Making the Most of Maternity Leave in HRM

I am not one to stay home. Ask my aunt and uncle who have a running joke that I must be sick if they don't see my car leave at some point throughout the day. Even on maternity leave, I frequently left the house on a daily basis, it's just how I roll.

So, if you're wanting to get out of the house with your new baby, here are my top suggestions

Parent and Tot Swims or Lessons. I am pretty confident every public pool around has these, so choose the one that works for you. Sackville Sports Stadium has a play and splash program where there's a playgroup in a multipurpose room and then a parent tot swim, and it's FREE.

Baby Massage Class at PACT in Cole Harbour

New Mom Drop in group at PACT

Mom & Baby Yoga with ESTELLE at Dartmouth Yoga Center (You seriously will never go to a yoga class like hers anywhere else. She is beyond amazing!)

Hike it Baby (Check out their Facebook group here)

Babies First Books at HRM Public Libraries

Kindermusic Foundations for babies at Joyful Sounds Music Studio

Mom & Baby Bootcamp with The Right Foot Forward Fitness

Stars and Strollers at Cineplex

Mom & Baby classes at Rev Fit

Exercise Class with Port City Strollers (They are coming to Dartmouth soon!)

Music and Movement by Trena Gallant

Not just you and a newborn?

If you're home with older siblings as well and wondering what you're going to do that is suitable for both kids, here is my list of go to's when I was home with two.

Wee Wild Ones program at the Natural History Museum

Kindermusic mixed age group at Joyful Sounds Music Studio

Drop in Play Time at PACT

Preschool Indoor Playground in Sackville

Drop in Playgroup at Evangel Church in Cole Harbour

Free Forest School in HRM

Indoor Playgrounds (The Playbox is by far our favorite for a quiet morning)

Welcome Wednesdays at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

HRM rec programs. They often have family drop in programs during the week or toddler programs like Messy Art Play, which was a pretty big hit with my oldest.

Toddler Time at Get Air. I just put the baby in a carrier so I could follow the big guy around. I DID NOT jump with an infant..just to be clear!

Cole Harbour Heritage Farm

When I was home with two I also had memberships to the Shubenacadie Wild Life Park and the Natural History Museum. This allowed us an indoor and outdoor adventure whenever the mood struck us and it was nice to be able to go at your own time and pace instead of trying to make it for the start of a program sometimes.

If the new Discovery Centre was open when I was off with both kids, I probably would have considered a membership there. The top floor is AMAZING for kids and would have been a fantastic place to hang our for a morning. 

AND if I wasn't feeling that adventurous or social, I often headed to a walking trail, a local playground, the beach, a coffee shop, the library (they have some really great little play spaces), or just for a drive. There is something calming about a drive with your choice of music and beverage, and possibly a sleeping baby in the back seat.

Not only are these places and activities great for just getting out of the house and expending the kids energy in new places, but it's a really great way to meet local moms with kids the same age as yours. Many of the families we met at these places we've seen again at soccer or baseball and school. I also think it was vital for me to get out and get fresh air, have a reason to put on clean yoga pants, and interact with people who could talk back to me, even if that was just the guy at the Tim Hortons drive thru.

Did I miss any of your favourite maternity leave adventures?