Mommy Works

Have you ever dreamed of bringing your kids to work with you? Well, now you can.

Mommy Works is a child-friendly office that gives work-from-home moms a space to engage, collaborate and work with other professionals, all while keeping a watchful eye on their children.

The office, which describes itself as a “co-working community for all moms”, offers desks, Wi-Fi, coffee and conference rooms for moms and a safe, supervised playroom for kids. Geared at children aged six months-to-six years, Mommy Works also features breastfeeding and pumping stations, a child-friendly kitchen and a quiet room with a children’s reading corner.

“I was a work-from-home mom with a part-time job and I found working from home really distracting and isolating,” says Amanda Rowoldt, owner of Mommy Works. “I was also very concerned about my son, Max, who was at home with me and didn’t get a chance to socialize with other kids.

“I decided to create a baby and kid-friendly office for moms that allowed them an opportunity to focus and get work done while their children had an opportunity to socialize and play with other children.”

Orange | www.mommyworks.com

La Petite Chenille

A new children’s boutique hopes to help youngsters foster their individuality while developing a social and environmental conscience.

La Petite Chenille, French for “the Little Caterpillar,” stocks brands that are organic, made from sustainable or recycled materials, or promote global awareness through the use of fair trade.

“It helps if their items are fun and unique,” adds store owner Danielle Bayer. “As for why I opened in Irvine, I looked up the brands that I love and did store searches on each of them looking for a hole where the brands were either scarcely represented or not at all.”

Irvine | www.lapetitechenille.com

Pumper Jumpers

An Orange County play gym has a new name, new owners, and an expanded selection of equipment.

Pumper Jumpers, formerly My Giggle Place, touts itself as Orange County’s largest inflatable play center. It boasts eight play rooms, 17,000 square feet of space and “the biggest and most cutting-edge selection of fun equipment”.

The center also hosts birthday parties, arts and crafts programs, Friday night movies and other special events.

Most of the play equipment favorites from My Giggle Place is still in place, but the new owners say they’ve enhanced the playground and added some variety since switching over to Pumper Jumpers.

Fullerton | www.pumperjumpers.com