Moms and dads accompany their children to a siblings class hosted by Spectrum Health Healthier Communities. During the class children learn about their baby siblings (who are on their way). Christiana, left, Ocean and Lanie practice holding and feeding baby dolls. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Tyce sits on his father's lap while he listens during the siblings class. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Bonnie Bratt, RN, gave the kids a chance to practice holding a baby doll and changing a diaper. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Christiana and Ocean eat animal crackers as they watch an educational movie on babies. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
A variety of children's books about expecting a new sibling lined the chairs in the classroom. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Bratt has the children show each other their baby pictures. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Bratt helps Ocean learn how to change a baby's diaper by using a baby doll to demonstrate. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Tyce listens to a short film about what to expect when his sibling is born. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Christiana reaches for a baby doll. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Tyce's mother, Lindsey, rubs his head while Tyce learns about what to expect about his new baby sibling. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
The children are asked to work on drawing a picture of their family for their new baby sibling at the end of the class. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Lanie changes a baby doll's diaper. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
The teachers, all registered nurses who are certified child birth educators, take turns teaching a variety of childbirth and parenting classes. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Moms and dads accompany their children to a siblings class hosted by Spectrum Health Healthier Communities. During the class, children learn about their baby siblings. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Christiana, Ocean and Lanie practice changing diapers on the baby dolls. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
For Bratt, whose own children are grown, the siblings class is her favorite. "It's interesting to interact with the little kids," she said. "I'm excited for the families to be having babies." (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Parents watch as their children engage in the different activities to prepare for their new baby sibling. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Christiana watches as Tyce practices feeding the baby doll. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Bratt explains to the children how it is important for them to choose safe toys to play with when they are playing with their baby sibling. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Christiana gives her baby doll a hug. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Christiana, top left, Tyce, Lanie, bottom left, and Ocean pose for photos next to their baby picture and a baby doll that represents their sibling. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Kids with big eyes, mommies with round tummies and dads with giant smiles.
They’re all part of the scene at the siblings classes hosted by Spectrum Health Healthier Communities.
The aged-based classes, tailored to children ages 3-5 and ages 6-9, provide hands-on learning and kid-friendly information about what to expect, as well as offering plenty of time for kids to interact with the teacher while parents watch the activity.
A recent class for 3- to 5-year-old children, led by Bonnie Bratt, RN, gave kids a chance to practice holding a baby doll and changing a diaper, while also providing instruction on choosing safe toys and helping mom and dad interpret baby’s cry.
Bratt elicited plenty of spontaneous responses from the kids on key topics:
How a baby grows in mom’s tummy: “Mom can’t carry me anymore because my tummy will squish the baby.”
How a baby moves in mom’s tummy: “Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle.”
Planning for when mom goes to the hospital for the delivery: “Our granny is coming over.”
Why some babies are delivered through a special opening, while others need to come straight from the tummy (via C-section): “That’s what happened to me!”
Tips for baby-proofing: “My baby can’t play with trucks because babies chew on stuff.”
Being a big brother or big sister: “I’m growed up now, but I have some pictures of when I was a baby.”
The teachers, all registered nurses who are certified child birth educators, take turns teaching a variety of childbirth and parenting classes.
For Bratt, whose own children are grown, the siblings class is her favorite.
“It’s interesting to interact with the little kids,” she said. “I’m excited for the families to be having babies.”
For more information or to schedule a class, go to Spectrum Health or call 616.267.2626 and select option 4.
Because community means everything: Spectrum Health earned the 2016 Foster G. McGaw Prize for Excellence in Community Service. The prize recognizes efforts to empower vulnerable populations and increase access to care through our collaborations with community partners.
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