And to help keep them on the move, a new branch of Strollerbabes launched in Waterdown Monday afternoon.

Strollerbabes is the brainchild of Dundas mom Nadine Faragher.

"She saw the need in the community for something that could get moms and babies out of the house and interacting with other moms and getting some exercise," said Sonja Stevenson, one of two local women co-leading Waterdown's program. "And that's free - when you're on (maternity) leave, you're always looking for things that are free."

The first Strollerbabes kicked off in March and interest ballooned. Soon moms all over the city were meeting weekly to take a walk together, share child-rearing tips and enjoy each other's company.

Stevenson learned of the group through a city program, Parent Link, that runs out of area YMCAs. Faragher came out to a Waterdown meeting and soon local moms were planning ways to bring Strollerbabes to town.

"We've been trying to get one in Waterdown for a while, but we had trouble finding a spot where there are places to walk, park and where there are washrooms," she said.

Then Stevenson had a brainwave of her own - why not combine the walk with a partnership with Waterdown long-term care facility Alexander Place?

The idea stemmed from seeing the reaction of residents when she brought her son, Callum, to visit relatives at different facilities. She contacted Alexander Place to see if the moms and babies could visit with residents before embarking on their walk, combining community good with the resolution of parking and other issues.

The reaction from Alexander Place's Sheila MacDonald was radiant.

"She was really excited," said Stevenson. "She had been wanting to do something like this."

That's an understatement, said MacDonald, who describes the suggestion as "like from heaven."

"They came in last week," she said. "They wandered though the dining rooms and the reception the residents gave the children was amazing. They lit up like Christmas trees."

MacDonald had been trying to arrange visits of children to the facility but kept coming up against stumbling blocks. Transportation was one - nursery school or school-age children had to be bused in. It didn't seem feasible no matter how she came at it.

Then Stevenson arrived and MacDonald is elated.

She said Faragher dropped in last week and residents recognized her immediately. "Oh, is this the start of Strollerbabes," they wanted to know.

Since the program is brand new in town, turnout is still a mystery and it isn't clear how long the walks will be able to continue, as snow can hamper the ability to maneuver strollers.

But Stevenson is hoping the visits will go on year-round. And in the meantime, she sees Strollerbabes as an ideal way for moms to get out of the house, make friends and find companions for their tots - some of whom may last for life.

It's not bad for moms, either. "I moved to Waterdown about three years ago, my husband and I," said Stevenson. "But I work in Toronto, so I knew hardly anyone."

Strollerbabes changed that. "Over the past seven months, I've made so many friends," she said. "And they all have kids, so they'll have friends for life, some of them."

Since learning of the program, she has tried to get out to other walks across Hamilton but doesn't always have a car. Other moms are in the same spot and that is one reason the push was on to forge a local group, with the help of Carlisle's Kim Bowen (with son, Jakob,) and with Faragher behind them. And though Stevenson is happy to stretch her legs with the walking, she is even happier about finding a way to let the babies out and feel the support of other moms.

"It's nice to have a little event to look forward to," she said. "It has been great to meet people. The new moms with the new babies - they meet people who are at their stage and you feel like they're going through exactly what you're going through.

"It's like networking for moms," she added and laughs, since that is such a work term and she doesn't have to return to work until February.

Strollerbabes meets Mondays at 1 p.m. at Alexander Place, walking the Heritage Trail afterwards. But a weekly update from Faragher is e-mailed to interested moms.

For more, log on to http://home.cogeco.ca/~jydickso, e-mail Strollerbabes@ispnet.ca, or call 905- 522-9922 ext. 157