Before Baby: Programs for Parents-To-Be
Biological and adoptive, LGBTQ and straight, singles and couples, Jewish and non-Jewish, people of all colors and abilities – all are welcome to get ready for parenthood at the Edlavitch DCJCC!
Upcoming Before Baby Programs
BEYOND THE BUMP
6 Mondays, October 18-November 22
7:45-9:00 PM
$92 for the six-week session; EDCJCC Member Rate $74
Facilitated by Lara Kassoff, Ph.D.
Pregnant for the first time? Looking to create a community with other expecting moms to exchange ideas and find support? This group will meet weekly via Zoom for six weeks to provide a safe and facilitated space for moms-to-be to discuss their experiences and learn from one another. We will explore several topics, including: concerns about childbirth and parenting; balancing family with work outside the home; navigating new relationships with your partner, parents, and in-laws; and recognizing post (and pre)-partum depression and anxiety. The group will be kept small so that connections can be fostered easily, even in a virtual space, and also so that in-person meet-ups can be organized safely if the group wants.
GENTLE SLEEP SECRETS FOR NEWBORNS
October 28, 10:00 AM
Join us for coffee, the company of other new parents, and a relaxed conversation about your baby’s sleep. Gentle sleep coach Jessica Dodson of Starlight Sleep Coaching will discuss how sleep develops during infancy, why it can be so difficult and what you can do to make it easier for both you and your baby. Learn gentle steps you can take to help shape your child’s sleep from their earliest months and how to avoid common pitfalls that can lead to restless nights. Bring your questions – we’ll spend most of our time talking through participants’ specific situations. Babies warmly welcomed!
MASK AND VACCINATION POLICY: Effective September 1, all visitors entering the EDCJCC’s building are required to show proof of vaccination. Participants at outdoor events will not be checked for vaccination status, but it is our hope that regardless of where we gather, we continue to prioritize the health and safety of our community. Additionally, mask wearing inside of the EDCJCC will also be always required by everyone, except while eating or drinking in designated locations. For more information, visit edcjcc.org/covidsafety.
SECOND THOUGHTS: ADAPTING TO BABY #2
3 Fridays: November 5, November 12, and November 19
12:00-1:00 PM
$62 for the three-week session
Facilitated by Taylor Lerner, Psy.D
Are you expecting baby #2? Looking to create a community with other second time parents to exchange ideas and find support? This group will meet weekly via Zoom for three weeks to provide a safe space for second time parents-to-be to discuss their experiences and learn from one another. We will explore several topics, including: managing your big kid’s (big!) feelings before, during, and after welcoming the new baby; kid-care and self-care with two; navigating new relationships and new roles; and the complicating factors of Covid-19. Find support and connections while eating your lunch!
The group will be kept small so that connections can be fostered easily, even in a virtual space, and also so that in-person outdoor meet-ups can be organized safely if the group wants.
Newborn Care & CPR Boot Camp
November 14 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
$285 per couple
Nested’s Newborn Care and Infant CPR Boot Camp is a comprehensive class that will prepare you for the moment your baby is born through the first few anxiety-provoking months. We take you on a journey from the day of discharge through your newborn’s first few months at home.
Our emphasis is setting your family up for a smooth transition, promoting a healthy baby, parents and supporting community. In this class we will:
- Review normal newborn appearance and hospital discharge logistics
- Learn signs of newborn illness (e.g., jaundice, thrush, colic, cradle cap) and when to call your pediatrician
- Demonstrate swaddling, holding positions, soothing techniques, bathing and changing diapers
- Discussion nutrition, formula vs. breastfeeding and breastfeeding tips
- Learn choking prevention tactics & infant CPR and demonstrate how to resuscitate a specialized CPR non-responsive dolls
- Learn & practice tips, tricks and techniques for Prenatal Wellness: Pelvic Floor Health, Ergonomics & Exercises from a physical therapist and have access to physical therapy videos to address proper ergonomics to prevent musculoskeletal injury new parents face
- Discuss the new challenges of a growing family in terms of boundaries with work and family
Ultimately, clients will be armed with a toolkit to strengthen the physical and emotional health of the entire family. This is a perfect class for biological, adoptive or foster parents, friends, caregivers, nannies and grandparents.
MASK AND VACCINATION POLICY: Effective September 1, all visitors entering the EDCJCC’s building are required to show proof of vaccination. Participants at outdoor events will not be checked for vaccination status, but it is our hope that regardless of where we gather, we continue to prioritize the health and safety of our community. Additionally, mask wearing inside of the EDCJCC will also be always required by everyone, except while eating or drinking in designated locations. For more information, visit edcjcc.org/covidsafety.
How do I welcome my baby into the Jewish community? What’s a mohel and how do I find one? How are the traditional welcoming rituals similar and different for boys and girls? When and how do I announce the baby’s name? Join EDCJCC Children and Families staff Lindsay Kagin and Miriam Szubin — who have welcomed two girl and three boy babies between them — for a virtual workshop on Jewish rituals, traditions, and options for a bris (a Jewish religious male circumcision ceremony) and simchat bat (celebration of a daughter). You’ll walk away with information, resources, and connections to a community of other parents-to-be of Jewish babies.
Please note that we define “Jewish baby” however you do! All are welcome.
The Edlavitch DCJCC embraces inclusion in all its programs and activities. We welcome and encourage the participation of all people, regardless of their background, sexual orientation, abilities, or religion, including interfaith couples and families.