Infant

In this post-Madoff, post-mortgage-meltdown world, it’s hard to walk a city block without seeing an empty storefront or a “for lease” sign. So it’s refreshing to hear about a business that’s expanding.

Citibabes, Soho’s mod mecca for parents and kids, just opened CitiGym, a new playspace and classroom at the club for mini members ages 0-5. That’s in addition to Citibabes’ 1,500-square-foot playground, adult gym and cafe. CitiGym (open to Citibabes members) offers new classes, including Master Movers, CitiSports and CitiMoves. Older kids can literally hit the wall - the club’s state-of-the-art climbing wall. And for those of you who have fled to the burbs, Citibabes is opening a second Scarsdale location in late August.

Support the local economy.

Citibabes, 52 Mercer St. (bet. Broome and Grande), 1-800-697-0107, citibabes.com.

For your “staycation.”

Go
Sportacular Family Fitness Fest
Move it, move it at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum. Play games from around the world, navigate an obstacle course, and watch competitive Double Dutch jumpers plus beach tennis and fencing demos.
When: Sat. 7/11 & Sun. 7/12, 11:30am-5pm (All ages); Free with the cost of admission.
Where: Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Avenue (at St. Marks Ave.),
(718) 735-4400, brooklynkids.org.

See
Central Park SumerStage Family Day
Yo Gabba Gabba! characters DJ Lance and Brobee hit SummerStage, along with The Fresh Beat Band (They’ve got a Nickelodeon show on the way.) and award-wining children’s book author and illustrator Iza Trapani. Puppeteers from the famed Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater will perform a modernized Sleeping Beauty.
When: Sun. 7/12, 3-7pm; Free.
Where: Central Park SummerStage at Rumsey Playfield, 212-360-2777,
summerstage.org.

Hear
Brother Joscephus and the Love Revival Revolution Orchestra
Take it Big Easy. The only thing missing is the gumbo at this ROOSEVELT L!VE concert. Brother Joscephus et al. bring the sounds of New Orleans to Riverwalk Commons.
When: Sat. 6/11, 4-6pm; Free.
Where: Riverwalk Commons on Roosevelt Island (Take F train to Roosevelt Island or Roosevelt Island Tram at 59^th and 2^nd), rooseveltlive.com.
Shop
Giggle
The Summer 2009 Sale is in full swing. Enjoy 70% off on clothing, bedding, bags, stationery and toys from Giggle’s well-edited collection of top brands, including Cabana Life, Tea and Egg by Susan Lazar.
When: Now until supplies last.
Where: UES - 1033 Lexington Ave. (at 74^th St.), 212-249-4249.
SoHo - 120 Wooster St. (between Prince & Spring), 212-334-5817.
(Plus all other Giggle stores and online at giggle.com.)

Japanese fashion made an impact on the world in the 1980s — and while many of those looks aren’t exactly RTW, a few ideas have stood the test of time.

Soho shop Psling New York recently added Patachou, a chic baby and kids clothing line for sizes 3 months to 6 years, to the mix. The collection began in Japan in 1985, but meets 2009 needs with beautiful and elegant everyday wear (simple silhouettes, classic colors). Everything is handmade in Japan, and many of the designs are made with their own original fabric.

Available at Psny, 69 West Houston St., 212-253-0630, pslingnewyork.com.

A personal chef is out of the question, but what if you could cull her secrets? Get little ones to eat wholesome, well-balanced meals is no small feat.

Next week, Rosaberry (know for fresh-market flair) is teaming up with Cupcake Kids (baked goodies, yum) in a hands-on Cooking for Baby workshop. Learn how to prepare fresh fruit and vegetable purees for your tot, plus a few heartier protein-filled meals. To continue your culinary education outside the classroom, participants will leave with recipes, meal-prep strategies and a solid foundation for making fantastic baby food — and samples, too.

Bon appetit.

When: Wed. 6/10, 11am-12:30pm; $85 (register in advance).
Where: Inn on 23rd Street, 131 West 23rd St. (bet. 6th & 7th Ave.), cupcakekids.com.

Pumping and dumping, latching, proper positioning — you’re learning all the techniques, but breastfeeding is not going so swimmingly.

Stop by Yummy Mummy, a just-opened uptown boutique that focuses on everything related to breastfeeding. This full-service, one-stop-shop for new and expectant parents focuses on nursing products and resources, as well as classes on lactation-related topics taught by Certified Lactation Consultants. From nursing bras and pads to books and DVDs, the specialty store run by an UES native and mother is all about making the breastfeeding experience a little easier.

1201 Lexington Ave. (bet. 81st & 82nd St.), 212-87-YUMMY, yummymummystore.com.

When it comes to furnishing baby’s bedroom, forget the overseas shipments — there are some pretty cool designs right here in Red Hook.

