Birth and Baby Resources for East Bay Expectant Parents - 510 Families

Birth and Baby Resources for East Bay Expectant Parents

Thanks to East Bay Music Together for sponsoring this guide to resources for new parents and babies in the East Bay.

music together babies class
Photo: East Bay Music Together (Try a free preview class!)

What to Know Before Baby Arrives

Where to shop locally to gear up

Mommy’s Trading Post, Alameda.  Mommy’s Trading Post is a kid’s and nursing/maternity wear consignment store on Park Street in Alameda where you can score deals on gently used baby items.

Berkeley Parents Network Marketplace (Berkeley and vicinity) is a moderated email newsletter of baby- and kid-related items up for grabs at usually good prices (Must subscribe to participate).

Craig’s List, Facebook Marketplace, and Next Door (Your Neighborhood) are other hyperlocal social networks where folks may be offering up the baby gear they want to get rid of. These boards are not necessarily dedicated to parents, so you’ll have to be patient for the right listings.

Oakland/Berkeley Buy/Sell/Trade Facebook Group for Parents is an online board where parents are offering up their gently used items. It’s a great place to source a baby carrier or gently used stroller. Like Craig’s List, you’ll have to go pick up the item from the seller. Ask to join >

BabyList. Oakland-based start-up, BabyList, lets you create a registry that combines your must-haves with all the pretty little things on Etsy you might like to have. See how it works >

Rent the bigger ticket items. Loop gives you month-to-month access to the best baby and children’s products, without the clutter or expense of ownership. See how it works >

Maternity and Before-Baby Services

NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) will check your car seat installation for free or point you to a fire station near you that will do it. Click here to see the list of places to get car seat inspections and the phone numbers to make an appointment.

photographer-guidePregnancy Pictures. Browse our list of top family photographers in the East Bay to find someone who will take beautiful photographs of your pregnancy.

Prenatal Massage. Browse our list of best prenatal massage spots in the East Bay.

Prenatal Yoga and Exercise.  9 East Bay Yoga Studios for prenatal yoga >

Acupuncture. Our contributor Julie used acupuncture to help rotate her breech baby and is now a big believer.

S P O N S O R E D   M E S S A G E

The joyful, musical, magical teachers of East Bay Music Together will lead activities for you and your baby to sing, play, and jam along together. Your baby will begin on their path of musical development as they become confident and joyous music makers.

Classes are appropriate for newborns and up…or join a mixed age with your baby and big kid to accommodate naps! Many classes are designated outdoors for your comfort. Register for Babies Music Together >

(Or try a free preview class >)

Music Together - a fun class for babies and their grown ups
Photo courtesy East Bay Music Together

Where to take Pregnancy & Childbirth Classes

Alta Bates Summit Pregnancy & Childbirth Services (Berkeley) offers parent education classes and support groups. Prenatal classes include Childbirth, Breastfeeding, VBAC, and Childbirth Refresher classes for second-time parents. See the list >

Kaiser Prenatal Health (Oakland) hosts classes so many for their patients, including a Cesarean prep class for mothers who have planned C-sections. Browse all the topics here >

Brilliant Births (Berkeley) offers their childbirth preparation class as a 3-week series, a 5-week series, or a private class. Learn more >

Find more East Bay prenatal and birthing classes >

Birthing Support

Collective Birth Midwifery (Berkeley)
This partnership of certified nurse midwives of color aims to support birthing parents to have the experience they design for themselves.

Pacifica Family Maternity Center (Berkeley) is a birthing center located on Telegraph Avenue. Their website also has a great list of resources. Visit website >

Doulas recommended by our followers

Help When the Baby is Here!

New parent support resources

where-to-meet-moms-oaklandWhere to meet other moms. We have assembled a massive list of new parent groups, activities, and tips for making new friends out in the world. Many of our fave classes, like Music Together, are now happening in person with some others still online (so convenient!). Click here to check it out.

Therapy for new moms and dads. Parenthood is a joy and also a new source of stress. Extra support in a non-judgmental setting is a frequent need of new parents. Don’t hesitate to invest in therapy for yourself or your family during this period of transition.

Postpartum support. Postpartum doulas come to the home and provide help with sleep, breastfeeding, food prep, and general clean-up, including overnight. Looking for a luxury postpartum recovering option? Check out The Village Retreat in San Francisco.

Babywearing help. Join a Bay Area Babywearing event to finally figure out your baby carrier or try a different kind.

