Are you a new mom in North County San Diego? Are you feeling trapped in your house with your new baby? Or even scared to leave the house for too long for fear your baby might melt down, have a blowout, or that you’d be forced to breastfeed in plain sight? Fear not and read on, friends.
I’ve been there. I get it.
When my son was born, I had such a hard time getting out of my home. I was anxious as soon as I left the door, fearful that I wouldn’t be able to handle whatever surprise motherhood might throw my way. In my house I felt safe – I had everything I needed within arm’s reach. Out and about I felt exposed – all of my fumbling to figure out what to do on full display. I had to work to find outings that were limited in duration, supportive in nature, and allowed me to encounter other moms.
The upside (and the point)? I did the work, so hopefully you don’t have to! Here are just a few suggestions:
Take A Class with Move Play Grow
Wendi McKenna is a pediatric physical therapist who is “passionate about helping parents understand, marvel at and support their babies’ and children’s motor and sensory development.” She offers one hour classes helping parents learn how to support their babies during tummy time, understand their developmental changes during their first year, and how to engage their kids to foster sensory and motor development. I found her classes to be very educational and empowering and her classroom (in her home in Solana Beach) to be welcoming and supportive. She also had a number of product recommendations that have become my favorite tools to use with my son and gifts to give to new moms.
Attend a Mommy & Baby Yoga Class
Cap Wellness Center offers a Mama and Baby Yoga class that teaches mamas stretches and movements for baby and finishes with a vinyasa flow class for mom. The instructor helped me with movements that were appropriate for my son to promote sleep as well as digestion and taught me poses I could do with him. It was very fun and supportive (even when I had to breastfeed him in the middle of flow and change his diaper – ha!). I suspect that there are tons of similar classes all over San Diego County.
Take a Walk at the San Diego Botanic Garden
In addition to having an amazingly beautiful campus filled with diverse plants, flowers, and rotating sculptural exhibits, there are a million secluded little benches on which to sit and feed your new baby whenever the need arises. It is a beautiful (and mildly hilly) place to walk, be outside in nature, let your little one take in some fresh air and/or meet a friend for a brief picnic. If you have older kids, they can play on/in a number of play areas, learning centers or complete a docent led art project.
Sign Up for a Music Together Session
I wish I had done this so much earlier than I actually did. My little one loves the classes at Blossom Music Together (located at the Tree of Life Birth Center in Encinitas and also in 4S Ranch). The Music Together program offers kids of a variety of ages (from infants to young children) the ability to experiment with music, movement, play, and creativity in a group setting. It touts many cognitive, emotional, social, and physical benefits. This is also how I ended up meeting a lot of the little ones we now have playdates (and mommy happy hours-hooray!) with.
These are just a few ideas to get you out of the house that are adaptable to where you live. I would love to hear your ideas for your corner of San Diego in the comments or tag us in your pictures on Instagram with the hashtag #newmamafieldtrip.
And finally, mamas, just remember (in case the worst case scenario happens on your adventure): we’ve ALL been there. My guess is that instead of getting any grief, you will get a knowing smile from the woman you feared might be judging you, which reminds you that she has been there too.
I remember trying Gymboree with one of my kids. All in the name of trying to speak “adult” with someone at least once a week. It’s so important to get out as a new mom and venture out.
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