What age before you would take LO to a gym childcare room?

ladychicago · January 2011

DH has made the generous offer of getting me a gym membership for a couple of months. After weaning, i gained back some weight and I just don't feel great about myself. Not to mention i would like to be in better shape before we start cycling again. But of course with a baby it is hard to find time for a serious workout. He found a gym that has a daycare room, and he is all about signing me up so I can drop her off and have both a good workout and also time to myself. In theory, I love the idea. But I just kind of wonder if DD is too young for it still. She has absolutely no stranger anxiety (she smiles at strangers more than me), so I think she would do fine....but I am still nervous. What would you do?

duke'sgirl · January 2011

I've never taken DS to a gym daycare, but as far as the nursery at church, I waited until we were through his first winter, so he was about 8+ months.

beebe929 · January 2011

What about a babysitter instead and then a less expensive place? Don't they have 1 hour time limits at places?

laura&dan05 · January 2011

I started taking dd to the gym childcare room when shew as 7 months. When I would drop her off there was usually only a few older kids in the room so the women loved to hold her the whole time and cuddle her. I would only leave her for 30 - 45 minutes and I could peek in the room as I was walking from one part of the gym to another so I was comfortable leaving her.

choco_lab · January 2011

I took DS when he was about 7 months old. Then I pulled out about 2 months later because of the whole H1N1 scare. When we went back in the spring he hated it! He was old enough to have an opinion and realized I was leaving him. I should have kept him in there at 7 months so he would have been used to it. He was able to sit up and hold his head up when I left him so I was comfortable with him sitting in a bouncy or the staff sitting next to him when he sat up. We never ended up going back after last spring when he hated it. Then this year (at almost 2) we started at a different gym and he loves it. I wish I had gone here all along. My gym now has 1 hr limit for under 1 year old but I think it would still be worth it!

Mouseygail · January 2011

I think for me, it would be less about how old she was and more about how I felt about the facilities and the staff. Pop by some day and take a look, meet the people who would be watching her

jenn2929 · January 2011

I took the kids when they were 11 mos. Mainly b/c that's really when I started to work out again. I think I might have taken them earlier though.

LisaandBryan · January 2011

When they were a little older like 16 months but they adjusted easity and they liked it. I wish I had taken them when they were younger, they would have been fine. I really liked the facility too.

KYRN · January 2011

We just joined the Y and I've been taking DS. I would have taken him earlier if we were members. They always seem to love the little babies, they're always holding them when I get DS out. And at ours there are windows that lets you see in from several of the workout machines, so someone is always watching them.

stepgirl21 · January 2011

I took DS to the daycare at the gym at 3 months old. He did fine and continues to do fine. If you are nervous, just do a half hour to start and see how you and she feels and work your way up to an hour +. Good luck!

mel72 · January 2011

At my gym the min. age is 8 months however every time I peek in there the lady seems to be reading a book and paying zero attention the the kids!

Waiting4baby08 · January 2011

Gwen started going around 14 months, but I wish we would have done it sooner. They are great with the babies and she loves it there.

laura1 · January 2011

stepgirl21:
I took DS to the daycare at the gym at 3 months old. He did fine and continues to do fine. If you are nervous, just do a half hour to start and see how you and she feels and work your way up to an hour +. Good luck!

This for my DS also! Now that I have both DS and DD, I don't have as much time to go - we have some sort of playgroup, class, etc almost every day I am with them (I work 2 days a week). I do take my DD to the play space at the local church with tons of other kids, and she sits on the floor and plays with toys...and she has had a cold almost all winter (but she probably would anyway, because DS would give it to her).

I am planning on taking them both now that one of DS's classes has ended, so we have more time. Good luck!

crystalgirl · January 2011

Mouseygail:
I think for me, it would be less about how old she was and more about how I felt about the facilities and the staff. Pop by some day and take a look, meet the people who would be watching her

This. We didn't start using our gym's childcare (which is really a drop-in daycare...rooms separated by age group, etc.) until he was about 1, but I'd be willing to start DS2 there much younger, I think.

kimarino13 · January 2011

I am crazy and paranoid, so my answer would probably be 2.

BoxTer · January 2011

Ummm...8 weeks old, just after she had whatever shots they get at six weeks. We are members of the Y and the nursery staff is amazing. I came to really love and trust the women there, and being able to get away and work out really saved my sanity during the year I was a SAHM.

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