Finding time to exercise with small children can be difficult. Fortunately there are many gyms now that offer childcare, and this can be a wonderful thing for both baby and mom! Thinking of dropping your little one off in the care of strangers can be difficult, but I assure you, I if you do your homework and find the right fit, you will both be enjoying your days a bit more. When mama is happy… well, you know the rest.

There are many things to consider when taking this step, not the least being the consideration of both you and your child’s temperament. Look for a place where you and your child feel most secure. If you belong to a gym already, but are not happy with the childcare, you may want to look around, at least until your kids are in school. When looking into childcare come armed with questions so you know how to adequately make your choice. Some things will be more important than others, and may sway you more easily. Every gym has different policies, staff qualifications, and hours. Here are some things to consider when doing your research:

• Hours: What are the gym's hours for childcare? These are probably shorter than the gym's hours, and may offer very limited access on weekends. Make sure to find out if they are within the bounds of a workout schedule that can work for you. Do they require reservations? (Some gyms will limit the number of babies under a certain age.)


• Staff: What qualifications do the staff have? Ask about years of experience and CPR training. What is the staff to child ratio?


• Taking Care of Business: What is their diaper policy? (Some will change, some will not.) Is there a toilet in the room? How do they deal with potty-trained children when they have to go?


• Safety: What security procedures do they use to protect your child? Bracelets? Sign in? Driver's license drop-off? Pagers?


• Atmosphere: Do you like the look of the room? Is it clean? Does it have age appropriate toys for you child? Do they have any "down time" activities - craft options, games, coloring? Do they keep a video on? You may like or dislike this, based on your preferences or your child's relative interest in watching TV.


• What is their “crying” protocol? How long will they go before getting you? Can they make adjustments based on your preferences? Do they allow food? Water bottles? Milk bottles?

Most gyms will allow a trial day, so you can check it yourself and see how your child likes it. Inevitably, there will be something you are not crazy about. In one gym they allowed food, which I personally was not a fan of, and the gym I am in now always has the TV on. We just make this “the TV time for the day." Expectations have to be reasonable, and I found that having that hour to myself, even if to read a magazine on a bike, while my children got a load of playtime in, was worth the television “problem."

I usually only put my kids in for an hour a few times a week, as that is what works for us. Each family has to find what they are comfortable with. I will also point out that as the days get colder, it can be a great activity for the kids. They get to run around in a space designed for them and you get to get the much needed time and movement you need.

Do any of you have any hesitations about using a childcare in a gym? Please share the positive and the negative in the comments!