It can be overwhelming (especially for first time parents) to navigate the different class options to prepare for a new arrival. From basic baby care and infant CPR classes, to breastfeeding and labor & delivery prep, it’s hard to know how to navigate it all. Is there straightforward way to get prepared without all the technical speak? Any chance of finding new parent friends while taking class? The answer is yes! Read on to find out how.
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photo: Government of Alberta via Flickr
Good news: learning the basics and finding your new parent squad has never been easier. The Parent Collective is opening its doors in TriBeCa (via NY Kids Club) for its first prenatal class series on October 4th. The Parent Collective is a new take on parenting classes that will not only provide you with the information you need to get started with your new little one, but offer the added benefits of a new social network to lean on long after the classes have ended.
photo: The Parent Collective
Get prepped!
The Parent Collective prenatal series consists of four, two-hour classes (held once a week for 4 weeks) with 8-12 couples in each class. The classes are best for couples in their late second or third trimester. Each week couples learn about a new topic from respective healthcare experts in a discussion-led, simple class format. The curriculum is as follows:
New friends, close to home — and close to due date
Classes are grouped by geographic location and due date, so you’ll be in a class with couples who both live near you and are delivering around the same time. (Genius.)
The Parent Collective is different from other childbirth education classes in that it openly aims for couples to develop a new social network through the class, gather new baby friends for their little ones and provide a new parent support system after the classes have ended.
Past class attendees can’t say enough about how valuable it was having a group of people to call on who were going through what they were at exactly the same time after they had their babies. Making new friends while learning valuable information all before the sleep deprivation kicks in? That’s a new parent win in our books.
photo: The Parent Collective
Options for all in a judgement-free zone
While some pre-natal classes preach certain best practices for controversial topics like breast vs. formula feeding, sleep training, etc. you won’t find any of that here. Classes are designed to encourage both discussion and information sharing. (No judgement!)
Class participants learn about different ways to care for baby in those early months that might not have even been on their radar before. You never know what your baby might gravitate to once he or she arrives, or what may be medically best for both parent and child, so supporting all choices is something The Parent Collective strongly believes in.
Inspired by the UK’s NCT (National Childbirth Trust) which offers a similar parenting class organized by location and due date, The Parent Collective founders Melissa Griffin and Jessica Hill brought this class concept to Connecticut in 2016 and haven’t looked back.
The Parent Collective is expanding to TriBeCa in October and hopes to launch classes in Cobble Hill and Brooklyn Heights next. By combining both the important parenting information new parents need and the opportunity to develop an ongoing social network for support, this class offers the best of both worlds.
The Parent Collective NYC Premiere
Upcoming dates: Wednesday October 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th @ 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Cost is $550 per couple. (Each participant receives a curated goodie bag with their registration valued at over $700 that includes products and offers from local businesses.)
Interested? Register here: theparentcollective.com
NY Kids Club
88 Leonard St.
Tribeca
Online: theparentcollective.com
Do you have a favorite baby-prep program? Tell us about it in the comments!
—Ilyssa Smith
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