mateo and they had a new student deal that was 3 classes for $30. Well worth it! They also have a bin full of toys your kids can play with during your session.
As mentioned before, DayOne Baby also has mommy & me classes as well.
DayOne Baby: https://www.dayonebaby.com/
Yoga at Change: http://www.yogaatchange.com/Pages/default.aspx
Here’s Dahlia doing pilates with me in class and her napping as I begin Yoga.
All of these things are obviously things you can do with baby at any time! I encourage you to get out and enjoy the new life you have together with baby!
