A Place for New and Expecting Families

Welcome to Cradle! We're all about pregnancy, birth, babies and parenting...

At Cradle, we believe parenting is a transformative experience, enhanced through informed choices and connection to community. Our goal in all we do is to encourage parents to educate themselves and explore their options.

We provide a variety workshops, classes, mom-tested and selected products and wellness services for new and expecting parents to care for themselves and their babies both physically and emotionally.

 We believe in family-centered birth, whether birth takes place in a hospital, home, or indpendent birth center (if only we had one in western MA!). Our hope is for new and expecting families to find the connections and support they need to feel secure in their parenting journey from conception through early childhood. 

For what you care about most, Cradle is here to support you.

Our Classes and Workshops

Our classes and workshops are designed to help new parents make the most of this amazing time and provide guidance for loving and nurturing care of babies.

We offer a comprehensive natural childbirth education series called Welcome Baby, childbirth preparation intensives such a Birthing from Within® and Hypnobirthing, and classes on a wide range of topics including breastfeeding, newborn care, infant/toddler development, infant massage, couples labor massage, movement for labor and birth, preconception and pregnancy nutrition, babywearing and much, much more.

We offer prenatal and postpartum mom/baby fitness classes (Check out Mama Baby Zumba! or Bounce Back with Baby) and our Gentle Movement classes for labor and birth. Cradle's workshop series completes our educational offerings with one-day sessions on topics such as Cloth Diapering 101, Infant CPR and First Aid, Homepathic Basics for Infancy, Tips on Photographing your Baby, and so much more. We're adding workshops all the time, so keep checking back in.

FREE Support Groups

 At Cradle, we host a number of FREE community groups and programs which allow parents opportunities to connect with some of the areas many volunteer support organization.  Currently the FREE community groups meeting at Cradle are La Leche League of Northampton, The Carried Child, Attachment Parenting Northampton and ParentWise, a group devoted to earth-aware parenting for modern parents.

Cradle also hosts a weekly facilitated Drop-In group for New Mothers (babies 0-6 months) called MotherJourney.  This group meets every Tuesday from 1-3pm and is open to all, no matter where, how or with whom they birthed.

Breastfeeding and Baby Weighing Clinic

Starting in January 2010, Cradle will host a free Breastfeeding Clinic on Thursdays from 1-2pm. This clinic will be staffed by a board certified laction consultant or a La Leche League leader each week.  At this clinic you can find support and answers, purchase breastfeeding products if needed, weight check your baby, and schedule a private lactation visit if needed. Cradle also carriers a full line Medela breastfeeding products (prices are the same as Target and the local hosptials).

Specialized Support Groups

Starting in January 2010 Cradle will offer three Specialized Support Groups. 2nd Time Moms and More supports mothers of new babies who already have a young child or children and wish to attend a newborn group and be able to bring their older child, if desired.  It will explore the issues of life with a newborn with a special eye towards the many issues that impact adding to your family.

Our Queer Parenting group will focus on the specific needs, challenges and issues of gay/lesbian/transgendered families and will be facilitated by a lesbian mom of four. Focusing on Fatherhood is a baby and dad group that will meet on Saturdays facilitated by a parent educator and father of two. It will explore new parenting through the eyes and experiences of fathers. These groups will have a low cost, sliding scale drop-in fees. Please keep checking our calendar start dates! 

Music Classes for Babies, Toddlers and Pre-schoolers - Kindermusik!

Staring in January 2010, Cradle is pleased to begin offering Kindermusik® Family Time,Village, Our Time and Sign & Sing classes!  These age-specific educational music classes are special designed to meet the needs of infants, toddlers and preschooler at their developmental appropriate stage and our taught by two moms who both had babies in the last year.

Our Staff, Educators and Associated Practitioners

 Our staff, educators and wellness practitioners are deeply committed experts and include midwives (CNMs and homebirth), doulas, nurses, childbirth educators, lactation consultants, certified fitness instructor, certified massage therapists, certified acupuncturist, hypnotherapist, licensed social workers and certified infant/toddler teachers.

There are many other wonderful practitioners throughout our area who serve mothers and babies (and papas and partners too).  We are more than happy to provide resources and referals so you match with the service or practitioner that is right for you.

 Our Mother & Baby Essentials Store

So many things! What do I really need! We'll help you figure out...

Our products include a carefully chosen selection of books, pregnancy and labor support products from nausea relief products to belly support garments, herbal remedies for common pregnancy and breastfeeding issues, organic and hypo-allergenic mama and baby bath and skin products, baby slings/pouches, wraps and mei tai carriers, nursing pillows, Medela breast pumps and supplies, comfortable nursing bras, cloth and eco-friendly diapering supplies, glass and BPA free bottles, locally made baby products, swaddling blankets and so much more.

Have a product to recommend or can't find something locally that you think is a great product for moms or babies -- let us know and we'll consider it for our store.

 A Space Created with Mothers and Babies in Mind

Our space is warm and inviting, with plenty of places to nurse and care for your baby or toddler. Cradle's facility includes a large teaching studio, retail area with comfortable seating, a suite of offices for our practitioners and a private bathroom (some people come JUST to see our amazing and inspirational bathroom!) with comfortable changing area. We are conveniently located on the 3rd floor of Thornes Marketplace with garage parking (first hour is free), an elevator, and we are accessible via the PVTA. We look forward to you stopping by and visiting us.

Have a cup of tea, chat with one of our knowledgeable and caring staff members and find good support, things you need and a group of caring practitioners to help you enjoy parenting.