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
How do I welcome my baby into the Jewish community? What’s a mohel and how do I find one? How are the 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.
Gather with a community of new parents and parents-to-be at our monthly Parent Coffees! Join us for coffee, company, and a relaxed conversation about a topic of interest to new parents.
PARENT COFFEE: GENTLE SLEEP SECRETS FOR NEWBORNS
October 28, 10:00 AM
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!
REGISTER FOR GENTLE SLEEP SECRETS
PARENT COFFEE: FINDING A NANNY 101
Thursday, December 16, 10:00 AM
Join us for coffee, the company of other new parents, and a relaxed conversation about finding the right kind of childcare for your family. Sarah Marks, founder and president of Nannies by Sarah, will discuss the pros and cons of different childcare options and the benefits of hiring a nanny, and will share strategies for hiring a nanny that meets your family’s needs. She will also share strategies for hiring a nanny that meets your family’s needs, paying special attention to the complexities of childcare in the age of Covid. Bring your questions – we’ll spend a lot of time talking through participants’ specific situations. Babies warmly welcomed! Babies warmly welcomed!
Coming back in Fall 2021 — check back here soon for specific dates
Facilitated by Heather Diamond, Psy.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 for six weeks to provide a safe and facilitated space for moms 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 outdoor meet-ups can be organized safely if the group wants.
Coming back in Fall 2021 — check back here soon for specific dates
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. 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.
The EDCJCC is proud to partner with Nested for our childbirth education and newborn care basics classes. At the moment, we are not able to offer on-site in person classes, but please check out Nested’s roster of live and virtual offerings. We hope to return to in-person Nested programming soon.
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.