Best in Bay Ridge for Babies and New Families

Consistently voted one of the best places in NYC to raise a family, I couldn't be happier that I made Bay Ridge my home 9 years ago. But it can be hard, moving to a new neighborhood or staying put but transitioning into parenthood. To save you some and energy, I've put together a list of the best resources in the Greater Bay Ridge Area (that includes Dyker Heights, Fort Hamilton, and a bit into Sunset Park, Industry City, and Bensonhurst) - basically, the places you could easily get to on foot or a quick 5-10 minute bus ride. Some of these resources are my personal go-tos, others are recommended again and again in local parenting groups, and some are sponsored and worth checking out!

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ONLINE SUPPORT

• Bay Ridge Baby Mamas (Facebook group, for local moms with a child up to 2 years old)
• Bay Ridge Toddler Mamas (Facebook group, for local moms with a child walking through 5 years old)
• Bay Ridge Kid Mamas (Facebook group, for local moms with a child in Pre-K through Elementary School)
• Note, the above 3 Bay Ridge Mamas facebook groups also have amazing exclusive buy/sell/trade and babysitters groups!
• Bay Ridge Parents (Facebook group)
• Bay Ridge Families - a hyper local focused blog hosted right here on my site, we do weekly kids' events roundups and annual guides with all the best events for Halloween, Winter Holidays, Birthday Parties, Summer Camps, Baby Sitters, Classes & Activities for Babies & Toddlers, and more! Be sure to sign up to our list serve here to be kept in the loop!
• Queen of the Click - a great website with local news & resources
• Check out my personal blog reviews and youtube demos of a TON of single, double, and wagon strollers here!!

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OBGYN & CHILDBIRTH:

• Birthing Center of New York (6702 3rd Ave)
• ​Guirguis OBGYN - With offices in Bay Ridge, Park Slope, and Staten Island, The Guirguis Obstetrics & Gynecology Group have provided comprehensive health care catered to women of all ages for over 30 years. Their compassionate physicians, nurse practitioners, and certified nurse midwives offer premier gynecologic services for women throughout all stages of life, as well as personalized obstetric care throughout pregnancy, labor and delivery, and the postpartum period.
• NYC Doula Collective - Founded in 2008, The NYC Doula Collective is a community of birth workers serving New York City and the surrounding areas. Through ongoing professional development, regular meetings for members, active mentorship and a commitment to giving back to the community, they strive to offer NYC families professional birth doula services within a wide range of experience and fee levels.

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LACTATION HELP:

• Free Lactation Class once a month for GPM Pediatrics patients
• La Leche League of Bay Ridge - Dyker Heights
• Nicole Fusco-Evans - RN, CLC (Certified Lactation Counselor)
• Rebecca Powell - PhD, CLC (Certified Lactation Counselor)

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CHILDREN'S HEALTH & WELLNESS:

• DeVito & Alvarado Pediatrics (8008 3rd Ave)
• GPM Pediatrics (7715 4th Ave) - By offering parents a choice of seven board certified physicians that speak a variety of languages (including Greek, Italian, and Spanish), with styles varying from integrated to conservative traditional practices, families at GPM Pediatrics have the opportunity to select the provider that best reflects their parenting philosophy and medical approach. They are recognized as a Level III Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) through the National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA), offer Saturday hours, in-house bloodwork, and hold monthly free classes led by a lactation counselor and nutritionist. Offices in Bay Ridge & Staten Island.​​

• ​Miss Megan - Miss Megan is the owner and founder of Mindful Montessori™, Mantra Sleep Solutions™, and The Miss Megan Effect™. She is an innovator and an expert in her field. Her unique and creative methods of focusing on Conscious Parenting and Non-Cry-It-Out Sleep Solutions have served families within the greater New York City area and worldwide for years. In fact, Miss Megan has been a career Governess/Nanny/BabyNurse, a Transformational Pediatric Sleep Master, and a Child Behavioral Specialist for over fifteen years and has extensive experience working with children in a wide range of settings. Miss Megan is also a Montessori trained Directress, a Board Certified Holistic Health Coach, and a children’s book author-in-the-making.Miss Megan’s greatest source of knowledge and expertise comes from being a working mother. Miss Megan is a proud single mother (by choice) of two, and has a Montessori homeschool and a home-based Pediatric Transformational Sleep Center located in Jersey City, NJ.​

• Pediatric Physical Therapy Services: Katie Messineo (PT, DPT, PCS) - Board Certified Pediatric Specialist providing home-based evaluation and treatment of infants and toddlers with Torticollis (head turn preference and tight neck muscles) as well as developmental delay.  Available for consults to provide recommendations for tummy time and age appropriate play. Contact by email ([email protected]) or phone: (914) 799-3846. 
• PM Pediatrics (1823 86th St) - urgent care for kids
• Tribeca Pediatrics (6927 3rd Ave)

