Mommy FTW

Cameron has always loved swimming.  When we were still living in Brooklyn Cameron and I spent many an afternoon at Clermont Pool at PS 20 cooling off.  Now that we are in D.C. we get swim at Cam’s grandparents house.  The most shallow area of the pool is 4 feet deep (unlike the indoor pool at the Wilson Aquatic Center which has a beach pool that starts at zero depth).  So, I knew I needed to get Cam something to help him swim on his own since I was going to have my hands full with our newborn.  I asked around to my mom friends to see if anyone had a floatie (life jacket, flotation device, etc) they could recommend.  I heard great things about the Sterns Kids Puddle Jumper – and the price seemed right so I went ahead and ordered it from Amazon.

The first time Cam wore the Puddle Jumper in the pool he was a little nervous, still clinging to me.  But as the time went one he became more and more secure in it.  By the end of our hour in the pool he was swimming on his own and jumping in the water.  The next day we went swimming again and he quickly was up to speed and making his way all around the pool.

I love the Puddle Jumper because it’s comfortable for Cameron.  Because of the way it fits around him, it can’t ride up.  It’s very easy for him to move around on his own and work on his kicking and paddling.  I feel confident that he is safe in the water.  It’s easy for me to guide him around with one hand holding the clip at the back to help him work on his swimming.  Overall, I couldn’t be happier – and I think Cam feels the same way!

I’ve done many posts about the Wilson Aquatic Center in Tenleytown DC, but I still get tons of questions about it, so I decided to make one super post that will hopefully be very informative for visitors.  And since it’s winter out and the pool is FREE (to DC residents) it’s a great indoor activity for you and your baby / toddler / kids!

Here’s the important info: (If you have other suggestions / tips please leave a comment!)

1) They are currently doing construction on Wilson High School which has caused the regular entrance to the Aquatic Center to be closed.  The temporary entrance is on Nebraska Ave near Albemarle.  There is generally plenty of free parking on Nebraska ave.  There are signs that will point you towards the entrance.

2) You must have your ID – no exceptions!  Of course, your child doesn’t need one.  If you are not a DC resident, you have to pay a $4 fee to get in.  They don’t take cash, so bring your credit card.  You can also use a utility bill to prove your DC residency if you don’t have a DC licence yet (like me – eep!)

3) Your small child needs to be wearing a swim diaper AND a swim suit – they can’t just wear a swim diaper.  I am guessing if they just had a swim suit on there wouldn’t be any way for them to tell if there was a diaper on underneath.  Besides, who is to say your kid isn’t potty trained?!  If you are wondering where you can get swim diapers in winter, check on Diapers.com or Amazon.com.

4) There are men’s, women’s, and family locker rooms.  Both the women’s and family locker rooms have diaper changing stations in them (I’m not sure about the men’s…)  Children over the age of 3 of the opposite sex must change in the family locker room.  AKA, you can’t take your son into the women’s locker room.   I used to prefer the women’s locker room (the showers are generally warmer) but I got a lot of dirty looks for having Cam there (even though he is just 2)  so now we stick to the family locker room.  There they have large private changing rooms – there are 4 or 5 of them available.

5) There is stroller parking available at the base of the stairs that lead from the lobby to the pool – just outside of where the elevator lets you off.

6) Things to bring:

A combo lock for the lockers – they do not provide them.

You might want to bring flip flops / sandals for yourself and your child.  I’m not really a fan of walking barefoot in public places – but maybe that’s just me.

I also bring shampoo, conditioner, and some liquid soap.  The showers have soap dispensers in them, but they are often empty.  I just keep travel size bottles in my swim bag to have on hand.

I always bring 2 towels – one for me and one for Cam.  The pool is very warm, but it feels COLD when you get out!  I also got Cam another bath robe to wear post swim.

Toys – one father I’ve seen there a few times has a great set of bath squirter toys that are a big hit.  They also have a basketball hoop and a few balls, but those are often in high demand – so feel free to bring some of your own things.

The children’s pool itself is a “beach pool” meaning it starts at 0″ depth and gradually gets deeper, just like at the beach.  It tops out somewhere between 2 or 3 feet.  There are several water features – some water jets that shoot up, and some buckets that fill and dump which are often off.  They seem a little scary and loud for little kids, but older kids LOVE them.  You can always go talk to the people in the office and ask them to turn them off or on.  They are very friendly.

Then there’s a semi separate deeper area (5 feet?) that the less serious swimmers do laps and water aerobics in.  There is also a HUGE lap pool if you really want to get your swim on and go without your child.  And, there is a “therapy pool” (gigantic hot tub) that only adults are allowed in.

