Babies and their Parents at the Wright Mommy & Me Parenting Classes in Santa Monica & Sherman Oaks, California

We’re not meant to parent alone

Bringing moms, dads and their babies together to learn, get expert support and make new friends during every phase of your baby’s first year. Led by psychotherapists and child development experts.

Santa Monica classes
Sherman Oaks classes

weekly 90 min classes

ongoing during 1st year

2-3 month age span

A mother holding her baby and looking out the window

Being a new parent isn’t easy!

At every stage of your baby’s life, new challenges and questions arise. Our topics progress as your baby develops, throughout their first year. We have a 40-week curriculum, presented in five, consecutive 8-week series. We'll help you tease out the important info, gain confidence and build relationships that lift and support you.

Your baby's first year, month by month

These are the average ages of the babies in each series, and will depend on your baby's birthdate. This shows how you can continue throughout your baby's first year!

Series 1

~ 1 to 4 months

The early weeks

First smiles, feeding and sleep finding a rhythm, and getting to know each other.

Topics may include:

  • Early sleep support

  • Bonding and attunement

  • New friends, shared experiences

Series 2

~ 3 to 6 months

Reaching and rolling

Laughing, grabbing, rolling over. Sleep often changes around four months.

Topics may include:

  • Early developmental play

  • Sleep through the night

  • Introducing solids

Series 3

~ 5 to 8 months

Sitting up, first tastes

Sitting, babbling and, around six months, first foods.

Topics may include:

  • Language development

  • Love for reading

  • Empathic limit setting

Series 4

~ 7 to 10 months

On the move

Crawling, pulling up, and often a new worry when you leave the room.

Topics may include:

  • Preschool overview

  • Science of praise

  • Avoid food battles

Series 5

~ 10 to 13 months

First words, first steps

First words, first steps and a mind of their own.

Topics may include:

  • From bottle to cup

  • Tiny tantrums

  • Graduation!

Classes in Santa Monica and Sherman Oaks

Both locations run the same five series, on weekdays for moms and on weekends for moms, dads and couples. Pick the one closer to home.

Santa Monica

The First School, 1739 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405

Families join us from Venice, Brentwood, Culver City, Beverly Hills and across the Westside.

See Santa Monica classes

Sherman Oaks

Bini Birth, 13743 Riverside Drive, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

Families join us from Studio City, Encino, Woodland Hills, Burbank and across the Valley.

See Sherman Oaks classes

Led by licensed psychotherapists and early childhood experts

Led by a team of licensed psychotherapists and early childhood experts, this class is a fun, interactive experience, with an emphasis on mindful, empathic parenting and optimizing your baby’s development. We also provide lots of support for your adjustment to parenthood. Each class meets weekly for 90 minutes throughout your baby’s first year.

Learn More

  • Caren Gitlin, LCSW

    Child and family therapist, 15 years in early childhood development.

    Read bio

  • Synthia Praglin, MA, CPE, CIIM

    Certified parent educator and infant massage instructor, 18 years of parenting groups.

    Read bio

  • Jane Rosen, PsyD

    Clinical psychologist and infant mental health specialist, leading since 2012.

    Read bio

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Kind words from parents like you

  • "This group has helped me feel more confident as a new mother, it has helped create a greater understanding of my daughter, and has fostered many new friendships which I know will continue for years and years."

    – Tanya

  • "Having Caren as our leader was just the best. She created a safe space for us to share the good and the challenging. I always felt comfortable and supported in the group by her and the other moms."

    - Jenni

  • "As first time parents the welcoming, calm, instructive support was exactly what we were seeking. Jasmine is so savvy and runs things like a total pro. The curriculum addresses needs I hadn’t even thought of and all the ones I had."

    - Abigail

  • "These classes have been a highlight of our parent journey - a space to share discoveries & advice, ask questions and also vent. Not to mention, great for the little ones to meet and interact with other peers."

    - Will

  • "I would not have survived the first year with such happiness and appreciation and understanding without the class. Thanks for helping me and Jack thrive!"

    – Amy

  • "It was truly a relief to know we had access to a knowledgeable resource every week. Dr. Jane Rosen is so experienced, patient and caring. As a new mom, I was very lucky to have her as a mentor during my baby's first year."

    – Jen

Julie Wright our founder and her coauthor, Heather Turgeon holding a baby

We wrote the books on baby sleep and parenting with empathy.

Julie Wright, our founder, and her coauthor, Heather Turgeon, wrote the popular baby sleep book, The Happy Sleeper. Read and trusted by parents all over the world, The Happy Sleeper has helped thousands of babies and little kids access their natural ability to sleep. They also wrote Now Say This, an empathic and effective guide to parenting in difficult moments. The approaches in both books are taught in our classes.

FAQs

  • Each class is “ongoing,” which means that it continues at the same day and time, throughout your baby’s first year. The topics in each 8-week series, progress as your baby develops. Existing class members have the first option to reserve a spot in the following series. Our groups become very bonded, which creates a safe and supportive feeling.

  • The class begins with open questions, so that we can use all the time as everyone gets settled. Songs and movement are next, followed by the main topic which is geared for the babies’ developmental stage. For the last few minutes questions related or not to the topic are answered. Often a question turns into a future main topic.

  • Due to the specific ages in each class and the creation of a bonded, cohesive group setting, trial, drop-in and makeup classes are not possible.

  • Each class contains babies born within a 2 – 3 month span. Weekday classes have about 10-14 moms and weekend classes, about 5-10 families.