FAQs
What is the fee for the group?
The registration fee for this session is $230 for new moms groups. The Second Time Moms Group is $200 .
Where is the group located?
All groups are currently in person and take place at Merry Music Makers, located at 3759 N. Ravenswood, Chicago. Easily found, FREE parking is available in front of the studio building and on the surrounding neighborhood streets.
It looks like the session I want to register for isn’t open yet. When do sessions open for registration?
Typically sessions open for registration either about 3 weeks prior to the start date or sometimes right after the session before that one fills. This can vary depending on how far apart sessions are spaced. If you are interested in a participating in a particular session, be sure to fill out the form at the bottom of the Upcoming Sessions page indicating which session you are interested in. When that session opens for registration, you will receive an email notifying you that you can go on the website and sign up. Some sessions fill very quickly, within a matter of hours. Others take about a week to fill.
What do I bring to the group?
Yourself, your baby, and a baby blanket if you think your baby might enjoy the view from laying on the ground.
How long is each weekly meeting?
Each session meets for an hour and a half, almost always from 1pm to 2:30pm unless otherwise noted.
What day of the week do the sessions meet on?
This depends on the particular session. They start on different days of the week depending on the actual session. For example, if a session starts on a Monday, that means that it meets each week, for the duration of the group, on Mondays. If the session starts on a Tuesday, then it means each week, for the duration of the group, on Tuesdays.
What topics are discussed in the group?
A list of some of the discussion topics can be found here.
What is the ideal age for a baby to be at the start of the group?
This is a very individual experience and largely depends on how things are going with your baby after he or she is born as well as when you are feeling ready to start leaving the house. While the age range of babies in the group is 0-6 months, the average age of babies at the start tends to be somewhere between 4 and 12 weeks, however, there are always a few who are younger and a few who are older than this range. Even if your baby is on the older end of the age spectrum in the group, the group itself isn’t just meant to be beneficial for the 6 weeks we spend together. It is meant to last long past that time as you continue your friendships with other moms in the groups. As children grow older, a few weeks or months’ age difference becomes less significant and you will continue to benefit from the support of the other moms you have met at this pivotal moment in time.
Do I need to take notes?
No. I send out a follow up email after each session with any information that you might want to look into on your own.
What if I miss a meeting either because I am out of town or my baby is sick and I can’t make it. Can I make up the missed week in another session?
Unfortunately, you can’t make up a week if you miss it because each 6 week session is really its own cohort of moms so you can’t move in and out of a group. It does sometimes happen that a mom misses a week here or there. It happens. People travel, illness pops up and sometimes life with a baby can be unpredictable. I always send out a follow up email after each week’s meeting so you would have those to refer back to if you miss a week. You will still benefit from the group, even if you miss a week.
Can I bring my mother or mother in law (sister, friend, etc.) along to the group?
The group is a confidential setting so each session is open to the registered participants. You can suggest that she go for coffee while you attend the group. There is also seating in the lobby area at NY Kids Club where she can wait.
Can I feed, burp, change my baby in the room?
Absolutely! This is a great environment to practice feeding, changing and soothing your baby outside of your home. There are no judgments in group. Bottle feeding and breastfeeding mamas are all welcome!
What do I do if my baby cries?
All babies cry. Your baby sounds the loudest to you so don’t worry. Everyone will have a turn when it is their baby crying in group at some point. Learning how to soothe your baby outside the comfort of your own home is one of the challenges we face as moms. The group is a nonjudgemental and safe environment where you can practice this skill.
How big are the groups?
The maximum number of moms in a session is 14. The groups are kept small in order for each participant to have the opportunity to be an active part of the group and ask questions.
Is there parking?
Yes! Merry Music Makers has a free parking in front of the studio building and on the surrounding neighborhood streets. It is easily accessible.
What do I do if I still have questions?
Feel free to contact Linda either by phone at (773) 340-BABY (2229), email info@chicagonewmomsgroup.com or through the Contact link and submit a question through the website.