Coping With Labour Pain

This class is designed for anyone who wants to learn more about coping with labour contractions.  For first-time parents, it is a great supplement to the full Childbirth Preparation class.  For experienced parents, it is appropriate as a stand-alone refresher class.  This 3-hour workshop is focused on labour pain, and ways to cope without pain medication.  We discuss pain as a positive sign of labour progress, and talk about how to find ways to work with your body during labour.  This class does not include any detailed discussion of pain medication options.  Epidurals and other medications are covered in the full Childbirth Preparation class.

If you are pregnant, join our weekly Fit-to-Birth exercise class!  Using a combination of yoga, strengthening exercises, bellydancing, and fitness ball, this fun weekly class is designed specifically to prepare your body for birth

Happiest Baby on the Block - Techniques for helping baby sleep

This class is for expectant parents, and parents of young babies who would like to learn techniques for calming and soothing a baby and help them sleep better.  This 3-hour class is based on the highly effective 5-step approach to calming crying and encouraging sleep, pioneered by Dr. Harvey Karp in his best-selling book and DVD.  In our Happiest Baby class you will learn step-by-step how to help your baby sleep better and how to soothe even the fussiest baby in minutes... even seconds!  Parents will learn: 

• Why the idea that colic is due to gas pains is mostly an old wives' tale
• Why keeping the house quiet may actually be upsetting to many newborns
• Why most babies get more upset in the evening
• Why it's impossible to spoil young babies
• An easy way to help infants sleep a few hours more at night
• Why fathers are often the best baby-calmers in the family

It's OK to bring your baby to class! And it's OK if they cry during class - it gives us a chance to see the techniques in action!

Baby Sign Language

Have you ever wondered what your baby is thinking?  Join Sylvana to learn and practice how to sign with your baby.  Using signs gives babies a way to "talk" with their parents, before they can talk. Babies can communicate about the world around them, long before they have mastered their verbal speaking skills! Babies and toddlers often use signs as a natural part of the communication process. Many babies know how to wave "bye-bye" or use a headshake to mean "no". You can help your baby use lots of other gestures to communicate just as easily as these more common signs. Sylvana, who has successfully used sign language with her 4 kids since their birth, will share with you her knowledge, tips, and anecdotes on how to incorporate this amazing communication tool in your family, greatly reducing frustration and enhancing bonding time.

Enjoy fun games, songs, and activities that incorporate signing and highlight your baby's developmental skills:

• Learn to sign with your baby to well-known songs and rhymes that baby will love
• Practice signing in class
• Class handouts provided so you can continue to practice signing at home
• Recommended age is 6 months to 2 years (older siblings welcome)

Newborn Care

This 3-hour class is for anyone who wants to learn more about the basics of baby care in the first 8 weeks of life. Topics covered: 

• What newborn babies are like (appearance, senses, capabilities, temperament)
• What babies need and how they communicate their needs
• Infant cues
• Parent's role in brain development 
• Crying and calming 
• Daily care 
• Sleeping and sleep safety
• Bathing and diapering
• Feeding 
• Playing
• Health and safety

Are you interested in using a sling but unsure of how it works? Malta's foremost and most experienced babywearer will show you various sling positions, particularly which ones best suit your baby and your changing needs as your baby grows.  PLUS... we also sell slings!

We offer classes where we will teach you how to give your baby a full body massage including specific strokes to help with difficulties such as colic and constipation.  There is also emphasis on infant communication to help you develop confidence in your ability to interpret your baby's unique cues, how to incorporate massage in your daily routine, and how to continue massage as your baby grows.

Conscious Fathering - Skills for pregnant dads!

Class for expectant or new dads. How to meet baby's basic needs: to be fed, burped, comfortable, rested, and to be responded to when they cry. Attachment parenting skills for dads, and how to stay connected in spite of work commitments.

Weaning is an exciting stage for you and your baby but can be confusing with lots of conflicting information from family, friends, health professionals, and books.  During this class we will answer the basic questions, including how and when to start your baby on solids, first foods, what to avoid, when to introduce other foods to your baby, allergies, and so on... basically, anything you need to know about weaning, including baby-led weaning!

Potty Training

Potty training is a major milestone in the development of your child. It's also a major challenge! The process of potty training your child requires patience, but when complete, the rewards are great! In this workshop we'll guide you through the potty training process. We'll cover all the major topics - including when to start potty training, how to potty train, and what potty training aids will help the most.

Being a new mum can be isolating, so make the most of our mother-and-baby clubs to find new friends with shared interests! At these meetings, mums can chat and make new friends over coffee and snacks, discuss their concerns, and share their experiences. Babies and toddlers play and take their own first steps in socializing! Combined with a different educational topic each week.