Mom groups in Hamilton 

Building a community can transform your maternity leave and motherhood experience. The days are long, the nights can be longer and having the opportunity to connect with other parents in similar stages as you during parenting and early motherhood can be comforting and make the hard days easier. You don’t have to do this journey alone and it’s also intimidating to get out there as a new parent. 

I know how nerve-wracking it can be to venture out there and attend a class or meet-up. There are a lot of worries and what-ifs that you may run through your mind before an adventure with your baby but remember everyone else likely had similar thoughts before arriving and are seeking the same thing you are; connection with others and to fill their baby’s wake window. There was countless classes I’d show up to and my daughter had just had a carseat blowout (one of many, IYKYK)… there’s nothing like showing up to a room full of strangers with a baby covered in poop up to their neck lol Anyways, when you’re showing up to a new group, just remember nobody has it all together and give yourself an internal hug for showing up and doing something new and scary. 

I’ve put together a list of my favourite local supports and given you the details of why they are a great place to start building your community. Many are for a Parent who identifies as ‘Mom’ but many are also for any Parent/Caregiver to attend and some may be just for the Parent to enjoy an activity without Baby around if you need that support, too. 

I truly hope this helps you try something new and venture into building your community. There’s so much more to maternity/parental leave and motherhood than crunching wake windows and being stuck in a dark room trying to get your baby to sleep. Plan a nap on-the-go, start small and get out there and enjoy some new sights and experiences with your baby. You can do this! 

Mom groups in Hamilton

Mamaraderie – They offer a paid app with a group chat (not the chaotic unruly kind though. It’s organized by categories and always friendly) and opportunities to join mom hang-outs and unique clubs (e.g., golf club, book club, walk club, gardening club, etc.). Their newsletter is free and provides weekly updates of things happening in the city and some LOLs, too.  Check them out here : https://www.mamaraderie.ca/ 

Moai Movement – My daughter and I loved this program in her first year. We started Mom & Baby Yoga classes at around 7 weeks postpartum and continued till she was 12 months old. These classes are small and run out of a studio on Locke St in Hamilton. Other offerings include babies on the move yoga, dancing babies, toddler tumble classes, prenatal pilates and Mom night out events (have attended a few of these too and they are so welcoming and enjoyable). Some of their classes are now being offered in Brantford. Check them all out here : https://www.moaimovement.ca/

 Mommy Connections Hamilton – Small group sessions that host weekly activities/presenters and group events. They run one group in East Hamilton/Stoney Creek and another in Ancaster/Dundas. The topics change each week but your group stays the same so you can build connections with other Moms while learning and interacting with new information/activities each week. Check them out here : https://mommyconnections.ca/hamilton/ 

Rivers and Meadows – Two local Moms who have transformed the art and music scene in Hamilton. They are an art, music and exploration program for babies 0m to children 6 years and every age in between. They host weekly themed drop-in sessions for different age groups. They also host birthday parties and special events for young children. You can read more about their groups here: https://www.riversandmeadows.com/ 

Fit Barre – Barre Babies Program. Loved this program when I was off with my daughter. Option to have Pelvic Physio assessment for benefit coverage. A safe workout designed for postpartum recovery and a carpeted space for babies to roll around. They run drop-in sessions throughout the summer (at the park) before the 8-week sessions begin again in the fall. Check them out here https://www.fit-barre.com/  

Hamilton Moms – All free drop-in programming. Locations change but commonly at Pinch Plant and Bake Shop (also a great baby hang spot as they have toys and a highchair available) or a local outdoor area. Check their instagram for updates on their Mom group offerings: https://www.instagram.com/hamilton.moms/ 

The Move Room – They host Prenatal and Baby Movement classes in their cute, community-minded movement studio on Ottawa St. Their gentle movement classes welcome movement with your baby and socializing with other folks before, during and after class. Check out their studio here: https://themoveroom.ca/ 

Babes and Brews – Hosted by Grain & Grit Brewery in West Hamilton, this casual meet-up provides parents the opportunity to mingle over a brew (or non-alc beverage). They are hosted every Tuesday and Thursday. They have a large covered patio, too! Check out the details here: https://www.grainandgritbeer.com/events 

Common Moms – registered programming Mom group, usually 6 week sessions. Group sessions available include music class, sensory programs, fitness, etc. Check out their Mom group offerings here: https://www.thecommonmoms.com/ 

JennaFit – Mom and Baby fitness classes in Hamilton/Burlington. I took some of Jenna’s classes when I was off with my son in 2019 and really enjoyed her enthusiasm and creative workouts. Jenna is a Mom of 2 and her classes are welcoming to all ages and stages (and classes without a baby in tow, too!). Check her out Mom group offerings here:  https://www.instagram.com/jennasirotkinfitness/ 

Other free programming for Moms and Parents in Hamilton:

• Local library: they often run baby story time and circle time. If you have older children, this is a great outing to bring both since big sibling can engage with new toys and books and younger siblings can roll around. My favourite sites in Hamilton are: Kenilworth Library, Sherwood Library, Terryberry Library, Waterdown Library and Turner Park Library. Check out the calendar and all library locations here: https://kids.hpl.ca/storytime 
• EarlyON – Usually located near a school or community centre, these programs are free and the staff are so welcoming (usually Early Childhood Educators). They host a variety of programs (like story time, music, gym time, etc.) and when I visited with my daughter in 2022, they had an opportunity for lunch, too. EarlyON Centres also host workshop sessions to help support your parenting journey and answer questions (e.g., introducing solids, ask a Speech-Language Pathologist, etc.). You will need to create an account, it’s called KeyOn and can be done either online in advance or when you arrive. Some of my favourite EarlyOn sites in Hamilton were: Bernie Morelli, Beasley, Greendale, Helen Detwiler, and Waterdown. A few people have also suggested Winona, Dundas and St. Patricks as awesome locations to check out, too.  There are sites all across the city so find the one closest to you and check it out :) https://www.hamilton.ca/people-programs/early-years-child-care/early-years-services/earlyon-child-and-family-centres#earlyon-locations

 

Wishing you a supported maternity leave and motherhood experience,

Chelsea

Chelsea is Mom of 2 and a Certified Baby, Toddler and Child Sleep Consultant with advanced certification in Infant and Early Mental Health and Pediatric Sleep Health. She supports families within Hamilton and beyond with hands-on, no cry-it-out, responsive methods towards longer naps and better nights. She has a Master’s of Professional Education (specialization in Applied Behaviour Analysis) and over 10 years of professional experience supporting families in the community. Chelsea works collaboratively with families to empower them with the confidence and tools they need to reach their unique sleep goals. Hear from rested families here and book a free call with Chelsea here to discuss how she can support your family’s journey to more sleep.