Baby & Caregiver Meetups

“As a dad trying navigate this crazy new world called parenthood, having a welcoming group of others going through the same thing or already having been through it and willing to be guides has been a literal life saver.

I have learned libraries of information and recieved help for my son from both the volunteers and the other caregivers. I have found and made lasting friendships that are some of the only reasons we’ve been able to remain in Vermont. These groups might be the only supportive interaction some caregivers get in these first few precious (and highly stressful) months of our children’s lives, and I’ve personally experienced and seen the calming and supportive effect these groups can give.

I can say without a doubt in my mind that the help I’ve gotten stemming directly from these groups has made both me a better parent, and created an environment where my son has a much better chance to flourish. In my opinion these groups should be available to every caretaker everywhere, and it would be a huge blow to the quality of life for both caregiver and child should they not be able to continue. Thanks for getting us through the hard times.“

“As a young, first-time mom with no family nearby and a very small support system, I found myself looking forward to the Good Beginnings mom group. Staying home full time with my baby while also navigating college classes was challenging, and it was a real comfort knowing I had a safe and always welcoming place for both my baby and me to spend time.”

“Bringing my grandson to the Barre baby/caregiver meetups is the highlight of our week. Not only does he get to interact with other babies and caregivers, but I learn about all of the community resources available to us. Other caregivers have such great advice and suggestions!“

“The Montpelier “baby group” (as I have always referred to it) has been foundational to my connections and confidence as a parent and to my daughter’s friendships and relationships since she was a newborn. It was the most local, inclusive, supportive, and baby-centric (many things are geared towards toddlers and older) group I could find and I made an effort to go every week, even/especially on hard early parenting days, and I have recommended it to every parent and caregiver I’ve crossed paths with since. I look forward to going again with my second baby and can’t wait to grow our community network even further.

Thank you Good Beginnings and ALL of your offerings!“

“The Good Beginnings caregiver meetups are one of the most significant assets in this community that my family has found as we’ve been adapting to life with a new baby.

There are very few events here that are friendly for caregivers of newborns and babies, and having somewhere I know I can go every week to learn from other parents and share my experiences has been a life saver. As a stay-at-home parent who recently moved to the area, these meetups are one of the few ways that I have to meet people and talk to another adult during the day.

The additional regional meetups have also been helpful to avoid long drives, as even a 15 minute drive with a baby can mean that your baby takes a sneaky nap and is off their routine for the rest of the day. Simply put, going to these meetups has been the biggest thing keeping me sane as a new parent. The benefit to my child of having a less stressed parent should not need to be expanded upon. And now that my baby is growing older but is still too young to attend events that cater to toddlers, the Good Beginnings caregiver meetups are the main opportunity my child has for socializing and learning how to play with other children.

I would also like to add that Good Beginnings has done an excellent job preparing the event coordinators, as they are always incredibly welcoming and help foster introductions to other parents and create community.“