There is always a lifeguard on duty at the kid’s pool and the main lap pool.  They are very attentive and I always feel safe having Cam there.

Phew!  That was a lot of info – I hope you find it helpful.  I can’t stress enough how great this pool is – especially on a rainy, snowy, or cold day.  And, after you’ve gone swimming, hit up the Whole Foods across the street for lunch.  They have an upstairs seating area that has plenty of high chairs!

The Wilson Aquatic Center is open Mon-Fri 6:00am – 9:00pm; Sat,Sun 9:00am – 5:00pm.  It will be closed December 24 and 25 for Christmas, and December 31 and January 1 for New Years.  You can call them with any questions at: (202) 730-0583.  If you are interested in learning about classes at the Wilson Aquatic Center, check out the DC DPR website.

Recently the people at Toren approached me and asked if I would be interested in doing a write up on the family friendly aspects of the building.  Honestly, I had never really considered Toren in a family friendly light (I didn’t really know anything about it at all) and I was intrigued.  So, last Thursday I went to go check it out.  In a word, I was impressed!  It is truly a gorgeous building inside and out, and it has some great offerings for the family set.  In this first post I’ll focus on the amenities and kid / child friendly programs they’ve got on tap, and in my second post I’ll finish with the absolutely incredible apartment they showed me (jaw droppingly beautiful doesn’t even begin to cover it….) as well as highlight the green aspects of the building.

Toren has a Yoga studio in house with class offered by Yoga Local.  There are a few classes for babies and toddlers on the books for this fall:

Mommy (or Daddy) & Me, Fridays, 9:30-10:15
Creative movement for all babies, 6 to 12 months, with caregiver.
Tiny Toes, Fridays, 10:30-11:15
Creative movement for normally-developing toddlers, 12-36 months.
Special Tiny Toes, Fridays, 11:30-12:15
Creative movement for identified special needs toddlers, 12-36 months.

All of these classes are paid on a monthly basis, $80 per head per month. They are taught by Amalia Rose and Carmen Rosario, a mother-daughter duo with over 50 years of experience under their collective belts. For residents of Toren, these classes are free.  Check out the Yoga Local website to learn more about them.  Also, keep checking for info about prenatal yoga classes!

Toren has a large bi-level outdoor space.  It’s a great place to take in some fresh air, have a playgroup get together, and enjoy a view of Brooklyn and beyond.  This fall Toren, in conjunction with Big Movies for Little Kids, will be hosting 4 screenings (every other Friday) on the outdoor terrace starting in late September.  These screenings are open to residents and the public.  The outdoor space has a huge set of stairs which will offer great stadium like seating for the event. Toren will offer stroller parking and free concessions. Doors Open 6:30- Movies to start at 7pm.  RSVP to Marco@torencondo.com.  Here’s the schedule:

Sept 24th – Spirited Away
October 8th – The Muppet Movie
October 22nd- Pinocchio
November 5th- TBD

The pool at Toren is so beautiful, when I was emailed pictures of it I thought they were computer renderings (see the gallery).  Well, I swear – it actually looks like that in person.  The pool is essentially a lap pool – only 4 feet deep.  It has a wide set of entry stairs that would be a nice toddler splash and play area.  In it’s shape and depth it reminds me of my beloved Clermont pool – a perfect place for a little one to learn to swim.  And of course, this pool is open year round.  Toren is going to offer Children’s swim classes free to residents.  Non residents can also sign up to participate.  This would be a great winter activity!  Although Cameron and I went swimming often last summer, over the winter his love of water seemed to dwindle.  The Toren pool is a great way to keep this from happening, and is a lot closer to most of Fort Greene than the neighboring YMCA’s.  Check the Toren website later this fall to find the class schedule for Children’s swim classes.

Toren has a lovely little library, a nice place to sit and quietly read a book – or have story time with the kids!  Residents who are looking for a place to take their little ones who have a case of cabin fever in the winter time should take advantage of this great space.  It would be a wonderful spot to organize a weekly story time, playgroup, or movie screening (they have perhaps the biggest TV I’ve ever seen).

Finally I wanted to note that there is an “upscale eco-friendly”  Supermarket coming to Toren (according to Brownstoner, and confirmed by the Toren rep I spoke to).  As a long time resident of Fort Greene, I can’t say how excited I am about this.  It’s something I think a lot of folks in the neighborhood are really looking forward to – and I can’t imagine having it just an elevator ride away.  This will be a major convenience for residents and is icing on the cake!

