Pregnancy, Birth, and Early Childhood Support Center Opens in DUMBO

The Nurtured Child has found itself a permanent location in DUMBO/ Vinegar Hill, Brooklyn, as well as initiated some new programs for expecting families or those with infants and toddlers.

“There will be doula services, child birth education, infant feeding support, a lot of different workshops and classes,” said Anna Ruth Myers, founder of The Nurtured Child. “And the really special thing that’s offered there are RIE certified parent infant guidance classes.”

RIE stands for Resources for Infant Educarers. Magda Gerber first coined the term “educarer” with the idea that caregiving and education are both concepts that can’t be separated, according to Myers. When child are being educated, they are being cared for. When being cared for, they are being educated.

“The idea is really based on authentic and respectful relationships between parent and infant and this idea that you can really sit back and relax and enjoy your baby,” Anna said. “If the adult prepares the correct environment, really young children can be capable and confident in doing things on their own and being independent in a really joyful way.”