PLAYGROUPS FOR INFANTS & TODDLERS
Weekly Playgroup for Toddlers
Tuesdays 3-5 p.m.: Eastgate Penthouse
Members
come with their children to interact with one another. There are usually sing-alongs,
craft making, discussions about parenting issues,
etc. Please check the BabyNet@MIT
Calendar for more details and join the BabyNet@MIT
Mailing List to receive updates. Information on other playgroups around
the MIT area is listed in BabyNet's Links page.
Weekday Infant Group
Thursdays 3-5 p.m.: Eastgate Penthouse
Let's join together and have a fun time sharing everything about our bundle of love and the life that goes with it.
Even if a new baby is the most wonderful thing that could happen to us, it can also be overwhelming and we might struggle at some point.
This is why the infant group has been created: to share the joy of being a mother but also our struggles with our baby. There will be a different subject every week depending on the interests of the attendees.
Would you like to start a weekend infant or toddler group? We can help you get started! Contact us at babynet-info@mit.edu. |
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SUPPORT & INTEREST GROUPS
Discussion Group
From time to time, we invite child pyschiatrists and other professionals to get advice about parenting issues. Please check the BabyNet@MIT Calendar for more details and join the BabyNet@MIT mailing list to receive updates.
MEALS-ON-WHEELS PROGRAM
For Postpartum Mothers & Their Families
All mothers know how hectic and stressful things can be in the first couple weeks after the baby is born.
Meals-on-Wheels is a special program where members can volunteer to prepare and deliver a nice meal for postpartum moms. The meal does not have to be fancy and the delivery time is flexible. Yet this small gesture can mean a lot to new moms who are far away from their families or home countries.
This program aims to keep meals running for the first two weeks after each mom delivers her baby.
Here is what the volunteers need to do:
- Pick a day to deliver the meal.
- Cook or buy cooked meal for the family (food allergy instruction will be given out later). Any cuisine is fine and it doesn't have to be gourmet food. If you aren't sure, simple pasta and rice dishes are great options.
- Inform the mom of the delivery time.
If you are pregnant and would like BabyNet@MIT to help with meals after you deliver, please contact BabyNet through the Contact Us page with your due date, preferred time period for delivery, food allergy info, and some background on your family or current situation. Since the number of volunteers varies from time to time, the number of meals you receive eventually depends on the number of volunteers we can find. (In one instance, we had a total of 9 volunteers delivering meals to a Mom every other day for two and half weeks).
BABYSITTING NETWORK
BabyBucks BabySitting Exchange
BabyNet introduced its own babysitting exchange program called the BabyBucks BabySitting Exchange where popsicle sticks marked with the BabyNet@MIT logo are used to pay for the babysitting sessions.
Each new family that joins the program will be given 10 popsicle sticks if there is only 1 child or 15 popsicle sticks if there are 2 children in the family to start off with. |
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To find another member to do babysitting, the family can either:
- Look through the network contact list to find a list of members who are willing to "collect" these sticks by babysitting and then contact someone on the list that you already have met at the meetings to babysit;
- Send a babysitting request email to babynet@mit.edu to ask the members;
- Make an announcement at the next meeting to find someone who is willing.
1 stick will be given for every hour of babysitting done for 1 child and 2 sticks if there are 2 children. In turn, these same people can use their sticks to get babysitting hours from others on the list.
If members run out of sticks, they should start looking for opportunities to do babysitting for others to collect more.
If you are interested in joining this BabyBucks program, contact us via the Contact Us page with your information (Please indicate your interest in Baby Bucks).
One-time emergency Babysitting
If members are desperate to find a babysitter to attend to some unexpected event, they can send an e-mail to BabyNet's mailing list and most likely there will be someone who is willing to help. Be specific with needs for best results.
Paid Babysitting
BabyNet does not provide paid babysitting services. Information on such services are listed on BabyNet's Links page. Members can also set up babysitting exchanges on their own without joining the BabyBucks program.