Check back in for my write up of the amazing family sized apartment I was able to preview, as well as to learn more about the Green aspects of the building which make Toren quite unique, and both eco and family friendly.

Toren is located at 150 Myrtle Avenue, at the intersection of Myrtle and Flatbush.  Nearby are a huge array of train lines (B, Q, M, R, 2, 3, A, C) and of course Fort Greene Park.  Your closest playground is one of my favorites, the huge and rarely crowded New Fort Greene, which I profiled in my A Gem of A Playground series.  Also, in the summer time, directly across the street you can find the Myrtle Avenue Farm Stand.  To learn more about Toren you can check out their websites – torencondo.com and mylifeattoren.com (for more of an inside scoop on what it’s like to live there).

In the spirit of full disclosure, Toren has compensated me for this post – which means I was paid to go and check out their building and do a write up.  I want to assure you that the opinions expressed here are my own, and I was in no way told what I was to write.  Those of you who read my blog regularly and know me, know that I wouldn’t speak positively about something I don’t believe in.  If this write up as made you curious about Toren, please contact them and check it out for yourself.  I would be surprised if you were anything less than impressed!

Posted from New York, New York, United States.

Lately I’ve been getting lots of google searches for information about the Clermont Pool at PS 20 / Parham Playground in Fort Greene, so I decided to do a compilation post with all the news you can use!

Clermont pool hours of operation – the pool has two main sessions, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm, and 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm.  If there is a line forming (only 30 people are allowed in at a time) the lifeguards will enforce 30 minute sessions, which means after 30 minutes they will clear the pool and let the line in.

Your little one needs to be wearing a swim diaper.  It’s fine to wear a hat, and I haven’t seen them care about what color shirt you, or your little one is wearing.  The only rules I see them really enforcing are “no jumping” and no lounging on the deck of the pool.

There is a shower that you are supposed to use before you enter the pool – and I would recommend after too!  By the way, they clean the pool every morning before it opens.

Cameron and I take a dip

The water is already plenty warm.  Believe me, I am a baby when it comes to cold water – and it’s just fine!

If you bring a stroller, park it on the side where the line forms near the bike rack.

You can bring a bag into the pool area.  I generally leave my phone at home and just bring a bag with sunscreen, a diaper change, a towel, and some water.  I come to the pool already wearing my bathing suit so I don’t have to leave the line to change.

Defend your place in line – there are only 30 spots and lots of the kids will try and cut in line.  Just be sure of yourself and your spot.

If there is a line, and you really want to get back into the pool immediately because you little one is having tons of fun, dash out as soon as you can after the lifeguard blows the whistle for the end of the 30 minute session.  You might get back in for the next session if you are speedy and lucky.

The pool is only 3 feet deep – kids must be 3 feet 8 inches to enter on your own (without a guardian).

Only one adult/caregiver is allowed per child – so 2 parents can’t go in with one child.  If you talk to the security guy at the gate he will let you swap out.

If your little one needs to use the bathroom the security guy will let them leave to use the facilities and then come back.  Don’t worry – you won’t loose your spot in the pool.

There is a small “gutter” area (for lack of a better word) around the edge of the pool that is an inch or two deep, and about 8 inches wide.  This area is great for getting your little one used to the water, for getting in and out of the pool, and for splashing in general.  Cameron loves to jump into my arms from this area, and to have some splash time.

And now – go and enjoy the pool!  If you want more information, check out my other posts about Clermont Pool.

Posted from New York, New York, United States.

As I reported for A Child Grows in Brooklyn, Clermont Pool (At Parham Playground / PS 20 on Clermont between Willoughby and Dekalb in Fort Greene) opens June 29th! I stopped by this morning on my way home from the sprinklers at Underwood Playground to check out the scene. I was happy to see it is full and ready for action! And boy, did it look refreshing. I took some pictures of the rules and posted signs to give you all an idea of what to expect. See you soon for a refreshing dip!

There was so much to share with you about our recent trip to Beaches Turks and Caicos that I hat to split it up into two posts.  Sorry it’s so long – but I felt like we learned so much while we were there that I wish I had known before!  Some of these tips came from experience, and some of them came word of mouth from other parents.  And now… to continue….

Restaurants - This Beaches resort has 16 places to eat… we didn’t try them all!  For breakfast we always went to the breakfast buffet at Reflection’s Restaurant.  I liked having lots of choices for my picky eater.  They have all the breakfast basics, including whole milk and 2%.  We routinely took extra boxes of cheerois to use as snack later in the day.  Cameron started a brief love affair with grapes, so we started packing them away in snack containers too.

