Before Baby: Programs for Parents-To-Be
Biological and adoptive, LGBTQ and straight, singles and couples, Jewish and non-Jewish, families built through surrogacy, people of all colors and abilities – all are welcome to get ready for parenthood at the Edlavitch DCJCC!
BEYOND THE BUMP and SECOND THOUGHTS Groups
Looking to create a community with other expecting parents to exchange ideas and find support? Check out our six week in-person Beyond the Bump group for first-time moms and our three week virtual Second Thoughts: Adapting to Baby #2 group for second-time parents-to-be. The next session of Beyond the Bump will run from February 9 through March 16, and registration is now open! Dates and registration are coming soon for the next session of Second Thoughts.
NEW PARENT COFFEES
On the third Thursday of most months, gather with other new parents and parents-to-be for coffee, company, and relaxed conversations on topics of interest to new parents. Upcoming Parent Coffees include:
Thursday, January 19: Intro to Infant Massage
Thursday, February 16: Gentle Sleep Secrets for Newborns
Thursday, March 16: Motor Milestones in the First Year
PARTNERSHIP WITH NESTED
We are proud to partner with Nested to offer in-person childbirth education classes to get biological parents ready for labor and delivery. See the calendar below for upcoming classes at our location!
Upcoming Before Baby Programs
BEYOND THE BUMP
6 Thursdays, February 9-March 16, 6:30–7:30 PM
IN PERSON at the EDCJCC
$152 for the six-week session; EDCJCC Member Rate $122
Facilitated by Catherine Coogan, 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 in person at the EDCJCC 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 and maintained easily.
GENTLE SLEEP SECRETS FOR NEWBORNS
Thursday, February 16, 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!
In this class we will:
- Review common third trimester issues and what to expect at your 36-week visit
- Learn about the signs of labor, when to call your obstetrician, and what should be on your hospital bag packing list
- Discuss each stage of labor and what can help alleviate and relax the mom, including options for pain management and potential interventions during the labor process
- See what the hospital process will look like and what to expect from your healthcare team
- Discuss the “typical” childbirth scenario as well as how to prepare for the unexpected, including inductions, assisted vaginal births and c-sections.
- Learn from experienced labor doulas as they demonstrate specialized comfort techniques to help with labor pain
- Learn and practice tips, tricks and techniques for Prenatal Wellness: Pelvic Floor Health, Ergonomics & Exercises from a physical therapist
At Nested we know the importance of optimizing the physical and mental health of both parents during pregnancy and the postpartum period. With coping strategies, empowerment, education on diet & exercise and community resources, parents will leave feeling prepared for the doctor’s office, the delivery room and the trip back home.
We recommend taking this class on the earlier side of your pregnancy (24-39 weeks).
REGISTER HERE
Note: 1 registration ticket allows for up to 2 people (1 ticket = 2 people) to attend the class and access the course resources.
MOTOR MILESTONES IN THE FIRST YEAR
Thursday, March 16, 10:00 AM
Join us for coffee, the company of other new parents, and a relaxed conversation about purposeful play and how to help your little one reach their motor milestones. Shawn Leis, pediatric physical therapist and founder of Little Feet Therapy, will discuss purposeful play positions to encourage your child to reach their motor milestones, when these milestones should be reached, and when to reach out to a medical professional for additional assistance. Bring your questions – we’ll spend a lot of time talking through participants’ specific situations. Babies warmly welcomed!
Comprehensive Babysitting w/CPR certification
Nested offers this American Red Cross Comprehensive Babysitting class with Pediatric & Adult CPR/Choking Prevention/First Aid/AED certification in a blended learning class format to help you provide the care that families need. It consists of a self-paced, interactive online session to be taken in the convenience of your home, followed by an in-person, hands-on skills training and discussion session with one of Nested’s certified American Red Cross instructors.
AUDIENCE: 7th graders and above — This course is ideal for childcare professionals (e.g., nannies, au pairs, and babysitters) as well as parents, grandparents, and siblings to help prepare you to recognize and respond to a variety of breathing and cardiac emergencies involving children and babies and expectations & goals for your child’s caretaker.
OVERVIEW OF CLASS:
- Learning how to speak with potential families about rules and expectations of your babysitting availability, including consent forms, fees, etc.
- Conducting a self-assessment to determine your skill set, the number of kids and type of duties you’d be comfortable with providing
- Learning how to safely advertise yourself
- Caring for kids from feeding to bedtime, including ideas about activities to play with children
- Learning what is an emergency and how to handle it
- Working through difficult babysitting scenarios
Included Tools and Resources
- Resume template
- Family interview form
NOTE: The online portion must be completed PRIOR to being eligible to attend the hands-on portion of the class.
Refunds are not available for this class.
Registration for this class closes approximately 2 weeks prior to the class date. This is provide time for the client data to be processed into the American Red Cross system, which will then auto-send the account creation & log-in details to the clients to provide plenty of time to take & successfully pass the online portion of the class.
REGISTER HERE
Note: 1 registration ticket allows for 1 person to attend & take this class.
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.