Isis Parenting

I took Great Beginnings with Debra B and loved it. It was so valuable to have a supportive environment of others at such a vulnerable and crazymaking time of life. The bonds I formed with the other women have grown so much over time — we all have second children now and still meet up regularly. The advice I give anyone I know who’s having their first baby: 1. Take Great Beginnings. and 2. Don’t take any more advice from anyone — discover your own way of parenting!
Nancy Gair was fantastic as well when I took Second Time Moms two years later. Liz K for Next Step however was really phoning it in — was dismissive of some mom’s issues, wasn’t interested in learning anyone’s names, and gave pretty rote answers to fairly basic questions. I took an infant CPR class as well taught by a safety vigilante who I guess is the kind of person you want to teach you CPR, but her anxiety really poisoned the air for the nervous pregnant students!
Their floor staff has really declined in the three years since my first was born. They have always been really kind, but they used to actually be able to answer questions and solve problems. Recently I encountered one real space cadet who had me waiting for over 15 minutes then had to come back to ask me again what my question was because she had forgotten! (The question was not complicated: «how do I install the second seat into my stroller facing backwards like it shows in the photo.» In the end her answer was, «you can’t» — until another mom in the store overheard, came over, and showed us how it was done.) I’ve also answered other shoppers’ questions about nursing and pumping that the staff couldn’t. I’ll certainly go back when I need a baby/​toddler item without time to order it on Amazon, but nowadays with two in the house that’s how I do my kid shopping. Clueless salespeople who take forever can’t beat customer reviews and two-​day (or same-​day) delivery.

I mean, really. Long story short, it’s a local business with a lot to offer and tons good will. 5-​stars, no doubt. Long story long? I am so glad you asked…
The Classes: As with most educational experiences, what you get depends in great measure on what you bring. The instructors for my childbirth and new moms’ classes did a good job giving real information. And they balanced this with opportunities for the class to discuss and reflect on what we were going through in a more emotional, less structured way. Two totally different instructors, by the way: one was older, experienced, confident, the other was young, creative and brought a cheerful newbie energy to her class. But you gotta prepare, show up and participate with an open mind to get your money’s worth.
I found the free breastfeeding drop-​in session I went to less satisfying — the woman in charge that day didn’t actually know a whole lot beyond basic latch questions and she didn’t manage to address each of her drop-​in mamas with comparable time and attention. But I’d give the drop-​ins another try — they rotate staff.
I had irreconcilable differences with another instructor too, in a third paid class, but the staff refunded my money quickly and politely with a calm, professional sympathy that didn’t force me to get into any ugly details to make my case.
The Shop: As a parent, it’s worthwhile if you are a member or have a gift card. With the member discount, prices are near what you’d find on Amazon for the quality items they carry. If you live within walking distance and strolling calms your feisty newborn (uh, yeah), shopping local for those spur of the moment necessities makes a lot of sense and is faster than 2-​day delivery anyway. Plus, you may want to try on your nursing bras and examine some of that other gear pretty closely too.
Finally, it’s nice to stop by and breastfeed in the big old rocking chairs there. But if you do that, you’ll have lots of opportunities to eavesdrop on the sweet, well-​meaning but generally clueless floor staff.
If you’re just headed to a baby shower, Isis is a good spot for gifts, too, especially infant toys and books, but they are by no means the only game in town. So consider instead buying the new parents a membership or getting a gift card; there’s a lot of practical wisdom to be had here and the more one has of that, the less one needs the overpriced baby tchotchkes they’re selling. It’s a paradox.

4 stars based on:
–The Great Beginnings class I took after my baby girl was born. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet other new moms and form a support group. I’m still friends with most of the women from my class. Definitely worth the money.
–The Next Steps class I took after I had such a great experience with Great Beginnings. It may have been simply the luck of the draw, but the group didn’t gel nearly as well and I didn’t feel like I got as much out of the actual class. Given that the classes are quite pricey, I was disappointed with this second go-​round.
–The store. I’ve never bought anything here because the items are so expensive, but I will note that all of my interactions with the staff have been positive. I haven’t experienced the bad customer service that some other people have mentioned.

I attended a class here (pump talk) with Nancy H. It was awesome. I had never been to an isis before and was very impressed with the class and the store. Everyone was very friendly and the variety of merchandise they have is great.
The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is that it is a bit pricey. The pump talk session was $ 45. We did get Medela samples of quick clean wipes and a micro-​steam bag but I think $ 25 or $ 30 would have been a bit more reasonable. Although I did learn a lot and would pay that price again to attend another class.
There are a lot of reviews about the customer service — I thought the sales woman who helped me was very friendly and I did also hear her interact with other customers and was friendly and helpful to them as well. It’s a bit far from me but honestly I would rather drive the distance than go to Babies R Hell if I need something.

