It’s summer!!
It’s summer in Montreal! The sun is out or it’s thunder-storming. This can be both a wonderful and tough time of year to be pregnant or to have a new baby. Where can you go to cool off? Where can you walk with a sleeping baby in a stroller? Where can you take your older child to get out their energy? Here is a mishmash of places to go for Montreal families:
Family-friendly cafés
Café Ze Yéti – https://www.facebook.com/zeyeti.cafe/
857 rue Marie-Anne Est H2J 2B1
Café in the Plateau with delicious baked goods and a play area. They have bouncers for the very little ones and a welcoming atmosphere. Activities during the week are geared towards parents and their babies.
Bouge Petit – https://www.bougepetit.com/
6546 Avenue Papineau H2G 2X2
This indoor playground is for babies 3 months and up. Padded everything, a ball pit and lots of different toys make this a good place to be. Reservations are required!
Les P’tites Poires – https://lesptitespoires.com/
3921 rue Sainte-Catherine Est H1W 2G7
Located in Hochelaga, it has your caffeine source and a play area. They also host workshops en français.
Biscuits & Confetti – http://biscuitsetconfetti.com/
5712 rue Sherbrooke Ouest H4A 1W8
NDG café with kid friendly play space and a sweet book nook.
Jabberwocky – https://www.jabberwockystudio.ca/
5833 Sherbrooke Ouest H4A1X4
Great spot in NDG for toddlers and young children to explore with space to sit and relax for adults and babies. Owned and operated by a local mom of 2 under 3, the space is thoughtfully curated with this stage of life in mind.
Melons et Clementines – https://www.melonsetclementines.com/
5659 Sherbrooke Ouest H4A 1W6
Part café and part boutique for all things breastfeeding. They host different workshops on topics like massage, baby-led weaning and pelvic floor physio. They also have international board certified lactation consultants (IBCLCs) that you can hire on-site for breastfeeding help.
**Always check hours before heading out. Some places are closed on Mondays or for birthday parties.
Wading pools, splash pads and swimming pools – Oh my!
Can’t swim? Don’t underestimate the power of putting your legs in a wading pool. Check here or here for lists of swimming and wading pools in your borough.
All splash pads are fun but some are the best of the best.
Urban beaches are on the rise. Sand and water are such fun for the little ones. Plage Jean-Doré in Parc Jean-Drapeau and there is a new beach in Verdun. Let us know what you think of it.
Getting outside
We get one warm day and the green grass is SWARMED with a neverending sea of picnic blankets and people. Where were these people in the winter? I have no idea.
Parks. All the parks. Parc Angrignon, parc Lafontaine, parc Jarry, Westmount park, parc Jeanne-Mance. Use Google maps to find a big park and head over for a new place to walk your baby.
Playgrounds for the older ones. If you need Plateau recommendations, I’m your source. But for the full picture check out Stroller Parking, it’s a site dedicated to reviewing playgrounds around the city and beyond.
Botanical Gardens is beautiful in the summer and it’s bigger than you think. Put baby in a stroller and go go go. There is a herd of sheep roaming to keep the grass trimmed. We failed to find them but you will succeed and send me a picture. Irises are on their way out but the lilies are here. Which flowers are up next?
(With the access Montreal card (carte Accès Montréal) you get free access to the outdoor gardens except when the lanterns are on in Sept/Oct.)
Other activities
Montreal has too many festivals and events to name, it’s a great problem to have. Montreal Families is a great resource for up-to-date information.
Jardins gamelin has activities especially for children every Sunday and La maison jaune offers a play space.
Marché des possibles is a public open-air space chockful of different activities for families. Upcoming free activities: Les Yogistoires (yoga poses and stories/songs) and a music class offered by Music By The Season. Check it out!
Breastfeeding
When you are nursing make sure to take extra care to stay hydrated and nourished. Sometimes it can also be hard to find a good spot to breastfeed. Nourrisource has created a list/map of breastfeeding-friendly establishments called the Route de Lait.
Learn more about it and find the map here.
Other air-conditioned delights
Public libraries – Libraries are wonderful places and not just for books. Most have a play area and some host storytimes (BAnQ and your local library). If you get your baby a library card through the Montréal public library network they get a free gift!
Shopping malls! Even if you aren’t looking to buy you could make the trek through the underground mall downtown to cool off.
Go and see a movie. Sitting and air conditioning, what more could a a pregnant person want? Hopefully the smell of popcorn doesn’t make you nauseated! And if your baby already lives on the outside of you, check out https://www.cineplex.com/Theatres/StarsAndStrollers for movie offerings that are infant friendly (think slightly lower volume and a tolerance for fussing babies).
We hope this gets you started on a great summer. Have something to add? Drop us a line info@www.twodoulas.ca