We often got lunch from Bobby D’s which is a “50’s diner themed” place in a pirate ship (?)  A little odd, but the food was fine for kids.  We got burgers, fries, veggie burgers, milkshakes, and pickles there.  They also have Mac and Cheese.  FYI – you can get take out from any of these restaurants.  So if your child goes for a nap when you’d like to eat lunch, you can just got get some take out.  Or you can take out dinner your kid likes to the restaurant you like.

We also at at Schooners (Seafood – not bad I liked my Risotto), Arizona’s (Tex-mex – unremarkable, but not terrible.  I had ribs, Matt, a fajita), Bella Napoli (pizza take out one day for lunch), Barefoot By the Sea (tables on the beach, nicer), and Giuseppe’s (Italian-ish).

They were all certainly, ok.  You’re not going to get the best meal of your life here…. but it’s better than other all-inclusive food I’ve had.  There are 2 adult only restaurants also – but we didn’t make it to them.  We rarely all get to eat dinner together, so that was kind of nice.

Activities - Beaches resort is full of Sesame Street characters, which Cameron loves – especially Elmo.  So those were pretty much the only resort activities we checked out.   Each day had something.  Walk about with Elmo, Cookie, or the Count happened often – basically they walk around the resort and you get to take pictures of them with the kids.  There is also a Sesame Street Parade which is a must see!  It starts in the lobby of the Caribbean Village, and winds its way around the resort.  The lobby can get a little crazy before it starts (you would think Madonna was arriving by the crowd there).  If you wait just on the back side of the lobby you can get just as good a view in a minute or two.  We intercepted the parade several times so Cameron could see Elmo.

the Spa – As my Mother’s Day present I told Matt that I wanted to get a massage on vacation.  So, one afternoon during nap time I went to the Red Lane Spa.  I originally booked the Tropical Bliss massage, but when I got there I learned that meant “medium pressure.”  I wanted a serious massage so I upgraded to the Sports Massage.  It was definetely the best massage I’ve had at a resort spa.  I booked one for my husband the next day.  There’s no tipping at the spa – the price listed is the price.   These massages were the only thing that we spent any money on the whole time.

Departure Lounge – the check out time is 11am.  We asked for a later check out, and they offered us until 12.  We went to the pool and water park in the morning even though it was a bit rainy.  I wish we had known that in the Departure Lounge (located behind the spa area) has nice locker room type area in the restroom with big showers in it – so theoretically you could come from the pool or beach and shower and change then, instead of before your check out time if you had a later flight.

If you didn’t see the first part of the Beaches Turks and Caicos write up, you can check it out here.  it covers Accommodations, and the pools and water parks.

This post about the Beaches Resort in Turks And Caicos is not really meant to be a review but more meant to be helpful for those who have decided to go.  I will say this, the resort was amazing for kids of all ages.  The staff is very helpful, and always engages the children.  Daycare (Camp Sesame) is included in the All Inclusive package.  You can also get certified babysitters at night time for a cost ($12 a hour – a bargain by NY standards!)  Everything about the resort is set up to be family friendly.  If you are looking for a Caribbean getaway with your kids – then you should 100% consider this resort.  Review – Over.  And, now that you are going…. Here’s a few tips and tidbits to make your stay even better.

Accommodations – We stayed in the Caribbean Village – in a Parrot Cay Honeymoon Bedroom Suite to be exact – on the ground floor.  When you book, tell them you want a crib in the room if you will be needing one. Our room had a separate area for the crib, so when it was nap time or bed time we could shut the door and he wouldn’t be disturbed by us.

This suite is the original (older) section of the resort.  This actually turned out to be a great location. Since we were on the ground floor, we were able to come and go while he was asleep via the patio door.  Our building was maybe 100 feet from the beach, and it was also right next to the Italian Village (the newest section) and it’s amazing pool.  We were close to the water park and the French Village too, as well as the breakfast buffet.  I think we got the amenities of the newer and more expensive areas of the resort, without paying for them.  Sure our room didn’t have marble floors and granite counter tops in the bathroom, but it was perfectly clean and worked well for us.

The room had a bar section including bottles of Rum, Vodka, Gin, and Scotch there for us to drink.  Full size bottles – not mini.  There was a fridge with mixers and soda, and bottled water.  They also provided whole milk daily at my request.  All of this was included in the cost – you could drink as much as you like.  The liquor wasn’t the best, but it was nice to have the option!  FYI – If you want the better quality booze, hit up one of the many bars.

