The Unexpected Gym Perk That’s Worth My $49 Membership

When I first moved to my home in Long Island, New York from Queens, I was happy to have found a gym within a 10 minute drive of my house that had my “then credentials” – less than $75/month, group fitness classes with a variety of cardio/yoga/strength, and one that would allow me to pause my membership (at no cost) when I was pregnant and/or postpartum.

Little did I know that the best feature the gym had for me would be the one I wasn’t looking for at first.

My local gym offers free childcare every morning for a few hours (and weekday evenings) as part of my membership. This service has paid for itself many times over.

Exercising helps me be a better parent

Exercise is an integral part of my mental health and I honestly believe it helps me be a more patient mother, able to handle the fights, irrational demands and complaints that arise when my little boys are at home.

My husband has an irregular work schedule and we don’t have family to help with childcare. So I’m counting on my affordable gym membership ($49 per month) to help me work out more than three times a week and get a kid-free break without having to coordinate and pay for a babysitter.

While I can do workouts at home, as someone who works full time from home, leaving my house to exercise and having a space where my kids can play (without my supervision) while I exercise is very helpful. Not having to listen to arguments, break up fights, answer questions about snacks, and wonder “why are they too quiet” makes for a better workout at the fitness center, knowing that the guards will call my cell if anyone needs me.

Childcare is priceless

As any parent of young children knows, you need a break. There have been many days where I don’t have the energy or motivation for an intense workout and I feel better after just walking on the treadmill and listening to a podcast to relax while my kids play and are taken care of.

Receiving free childcare has many benefits for me that go beyond my training time.

My kids go to summer camp at the gym and get a discount because I’m a member. This also makes it very easy to train after returning from summer camp – no excuses if I don’t have a work deadline.

We found a great babysitter to use in the evenings from one of the gym daycares that our kids not only already know, but also love.

They have a free “family swim” night in their indoor pool that I sometimes take my oldest son to. He also took swimming lessons there, and as a member I was able to drop my youngest off at daycare to play so I could sit and read a book or work on my laptop instead of juggling a bored toddler for 30 minutes.

They allow parents to drop off their children for up to two hours at a time. Sometimes those extra minutes help when I want to shower after a workout and run a run with them on the way home. My kids get a much-needed change of scenery, play with different toys than we have at home, and spend time with kids of different ages.

They’ve been going there since they were babies

My kids know it’s part of our weekend routine and that mommy “exercises to be strong and healthy” so I can do things like take them on piggyback rides, chase them around, and have the energy to play with them the rest of the day. I have been taking my youngest child to gym daycare since he was 4 months old and since he is about to turn 4 this fall, he has grown up with some of the babysitters there.

Beyond the benefit of babysitting, I love the gym community. Meeting women from my classes during the week and having a little chat makes me feel less isolated as a stay-at-home mom. I have also found the group educators to be very kind and understanding if I tell them that I will arrive a few minutes late to their class each session because I have to wait for the daycare to open.

The gym has an indoor pool, hot tub, sauna and steam room. My membership covers those days when I feel like I want a little more time to myself and don’t have the time or financial resources for a spa day.

I highly recommend, if you are a parent who wants to start or maintain a workout routine, finding a gym with child care available. In my experience, you’ll be much more likely to go.