Samantha Bonizzi 
The Montclair area is a popular place for young families to settle, with new little ones regularly welcomed. It’s common to see strollers dotting the streets or taking over local parks. If you’re a new parent or expecting, you may be wondering what to do with the latest addition to your family beyond the walks and playgrounds, and we’ve got you covered. Read on for a list of local baby + me activities for parents of tots under one in Montclair and beyond.
Take a Fitness or Yoga Class
Move House | 260 Bellevue Avenue, Montclair
Move House has a weekly postpartum class taught by the studio’s founder, Marissa Herman. The Wednesday class moves more slowly than other classes, making it great for new mamas looking to get back into fitness. Babies are welcome at the class until they are mobile, stationed on bouncers or blankets while mom gets her sweat on.
Montclair B.A.B.Y. | 113 Walnut Street
Montclair B.A.B.Y. has Baby + Me Yoga on Tuesdays and Fridays. This class focuses on strengthening the spiritual, emotional, and physical bond between parent and child (from four weeks to crawling). The class also includes infant massage and various exercises that assist in developing babies’ motor skills.
The Mindfulnest Co. | 9 Bloomfield Avenue, North Caldwell
Runs a Child Care class on Fridays, where children can explore the space while adults participate in yoga.
Read More: A List of Fun Outdoor Activities in New Jersey
Make Music
Baby In Tune | 113 Walnut Street, Montclair
Baby In Tune is led by Vered Benhorin at Montclair B.A.B.Y. Here, parents learn how to use music to establish a routine, soothe, and communicate with their baby. Classes incorporate elements of therapy for the parent through music and discussion. Vered leads classes for two age groups on Tuesday mornings.
Music Together | 55 Montclair Avenue, Montclair + 10 Fairview Avenue, Verona
Music Together is a global program with chapters in Montclair and West Essex. The Babies class, which meets at various times and locations, brings together a supportive parenting community and shares key information about baby development and musical milestones.
Music with Michaela | 198 Bellevue Avenue, Montclair
Music with Michaela was created by a local music teacher, performer, songwriter, and mama during the winter months of the pandemic. She now hosts weekly in-person musical sessions in Montclair.
Participate in Storytime
Local bookshops and libraries run story sessions for babies, which are often free events for the community. Some include:
- Watchung Booksellers | 44 Fairfield Street, Montclair: Holds toddler story sessions in its Kids’ Room every Monday at 11:00 AM, led by a bookseller, Montclair Speech Therapy, or a community volunteer.
- The Collective Bookstore | 460 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona: Holds a story hour for little ones on Saturdays at 11:00 AM.
- Montclair Library Bellevue Avenue Branch | 185 Bellevue Avenue, Montclair: Hosts Baby Storytime on Thursdays, where guests sing songs, recite nursery rhymes, and read board books geared toward little ones.
Verona Library, located at 17 Gould Street, Verona, also hosts various storytimes and sing-alongs appropriate for babies, such as its weekly Read, Romp + Rhyme event on Wednesday mornings, as do Bloomfield Library (located at 90 Broad Street, Bloomfield) and Cedar Grove Library (located at 1 Municipal Plaza, Cedar Grove).
Join a Support Group
The early days of parenting can feel isolating. Joining a support group (where babies are welcome!) can be a great way to get out of the house, build community, and start making playmates.
Montclair B.A.B.Y. | 113 Walnut Street, Montclair
Licensed psychotherapist Amy Edelstein leads first and second-time support groups at Montclair B.A.B.Y., where parents join together in a safe space to meet new parents, share stories, and discuss various topics related to the transition into parenthood.
Flor da Vida | 21 Grove Avenue, 2nd Floor, Verona
Flor da Vida is a women’s wellness center where moms gather bi-weekly for group support. Led by Christine Becerra, a mom of three and experienced doula, this group is about building connections and providing baby-friendly activities for the littles.
Milkwell | 1285 Broad Street, 2nd Floor, Bloomfield
For those looking for more in-depth weekly resets, Milkwell (1285 Broad Street, 2nd Floor, Bloomfield), which is a Bloomfield-based lactation center, runs a mini-retreat series called NOURISH. These sessions allow moms to put down roots for three hours, starting with group introductions and reflections, shifting towards postpartum and infant care education, and ending with homemade, nourishing vegan and gluten-free soup for lunch. There are breastfeeding and pumping support items, bounce balls, and extra arms to help with babies.
Engage in a Playspace
Gyms and spaces built for kids start to welcome babies around four to nine months of age, depending on the location.
Kidville | 516 Valley Road, Montclair
Kidville hosts a Rockin’ Railroad class that uses puppets and instruments, exploring a different musical genre each week through tempo, rhythm, word recognition, and sound identification.
Oh! Canary | 237 Lorraine Avenue, Montclair
Oh! Canary is a children’s art studio, where babies can join an art and sensory playgroup featuring an engaging selection of baby-friendly activities for open play.
The Little Gym of Montclair | 1 Greenwood Avenue, Montclair
Starting at four months, babies can join The Little Gym of Montclair’s Bug class, which lays the groundwork for overall functional development and promotes early social and physical skills.
Livingston Gym | 615 South Livingston Avenue, Suite 5, Livingston
At Livingston Gym, babies starting at nine months can join its Music + Movement class for a blend of song and dance using sound-making toys, sensory objects, and games.
BYOB(aby) to the Arts
While most of the above outings are geared toward babies, there are also some adult activities around town where babies can come along for the ride.
The Clairidge | 486 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
The Clairidge hosts a matinee once a month, where parents can see a newly released film in an environment friendly to caregivers of new babies. Crying babies and nursing mothers are welcome. To accommodate families, the theater dims the lights, moderates the volume, turns on closed captions, and allows guests to move around as needed.
Wine + Design | 1 Greenwood Avenue #101, Montclair
Wine + Design has events where parents and caregivers are encouraged to bring babies to a painting class.
Similarly, Bleu Blanc, located at 127 Valley Road, Unit D, in Montclair, is a pottery + painting studio available for private events where babies are welcome.
See More: The Best Playgrounds With a View in Hudson County
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