Diapers. REDYPER SF offers compostable diaper service and wipes that show up at your home. Soiled diapers are collected weekly, professionally composted, and turned into nutrient-rich topsoil in 14-16 weeks. Wow, right? (Also? Amazon discounts your whole monthly order by 15% if you receive 5 items in it – so stack diapers, wipes, formula, diaper pail bags and set it and forget it with their Subscribe and Save program)

Breastfeeding support. Ask all your birthing professionals for all the support you can get. Take advantage of any free hospital programs, and postpartum visits. Ask your insurance what’s covered. Use it all! Here are some resources to check out:

Queer family support. We love Our Family Coalition’s blend of activism, information, and fun. Find a new parent support group, playgroup, or friends for the next family PRIDE event. Website to learn more >

For new moms interested in Jewish life. Jewish Families of the East Bay is a local organization available to help families interested in learning about early childhood programs or simply connecting with other Jewish families with similar interests. Also, PJ Library provides free Jewish books and music to children from six months to seven years of age. For more information or to sign up >

mom carrying newborn

Activities & Fun

Take Music Together classes. In the special class for parents with babies under nine months old, you’ll learn lots of fun, interactive music activities to support your baby’s socio-emotional growth, language acquisition, and early brain development. Register for Babies Music Together >

All classes — outdoors and indoors — for newborns to 5 years include beautiful music, instructions to make everyday items and activities more musical, CD/downloadable music, an award-winning songbook, access to the family music zone online, and makeup classes. As a family music class, siblings are welcome to attend together. Register for Mixed-Age Music Together >

Our {510} Families calendar has dozens of activities for babies and parents. You can check it daily and we’ll keep on updating it until you can get your shoes on in time for storytime, yoga, or drop-in swimming. Upcoming baby-friendly events from our online calendar:

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

8:00 am - 4:30 pm: Explore Blake Garden, Kensington
9:30 am - 11:00 am: Together Wee Play Drop-In, Berkeley
10:00 am - 10:30 am: Itty Bitty Storytime, Richmond
10:15 am - 10:45 am: Baby Bounce: Songs and Playtime, Oakland
11:45 am - 12:00 pm: Baby Bounce, Oakland

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

9:30 am - 12:00 pm: Together Wee Play Drop-In, Berkeley
10:00 am - 1:00 pm: Wee Play: Drop-In Playtime, Alameda
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Outings you can do with a newborn in tow. Here are 23 activities to do with an East Bay baby >

Date night with a newborn. The New Parkway in Oakland hosts a Baby Brigade night on Thursdays at 4.30. Dinner will be delivered to your seat and your pre-walking baby is welcome inside the theater. Alternatively, the drive-in theater in Concord enables you to watch first-run movies with a baby in your arms from the comfort of your own car.

class-guide-thumbmailMore classes for Parents and Babies – from swimming to music, we have a wonderful guide to all the fun activities for babies that involve weekly session-based classes. Here it is >

Professional family photographs. Browse our list of top family photographers in the East Bay to find someone who will take beautiful photographs of your new baby.

Exercise classes for moms and babies are an excellent way to get moving and build a parenting community, several we like are listed here > (Take your first Fit4Mom or Baby Boot Camp class for free.)

Childcare Information and Resources

BANANAS is a local, Oakland nonprofit that helps train, educate, and connect caregivers with employers. They offer supporting materials and specific listings as well as free classes for parents.

UrbanSitter.com, SitterCity.com, and Care.com work on a membership model that allows the matching of potential babysitters with your family based on the criteria you set.

Thanks to East Bay Music Together for sponsoring this guide. We’re big fans!

 

xxx

Get the {510} Families weekend planner in your inbox. It's free!

* indicates required

1 thought on “Birth and Baby Resources for East Bay Expectant Parents”

  1. Riverstone Chiropractic/Free resources for neck pain with breastfeeding
    Address:
    Riverstone Chiropractic
    3409 Grand Ave #5
    Oakland CA 94610
    https://riverstonechiropractic.com

    LGBTQ+ inclusive, size-inclusive chiropractic practice in the Grand Lake neighborhood of Oakland. Doctor Sandy Baird, DC is a queer/trans-identified parent of two kids. He loves helping other parents stay afloat through all the tweaked shoulders and strained backs that stem from the rigors of caring for young children. Two free resources offered are these self-care videos:

    Neck Pain with Breastfeeding: how to fix your neck pain
    https://riverstonechiropractic.com/2016/10/neck-pain-with-breastfeeding/

    Wrist Pain with Breastfeeding and Babyholding:
    https://riverstonechiropractic.com/2016/10/1266-2/

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

We've got your instructions for family fun right here!
Sign up today and get a list of kid-friendly activities for East Bay parents every Friday.
Stay Updated
You can unsubscribe anytime.
close-link
logo
Scroll to Top