Journey Into Parenthood
Let us join you in your journey!
Are you expecting your first baby?… Perhaps you’re seeking ‘refresher’ skills as you prepare for a sibling or a grandchild. The following offerings are designed with you in mind! Sign up for a Journey Into Parenting Workshop for practical tips on how to prepare for life with a newborn. Learn more about the Benefits of Babywearing and how to make the most of your infant carrier. If money is tight in your household, you may be eligible for our Childbirth Education Scholarship.
Build your village. Learn to care for baby and yourself.
Learn how to create a realistic new baby plan with the guidance and support of Program Director, Jessica Zonarich. Understand what you can do to build your support system and enhance the early months home with a new baby. We’ll discuss what is normal/abnormal for a newborn, what new babies need from their caregivers, and practical ways to effectively meet these needs while also caring for oneself. We’ll also review some essential community resources and local connections for anyone caring for a baby. The Journey Into Parenthood Workshop will help prepare you for the transition to parenting a new baby!
While geared toward expectant parents, this workshop is open to anyone. We encourage grandparents, infant care providers, and other caregivers to check it out! Early Parenting workshops are also a great way to connect with other parents-to-be and start building your parenting community.
Attachment Basics
- Understanding the science of attachment in brief
- Skin to Skin Why & How
- Reading your baby’s non-verbal communication
- Developing emotional self awareness
- Further reading and resources for attachment
Postpartum Self-Care
Setting Up Camp
Making a Door Sign
Enlisting your support system
Making a life-line list
Caring for your postpartum body
Managing expectations
Infant Care
Diapering options & demonstrations
Bathing
Soothing
Decoding Cries
Newborn behavior and appearance
Postpartum Care for Parents
Postpartum Emotions
PMADs Info
Screening yourself
Getting help
Journey Into Parenthood Workshops are back in person! Join us for our next class Saturday July 29th at 10:30am! Register here!
If you have any questions about the class feel free call us (802) 595-7953 or email Jessica jessica@goodbeginningscentralvt.org.
“I didn’t know how much I didn’t know!”
-dad after Journey workshop
Discover the benefits of babywearing!
Babywearing Clinics
Our hands-on Babywearing Clinic offers an introduction to the benefits of wearing your baby and helps new and expectant parents learn the basics of safe babywearing. Parents will also learn practical and effective tips for getting started successfully. Clinics are offered by appointment over Zoom or at the Nest.
Babywearing Carriers
Stop by the Nest to see our selection of carriers available for purchase. We offer three styles of carrier: soft structured, ring sling, and wrap. If you are matched with a Good Beginnings Postpartum Angel, and you also qualify for WIC, you may be eligible for our Free Carrier Program! Talk to your volunteer or call us at 802-595-7953 to learn more.
Please contact info@goodbeginningscentralvt.org to learn more or to schedule a Babywearing Fitting.
Babywearing can be a wonderful way to calm, soothe, bond, and easily nurse a newborn. Studies hav found that 6 week-olds carried in a sling at least 3 hours a day cried 43% less than others. Another study found that parents who were given cloth carriers at birth were more responsive to their babies and had babies who were more securely attached. Click to learn more about the benefits of babywearing!
If you and/or your partner would like to take a childbirth education class, but you are worried about cost, please read the eligibility criteria and then follow the application process outlined below.
Scholarships are available on a first-come, first-serve basis until funds are exhausted.
Good Beginnings may ask for supporting documentation or further explanation from applicants, on a case-by-case basis.
Our scholarship program offers a limited number of scholarships to help pay for childbirth education classes (up to a maximum of $125) for expectant parents in the Good Beginnings service area who demonstrate financial need.
Who is Eligible:
- Because this scholarship is specifically for childbirth classes, you or your partner must be pregnant to be eligible.
- You must live in a community served by Good Beginnings of Central Vermont (all of Washington County, as well as the towns of Hardwick, Wolcott, Elmore, Stowe, Bolton, Orange, Topsham, Williamstown, Washington, Brookfield, Braintree, Randolph, Chelsea, Tunbridge.)
- Your health insurance provider does not pay for childbirth education classes.
- You must demonstrate financial need. Good Beginnings uses household income and eligibility for WIC and/or Medicaid to determine an applicant’s financial need.
- Proof of eligibility for WIC (gross household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level) is required for the maximum scholarship of $125.
- If you are not eligible for WIC, but you meet the Medicaid income eligibility requirements for pregnant women (gross household income at or below 208% of federal poverty level), you may be eligible for a partial scholarship of up to $65.
- We try to keep our basic application as simple as possible, but we reserve the right to request additional information or documentation of financial need on a case-by-case basis.
Funds for this scholarship are limited, and we may not be able to grant all requests.
How To Apply:
- Fill out this short application and submit to Good Beginnings.
- Good Beginnings may ask for additional information or documentation, on an as-needed basis, as part of the application process.
- If your request is granted, you will be asked to provide documentation of enrollment in a childbirth education class and the cost of that class.
- We will reimburse the childbirth education provider directly, not to exceed a maximum of $125 ($65 for a partial scholarship).
- If you choose to enroll in a class that costs more than the amount of your scholarship from Good Beginnings, you are responsible for the remaining balance. You must contact the workshop presenter to discuss a payment plan or waiving of balance.
- It is your responsibility to select, and enroll in, a specific childbirth education class. Good Beginnings does not offer childbirth education workshops, and receiving a Good Beginnings scholarship does not guarantee you a space in your preferred class.
- Good Beginnings may ask for additional information or documentation, on an as-needed basis, as part of the application process.
- If your request is granted, you will be asked to provide documentation of enrollment in a childbirth education class and the cost of that class.
- We will reimburse the childbirth education provider directly, not to exceed a maximum of $125.
- If you choose to enroll in a class that costs more than $125, you are responsible for the remaining balance. You must contact the workshop presenter to discuss a payment plan or waiving of balance.
- It is your responsibility to select, and enroll in, a specific childbirth education class (find a list here) Good Beginnings does not offer childbirth education workshops, and receiving a Good Beginnings scholarship does not guarantee you a space in your preferred class.