Being a new mom is filled with soft baby cuddles and coos, but it can also come with loneliness. Days are spent just you and your baby, away from former coworkers and friends. Suddenly, you’re singing Cocomelon in the shower and counting the hours until nap time. Mommy and Me programs provide moms with an excellent opportunity to connect with others in the same stage of life – moms who don’t mind that you have spit up on your shirt…because they do too. Babies also benefit from socialization.

We’ve rounded up some of the best Mommy and Me drop-ins in the Halton area.

Tip Toe Music

If you’re in the Burlington, Oakville, and Milton areas, check out Tip Toe Music for parent and child music and movement programs. Their Music Together classes are for babies (up to 7 months),

and  they also have a Mixed Ages class for ages birth to five years old. If you’re looking for a curriculum-based program, they have that, too! Families can sign up for a full semester and will received a songbook, CD/digital downloads for each family, and at home music-making support. Their summer program registration has just opened with classes in Oakville, Burlington, and Milton – enjoy 6 weeks of music-making, learning, and fun as a family!

E-J Walker, owner of Tip Toe Music, also runs Movies for Mommies Oakville, which is a drop-in Mom and Baby movie screening at Film.ca Cinemas in Oakville.

Common Moms

With chapters in Burlington, Waterdown, Ancaster, and Milton, the Common Moms offer mom and baby programs, including sensory play, toddler dance, and crafts. They also run the Family Room in Waterdown, a drop-in play space featuring a soft play zone for babies, a messy creative play station, and a pretend play zone where kids can pretend to run a grocery store or be a veterinarian.

Cost: $12 / Kids over age 1. Children under 1 are free with a paying sibling or adult for $5.

Mommy Connections

With chapters in Burlington, Oakville, and Mississauga, Mommy Connections has programs to support moms from pregnancy all the way through toddlerhood. Their mom and baby program for ages 0-18 months allows moms to learn from local experts in all aspects of baby development, plus it provides the opportunity to try new activities and socialize with moms in the same stage of life. Travelling Tots (for ages 18 months – 4 years) provides a unique opportunity for mom and tot to travel around town experiencing different play venues – from gymnastics to swimming – demonstrating classes while meeting new friends.

The WOMB Burlington (World Of My Baby)

The WOMB in Burlington supports moms during pregnancy and beyond through health and wellness treatment. They also run mom and baby classes for infants up to 12 months of age, including mom and baby yoga, baby sign language, and their Baby @ Play program run by an occupational therapist.

We Rock the Spectrum

This fun and inclusive gymnasium in Oakville offers drop-in play opportunities, perfect for those days when you need a change of scenery. Their soft play and pretend play areas are perfect for babies and toddlers, and their climbing wall, zip line, and slide are great fun for older siblings.

Drop-in open play $18/child. Monthly memberships are also available.

Oakville Parent-Child Centre

The Oakville Parent-Child Centre offers a variety of free programs for parents and children ages 0-6 facilitated by EarlyON Educators. Programs include baby & me, toddler time, new parent meet and greet, and even some outdoor explorer programs. These programs are free, but you do need to register in advance.

Mommy Nook

With classes at various locations in Burlington, The Mommy Nook is the place to go if you want to create adorable keepsake art with your baby. After storytime, songs, and parachute fun, Miss Sarah helps moms create Pinterest-worthy pieces of art using their child’s footprint. Don’t worry; you don’t need to be crafty. Miss Sarah makes the artwork easy with pre-cut pieces. She even does the footprint stamp for you, so your artwork always turns out.

Local Links

Tip Toe Music : tiptoemusic.net

MFM (Movies for Mommies) : moviesformommies.com | (289) 218-7258

Common Moms : thecommonmoms.com | (905) 689-4333

Mommy Connections : mommyconnections.ca | (416) 888-9687

The WOMB Burlington (World Of My Baby) : thewomb.ca/Burlington | (905) 842-2434 ext 2

We Rock the Spectrum : werockthespectrumoakville.ca | (905) 337-0101

Oakville Parent-Child Centre : op-cc.ca | (905) 849-6366

Mommy Nook : mommynook.com

Many of us have been working from home for a little over two years – and while we’ve embraced Zoom meetings (and sweatpants), some of us are starting to miss the office. With some offices transitioning to a more virtual setting, you may be exploring other options to get that “office feel.” This is where coworking spaces come into play. These spaces offer daily, monthly, and yearly memberships. Coworking spaces are a great alternative to your home office with both private offices and open desks available. Not only will you get to be around people, but they also offer great networking opportunities and the occasional water-cooler chat that you may have been missing. 

Here are a few options to explore:

ACE Coworking

Acecoworking.ca  | (289) 801-8731  

295 Robinson Street, Suite100, Oakville   |   132 Trafalgar Road, Oakville

Located in Downtown Oakville on Robinson Street, Ace is a community for entrepreneurs, startups, freelancers, and remote workers. With flex workspaces, private offices, and boardrooms – ACE promotes collaboration, connection, and a quiet space to retreat when you need it. 

“The benefits of coworking are numerous,” says Nancy Fornasiero, the Founder and Community Director for ACE Coworking.  “Working in a professional, well-designed space with great WiFi and other amenities makes you much more productive. We consistently hear from new members how much more they can get done when they come to work at our space than when they work at home.”

ACE Coworking offers something for everyone with an array of different membership plans, from daily rentals of a hot desk to a dedicated desk or private office space. Their aim is to bring people together, and emphasize that coworking is not just for an individual person. It’s also beneficial for small businesses. 

Staples Studio

Studio.staples.ca  | (289) 430-0217 | 320 North Service Road West, Oakville 

Remember that office supply store at Dorval and the North Service Road in Oakville? They’ve added a coworking space! Staples Studio inspires deep collaboration and fellowship with a positive and nourishing environment. The space provides everything an individual needs to learn and grow within their business or work. 

Offering 24/7 access to the building, Stapes Studio allows the freedom to work when it best suits you. Members are also given access to unlimited WiFi, discounts on their printing and marketing, dedicated on-site assistance, and a podcast booth. 

alternawork

Alternawork.com  | (416) 595-1313  | 2115 S Service Road West, Oakville

Just steps away from Bronte Go Station in Oakville in a state-of-the-art 21,000 sq. ft. building is alternawork – a coworking space designed to meet tech community needs in the GTA. The shared office space has private offices, dedicated workstations, and premium amenities, including a commercial kitchen, conference rooms, break-out rooms, event space, high-speed internet, parking, and coffee.

They also offer a virtual office package – where you can enjoy the benefits of a business mailing address, package handling, and access to the alternawork community, all with the freedom to book a desk and meeting space only when you need it.

LAUFT – Flexible Workspace  

Lauft.work/workspace/burlington-centre  | (905) 948-5807   | 777 Guelph Line Unit C2A, Burlington 

LAUFT – located in Burlington Centre on Guelph Line, believes the future of work requires more flexibility than ever before. With the ability to book hourly, daily, or weekly, they are on a mission to empower everyone with convenience. With no membership fee and on-demand booking, LAUFT is truly flexible. Desk rentals start at as little as $5-per hour. 

NUVO Network

Nuvonetwork.com |  905-592-2598 | 1295 North Service Road, Burlington

Located in what was known as the Crossroads Centre in Burlington, this 150,000 sq. ft. broadcasting building is a synergetic space connecting entrepreneurs, content creators, and community champions, providing access to state-of-the-art multimedia facilities including podcasting, video production, and recording studios.

NUVO members can work independently at a hot desk or in shared work environments, while the outside community can rent space for everything from conferences to commercials. 

With all of these spaces available to you, remote working no longer has to be a solo adventure.