I just registered for 8 different classes including birthing, infant care, CPR and emergency, breastfeeding, and active labor. I felt like it might have been too early, until I saw that the classes for the month ahead of mine (my medical group holds each class at most once or twice a month that I saw) were booked! My evenings for mid-August to mid-September are officially booked solid!
I have to call tomorrow and see how I can get my parents into some of the classes, especially CPR and Emergency, and also infant care. I know they're not idiots and they've raised plenty of kids before my baby comes out, but I feel like it will be a good opportunity for us to discuss what I want for my baby and how that is the same or different from their expectations.
Anybody else registering for classes yet?
Re: Registering for prenatal classes
Wow, if my kid that I had raised to adulthood tried to sign me up for infant care classes at the hospital, I don't know what I would do. How insulting. And unnecessary. And honestly, your parents don't have to agree with all your parenting choices. You can tell them what you would like the to do, and they can either agree or not agree. If they don't agree or think your ideas are stupid, you can pay a babysitter to follow your strategies exactly.
But honestly, they were at least fairly successful raising their own kids. They don't need to be treated by you like they need special infant care help. I have never seen a set of grandparents in those classes...
sooner. Woah chill out girl.
I think it's a great idea for grandparents to attend classes. It's obviously been awhile since they had babies...a refresher course is perfect ! Especially CPR! Everyone should take that class every six months to a year!
If they will be taking care if baby they should definitely be prepared.
It's the MOTHER'S responsibility to make sure everyone is comfortable in an emergency. Sure they don't Have to agree but you're making it sound like just because they're older they automatically know better and don't have to respect batmandi's wishes.
Older is NOT wiser. Years ago I'm sure no one thought about learning CPR.
I had a woman who is only 55 ask me today in shock :you mean you aren't doing a amnio?!:
Ummm no. I have been blessed with a very healthy pregnancy and I had to explain to her that it is not the norm anymore. Things change and I think it's great if grandparents are on board learning new things if they will be a big part of baby's life.
Just to clarify, my parents offered to do whatever I wanted them to do, including come to appointments, classes, etc. They are retired and want to be involved in every way I want to involve them. Obviously I would be paying for them to join the class, which is why I am calling to register them. Like I said in my original post, I know they have raised more children than most through foster care and their own kids that they know what they're doing.
As a FTM, I'm sure I can't even begin to imagine the amount of things that are going to come up that I didn't think about before I had the baby. I want them to come to the class so we all hear what the instructor has to say, and after be able to discuss what I want for my baby, and what their thoughts are too. I think I didn't put it right in the first post. I want an open forum and a discussion beforehand on everything we possibly can, just so we all know where each stands. If they disagree and refuse to do something I want for the baby, then either I will do it their way, since they are going to be our day care, or I will have to consider my other options. I obviously don't really want to do that for multiple reasons.
I specifically only discussed the "infant care class," not the CPR classes. Obviously those are beneficial.but I stand by my opinion that it is insulting to ask people who have raised their own kids to sit through a hospital infant care class. Clearly you have a different opinion than me, and that's fine. But I just think it is bizarre..because those classes are VERY basic.
Thank you ellaf! I agree that it is my responsibility to make sure everyone who will be around my baby on a regular basis is prepared the way I would like them to be prepared, and to provide the class or whatever it is. Obviously I can't administer a vaccination, but I expect and will pay for my parents to get up to date vaccinations if needed. I don't want to force my ideals on my parents, I just want to make sure we are all on the same page, or at least know what to expect from each other as much as we can before it becomes a "OMG why did you give LO rice cereal? We're doing exclusive Baby Led Feeding!" (totally hypothetical situation with no preference either way at this point don't jump down my throat anyone!).
Hmm, I'm not sure, but mine are available to register totally online. Do you have to register through your Dr's office? If they aren't available until 24 weeks, I'm sure they'll have spaces available
they probably do that to prevent crazy planners like me from trying to register at 8 weeks! Lol. The only reason I didn't was because I wanted a better picture of what my work schedule would be like come August haha.
Also, anyone who is going to be taking care of your child in any capacity should know infant CPR!
Our hospital offers a grandparent class. It's a refresher on things that may have changed since they last had a newborn in the house, like back sleeping is best as opposed to tummy sleeping which was the way to go in the 70s and 80s. They also go over some basic infant first aid and CPR. Maybe you could look around for a grandparent specific class if your folks are up for it and its offered in your area?
I would ask them to take that if it was available, but we don't have one. The description of the infant care and CPR/first aid classes both day that they are designed for parents, as well as grandparents and caregivers.