Do you have a baby in the house and live on the North Shore of MA? Or having one soon? Congratulations! We love babies here at Macaroni KID North Shore MA and remember how much we struggled to find resources in the local area after bringing home baby. So we wanted to help our new North Shore MA parents by creating a list of baby, infant, and parenting resources all in one place for you! If you know someone who is expecting or had a baby, please let them know about Macaroni KID North Shore MA and share this list of baby resources with them!
While Macaroni KID North Shore MA does our best to keep up, please double-check with the local business or organization to make sure event details haven't changed.
Do you know of resources or an upcoming event on the North Shore for families with babies? Email us details at cheryllachendro@macaronikid.com and we will add it to this guide or to our Macaroni KID North Shore MA events calendar!
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Connect with other parents on the North Shore MA!
Looking to connect with other new parents on the N for playdates, advice, support ... or just to get out of the house for a few hours? We feel that! Here is a list of groups in the local area where you can meet other new families ... plus information on how to subscribe for free to Macaroni Kid North Shore MA the BEST place on the North Shore to find events for families:
Macaroni Kid North Shore MA
We not only aim to bring you the most comprehensive family calendar in the area, but Macaroni Kid North Shore will provide you with a variety of articles, columns, giveaways & more, to help you navigate this crazy thing we call parenting.
Check out the Event Calendar and subscribe to our FREE weekly newsletter to have this information delivered right to your inbox!
CFCE of the North Shore
The Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) programs helps to promote and support:
- Parent education and family engagement
- Early literacy and child development
- Collaboration between local early education and care partners
- Transition between early education and care settings
- High-quality programs and service delivery
Hamilton-Wenham Mother's Club
Founded in 1913, the Hamilton-Wenham Mothers’ Club’s mission is to foster a sense of community and involvement and to create opportunities for activities and friendships among local mothers and children.
We endeavor to provide monthly options for fun, safe, and educational activities for families close to home. We also host events for moms to have fun and find support and friendships on their own time. We give back to the community through volunteer work with the towns and/or local non-profits or businesses.
The Birth to Three Family Center- Ipswich
Birth to Three offers comprehensive resources and referral services regarding:
- child development
- parenting strategies
- coping with transitions
- exploring child care/preschool options
- navigating family challenges
Breast Feeding Support Group- Making New Connections- Salem
Our weekly virtual Breastfeeding Support Group meets from 10 - 11 a.m., on Fridays via Zoom. This group caters to moms who are looking for mother-to-mother support or have questions about breastfeeding and are looking for answers.
Our lactation specialists guide you through breastfeeding, address your concerns and answer questions. Breastfeeding moms and babies and pregnant mothers are welcome to attend. For more information, please email Kara McKiernan or call 978-354-3909.
Started in August 2015, the Pentucket Perinatal Mental Health Coalition is a grassroots community organization with over 17 community partners, including Anna Jaques Hospital, Early Intervention, Head Start, Healthy Families, doulas, lactation counselors, and various mental health clinicians and prescribers. We serve the towns of Amesbury, Boxford, Haverhill, Georgetown, Groveland, Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, Salisbury, and West Newbury.Our mission is to improve maternal emotional health in the Pentucket area through education, collaboration, support and advocacy.
We empower and inspire moms to move their bodies, build up their community and upgrade their mindset with fitness offerings, events, nutrition guidance and more.
Join our FREE Facebook Community today!
More details + info coming soon on our membership option.
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Best parks and trails on the North Shore MA for strollers
Want to go for a walk but not sure which trails around the North Shore have the best stroller access? Here are some of our favorite parks and trails to take baby:
This is a great crowdsourcing opp -- ask on social media for advice from other parents about where they loved to take their babies for walks when they were in strollers. Live in a place with cold weather? Make sure to include great places to walk inside in the winter months or on a rainy day -- think malls, YMCA tracks, etc.
Halibut Point State Park
Gott Avenue, Rockport, MA 01966
Clipper City Rail Trail and Harborwalk
Newburyport MA 01950
Get more information HERE.
Danvers Rail Trail
Danvers MA
The Danvers Rail Trail is a 4 1/3-mile non-motorized shared-use path linking schools, downtown Danvers, parks, residential areas, and trails in the neighboring towns of Peabody, Wenham, and Topsfield.
Ideal for walking, biking, or jogging, the compacted stone dust trail is built along what was once part of the historic Boston to Maine railroad running from Newburyport to Danvers.
Essex County Trail Association- Gordon College
The North Shore area has extraordinary recreational trails. Since 1982, Essex County Trail Association has worked to protect and preserve hundreds of miles of trails in Essex, Hamilton, Ipswich, Topsfield, Wenham, and West Newbury. With the help of our team of trail stewards and many volunteers, ECTA maintains and repairs these trails in partnership with public and private landowners, land trusts and local conservation commissions. Our members provide a vital source of funding for trail projects. Come explore these incredible trails!
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Classes for parents and babies on the North Shore MA
Each city will have its own organizations and businesses offering classes for new parents. To make a list, check with places like your hospitals, social services agencies, mental heath agencies, United Way, YMCA, etc. Look for everything from postnatal yoga classes to baby music classes.