At the end of the day, I like Isis, with its overpriced classes and thin veneer of eco-​mama crunchiness. The toy selection isn’t huge, and the gear selection (strollers, carriers, etc.) is all high-​end or niche, but that’s their clientèle, not the Babies ‘R’ Us crowd. It’s a great place to go find baby shower gifts if you’ve got some money burning a hole in your pocket, and if you happen to be pregnant or have a baby, they have a wide range of classes to offer.
About the classes — they clearly have a monopoly in the area on things like prenatal yoga, childbirth preparedness, and post-​natal care. And they know it, and charge accordingly. Their yoga classes are $ 18, which has my head spinning a bit, and they organize new parents’ groups, then charge $ 250 to participate. Um, no.
The target audience of this shop is clearly the 35-​year-​old urban über-​mom who wants the best money can buy for her kid in the 12 weeks of leave she has from her high-​power career — the jogging stroller, the charming BPA-​free utensils, the earth-​friendly paraben-​free lotion to keep the sun off precious’ brow. And Isis caters to that demographic exceedingly well.

I am mostly basing this rating inspired by Su-​Ann classes that are tought in the premises.
Su-​Ann teaches Jelly Jam for toddlers and another one (sorry can’t remember the name… maybe Jumping Beans?) and I simply LOVE her work.
Wow, she is a great, superb professional and we can clearly see she knows her business and loves the kids, connecting with them so well during those music, movement classes.
I have been attending those classes with the kids for more than a year and the classes develop their fine and gross motor skills, interacting, socializing, so much more with fun, songs and creativity.
About the place itself:
I always see moms-​to-​be and moms with tiny babies going around for classes and it is always busy there.
Their products are also nice and different, although a bit pricey. What you can do is have your ideas there and then simply research the prices on line for a better offer.
I really hope the owners of the place may recognize what a valuable asset Su-​Ann is there and treat her accordingly.
Going there for the classes every week is like my weekly breath of fresh air. I truly recommend any classes with her at Isis.

My son and I have taken two classes here together — Sprouts for 12 – 14 mo. Olds and Explorers for 15 – 20. Both were with «Miss Jennifer», and she is an amazing instructor. She creates a structured class, which remains mostly the same each week and is perfect for this age group. Each week there is a different main activity, which has included a variety of «art», motor skills, and sensory activities. My 18-​month-​old has so much fun and often asks to go to «class», while handing me his shoes. Not only did my son love these classes, but I really valued the parenting advice and child development information we were given. Jennifer really knows her stuff (has an advanced degree in child development, I believe) and models great ways to deal with different kinds of situations with toddlers. I have learned so much from these classes and my only regrets are 1) that I didn’t start sooner when my son was first born; and 2) that we’re moving and won’t be able to take more classes with her.

A friend recommended that I sign up for Isis’ Great Beginnings class (for moms and babies that are 2 – 10 weeks old) and I have been VERY happy with the class. The instructor is knowledgeable, kind and open to our questions and concerns and the people I met in the class have been great. As a new mom (especially to a winter baby) it has been really wonderful to have a supportive, clean comfortable place to go every week – we really look forward to the class. It is also great to have a built in support system of new mom friends who are all going through the same things at the same time – we have met for lunch, coffee and walks and I hope we’ll continue to do so after the class ends! I highly recommend Great Beginnings to any new mom.
I have also taken the Pump Talk class, which helps prepare moms who are returning to work. It was also incredibly helpful.
They also have a number of free drop in groups and online chats on various topics that seem like they would be great, easily accessible resources.
I will say that the merchandise in the store is a bit overpriced – I have seen the same things on Amazon or elsewhere for much less, but it’s good for research and good if you need something in a pinch!

It really scks in many ways. Though they have a few really good things to offer. I went in flustered and overwhelmed as a very new mom, needing a few things and some simple kindness. The clerks at the Prudential store were lovely and helpful with showing me carriers. At the Arlington branch there was only one or two kind and caring helpful clerks. The rest were patronizing and b1tchy sorry to say. It made me feel vulnerable, then annoyed, then like I never wanna go back to that branch again. There was one really nice one though. Overall, for the overpriced paraphernalia, it might as well be easy to find and with nice people.
That place needs feng shui, bad.

This place has been a wonderful resource for our family. The «Great Beginnings» should be on every new mom’s to-​do list. You do pay a premium, but it’s usually worth it for the great customer servive and community they’ve developed.

