Petworth Peanuts
Newborn Cohorts
Petworth Peanuts has been hosting Newborn Support/Education Cohorts since Spring 2020, starting with just 15 newborn moms! As of Fall 2023, over 1,000 families have participated in our Cohort program and dozens of new parents join every month. This page includes information about our Cohort structure, schedule, topics of discussion, and more. If you have any questions or would like to learn more, check out our FAQs, or contact us here.
How does it work?
Our Newborn Cohorts meet weekly for three months, both in-person and virtually. A virtual discussion with an expert guest speaker is hosted approximately every Thursday; you can see a sample list of our discussion topics below. The Cohorts also meet in person, outdoors (weather permitting!), on a schedule determined by the Cohort members. Cohorts may choose to plan other Cohort events as desired, and discussion topics will be decided in close collaboration with Cohort members as well.
Who can join?
All caregivers of newborns are welcome, including birthing parents, foster parents, adoptive parents, and partners – whether this is your first baby or your fifth! Discussion topics are designed for caregivers of newborns, but older babies (6+ months) are welcome if the below topics are of interest.
Expert Speakers / Discussion Topics
Our cohort guest speakers are subject matter experts / licensed professionals, and our discussion topics vary widely depending on Cohort interest. Past speaker topics have included:
Post-Partum
Postpartum depression
Postpartum fitness
Postpartum mental health
Postpartum physical health & recovery
Postpartum Yoga/Meditation
Exercise post-partum
Pelvic floor recovery / therapy
Infant Care
Breastfeeding and pumping
Newborn sleep: 0-4 months
Baby sleep: after 4 months
Baby-wearing
Baby gear show-and-tell
Baby and Me Yoga
Infant touch, massage
Tummy Time Strategies
Development
Infant Motor Development
Emotional/Social Development
Cognitive development
Baby Sign Language
Speech Pathology
Bi-lingual learning
Introducing solids /
Baby-led weaning
Next Steps
Returning to Work
Finding Childcare
Parenting toddlers
Behavioral Issues
Potty training
Managing multiple children
Early Literacy
Work-Life Balance
The cohort discussions are a safe, non-judgmental space for members to ask questions, exchange advice/resources, and share their "highs" and "lows" for the week as they navigate the adventures of newborn parenthood.
How do I join a Cohort?
​If you have a baby born recently/due soon, and/or you'll be on parental leave this Fall, click here to join the next Cohort! Newborn Cohort membership is just $60 per family and also includes Peanuts annual membership through September 2024 (regularly $35/year). This fee helps us cover the costs of supplies, events, and operations. Peanuts is 100% volunteer-run and we deeply appreciate your contribution! Note that our Cohorts begin monthly, so if you’re expecting a baby in the next few months - stay tuned for forthcoming Cohorts that more closely align with your due date! Note that you may want a few weeks to adjust to life with baby, and are welcome to join a cohort whenever you are ready. Not sure when to join? Email us and we're happy to advise.
I'm already a Peanut, but I'm expecting a new baby!
Congratulations! We're always thrilled for our Peanut alums / sustaining members to join new cohorts. Current Peanuts Members just need to purchase a $25 cohort upgrade package to participate in a cohort. A cohort coordinator will be in touch to confirm your preferred cohort start date.
I don't live in Petworth, can I join?
Peanuts membership is open to all caregivers regardless of location. Our expert speaker sessions are conducted via Zoom. However, cohort meet ups and most Peanuts events are generally hosted in the Greater Petworth area. Members are always welcomed to independently plan additional events and meet ups closer to home as well.
I joined! What next?
After you join your Cohort via our Join portal, we will be in touch via email about the Cohort start date(s) / locations and next steps! If you are interested in volunteering as a leader for your Cohort, let us know! Leaders are integral to our cohorts and are equipped with lots of great materials, contacts, and mentorship. The speakers are already organized/scheduled prior to the Cohort start date, so a Leader's primary job is to help guide discussions and coordinate meet ups. It’s an amazing opportunity to meet parents of similarly-aged children while directly supporting the Greater Petworth caregiver community.
What happens after the Cohort?
Your Cohort programming will last for approximately 3 months, after which you will become an annual "Sustaining Member" until September 2024, when you'll have the option to pay just $35 for a regular yearly membership. Our Sustaining Members, like our Cohort Members, have exclusive access to all of our amazing members-only events, initiatives, and resources, including our annual Spring Egg Hunt, Mother's Day Brunch, Peanuts Family Portraits, Peanuts Family Field Day, happy hours/social events, continuing education expert speaker series, private mailing lists, resource databases, discounts, and much more.