Pools / water park / the beach – This resort has a LOT of pools.  Two of them are really HUGE pools.. and they are set up amazingly well for kids, including really young ones.  The French Village and Italian Village pools are pretty similar in design.  They both have big shallow areas on the side that are great for kids to splash in.  Both of these pools have swim up bars – of course!  Right behind Camp Sesame is a pool that is completely shaded.  There is also an amazing water park, with water slides (some really big ones, some medium sized ones, and some meant for toddlers.)  It also has  a lazy river and a surfing thing.  We spent a lot of time here.  Cameron really liked the water slides.  He even went on the medium sized ones with dad a few times.  I’m not sure he was 100% sold on that!  There was never more than 1 or 2 people in front of me in line at any water slide.  Sometimes in the afternoon there was a 5 minute line at the surf thing.  Oh, and the beach,  of course is beautiful.  The water is super calm, warm, and clear.  There are plenty of chairs at the beaches and the pools to sit at, and many umbrellas to get shade from.  There are towels everywhere for you to use.

That’s it for Part one of the Beaches Turks and Caicos write up.  Part two will cover restaurants, activities, the Spa, and the Departure Lounge and is coming soon!

Cameron and I braved the snow and made a recent trip back to Washington, DC.  Of course, while we were there we went to the Wilson Aquatic Center (3 times!)  I learned a few new things I wanted to share.

Let's get this show on the road!

1)Babies are now required to wear swimsuits and swim diapers.  We found this out the first day from one of the lifeguards.  He allowed us to stay, but said we should get one for next time.  We were able to find an ugly, but affordable swimsuit at Feline’s Basement in Mazza Gallerie.  Problem solved!

2)The Women’s locker room – which has warmer showers than the family locker room, and is much bigger, and has a swim suit dryer – also has a diaper changing station.  So if you feel more comfortable in there (I like it better, personally) try taking your little one to that locker room instead.

3)Be sure to bring lots of Quarters for the meters outside.  If you don’t have any, you can park at the lot that services Whole Foods.  If you get your ticket stamped it saves you a few bucks.

4)While getting my ticket stamped in Whole Foods (due to all the snow we couldn’t park on the street at a meter) I also got Cameron some lunch.  They have a great salad bar, hot food bar, and soups.  Cameron ate some squash soup, fresh mozzarella balls, peas, white beans, and pesto chicken salad.  Yum!  Upstairs they have a place you can sit and eat, which has 2 high chairs.  Unfortunately I didn’t have my phone with me – so no pics – but believe me when I say, there are lots of choices for mom and baby, and plenty of seating too!

While we were in Washington, DC recently Cameron and I (and Grandma) went back to the Wilson Aquatic Center for some winter time swimming. This time the water was much warmer and it was almost empty!  Here’s a few more tips that I picked up on my recent visit, as well as a few pictures of the family locker room (hey, it’s no spa, but it’s clean with plenty of space).

Let's go swimming already!

1) All the times I’ve gone the water for the shower in the family locker rooms was cold. You are required to shower before going into the pool, so Cameron and I braved the cold for a few seconds out of necessity.  This time my mom was with me in the family locker room and she said that the showers in the women’s locker rooms was much warmer. So if you go to the family locker room and the shower is freezing, duck into the other locker room with your baby. It’s much more comfortable!

If this shower is cold, try the other locker rooms.

2)The men’s and women’s locker rooms also have swim suit dryers.  The family locker room doesn’t have one.  But, there are diaper changing tables in the family room, which is really helpful.

I've got my swim diaper on and I am ready to go!

3)The lockers in the locker rooms don’t have locks on them. If you are really worried about this you can bring your own lock to use.

Plenty of lockers, but bring your own lock.

4)If you a not a resident of Washington DC you have to pay a small fee to get in. They don’t take Cash – so bring some plastic! Also, bring your ID. They will check it!

5)I’ve never had a problem parking on the street, even though the Wilson Aquatic Center is right by the Tenlytown metro station.  Just be sure you bring lots of quarters for the parking meters!  There is a clock prominently displayed on the wall in the pool area, so it’s easy to tell how long you’ve been there so you don’t run out of meter time.

Need more info on the Wilson Aquatic Center?  Check out their official website.  Here you can find info about hours or operation, admission requirements, amenities, and costs.

Have fun swimming!  You can bet Cameron and I will be back next time we are in DC!

I’ve always dried Cameron off after his bath on the floor next to our bathroom vanity cabinets.  Lately he decided it would be super fun to open and close them relentlessly as I attempt to dry him off.  The other day at the pool my friend Crystal mentioned that she was using rubber bands untill her babyproofing stuff arrived in the mail…. so I got some out today pre bath time.  Worked like a charm – for now!