This place has been a godsend for me and my husband (and baby!), especially after I had my son.
I have taken four classes here so far. The first one went over what to do after you have the baby and was very helpful. The two of us knew nothing about babies, and the information we learned in this class really helped those first few weeks. What to expect during the labor, what may happen right after the birth, how to soothe, swaddle and some feeding concerns, what to expect after the shock has worn off, etc. The only complaint I had about this class was that the teacher (a doula) was VERY pro natural childbirth to the point that I felt like a monster for considering an epidural (that didn’t stop me though, don’t worry:)) She was also very «don’t let them take the baby away from you for cleaning/​checking/​etc until you feed him». It made me afraid that the drs and nurses didn’t have his best interest in mind. Other than that, however, it was a good class. My husband, nanny and I took the infant CPR class, a must for all parents, I think. I have also taken two new mom classes, which have been great. Great teachers, wonderful environment, and the biggest take away is making friends with other new moms. We joke that you are essentially paying people to hang out with you, but it worked for us, so there you go. I would recommend the new mom classes to anyone looking to bond with others who have babies the same age as yours. My group has kept in touch — a brunch last weekend and ladies night out (sans baby!) in a few weeks.
The other big plus here is the customer service. Everyone I spoke to is willing to bend over backwards to help. For example, my pump (which I did not buy at Isis) wasn’t working well, so I brought it there to ask them what was wrong. Not only did she test it, call around for the new part, and call me a few days later when she realized they don’t carry that part, but also called the manufacturer and had them send me the part to my house for free. I don’t know any store that would do that for an item I didn’t even purchase there.
It is a great place to blow a lot of cash quickly. I like shopping here, however, bc the staff and atmosphere is knowledgeable and warm, and it seems less warehouse-​y than BabiesRUs. They discontinue products that they do not believe in, which is nice. Maybe not the best place for those shopping for new moms (hit BabiesRUs for selection and price) but a great center and resource for new parents.
OK, I need to say this. Not worth a star deduction, but I considered it. It is next to IMPOSSIBLE to get a stroller through those doors. Get new doors people — it will make a WORLD of difference.

Hello, aren’t you a RETAIL SALES CLERK?
That’s what I thought.
Customer service here SUCKS.

This review is for prenatal yoga and massage. I’ve been to a bunch of prenatal yoga classes with one of their teachers, Celeste. She is wonderful and I always feel better afterwards. I’ve also had a prenatal massages with Ann and Heather. They are both great but I think Heather has the edge. She is incredibly responsive to what my muscles are doing and feeling, adjusting her technique to my needs as she goes, and checking in just the right amount to see how I’m feeling.
The only thing that’s a little iffy is the space. The yoga room has curved walls and pictures hanging low, so if you need wall space for balance or standing poses, you have to crowd to the one wall that is free (or the mirror wall which has a weird slope towards the floor). The massage room is set right in the middle of the store so you hear kids screaming, sometimes toddlers come up and rattle on the door handle which is disconcerting when you are naked. I’m surprised they didn’t put the massage room where the bathroom is (tucked back) and vice versa, for more privacy.

Hubby and I signed up for a class. Then had to cancel it because he lost his job and we still aren’t sure if we’re moving.
Other then the $ 10 cancellation fee we got everything back.
However the items in the store are overpriced and not very original. The classes are expensive and most of them are full day classes. I have no idea how at 7 months I’d sit through and 8 hour class.

My husband and I took several classes here (and at the Brooline location) recently. He likes to refer to it as, «Baby School» since we took 5 classes, amounting to about 18 hours of baby-​related education. I’ll be honest, that’s a long time!
But the classes were great and the instructors (save one!) were fantastic. I noticed that Beth Israel and Harvard Vanguard (my hosp and doctors’ offices) also offer the same classes, but all I can say is we met some great other couples and learned a ton about babies, birth, breastfeeding and CPR.
Now we just have to wait until it’s time to put our schoolin’ to use!

Isis maternity has a monopoly on Brigham and Women’s approved prenatal classes and this allows them to charge high prices for sometimes very little. So beware!!! Check the syllabus before you sign-​up for a class. And, don’t get sick. They require you to come with a doctor’s note simply to change classes! Neighborhood friendly? NOT!
Some of many specific problems:
1. Over-​priced products. Go online for more selection and better prices.
2. Extremely heterosexual. For example, in one of their more hippie natural child-​birth classes, the instructor called the partners all dads, eventhough one was a woman!
3. Many infant toys are from China and are not certified BPA-​free.
Alternatives:
Consider going to Hatched in JP for infant clothes and toys – all organic and made in the USA.

sense I am poppin’ a baby out soon and my husband is useless when it comes to this kinda knowledge I thought it would be a good idea to take a class here on prepared childbirth. I snuck in a 2 day (2 l-​o-​n-​g days) class and would have to say it wasn’t as bad as my husband or I were expecting. Our instructor was great, funny, knowledgeable, etc. She didn’t treat us like idiots, but also told it like it is. it was on the pricey side, but they do offer scholarships, which was great since I just had gotten laid off a few weeks prior. The staff as a whole was pretty nice. The store has some of the cutest toys, clothes, supplies around. pretty unique too, but anything associated with this place is expensive. It is the same price as a similar class held at Mt Auburn Hospital but this atmosphere I think was a lot more relaxing and comforting. less sterile.
sense I live close buy I’d think I’d take advantage of some of their drop in classes and think they run a pretty cool network of helpful and social activities.
I’d definitely recommend the prepared childbirth class, and would keep an open mind to anything else they have to offer.
My husband enjoyed it more than I did, and got a lot out of it so that alone will (hopefully) be worth it in the end.

I’ve had so many bad experiences with these people, I wouldn’t recommend their classes to anyone.