Check out the furniture collection from Casa Kids, designed by Brooklyn-based architect Roberto Gil. The pieces, designed with an approach deemed as practical minimalism, include cribs that grow with a child, dressers with removable changing table top, sturdy cabinets, colorful loft beds with cool steps and little seats with secret storage compartments. Sustainable materials, from plantation-grown Brazilian hardwood to natural birch, make these contemporary collections even more enticing.

Make yourself at home.

Available at casakids.com.

Is ice cream for dinner every night bad for the baby? Should you eat entirely organic? Must you really gain that much weight with twins? More importantly, who can answer all these pressing pregnancy questions?

Make a date with registered dietitian (and mom) Meg Tubman at her cozy Tribeca studio, Fresh Start Nutrition. Specializing in maternal nutrition, Tubman offers one-on-one education and counseling for all stages from conception through postpartum. Whether it’s eating for fertility, pregnancy health and weight concerns or coping with a picky infant, she will work with your needs and goals to help you formulate a (realistic and attainable) plan of action. Even better, this French culinary grad focuses what you can eat (whole foods, yum) rather than what you can’t (major restrictions equal stress).

Go forth and snack.

Visit freshstartnutritionstudio.com.

Enjoy a little Mother’s Day retail therapy at these upcoming sales, store events, exhibits and trunk shows.

Babies “R” Us
At the Plan & Scan Registry Workshop, shop in a private environment before the store opens and learn about baby care essentials, from bottles and diapers to cribs and strollers.
When: Sat. 5/9, 8:30-10am.
Where: 24-30 Union Square, 212-798-9905, toysrus.com.

BKLYN Designs
Check out the DUMBO exhibition of contemporary furnishings made in the 718, including a children’s furniture area. On Sunday, Iglooplay hosts story time from 1-3pm.
When: Fri.-Sun., 5/8-5/10; $15.
Where: St. Ann’s Warehouse, 38 Water St., Brooklyn, brooklyndesigns.net.

Flying Squirrel
A Mother’s Day sale features 50-percent off brands like Claesens, Sophie Catalou and See Kai Run.
When: Sat.-Sun., 5/9-5/10.
Where: 96 North 6th St., Brooklyn, 718-218 7775, flyingsquirrelbaby.com.

Pink Olive
Meet Brooklyn jewelry designer Atsuyo et Akiko and enjoy mini cupcakes at this Mother’s Day trunk show.
When: Sat. 5/9, 2-5pm.
Where: 167 Fifth Ave. (bet. Lincoln & Berkley Place), Brooklyn, 718-398-2016, pinkoliveboutique.com.

Tiffany & Co.
Stop by the Wall Street store’s play area to make Mother’s Day cards.
When: Thurs.-Sat., 5/7-5/9.
Where: 37 Wall St., tiffany.com.

Zaba
Kids will enjoy a lemonade party as you meet designer Nicole Arama of BooBa and take advantage of spring sales.
When: Wed. 5/13, 6-8pm.
Where: 85 Franklin St. (bet. Church & Broadway), 212-226-6355, zababoutique.com.

Frightening infant drowning statistics are enough to make you want to move to a land-locked state (not that you’d ever splash around in the East River). With beach season approaching, remember that learning basic swim skills helps significantly reduce risk of drowning, whether you’re 6 months or 36.

Next week, the West Side YMCA hosts its annual Splash Week, to help teach New York families about water safety basics. Each day, the center hosts free half-hour swim lessons in the pool, complete with vital tips and techniques (including pool, beach and water park safety) for all ages. The daily schedule breaks down by age for 6 to 24 months (11-11:30am), 3-4 years (11:30am-12pm), 5-6 years (12-12:30pm), 6-9 years (3-3:30pm), 9-12 years (3:30-4pm) and 18+ (7-8pm).

When: Mon.-Fri., 4/13-4/17; All ages; Free (register at 212-875-4214).
Where: West Side YMCA, 5 West 63rd St., ymcanyc.org.

A “mall” with Masa in it has always been your kind of shopping center — unless you needed clothes for the kids.

But Kee-Ka, a Brooklyn-based company that was among the first to do the cute nickname tee trend, has now opened a baby store at the Time Warner Center. The first strictly baby-and-kids outpost among the Shops at Columbus Circle, Kee-Ka features an all-organic (certified organic cotton, low-impact dyes, Fair Trade suppliers) product line of bibs, blankets, onesies, leggings, socks and caps for sizes 0 to 4T. Known for simple graphics paired with words like “Cupcake” or “Peanut,” the line makes for a great gift (with recycled packaging, to boot).

Now you can really be a mallrat.

Open Mon.-Sat. 10am-9pm, Sun. 11am-7pm. 10 Columbus Circle, ground floor, 718-302-9665, shopsatcolumbuscircle.com.