While pregnant, I was medically cautioned against skiing. The fact that my
ski pants wouldn’t zip was further reason to wait out the winter months
while “with child.” What came as a surprise (shock to the system) is that
you can’t ski when you have a newborn either. New babies = no bashing the
bumps for a few months at minimum. But there is some promising news for
young parents who have been sidelined from the fall line.
Ski areas are investing serious dough for the diaper set. Resorts are
offering brand new daycare facilities just steps from the lifts to lure
parents back to the slopes, with the hopes of hooking the family on ski
vacations from infancy. You can make your way back to skiing as your child
reaches about six months by choosing resorts with state-of-the-art childcare
(not just your B.C. criteria of lift capacity, snowmaking and vertical
stats). BC = before children
New parents are understandably nervous about bringing their newborn to an
unknown and away-from-home childcare environment. There are some simple
steps (see the “1,2, 3’s so you can ski” below) to find the right childcare,
assuage your fears, and satisfy your child’s needs - so you can get a fall
line fix. You may need to remind yourself that its healthy to break out of
the parenthood rut for a few runs, you deserve some literal down time and
your child will be just fine in the meantime with no resentment (likely no
recollection at all) years from now.
Resorts for relatively new parents:
Smugglers’ Notch, the leader of the pack when it comes to accommodating
parents, offers daycare for babies as early as six-weeks-old. Everything
about “Treasures” daycare is prime for powder-craving parents: the slopeside
setting, the custom designed age-appropriate rooms, and the staff of some of
the best trained caregivers in the ski biz.
Okemo has two daycare centers book-ending the ski resort for your
convenience, at the Okemo and Jackson Gore base areas. Parents will find the
Penguin Playground Daycare centers for children six months to six years to
be bright and cheery, well-staffed, and state-licensed with the latest
safety protocols. You can reserve Okemo’s daycare by the hour, half or full
day – depending upon how many turns you want to make. Go online at okemo.com
to read helpful tips on what to bring, what to expect, and how to reserve
childcare in advance.
Killington’s Rams Head is the epicenter for young families visiting the
“beast of the east.” Here under one roof is all the childcare and ski camps.
Killington’s Friendly Penguin Daycare (must be Okemo’s tuxedo twin) is full
service, and only available for a full-day, probably justified given the
expanse of the ski terrain. It’s pricey at $100/day midweek, and
$130/weekends, but can you put a price tag on your little darling, or a full
day of freedom to ski? Apparently, yes.
Sunday River has three daycare facilities, depending upon where you are
lodging (or parking). The River takes children as early as six-weeks at
South Ridge base or at either hotel, The Grand Summit or the Jordan Grand It
doesn’t get any more convenient than having full service daycare right
downstairs in your on-mountain hotel. Of course, you must call in advance to
reserve Sunday River’s childcare, either for half-day $40 or full-day $60.
Saddleback in Maine also has a state-licensed daycare; on the lower level of
the beautiful new base lodge. Hourly rates are just $7.50/hour for children
six-months and up. Combine that with Monday’s $25 lift ticket for Ladies day
– this could be a Maine cure for desperate house moms.
Mount Sunapee’s modern mountainside Learning Center (new in 2003) is home to
Mother Goose Childcare, where caregivers cater to youngsters ages 1-5. On
Tuesday’s Moms receive 50% of midweek childcare ($48 full-day) at Sunapee.
Bretton Woods offers “Babes in the Woods” daycare for two-month-olds to
five-year-olds. The slopeside daycare is within the Kids’ Alpine Club
building, along with the Hobbit Ski & Snowboard programs for children ready
to learn to ski at age three.
Jiminy Peak in the Berkshires has a custom designated Children’s Center with
kids’ programs under one convenient roof, including the Cub’s Den daycare
for six-months and up. Jiminy Peak offers hourly care at $10.
Follow these tips to get back on track with your own skiing, and start your
new family down the right ski path.
The 1, 2, 3’s for Daycare so you can skis:
1. Do ask ski friends with young families for their
recommendations on good ski area daycare experiences.
2. Do call ahead to speak with someone at the ski area
daycare, ask questions, and request brochures & registration forms in
advance if these aren’t posted online.
3. Do pack a “diaper bag” with change of clothes, familiar
blanket and favorite toy, all labeled with your child’s name.
4. Do make a list of your child’s likes, dislikes, nap
time, eating habits and allergies, and phone numbers.
5. Do ask about the schedule for the day, ie: any outdoor
play, snacks, nap times, and pick up time.
6. Do explain to your child what will happen, prepare them
for their new experience by honestly explaining that mom & dad are going
skiing on the big hill while your child gets to play with new friends.
7. Don’t create a long dramatic tear-inducing separation.
Say goodbye, and go. Like removing a band-aid, be quick and be confident in
the care you have hired, then grab your skis and skedaddle.
8. Do ask for a pager or provide the daycare with your cell
phone number so you can be contacted if they need you– then go with the “no
news is good news” philosophy. If you must stop in to check on your child
(discouraged), be sure you aren’t discovered by your child (read:
disruptive).
9. Don’t be late picking up your child, as a courtesy to
the caregivers, and as a promise to your child. Besides, steep late fees
often apply.
10. Don’t spend you ski time worrying. Maximize your
moments on the mountain, because the meter is running ($$$) and soon you’ll
be back to diaper duty.
