Raising a Family
Whether this is your first baby or you're a seasoned parent, we have classes and support for you.
Prenatal virtual and e-classes are available as LVHN has temporarily suspended traditional classroom education for the safety of you and your new baby. Click on each class link for more information on how to register.
Get a smart start.
Choose from classes offered in a supportive setting alongside other expectant parents, or learn at your own pace through a self-guided eClass educational program. No matter your learning style, we have you covered with a wide range of educational tools to help you prepare for birth and beyond.
In-Person Parent Education Classes
Virtual Parent Education Classes
Need help? Call us at 610-402-5700 for assistance.
In-Person Parent Education Classes
CPR for Family and Friends
This course teaches CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) and choking rescue skills for infants, children and adults. Skills are taught using the American Heart Associations practice-while-watching technique, which provides students with the most hands-on practice.
Virtual Parent Education Classes
Due to the current social distancing guidelines, our traditional classroom programs are now live virtual classes, led by our experienced team of educators. An eClass is available for families who are not able to join the live virtual class(es).
Families have the option of choosing one of the following: a live virtual class or an eClass.
Online Pregnancy to Postpartum Educational eClass
The eClass is a self-guided program allowing you to review the education at your convenience, 24 hours a day, every day. Families birthing at Lehigh Valley Health Network have the option of choosing to participate in the eClass if they cannot attend any of the live virtual classes listed below.
Virtual Baby Care Class
Join a live virtual class presented by our team of experienced educators to learn more about how to prepare for your new baby and what to expect during your postpartum (after-delivery) hospital stay.
Virtual Breastfeeding Baby Class
Join a live virtual class presented by our team of experienced educators to learn more about how to prepare for breastfeeding your baby.
Virtual Preparing for Labor and Childbirth Class
Join a live virtual class presented by our team of experienced educators to learn more about how to prepare for and manage labor and childbirth.
Register Online: 2-Night Class
Virtual Grandparenting Workshop
Babies haven't changed much since you had your children, but a few big changes have happened. Raising kids today is very different from generations before. Let's face it: the whole world is different. Sleeping, cribs, car seats, feeding and parenting approaches have a new look. We will take a peek at what's new to help you prepare for your new journey as a grandparent and how to make caring for grandkids safe, fulfilling, and a memorable experience for everyone!
Virtual Safe Sitter Class
Lehigh Valley Health Network offers the national Safe Sitter® Essentials program which helps to prepare young adults ages 11-13 to be safe when they are home alone, watching younger siblings, or babysitting.
Virtual Car Seat Safety
Video Tours and Car Seat Safety
Learn what to expect when delivering at Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Cedar Crest or Muhlenberg – no registration required.
- Watch a Video Maternity Tour of LVH-Cedar Crest
- Watch a Video Maternity Tour of LVH-Muhlenberg
- Watch a Video Sibling Tour
- Car Seat Safety Video
Virtual Support Groups
LVPG Postpartum Emotions Support Group
Sometimes adjusting to new parent life can be stressful. Join us to share your story of the joys, sadness and feeling alone during the days and months after childbirth. Group is led by an experienced behavioral health specialist. Virtual second and fourth Monday, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Virtual Parenting Workshops
LVHN is pleased to provide free virtual parenting workshops. The workshops are based on Redirecting Children's Behavior and the International Network for Children and Families philosophy. Their mission is for every child to have a home where they are nurtured and loved unconditionally.
Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
Learn tips to help prepare returning to work, school or extended time away from your breastfed baby. This workshop is led by an experienced International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), RN, and will review when to start preparing, building your milk supply, pumping, collecting and storing breastmilk, and how to gain support from your employer, colleagues and day care. This workshop can be taken before or after baby arrives and is perfect for new or experienced
moms. Baby and breast pump are welcome!
Avoiding Power Struggles
“No, I won’t and you can’t make me!” Sound familiar? Bedtime, mealtime, mornings – these can be some of the most challenging times. Do your kids ignore you, run away when you ask them to do something, dawdle or just simply say ‘NO!’? Do you find yourself yelling and nagging your children a lot? You will learn how to recognize and disengage from a power struggle and what to do to lessen them in the future. An eye opening, informative workshop on building cooperation without the yelling, threatening, bribing and nagging.
Surviving The Toddler & Preschooler Years
Ah, the age of independence! Parents will be given useful development information to help them navigate this often challenging time. You will learn why your children behave the way they do and how you may be unknowingly reinforcing this behavior. We will also look at how to minimize the hassles, tantrums, tears and respond effectively vs. reacting emotionally. A great workshop for all parents of children 18 months through to 5 years old.
Top 10 Ways To Get Your Kids To Listen & Cooperate
This workshop will give you some magical tips and tools to get your kids to listen, cooperate and work as a team. You will be amazed at what you do to tune them out and how little you have to do to tune them back in. Your kids will actually WANT to cooperate and you will only have to say things one time. No more “making your kids” do something or saying “because-I-said-so” necessary.
Homework Without Hassles
Start the school year with some positive parenting tips. Learn how to reduce those power struggles while providing responsible coaching and building confidence.
Siblings Without Rivalry
“Pleeeease STOP Fighting!!!” Is your children’s fighting disrupting your family? Do you think it’s just inevitable? There CAN be peace. In this workshop parents will learn hands on, practical skills to replace fighting with cooperation and negotiation. They will also learn the #1 reason why children fight and how they may be unknowingly encouraging more squabbles! Come learn how to end the fighting and create an encouraging family! (This is an excellent workshop for parents who just had baby number two – learn how to avoid the conflict before it starts.)
Parenting 101
You've taken a childbirth class, spent hours creating the perfect nursery and feel confident you'll know how to change a diaper. But have you thought about how you're going to parent? How will you handle tantrums, set limits, parent as a team and raise a responsible child? Called a "parenting pre-requisite for all new and expecting parents", this two hour thought-provoking workshop will challenge pregnant and new parents to begin thinking about how they are going to parent and what kind of parents they will be.