Parenting Classes...
Bellingham Technical College offers parenting classes for every age – Birth through Preschool. Every class is offered each quarter, so if the dates below aren’t up to date, check their website for the upcoming class.
Love & Logic For Successful Parenting (Online Course), Bellingham Tech CollegeLearn the specific "how-to's" of successful parenting, not just theoretical concepts. Online course. Thursdays, 11-12pm, June 25 - August 19 (and then ongoing – check their website for upcoming classes) Cost is $122.65
Positive Discipline, Bellingham Tech College
Explore ways to teach with kindness and firmness at the same time. Cost is $64.65. Tuesdays, 6:30pm – 8:30pm, July 7 – August 18 and then ongoing (check their website for upcoming classes) Cost is $64.65
Baby 'n Me (1-7 months), Bellingham Tech CollegeTopics of discussion include child development, toy selection, sleep patterns, games and songs, and strategies for preventing parent burnout. Cost is $64.65. Wednesdays, 10am – 12pm, July 8 - ?, and then ongoing – check their website for upcoming classes) Cost is $64.65
Parents and Kids Together: On The Farm (Age 1), Bellingham Tech CollegeParents and children will enjoy a variety of art projects, songs, books, and activity centers designed to develop curiosity, imagination and social skills. Cost is $57.50. Mondays, August 3 – 31, 9:30am – 12pm, Cost is $57.50
Parents and Kids Together: On The Farm (Ages 1 & 2)Parents and children will enjoy a variety of art projects, songs, books, and activity centers designed to develop curiosity, imagination and social skills. Cost is $57.50 Tuesdays and Fridays, 9:30am – 12pm, August 4 – September 11, and then ongoing, check their website
Parents and Kids Together: On The Farm (Age 2)Parents and children will enjoy a variety of art projects, songs, books, and activity centers designed to develop curiosity, imagination and social skills. Cost is $57.50Wednesdays, August 5 – September 2nd, 9:30 – 12pm, and then ongoing (check the BTC website for upcoming classes.
Baby 'n Me (8-12 months)Topics for discussion include weaning, discipline, emerging language, health and illness, and safety. Cost is $64.65Wednesdays, 12am, August 5 – September 23 (and then ongoing, check BTC’s website for upcoming classes)
Parents and Kids Together: On The Farm (Toddler & Preschool)Parents and children will enjoy a variety of art projects, songs, books and activity centers designed to develop curiosity, imagination and social skills. Cost is $57.50 Multiple Sessions – Thursdays and Fridays from 9:30am – 12pm (and ongoing, check BTC’s website for upcoming classes)
Baby Connections – Free! Multiple days, times and locations…
Thursdays from 1-3 at First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall Ave, B’hamConnect with other mothers and discuss a variety of baby topics!
Tuesdays from 12:30 – 2:30pm,Whatcom Day Academy, 5217 Northwest Drive B’hamConnect with other mothers and discuss a variety of baby topics!
Wednesdays from 11-1pm, Immanuel Lutheran Church, 5782 Lawrence Rd, EversonConnect with other mothers and discuss a variety of baby topics!
Montessori Classes and Parenting Workshops: The Sense of Wonder, www.thesenseofwonder.com
August 2009
Summer Camp: Introduction to Montessori
Come join us August 18, 19, & 20 from 10-11AM for a parent & child "summer camp" workshop focusing on familiarizing yourself and your 2-5 year-old child with Montessori materials and activities. We will be focusing on Practical Life and Sensorial aspects of the Method and all activities can be easily incorporated into daily living at home!
Fee: $30 for 3-day session or $15/day
Location is at Sudden Valley Community Center/8 Barn View
Childcare is available on location for siblings, Birth-10 years of age.
Stores...
Well, of course you've always got the big box stores like Target, etc. but as far as baby and toddler exclusive stores in Bellingham...here goes. *And I'm not too familiar with baby stores in Whatcom County, so if you have another one, email me with a short description and I'll add it to the list.
Along Comes a Baby, www.alongcomesababy.com Good for all your basic baby items like cribs, strollers, high chairs, etc, etc. You can also find great items that are harder to locate in big box stores like Bumgenius 3.0's, Bummis, and other cloth diapering things. They also carry the awesome Bjorn trainer potties AND (YAY!!) a pretty extensive selection of nursing bras.
Portable Kid, www.portablekid.comLots of great items in this small store. Highlights include Britax carseats, tons of carriers (including Ergos and Beccos with a simulated baby to try with them) and cloth diapers. Don't think this great store stops at that though, there's lots of little items as well like sippy cups and accessories for the car.
Mother Baby Center, www.motherbabycenter.orgA great resource for your pregnancy and post partum. You can weigh your baby and get hooked up with post partum nurses and doulas. They also sell a lot of great items at good prices including nursing bras, post partum bath teas, and bottles. A great store.
Bellingham Baby Company, www.bellinghambabycompany.com If you want to get out with your baby to a fun store and treat yourself, this is the place. You'll go ga ga over the adorable items they have here and most of them are either local and/or mom made. My faves? Adorable baby shoes that stay on for just $10 (pink with zebra print!), trumpette socks, and the cutest wet bags and dipees and wipees you'll ever find at great prices.
Kids Northwest, Cornwall Ave., downtown B'hamThis is a wonderful store for baby and toddler clothing and shoes. They sell well made, high quality shoes and clothing that won't wear out and is soft on their little skin.
Little Bugs, www.littlebugs.comMy favorite of all the consignment stores. They do a great job of really going through things and accepting name brands and good quality. In addition to shoes and clothing, you can also find almost everything else you need here. Strollers, high chairs, cribs, bedding, carriers, baths, boppys, the list could go on and on. Totally worth checking out.
Wee Ones Reruns, www.weeonesreruns.netI was a fan of Wee Ones for their low prices when they were located in the old house, but since they've moved next to Trader Joe's, the verdict is still out for me. They have clothing and baby accessories and items, but I have found their prices to be hit and miss for consignment. Sometimes I'll find something for a great price, but a lot of it is fairly expensive for used items. Worth checking out, though.
Stuff...Ask a mom for her opinion on all things baby and we could go on and on for days. Everyone has their own "go to's", but I thought I'd list some of my essentials and where to get them...
Nursing Bras and Sleep Bras: I like Bravado Bras and the biggest selection I've found is at Along Comes a Baby. You can also try them on there. Sleep bras (because in the beginning I had to wear nursing pads at night) are at Motherhood Maternity in the mall for cheap.
Boppys: Honestly, they can be washed in the washing machine and at $25 for just the thing itself, they are ridiculously expensive. Save yourself some money and get a used one at Little Bugs and get a cute cover for around $12 at Along Comes a Baby or Target.
Cloth Diapers: If you're going this route, save yourself some money and get a few different kinds at first to try and see which one fits your baby best. Bumgenius and Bummis are at Along Comes a Baby, Dilly Dallys and Thirsties are at Portable Kid, and Snap Eze are at Bellingham Baby Company. This should get you started and if you want to order a bunch of different kinds in one shipment for a good price, try Kellyscloset.com
Survival: The first few weeks are harder than hard. I LOVE The Happiest Baby on the Block DVD with the 5 S's. It shows you how to magically calm your baby in an instant and I've never met a baby this system didn't work for. Swaddlers that are quick and easy can be found at Along Comes a Baby and get yourself some Lansinogh Breat Cream before you start nursing.
Honestly, the list could go on forever and ever. If you have an "essential" you'd like to add, email me and I'll put it on. Mothers need Mothering!
