mama + baby groups
it takes a village …
SUPPORT in motherhood is ESSENTIAL and building your “tribe” of women who are navigating the same stages of life with littles alongside you can make a significant (+ positive) impact on maternal satisfaction, confidence, self-care and your overall postpartum + parenting experience. for the last 6+ years, i’ve been empowering, connecting + educating mothers through BABY GROUPS (previously offered through my studio, happy baby, in the Los Angeles area) and i’m excited to bring them to Seattle’s Eastside suburbs now! these groups are formed according to your baby’s age — currently offered for pregnancy through first year — so please click on a the link below + complete the brief questionnaire if you are interested in joining an upcoming session.
format
earthside with erin BABY groups are offered (pending enrollment) on an ongoing basis for 8 week sessions, which meet weekly for 90 min., located in issaquah, wa. due to the intimate nature of these groups, trial classes are not possible + full session enrollment is generally required. the investment is $280 (though sliding scale may be offered on a need basis) + group size is currently limited to 8 mamas. you will be grouped with other mamas whose babes’ birthdays (or due dates for the prenatal groups) are as close together as possible but never more than a 3 - 4 month range. in each session, we will cover a range of developmental topics — relevant to the ages, stages + needs of the specific group. discussions are often group driven but sensory activities, guest experts + informative resources are incorporated when applicable. currently enrolling for june 2022 sessions.
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an opportunity to begin building your mama tribe even BEFORE baby arrives. topics may include pregnancy journey, birth plans, doula tips/tricks for labor, preparing for baby, newborn care, postpartum recovery, understanding your maternity leave benefits/rights + much more!
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geared towards providing first-time mamas (or those with 5+ years gap between children) a safe, nurturing space to share their experiences of transitioning into motherhood, as well as discuss various topics/issues applicable during these early months of motherhood. mamas are encouraged to begin as early as they feel “ready” as the groups are a wonderful way to build community, obtain support + sometimes simply to have a reason to leave the house. during these 0 - 6 mos. sessions, babies will typically sleep, eat, poop + cry — it is expected!
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this group provides a safe, nurturing space to seek support + find camaraderie, while offering ideas + insight for mamas preparing to welcome ANOTHER child into the family. though customized to the specific needs of the group, topics include sibling relationships (+ rivalry), infant/child development, positive communication, navigating (often) conflicting needs of multiple children, personal balance + self-care … + much more.
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this EVENING group is intended for all mamas who are/will be transitioning to work “outside” the home (even if that means working from home). in addition to discussing all the questions, concerns + emotions typical of each stage of motherhood (+ infant development); this group of “working mamas” also focuses on topics that may be more unique to those juggling demands of home + career.
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this group is often a continuation of the earlier (infant) groups — though participation in those is not a prerequisite — but topics evolve to focus more on palate development, sensory play + socialization. the babies become increasingly mobile + interactive, which shifts the structure of the group format to involve them more in engaging activities.
“I had my daughter in May 2020, at the beginning of this pandemic...and because it was basically the only thing to do at the time, I was on a walk! I walked by Happy Baby and much to my surprise the doors were open. I had been going there for prenatal yoga but everything had been closed since March. I popped my head in and Erin was there with a smiling face! While they weren’t officially open, she told me about a mom group that was meeting weekly and they were just part way through the session - she thought she might still be able to squeeze me in. This was a little outside of my comfort zone, but I was excited for some interaction with others and thrilled to talk with other women who were also new moms. I started going weekly and slowly opened up to this group of mamas. I could tell pretty early on what incredible and strong women these were and I felt so lucky to have met them all. After our first session wrapped, we started another - quickly bonding over the months as our babies grew. We had a group chat that went off during all hours of the day (and night!) because you just knew someone understood what you were going through at that exact moment. Now, our babes are getting ready to turn 2 and many of us still talk often, I see some of these mamas (who I now call dear friends) almost weekly and our kiddos are the very best of friends. To say that Happy Baby, Erin and that mom group were a blessing is an understatement. It was hands down THE best decision I could’ve made in those early days. And to watch our kids grow together now and to watch us all evolve as moms and to know that no matter what you’re going through or experiencing you’re not alone, is literally lifesaving while you’re on one of the most insane journeys of your life - motherhood. Thank you Erin - you’re the absolute best and we miss you in El Segundo!”