baby caring classes near Northen Viginia?

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I am going to have a baby in early Sep. My husband and I would like to take some basic (but useful) baby care classes since it is our first baby. I am going to deliver my baby in Fairfax Inova Hospital but they didn't provide much choices for expecting parents. I also checked Sibley hospital but those classes are limited and only available to families planning to deliver there. Anyone have recommendations where we can go? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

That's odd, I took a don't-drop-the-baby class (ie "baby basics") offered by Inova last year.

Are you sure they don't offer the the baby care classes anymore? I thought I saw it on their website not too long ago.

[Anonymous]

My DH and I took the momease classes offered at GW before our DS was born and they were good. I think DH was a little disappointed that he didn't get a detailed, outlined, tabbed baby care manual that had all the answers, but I was happy with them! A friend of mine who just had twins took their classes a few months ago and was pleased, too.

[Anonymous]

I was really disappointed with HOW basic the Baby Basics class was through Momease at GW Hospital. Most of the class was spent reviewing baby products and things you may want to register for. The end was really rushed which was when they started talking about feeding, bathing, and diapering, which was what I thought the whole class would be about.

Check out www.seewhatyouread.com for some good videos and PDF files for new mom and baby care. And get a good book, like the baby book by dr. sears.

[Anonymous]

I'm registered for a class at Virginia Hospital Center. I can't vouch for the quality of the class (my session doesn't begin until the end of August), but I don't think there is a requirement that you have to deliver there to attend the classes.

[Anonymous]

INOVA does have a childcare class we took. However, it's offered at Alexandria. There are no classes at fairfax that I know of. They also have breastfeeding classes, and a childbirth express one.

[Anonymous]

Out of curiosity, do you really think you'll get a call after your delivery date if you haven't had your baby at the hospital where you took a class? I think even if the hospital required that you delivered there, they can't really enforce that rule.

[Anonymous]

Go to the class at Georgetown hospital. You can go there even if you're having your baby at another hospital--some girl in the baby care class I went to was having her baby at GW. My husband and I BOTH thought it was informative and worth our time.