Although children don’t come with instruction manuals, the Lancaster General Wellness Center offers the next best thing—supportive classes and groups to help you learn the essentials of parenting.

“As a mother, I can relate to the questions and concerns that new parents have about the best ways of bringing up their children,” says Joanna Boyer, RN, an educator with the Lancaster General Wellness Center. “I feel fortunate to be in a position where I can help new parents find some of the answers they’re looking for and give them the reassurance they need.”

The Wellness Center is always looking for ways to support and educate patients and their families on various topics, including parenting skills.

Parents attending the classes will find a welcoming environment, where all questions and concerns are welcome.

Most of the classes are held at Lancaster General Women & Babies Hospital, except for Baby Care Basics for Adoptive Parents and Heartsaver Pediatric CPR, which are held at the Lancaster General Health Campus. To register for any of the parenting programs, call 544-3138.

• Baby Care Basics - This class is an information and demonstration session with instructions on the basic techniques of baby care such as bathing, childproofing the home, car seat safety, caring for an ill child, choosing a daycare or childcare provider, developmental milestones and more.
• New Parent Discussion Group & Baby Weight Station - Parents can weigh their children (ages 0-4 months) to make sure they are gaining weight appropriately. Then, the discussion group meets to talk about current parenting topics and the challenges of parenthood. This program is run in conjunction with COBYs.
• Baby Care Basics for Adoptive Parents - This class, one of our newest, grew from an understanding of the special concerns adoptive parents face. In addition to learning about basic newborn care and feeding, parents can learn how to childproof their homes. Call 544-3779.
• Baby 'n Me - A parenting series designed for families with infants to four months of age, this program enables parents to learn about the changes that they and their babies will experience in the coming months. Participants share stories and can bring their babies with them to class. 
• Grandparenting in the 21st Century - This class is designed for first-time grandparents. They will learn about the latest birthing trends, as well as updated information on topics such as newborn positioning and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, car seat safety, infant feeding and bathing and childproofing the home. The class also includes a tour of Women & Babies Hospital.
• Heartsaver Pediatric CPR - An American Heart Association-approved course that teaches rescue skills for children. The course covers CPR and foreign-body airway obstruction.
• Nurse-Family Partnership - A special program offered to women who meet certain income guidelines. Lancaster General nurses work with women during and after their pregnancy to build and reinforce positive parenting skills.