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CLASSES & ACTIVITIES for BABIES:

• Music Together (275 90th St / 7603 3rd Ave / 1072 80th St) - Music together provides weekly "Mommy and Me" family music and movement classes for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grownups who love them! Free trial lessons are offered before each semester. Great recorded music and song books are provided to families so they can continue the classroom experience all week long at home, and unlimited free bonus classes are offered, too!​

• Zumbini with Fallon - Taught by local mama, Fallon. Happy hour for you and your baby! Created by Zumba® and BabyFirst for kids ages 0-4, the Zumbini® program combines music, dance and educational tools for 45 minutes of can’t-stop, won’t-stop bonding, learning, and fun! Register for FREE upcoming trial classes at Industry City's buybuyBABY (January 16 - February 27) here!
• Extensive list of classes & activities for babies & toddlers updated regularly here!

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BABY CLOTHES, GEAR, & PHOTOGRAPHY:

• Brooklyn Baby World (7302 15th Ave)
• buybuyBABY (850 3rd Ave)
• Century 21 (472 86th St)
• The Children's Place (417-419 86th St)
• Evenflo has some of the best bang for your buck innovative baby products out there, from play yards and baby carriers to breast pumps and baby bottles! We fell in love with their Pivot Xpand stroller that converts from single to double in a matter of seconds (see my full review with demo video here). They also have an amazing new wagon, the Pivot Xplore, which everyone is going crazy for!!
• GAP Outlet (423 86th St)​

• ​OGONEWYORK (8224 3rd Ave) - OGONEWYORK is a women's wear boutique inspired by European culture. It provides a unique selection of ready to wear apparel sourced from around the world at affordable prices, including its own made in New York house label, OGO. Mother of three , designer & founder Ogo Ekweozor-holley launched a selection of "Mommy & Me" styles ready for the holiday season. "We are excited to introduce a curated selection of matching outfits perfect to get you and the family into the holiday spirit" says Ogo.
• Raine & Riley's (9002 3rd Ave)​
• The Ridge Kids (8122 3rd Ave) - Owned and run by a local mom, The Ridge Kids carries high-quality, stylish, and affordable children's clothing for every kind of Bay Ridge family. They also have a carefully curated selection of toys, books, and arts & crafts.​

• Picture a Day by Maia
• T.J. Maxx (502 86th St)
• Young Love NYC (479 83rd St) - Owned and run by a local mom, Young Love NYC Photo & Video Studio is a boutique offering photography and videography services tailored to your family's needs. Weddings, at-home newborn sessions, baptisms, milestone birthdays, cake smashes and family celebrations of all kinds are their specialty and Julia looks forward to hearing from you to capture your precious memories!

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OTHER RESOURCES:

• Brooklyn Hemp Healer - Kannaway’s hemp and cannibis-based products are all natural, devoid of pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers, and rigorously tested, ensuring that the products you are choosing are of the highest caliber and effectiveness. From CBD and skin care to essential oils and nutritional supplements, you'll find an assortment of high quality products available for purchase through local mother, Karen.​

• Councilman Justin Brannan - Representing the 43rd Council District, which includes Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach and Bensonhurst, Councilman Justin Brannan has a great involvement in Bay Ridge Parents' Facebook Group, responds to any and all issues promptly, and organizes wonderful events for families and the community at large.​

• Rahmé​ Team at Compass - The Rahmé Team’s practice spans the gamut of NYC real estate: new developments, townhomes, condos, co-ops, multi-family buildings, and commercial leases. Above all, relationships are paramount to the Rahmé Team, who take a client-centric approach and work seamlessly between the many parties and personalities that may be involved to secure the best deal, regardless of the property or market conditions. Being multilingual in English, German, Lebanese, French, Mandarin and Cantonese further distinguishes them, and enables them to represent a diverse clientele.

• The Vianetic - A smart compartmentalized diaper back pack, The Vianetic is built to last through the diaper days and beyond - featuring an external USB port, laptop compartment, and luggage strap, it's also great as a work and travel bag!

• Jonathan Taylor, Northwestern Mutual - As a Financial Advisor at Northwestern Mutual, I help individuals achieve a more secure future by working to understand their situation and identifying their financial needs.  By building a relationship that will grow over time, and working with my team of financial experts, we focus on solutions that help make your goals a reality.  Conveniently located in Midtown Manhattan, we can engage in discussion on a broad range of topics either in person or remotely.