YMCA of the North Shore
The Y is a cause-driven organization that is for youth development, for healthy living and for social responsibility. That’s because a strong community can only be achieved when we invest in our kids, our health and our neighbors.
Music Together® is the perfect family activity! It's a research-based full music education curriculum that provides tools for families with very young children for their musical development through play: it's fun and silly so infants, toddlers, preschoolers learn while they play.
Jewish Community Center of the North Shore
The JCCNS is an award-winning community center welcoming families from across the North Shore. We offer enriching programs and services for everyone in the family… from our Early Childhood program to Strength & Balance classes, from parent-tot classes to adult education. We feature a state-of-the-art Fitness Center, over 85 weekly Group Exercise classes, after-school programs, summer camps, cultural programs and more. Everyone is welcome at the J!
North Suburban Jewish Community Center
The NSJCC also offers many programs open to its members and community at-large. Recent family programs include Shabbat Shalom Circle, Rosh Hashanah apple picking, Havdalah concerts, and children’s book author events. Adult programs include a Comedy Night at the Black Box, Wine Tasting, and Flower Arranging Class, as well as other social outings and fundraising events. Additional programs geared specifically for NSJCC alumni (children and adults) are also held throughout the year. Please visit our EVENTS Page for more information about upcoming events.
Little Grove Music and Art- Newburyport
Little Groove is a friendly, Boston-based company that offers one-of-a-kind music and art enrichment classes for children. Our programs are designed for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school aged children along with their parents or caregivers. We have music classes for children, basic instrument instruction for children over three, dance parties, yoga, art and story time. Sign up for a class and experience first-hand why families love Little Groove!
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Family resources and support services on the North Shore MA
Each city will have its own organizations offering family resources for new parents. This list will include social service agencies, mental heath agencies, nonprofits that provide free diapers or supplies, groups that provide breastfeeding support, etc. If you completed the template titled "Events, Classes & More in {Town} For Children With Disabilities" link it in this section as well.
Breastfeeding Support Group: Making New Connections
Meets Fridays from 10 – 11 am at Mass General for Children at North Shore Medical Center, 4th Floor.
La Leche League of the North Shore
Meets second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm, location varies – see website
Contact Laura at (617) 699-2123 or Maureen at (978) 468-1268
La Leche League of Salem
Meets monthly, location and times vary – see website for details.
Contact Alyson (978) 509-9450 or Emily (617) 620-9019
La Leche League of Topsfield
Meets third Thursday of each month at 10:15 am. 1 South Common Street, Topsfield, MA. Contact Erica at (978) 882-2835 or Jeanine at (978) 887-5282
The Breast Connection
Weekly drop-in sessions for moms with babies age newborn to four months. Lactation consultant will be on hand to provide support to breastfeeding moms. Tuesdays, 8:30-10 am. Beverly Hospital, 85 Herrick Street, Beverly. Contact (978) 283-7102 or (978) 879-4373 for more info. Free or suggested donation.
CFCE of the North Shore
Hosts free, open playgroups for children birth and up (unless otherwise noted) at local libraries, churches and their Peabody location. Locations include Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Middleton, Topsfield, and more. Schedules changes based on time of year, check out their website for full details.
Drop in Playgroup at Boxford Town Library
First Monday of each month, ages 0-5
10:30 – 11:30 am.
Meeting Room 1, Town Hall/Boxford Town Library
Hamilton Wenham Mother’s Club
Playgroups, events and more. $50 annual membership. Contact hwmothersclub@gmail.com.
Mother Talk
Weekly drop-in sessions for moms, facilitated by a lactation consultant but you do not need to be breastfeeding to attend. All aspects of motherhood are discussed. Tuesdays, 10 am – 12 pm for moms of babies ages newborn to three months and Thursdays, 10 am – 12 pm for moms of babies older than three months. Beverly Hospital, 85 Herrick Street, Beverly. Contact (978) 922-3000 ext. 2203 for more info. Free or suggested donation.
New Baby Support Group
Meet local parents (and their babies) in a welcoming, relaxed environment. Group is led by a postpartum/newborn nurse and breastfeeding education with 10 years of experience helping families. Mondays, 11 am – 12 pm. Birth to Three Family Center, 25 Green Street, Ipswich. Contact (978) 471-2180 or birthto3@ipsk12.net.
New Mom Meet Up
Meets from 1 to 2:30 pm every Friday at Room to Bloom. Hosted by Enza Lilley of amommysfriend.com. No cost. No judgement. Don’t forget your socks! 81 Bridge Street, Beverly.
North Shore MOPS
Meets every other Thursday from 9 to 11:15 am. Typical meetings include eating, socializing, listening to a special speaker or short video, having discussion time, and doing a creative activity. Sometimes it’s a little different, but it always includes eating and socializing! They also have play-dates, MOMs Night out, and Special Events. Held at the North Shore Community Baptist Church located at 9 Hart St in Beverly.
