Beltway Bambinos

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored by Westfield, Montgomery Mall. Perhaps, it should be tagged as “Indoor Fun” as we brace ourselves for yet another snow storm.

Having a newborn in the Winter has been so much more difficult than it was when my toddler was born in the Summer. She sleeps much better when on the move and well I haven’t exactly been able to take many stroller walks. So, enter my routine when my toddler has school. Drop him off at 8:50am, drive to Montgomery Mall, bolt to the Starbucks on Level 2 around 9:15am and get a Grande coffee, mall walk and say hello to the regular walkers I’ve come to recognize, make a few phone calls and voila the doors of all the stores slowly open at 10:00am. From there I make returns from purchases I made last week when I was wandering aimlessly because I needed my baby to sleep and I now feel guilty about buying. I use my Godiva Rewards card at some point…that’s right Rewards card at a chocolate shop. Inquire about it, you won’t be sorry. Errr maybe you will, perhaps that’s why I’m having trouble losing some baby weight. After about an hour baby begins to wake up and I have to make my decision to head to the Mother’s Room at Nordstrom or the Family Lounge in the Food Court to change her diaper and feed her. Which was the real reason I’m writing this post. I hadn’t put much thought into decent malls for parents with newborns. Do I want to sit on a couch to nurse her and change her on a pillow top changing table or do I want to walk past the delicious smell of McDonald’s breakfast sandwiches that still lingers and change her on large open changing tables where cartoons play and curtains hang from the private feeding areas for privacy? I’ve tried both and when I’m alone with the baby, I head to Nordstrom and sit in silence (with the occasional flush you hear from the restrooms next door) and when I’m with both kids I go to the Family Lounge so my toddler can be kept busy playing with the games or watching cartoons. The Family Lounge also has a microwave in case you need to warm up a bottle as well as family restrooms. So, escape from the cold (or heat in the summer) and head to Montgomery Mall to shop, walk, eat, nurse and be warm.

Pictures are from the Family Lounge located in the Food Court

Montgomery Mall has been remodeled and is unrecognizable. They kept the play area which is located on the lower level across from the maternity clothing store. It has a garden theme and insects and logs children can climb on and crawl through. They also have a new movie theater, Arclight, which can be accessed through the Food Court. Met Bethesda, Crave Sushi Bar, Cava Mezze Grill, Chipotle and Jamba Juice are a few places you can grab a bite.

Photos of Food Court

Play area on lower level