RESOURCES FOR PARENTS – The following are helpful links to resources for all parents, particularly in and around Park Slope, Brooklyn:

Park Slope Parents A great resource for advice about parenting, health care, and neighborhood services we all need.

Prospect Park YMCA Located on Ninth Street, the Prospect Park YMCA offers tons of classes and activities for babies on up, including the open gym, which is great for tots on rainy or freezing cold days. It’s also known for mom-and baby yoga classes and swimming lessons. Also, don’t forget to check out the Armory location. Tons of activities for kids there too!  Ans, best of all, membership comes with free babysitting!

Bodycraft Pilates Studio – Located at Prospect Park West and Ninth Street in Park Slope, Brooklyn, this pilates studio has instructors who are trained in helping post-partum moms rebuild core muscles after pregnancy, and strengthen for the demands of motherhood. I have worked with them for many years, including throughout my second pregnancy.  Call Lana Halvorsen at (718) 499-9488

Julie Goodman Studio Julie is a multi-talented designer, uniquely versatile to address changes at many scales. I’m indebted to her for her design of my logo and website, and passion for landscape architecture.

Nanny Payroll service There are several wonderful services who can help families navigate the sometimes complicated process of paying nannies on the books.  This is one particularly well-priced one.

Genius Organizing Julia Wright is able to tackle most any job, and specializes in home office and process re-engineering.

American Red Cross Check out their website to located Infant/Child CPR/First Aid classes. Don’t forget, certification expires after two years, so you may need to take a new class with your nanny.

Baby Be Safe Laurie Torres hosts regular Infant/Child/Adult CPR and First Aid classes at her place in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn. In addition, she is available for home visits to train you and whoever you’d like to invite.  I took the class with her before each of my kids was born.

Sitters Studio If you need a temporary babysitter, and do not have much time for your search (i.e., your nanny calls in sick at 7 am, and you need someone by 9 am!), try Sitters Studio. They are fully equipped to help in these types of emergency situations and have pre-screened, trained artist caregivers.