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Find Your Village in the City: Philly Resources for New Parents

Meet new parents and share your journey, right in your neighborhood!

Still waiting for the baby to arrive? Head over to The Philly Family Resource Guide for Expecting Parents.

Raising a baby in Philly is pretty amazing. As more and more families are staying in the city, the resources here are growing along with our needs. Being a new mom can be scary, intimidating, and even isolating at times, but luckily help is just a few blocks away. From parenting classes, to baby playgroups, to breastfeeding support meetings, there are so many opportunities to get out there, meet new parents like yourself, and get the guidance you need.

Parenting Centers and Groups

Nest

1301 Locust St.

If you are lucky enough to live near Nest, it will quickly become your home away from home as your baby grows. You probably already know about the indoor playspace and fun classes, but before your baby can take advantage of any of that, Nest’s “Hatchlings” group for newborns is a weekly support group where you can meet other parents, ask questions, and explore common concerns like development, emotional issues, and sleep.  The facilitator is an expert in child development and also brings in some guest speakers throughout the course to address specific topics.

Lilypad

1234 S. Broad St.

This South Philly parenting center hosts a weekly members’ baby playgroup, and a free monthly new parent support group open to the public. As you are expecting, they also hold birth classes, so you can get started building your village before you even have your baby. Lilypad also runs the semiannual City Kids Consignment Sale, and the “Kids South of Washington” Google group.

Kith + Kin

3060 W. Jefferson St.

This new Brewerytown playspace is truly a community space aimed at babies and kids (ages 0-5) and their parents to play, learn, gather, and more. Founded by local parents Eden Coffey and Jess Jones, Kith + Kin fills a neighborhood need, and seeks to be a home-away-from-home for its young residents and their families. In addition to classes for little ones, Kith + Kin hosts parent support groups. These include breastfeeding support, a monthly birth sharing circle, and yoga.

Hall-Mercer

245 S. Eighth St.

Pennsylvania Hospital’s child and parent center has been leading play and discussion groups for families with young children from birth up to three years of age for over 40 years, and so many parents (and babies) meet their first friends here as they progress through the different classes. The classes are very narrow and are done by age group, so you’re sure to meet parents who are at the very same stage as you are. Classes begin as young as three weeks with the “Exploring Parenting” group, and go all the way up through toddlerhood.

The Nesting House

1605 E. Passyunk Ave.
4501 Baltimore Ave.
542 Carpenter Lane

All three Philly locations of this wonderful consignment store are also community gathering spots, with music classes, babywearing classes, and more. Even better, each location hosts its own free weekly new baby meetup so parents can gather for support, tips, and friendship.

By My Side

1542 E. Montgomery Ave.

This neighborhood parenting center hosts baby playgroups on Wednesdays at noon, where Fishtown families can find support in each other and make new friends.

Minnow Lane

2029 Frankford Ave.

This Fishtown boutique is also a great resource for parents to gather for support and information. They lead a weekly New Mom Group on Wednesdays at 1:30 pm, a relaxed and unstructured group to bring moms together to talk about all things postpartum and baby. They also have host prenatal education and specialty seminars like monthly Infant CPR training.

Center City Pediatrics

1740 South St., Suite 200

Whether or not you are a patient at CCP, you can join their drop-in group classes to meet other moms and learn from experts. There is “Moms Supporting Moms” on Wednesday mornings (off in July, but returning next month), which addresses the mental well-being of postpartum mothers. They also have a newborn tummy time playgroup to promote early healthy gross motor development. In addition to their weekly offerings, they often bring in specialists for seminars like newborn sleep and feeding. Check their calendar to know what’s coming!

Breastfeeding Support Groups

Jefferson Hospital/Nemours

833 Chestnut St, 3rd Floor

This free breastfeeding support group meets every Tuesday at noon, and is facilitated by one of the lactation consultants from Nemours. You can learn techniques for feeding, weigh your baby, and use their hospital-grade pump.

Pennsylvania Hospital Solutions for Women

700 Spruce St.

This free mother-to-mother support group meets Mondays at 12:30 pm, and is facilitated by an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. This is also a great resource for all your nursing needs, from bra fittings to pump supplies!

Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

3400 Spruce St.

This free group is offered twice a month and is taught by a board certified Lactation Consultant. For support group dates and time, call their Lactation Warm Line at 215-662-2361.

Advocare Society Hill Pediatrics

834 Chestnut St., Suite 306

This group is led by the practice’s certified lactation consultant on the first and third Thursday of each month from 11:30 am – 1 pm. You do not need to be a patient of the practice, but there is a $15 fee to attend.

Center City Pediatrics

1740 South St., Suite 200

This group is held Thursdays at 11 am and led by a certified lactation consultant. You do not need to be a patient of the practice, but there is a $20 fee to attend.

Lifecycle Woman Care

Studio 34, 4522 Baltimore Ave.

Every other Wednesday from 10 am—noon, LWC hosts a free breastfeeding support group at Studio 34 in West Philly. It’s facilitated by a certified lactation consultant.

Kith + Kin

3060 W. Jefferson St.

Held on every other Thursday at 1 pm, this $10 drop-in group is facilitated by an international board-certified lactation consultant who can help answer your questions and provide tips for success.

La Leche League

Essene Market, 719 S. Fourth St.

The Philadelphia chapter of this international nonprofit devoted to breastfeeding support meets the second Tuesday of the month at 10:30 am at Essene Market in Queen Village.

Minnow Lane

2029 Frankford Ave.

Minnow Lane hosts a free breastfeeding support group Mondays at 12:30 pm, where moms can get advice and tips for success, share their experience and make meaningful connections. There is a facilitator from Breastfeeding USA, and an infant scale for weighted feedings.

Baby Wordplay (Fairmount)

1942 Brandywine Ave., Philadelphia

Fairmount’s Ali’s Wagon may have discontinued its Parenting Center, but they have partnered with Baby Wordplay to continue offering support for new moms in the form of this weekly meetup with a lactation consultant. The group meets on Wednesdays at noon, and the drop-in cost is $15.

Photograph by Laura Swartz.

Contributing Writer

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