This March, families and caregivers are invited to join a series of free educational sessions and Parent Cafés designed to support parents through pregnancy, early childhood, and the everyday realities of family life.

From learning about baby’s development and breastfeeding to connecting with other caregivers and building resilience through Parent Cafés, these sessions offer education, support, and a welcoming space for parents and caregivers to connect.

All sessions are free to attend and open to parents, expecting families, and caregivers. Registration is needed to attend.

Lucky Charms Parent Café (In Person)

Monday, March 16, 2026 | 5:30 – 7:30 PM | Register Here: https://bit.ly/LuckyCharmsParentCafe

Location:
South Hunterdon Regional Elementary School
200 North Main Street
Lambertville, NJ

Childcare and/or transportation assistance may be available when registered.

In this Parent Café, parents and caregivers explore their “lucky chams” – the tips, routines, and things they do that are their strengths. Parent Cafés create a welcoming space for caregivers to connect, reflect, and build family resilience together.

Participants share experiences, learn from one another, and often leave feeling heard, supported, and more confident in their parenting journey.

Dinner and giveaways will be provided. 

Fetal & Child Development Workshop (Online)

Thursday, March 19, 2026 | 2:30 – 3:30 PM | Register Here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/42y5Q1x7TdeIS93964NwOw#/registration

Join this virtual workshop to learn about your baby’s growth and development—from pregnancy through age five.

Parents and caregivers will explore key stages of child development — how your baby grows physically, mentally, and emotionally inside you and after they are born — and what to expect as they grow. Parents and caregivers will also learn how to support healthy development during the pregnancy and early childhood.

Preeclampsia Education & Baby / Toddler Clothing Swap (In Person)

Tuesday, March 24, 2026 | 2:00 – 3:00 PM | Register Here: https://forms.office.com/r/6kNG31DzFq

Location:
Somerset County Business Partnership
50 Division Street, Suite 400
Somerville, NJ

Learn more about preeclampsia, a serious blood pressure disorder that can happen during pregnancy or after childbirth. This session will cover preeclampsia warning signs, diagnosis, management, and common misunderstandings. This session highlights the importance of blood pressure monitoring and how to monitor blood pressure on your own, and how to work with your doctors and community support systems.

Following the presentation, join us for a Mom Swap, a chance to bring in your washed and gently used baby or toddler clothing to swap with other parents. This will also be a time for you to talk to other parents and build connections and community while discovering new outfits for your little ones.

Breastfeeding: Your Questions… Answered! (In Person) / Lactancia Materna: Tus Preguntas… ¡Respondidas! (En Persona)

Tuesday, March 24, 2026 | 5:30 – 6:30 PM | Register Here: https://bit.ly/March24Readington
Martes, 24 de marzo de 2026 | 5:30 – 6:30 PM | Regístrate aquí: https://bit.ly/March24Readington

Location:
Readington Township Social Services Offices
509 Route 523
Whitehouse Station, NJ

Ubicación:
Oficinas de Servicios Sociales del Municipio de Readington
509 Route 523
Whitehouse Station, NJ

Transportation assistance may be available when registered. Children may attend with caregivers (no childcare provided).
Puede haber asistencia de transporte disponible para quienes se registren. Los niños pueden asistir con sus cuidadores (no se proporcionará cuidado infantil).

Preparing for or living with a new baby comes with many breastfeeding questions. This session provides a welcoming space to ask them.

Topics may include:

• How to prepare to breastfeed before birth
• Common challenges you might face in breastfeeding such as blocked ducts or discomfort
• How to use a breast pump 
• How to breastfeed after returning to work
• Supporting breastfeeding when the breastfeeding parent is away.
• When and how to wean

The session will be led by Alba Lucia Thomas, IBCLC, founder of Materna Lactation, who has supported families in English and Spanish across Central New Jersey for more than 15 years.

The session is free to attend, and giveaways will be available for participants. 

Prepararse para la llegada de un nuevo bebé o vivir con un recién nacido trae muchas preguntas sobre la lactancia materna. Esta sesión ofrece un espacio acogedor para hacerlas.

Los temas pueden incluir:

• Cómo prepararse para amamantar antes del nacimiento
• Desafíos comunes que pueden surgir durante la lactancia, como conductos bloqueados o molestias
• Cómo usar un extractor de leche
• Cómo continuar la lactancia después de regresar al trabajo
• Cómo apoyar la lactancia cuando la persona que amamanta está fuera
• Cuándo y cómo destetar

La sesión será dirigida por Alba Lucia Thomas, IBCLC, fundadora de Materna Lactation, quien ha apoyado a familias en inglés y español en el centro de Nueva Jersey durante más de 15 años.

La sesión es gratuita, y habrá obsequios para las personas participantes.

Parenting Under Pressure – Mercer County Parent Café (In Person)

Thursday, March 26, 2026 | 5:00 – 7:00 PM | Register Here:
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=UIBny8xFSEKJSpSKSFzXdPF5R9HNQ-ZCjvOdVYLPcVJUNkFJUTE3TlRKV0RFNjdCWEVBMFE2MktYRC4u

Location:
Trenton Board of Education – Ellis Auditorium
108 North Clinton Avenue
Trenton, NJ

Hosted in partnership with the Trenton Public Schools Family and Community Engagement Department, this Parent Café offers a supportive space for parents and caregivers to talk about how parenting can be hard or stressful, and how this can affect you emotionally and mentally.

Parents and caregivers will have the opportunity to connect with other each other, share experiences, and share how they support their own mental health while raising a family.

Light dinner and refreshments will be provided.

Join the Conversation

These sessions are designed to support parents and caregivers with trusted information about parenting and raising a family. Connecting NJ staff can help connect parents and caregivers to available resources for things that can make parenting easier, like childcare, emotional support, resources for supplies like diapers, clothing and food, and more. These education sessions are made to bring trusted and reliable information about pregnancy and early childhood directly to parents, and to give parents and caregivers opportunities to connect with others in their community.

Whether you’re expecting a baby, caring for a newborn, or raising young children, these workshops and Parent Cafés offer tools and support for every stage of the journey.