Several local women with young children have noticed something missing for mothers like themselves and have moved to fill the gap by tapping their inner entrepreneur.

	Pam Panchak, Post-Gazette Leigh Levy of Mt. Lebanon runs Snuggle Bugs & Co., which holds a children's consignment event that kicks off today. Click photo for larger image.

The result is three businesses by moms for moms, aimed at providing services that fellow mothers (and some dads, too) might find useful and fun.

Leigh Levy, a Mt. Lebanon resident with a master's degree in marketing, who left her job to stay home with her son and daughter, now 5 and 3, was disappointed in her attempts to sell consignment clothing that her children had outgrown.

Last fall, she launched Snuggle Bugs & Co., which stages large-scale consignment events for the public. The spring sale kicks off today and runs through Saturday in a vacant store in Century III Mall.

Here's how it works: Consignors register their items online, set the price and designate the disposition of anything that doesn't sell (drop the price, donate it to charity or pick it up). Sellers keep at least 70 percent of the sale price and can collect their money at the sale's conclusion.

The whole event is staffed by volunteers. Their payoff -- they get to shop before the sale opens. Consignors get the next pre-sale crack, followed by expectant parents who need the big things like cribs, high chairs and strollers.

Only clothing for the coming season is accepted, and everything must be in excellent condition. Maternity clothes, baby equipment, furniture, books and toys are also welcome.

"We set everything up like a store with garment racks, tables, baskets, etc.," said Ms. Levy. "We take care of the advertising, and we man the sale."

The first Snuggle Bugs sale, held in the fall at the Castle Shannon fire hall, was a big success and brought a lot of positive feedback, Ms. Levy said.

"We're an unintentional nonprofit right now because of the start-up cost of purchasing equipment," she said. "But down the road I see this becoming a profitable business."

For details, go to www.snugglebugsconsignment.com, or 412-832-0642.

Cultural events

Two other new moms, Jennifer Bails of Squirrel Hill and Sheila Solomon of Shadyside, were looking to connect with other mothers in an intellectually and culturally stimulating way. So they founded Urban Mommies to organize tours of galleries, museums and art studios for women and their stroller-bound kids.

The two women have been friends since childhood, and now they have their own offspring -- Ms. Bails is a freelance science writer with a 2-month-old daughter, and Ms. Solomon is a part-time genetic counselor with two small children.

"I meet a lot of new moms, and they all say the same thing -- 'I love my infant or toddler, but there are times I want to think about something beyond diapers and feeding schedules,'" said Ms. Bails.

The tours are designed to be private, behind-the-scenes and led by insiders. The first series of seven trips will take place on Thursdays or Fridays from April 12 to June 1. Locations include the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center, Heinz Hall, Carnegie Museum of Art, Society for Contemporary Craft, Frick Art & Historical Center, Andy Warhol Museum and The Mattress Factory.

Cost is $165. Moms provide their own transportation, and outings are followed by an optional lunch at a nearby restaurant.

"After this first round we hope to diversify the places we go," she added. "You could probably tour the Carnegie every day and not see everything. There are also neighborhoods, culinary gatherings and other possibilities, depending on the interest."

For more information, go to www.urban-mommies.com or call 412-551-6400.

Workout classes

Michelle Bisno, a fitness trainer with multiple certifications, had yet another idea for a business after her son was born two years ago.

New to Pittsburgh, wanting to get back in shape and connect with other new mothers, she founded Cardiomom, a baby-inclusive workout program. Women were invited to bring their little ones to class so there was no need to worry about child care. At the same time, they could meet other moms and overcome some of the isolation that comes with a new baby.

Now, after two years of group classes that met outdoors in good weather, Cardiomom has moved into personal training.

"We found that a lot of the women were going back to work, so a 9:30 a.m. class wasn't working for them," said Ms. Bisno of Point Breeze. "We moved to personal training to work around their schedules, trying to go where the need is."

Workouts are led by Ms. Bisno and two other instructors; both of the latter are pregnant with their second children.

"We're all moms, so we have a lot of the same experiences," she said. "We talk about motherhood, the aches and pains of pregnancy and delivery, sonograms, nursing, staying up all night.

"Maybe they want to lose their hips, or they just had a C-section. I'm certified in pre- and post-natal fitness, so I individualize the workouts depending on what they want and need."

Some clients work out during pregnancy; others are joined by their spouses.

The cost of a personal training session is $60 for an hour; some women buddy up and split the cost.

"We try to work within people's budgets and schedules," she said, adding that group classes may resume in the spring if there's enough interest.

For more information, visit www.cardiomom.com or call 412-441-1000.