Lifestyle: Disco babies

One of the joys of parenting is sharing your favorite hangouts with your kids. That typically hasn’t included nightclubs — until now.
Baby Loves Disco is the hottest coast-to-coast craze in hip play dates, where parents and kids enjoy an afternoon of dancing and play at a “grown-up” hot spot.

Baby Loves Disco transformed the Shark Club in Costa Mesa from swanky nightclub to kidproof play pad. The colorful spectacle, geared for infants through first-graders, pulsed with dance beats and disco lights.

Bubbles poured out over the dance floor as parents and kids boogied to a mix of modern and disco tunes, spun by DJ Rewind. Egg-shaped shakers, flowing scarves and Hula-Hoops added to the fun.

“I’m so excited that they’re playing good music. I think for a lot of kids, music is such a great way to socialize,” said A.J. Nesselrod, of Tustin, a father who attended the event with wife, Misha, and their daughter, Raya.

But don’t be shocked if your child doesn’t dash directly to the dance floor. Several grown-ups said their children were at first overwhelmed by the party’s hyper-stimulating environment.

“It took her about an hour to warm up,” said Bill Greenwood, 58, of his granddaughter, Riley Beason. Bill and wife, Jan, of Mission Viejo, enjoyed watching the 21-month-old frolic freely in the tents set up in the “chill out” area. Here kids can look at books and play with toys, and parents can kick back on the club’s velvety couches.
 
“It’s nice that adults can relax,” says Melina Nafarrate, 32, of Long Beach, who sipped a glass of chardonnay while her 14-month-old daughter, Memphis, played at her feet.

Participants can also enjoy story time and yoga for kids, and there are vendors, contests and giveaways. There’s also a spread of healthy snacks, from fruit to pretzels.

The dance party, which boasted a sold-out crowd of more than 400 in February and March, was a success, said event sponsor Andrea Loyko. “My e-mail is flooding with pictures of kids on the dance floor and ‘thank yous’ from parents,” she says. Dates are slated throughout the summer.

Baby Loves Disco kicked off in Philadelphia in 2004, the brainchild of a professional dancer and mom, Heather Murphy Monteith, who wanted to create a fun entertainment alternative for kids. The parties are held in nightclubs in more than 28 cities in the United States, including locations in Colorado, Texas and Florida.

For more information, visit www.babylovesdisco.com.