I almost had a retail-induced heart attack when the mysterious block-length Wild Women in Arlington – an enormous space specializing in adventure retail for women – closed and evolved into Wild Women/Wild Child Outfitters. If that wasn’t enough to send the pocketbook aflutter, shortly thereafter Isis Maternity moved into the Broadway side of the Wild Women/Wild Child building (separate post on Isis to follow).

Wild Women/Wild Child is packed with tons of cute clothes, shoes, and accessories for babe and mom, gear, bedding, diaper bags, and toys. It’s a great spot to check out high-end strollers and luxurious baby bedding (from the delicious Dwell) before taking the financial plunge. There also is a little play area for kids; although it seems that the babes have the most fun running up and down the ramp between Wild Child and Isis.

Isis requires a posting of its own, but briefly, the Arlington Isis location is peacefully designed with spaces for classes and groups; their compact retail area has a terrific selection of nursing and maternity wear, breastfeeding and solid food products, books, and toys. And of course they have plenty of diaper changing space and areas to nurse.

I almost had a retail-induced heart attack when the mysterious block-length Wild Women in Arlington – an enormous space specializing in adventure retail for women – closed and evolved into Wild Women/Wild Child Outfitters. If that wasn’t enough to send the pocketbook aflutter, shortly thereafter Isis Maternity moved into the Broadway side of the Wild Women/Wild Child building (separate post on Isis to follow).

Wild Women/Wild Child is packed with tons of cute clothes, shoes, and accessories for babe and mom, gear, bedding, diaper bags, and toys. It’s a great spot to check out high-end strollers and luxurious baby bedding (from the delicious Dwell) before taking the financial plunge. There also is a little play area for kids; although it seems that the babes have the most fun running up and down the ramp between Wild Child and Isis.

Isis requires a posting of its own, but briefly, the Arlington Isis location is peacefully designed with spaces for classes and groups; their compact retail area has a terrific selection of nursing and maternity wear, breastfeeding and solid food products, books, and toys. And of course they have plenty of diaper changing space and areas to nurse.

Too exhausted to think about having your babe’s next birthday party at home? Full Moon, the perennial top rated family-friendly restaurant in Cambridge, offers birthday party hosting services; choose from one of five themes: wild animals, trucks & engines, dinosaurs, under the sea, princess tea party. Full Moon provides the decorations, balloons, drinks, cake and ice cream, set-up, service, and clean up. Basically, all you need to do is show up.

Party slots are weekdays from 3 - 4:30pm and weekends from 3:15 - 4:45pm (the restaurant is closed during your party); size limit is 10-18 kids (plus parents). Cost is $15 per child, plus 18% gratuity and 5% MA sales tax. You also can pre-order food platters (fruit, cheese and crackers or hummus, pita and olives) for grown ups. Adult cake and drinks charged separately.

Regular service hours include lunch (11:30am - 2:30pm Monday – Friday), dinner (5 - 9pm every day), and brunch (9am – 2:30pm weekends).

Too exhausted to think about having your babe’s next birthday party at home? Full Moon, the perennial top rated family-friendly restaurant in Cambridge, offers birthday party hosting services; choose from one of five themes: wild animals, trucks & engines, dinosaurs, under the sea, princess tea party. Full Moon provides the decorations, balloons, drinks, cake and ice cream, set-up, service, and clean up. Basically, all you need to do is show up.

Party slots are weekdays from 3 - 4:30pm and weekends from 3:15 - 4:45pm (the restaurant is closed during your party); size limit is 10-18 kids (plus parents). Cost is $15 per child, plus 18% gratuity and 5% MA sales tax. You also can pre-order food platters (fruit, cheese and crackers or hummus, pita and olives) for grown ups. Adult cake and drinks charged separately.

Regular service hours include lunch (11:30am - 2:30pm Monday – Friday), dinner (5 - 9pm every day), and brunch (9am – 2:30pm weekends).

A mama from Medford passed along recommendations for two local family day cares. Carol Ricker (5 Bussell Rd., Medford, 781-395-4212) takes babes from 3 months to 3 years old and comes highly recommended for infant care. Donna Swales (61 Paris Street, Medford, 781-395-5612) takes babes from 3 months to 5 years, and comes highly recommended for toddler/pre-schoolers (2.5 – 5 years).

Thanks Mama N. from Medford!

Although the Brattle Theatre’s Rattle on the Brattle is on hiatus until further notice, you can still see movies with the babe in tow just a few miles up Mass. Ave. at Arlington’s Capitol Theatre.

On Monday afternoons, the Capitol offers a baby friendly matinee for parents and caregivers, during which nursing, bottle feeding, fussing, crying, and changing diapers is never frowned upon. There is an area in the lobby to park strollers.

The cost of admission is $4.75 per adult (holidays excluded). Subscribe to the listserv to receive e-mails that allow you to vote for the movie you’d most like to see. Democracy clearly exists in the entertainment industry.

Although the Brattle Theatre’s Rattle on the Brattle is on hiatus until further notice, you can still see movies with the babe in tow just a few miles up Mass. Ave. at Arlington’s Capitol Theatre.

On Monday afternoons, the Capitol offers a baby friendly matinee for parents and caregivers, during which nursing, bottle feeding, fussing, crying, and changing diapers is never frowned upon. There is an area in the lobby to park strollers.

The cost of admission is $4.75 per adult (holidays excluded). Subscribe to the listserv to receive e-mails that allow you to vote for the movie you’d most like to see. Democracy clearly exists in the entertainment industry.

Soon-to-be and new mamas in need of support will be interested in checking out the services of Birthing Gently. Established in 2002, Birthing Gently is a practice specializing in high-risk deliveries; their full range of services includes: labor and postpartum doulas, midwives, childbirth education (including hypnobirth), and lactation consultants). They serve families in Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire.

Birthing Gently also has developed the “Heart to Heart” Program, an online self-matching support service/support forum for expecting and new parents of children with medical conditions. Registration is required to ensure privacy, but access to the forum is free of charge.

Soon-to-be and new mamas in need of support will be interested in checking out the services of Birthing Gently. Established in 2002, Birthing Gently is a practice specializing in high-risk deliveries; their full range of services includes: labor and postpartum doulas, midwives, childbirth education (including hypnobirth), and lactation consultants). They serve families in Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire.

Birthing Gently also has developed the “Heart to Heart” Program, an online self-matching support service/support forum for expecting and new parents of children with medical conditions. Registration is required to ensure privacy, but access to the forum is free of charge.