NYC Breastfeeding Support Group schedule announced!

Metro Minis new drop-in breastfeeding support group, which began last week during our anniversary week, has finally been scheduled to meet on a weekly basis.

Join our certified lactation counselors, Koyuki Smith and Leda Ward, every Thursday at 1pm to find answers to your breastfeeding questions and connect with other breastfeeding moms in the community.

This drop-in group can help you understand and alleviate minor and ongoing concerns, as well as identify deeper problems that may need to be addressed by individual lactation consultation. Common issues include: latch problems, increasing or decreasing milk supply, strategies for returning to work, understanding normal nursing and sleeping patterns, nursing in your baby carrier, and working with different nursing positions.

We also welcome moms who have no specific concerns but simply wish to meet and share stories in a nursing-friendly environment.

No appointment necessary. Each session is $10.

NYC pediatric dentist visited Metro Minis

Last week's store visit from one of NYC's leading pediatric dentists, Dr. Ruby Gelman, DDS, was a fabulous event that we hope to repeat in the months to come.

If you missed it, here were some of her best tips for your little one.

1) Start early when the first tooth comes in, begin to either wipe off the gums and new teeth with a dental wipe, or use a finger brush or baby tooth brush.

2) When you have an toddler or older, have them drink some water after a snack to help remove the sugars in the mouth.

3) Beware of the 'stickier' snacks as they sit on the teeth much longer. For example, raisins, lollipops, and hard or chewy candy. So brush more diligently after snacks like this and the sooner the better.

Dr. Gelman also spoke about new research on how soda can affect teeth. Research has found a new kind of cavity that can be traced back to soda drinks! So definitely avoid them as much as possible.

BPA in plastics can also affect dental fillers and teeth coating, she said. She suggested you speak to your dentist about your concerns and says that there are ways to avoid the leaching (or just don't use products with BPA!)

During the visit, Dr. Gelman's dental assistant was on hand to help our youngest audience members to brush the demo monkey's teeth. Of course they preferred to play with the Metro Minis toys, but they took time to brush the monkeys teeth too. Plus they got free toothbrushes in their goodie bags!

Click here to watch a brief excerpt from Dr. Gelman's event at Metro Minis!

Toddler Babywearing is Possible!

Infant massage with Jessica Shapely

Breastfeeding Support with Britt Pastor

How to House a Baby in 1000 Square Feet or Less!

5 Kid-Friendly Ways to Serve Veggies

5 Kid-Friendly Ways to Serve Veggies
”My kid will not eat veggies no matter what I do!” If you have felt defeated by your son or daughter’s discriminating palate, this is the workshop for you. Sometimes it seems like nothing works. Or what worked last week is no longer acceptable to your little one. But help is on the way. Join us for this family-friendly workshop and you'll leave with at least 5 fresh ways to
make meals less stressful and more nutrition-full. Recipes included.
Introductory Price:$20./per person or $30./per couple.

Megan Franzen has her own health counseling business. For more info about Megan and her services visit her website

Decoding Your Cravings: The Secret Language of Pre- and Post- Natal Bodies with Megan Franzen

Decoding Your Cravings: The Secret Language of Pre- and Post- Natal Bodies Pregnancy and lactation are times when you are more motivated than ever to choose your food for its nutrition content, so why does your body seem to be telling you that chocolate should be your main food group? We'll go over 6 common nutritional deficiencies in pre- and post-natal bodies and how your body might be trying to fulfill these needs by speaking to you in cravings. We'll also discuss non-nutritional ways of honoring your most elusive cravings that will make your soul happy.
Introductory Price: $20/per person $30/per couple.

Megan Franzen has her own health counseling business. For more info about Megan and her services visit her website

Intro to wrapping

Babywearing 101 Workshop - FREE

Come by to learn the basics on the five different styles of baby carriers. This class is ideal for those who have never worn a baby and have little to no experience with carriers. We will discuss the advantages/disadvantages of each style and concentrate on each persons individual needs as we discover the best carrier for you and your needs.

This is a casual, one hour introduction to baby slings. Topics covered include; one-shoulder vs. two-shoulder carriers, safety issues, correct carrying positions, demonstrations of the different pouches, wraps, Asian style carriers, soft-structured carriers, and ring slings. There will be an informal question and answer period followed by an informal try-on session. Get a discount of 5% off one carrier or 10% off two or more carriers you buy that day.

We ask that you please let us know if you will be attending the class. Class is FREE.

Check out our calendar for the class schedule. (Might take a moment to load.)

Cloth Diapering 101 FREE

You know you don't want to throw away bag after bag of dirty disposable diapers, but you haven't figured out how you will find the ease of disposables in cloth?  

Metro Minis can help. Luckily, several American companies have applied 21st century ingenuity to cloth diapering, taking into account busy lives, shrinking budgets, and environmental concerns.  
At our Cloth Diaper Class, Annie Frisbie will walk you through the world of

Cloth Diapers.

She will discuss the styles of diapers, pros and cons of each, and how they might fit into your daily life. There are cloth diapers for every budget, every personality, and every caregiver.  Annie gets into all the nitty gritty details; from figuring out how many diapers you will actually need, to dealing with the poopy diaper at home and on the go.  Plus, she shares her best tips on odor removal, washing in New York City's hard water, detergent options and convenient accessories that will make the whole cloth diapering experience easier.  She has been there, she has done that, and she will help you make an easy transition into cloth diapering.  Class is FREE!

Join us on Saturday, March 28th at 3pm!

Elimination Communication Workshop with with Koyuki Smith

We communicate with our babies about almost everything – when they want to eat, when they want to sleep, when they want to be picked up, when they want to be put down…So have you ever wondered why we don't communicate with them about their peeing and pooping?  Instead, we literally cover it up, encouraging our babies to ignore their own elimination habits until they are toddlers, filling landfills and suffering from diaper rash all the way!

ELIMINATION COMMUNICATION is a gentle, healthy, and responsive practice that encourages infants to signal their needs and parents to be receptive to those signals.  It promotes healthier attitudes towards elimination; alleviates the stress of toddler potty training; frees families from their dependence on smelly, expensive, and environmentally damaging diapering practices; and strengthens the attachment between parents and their babies.  Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, who in the 1960s pioneered what has become the mainstream approach to toilet training, had this to say about Elimination Communication in 2005: "What I wish is that more women [families!] could be free enough to do it that way."  Come to our MetroMinis Elimination Communication to explore this freedom for yourself and your baby!

Introductory Price: $15 per person/$20 per couple.

Space is limited to 10 participants reserve your seat now. 

Sleep Talk

Baby BeSafe

Babysign Playgroup

Choices in Childbirth Infomation session

New Mommy Group

Kickboxing in the convenience of your home

Infant Massage Classes

Yogi Beans Mommy and Me Classes