babybites Brooklyn

Chana Balk dreamed of being a mommy for as long as she can remember.  When she finally found love, marriage and . . . the baby carriage, new motherhood was wonderful, but so much more challenging and life- altering than ever expected.  From the time her first baby was small, Chana knew that she wanted to do something for other new mothers — to make the transition just a little bit easier.

After a ten year career as an attorney, Chana finally made that vision a reality.  She brought babybites to Brooklyn with the goal of providing new mothers a forum where they can connect, share, and learn. Her hope is that babybites Brooklyn will make new motherhood a little less overwhelming and a lot more rewarding and empowering for new moms.

Chana lives in Prospect Heights with her husband Ted and their two sons, Ben, 4, and Leo, 2.

Chana loves to be a personal resource to her Brooklyn moms, so please reach out to her with any questions.

About Brooklyn Events

We host an array of events here in Brooklyn in many different neighborhoods.  (And if we’re not in your neighborhood yet, rest assured that we’ll be there soon).  Here’s a little bit more information on the events that we host:

• New Moms Luncheons
  

The heart and soul of babybites Brooklyn is our New Moms luncheons.  At our luncheons, which currently take place on various Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays in Park Slope and Cobble Hill, new moms come together with their newborn babies to have a delicious lunch in a baby -friendly restaurant.  An expert speaker speaks to the moms about a topic relevant to new mommyhood (sleep, starting solids, going back to work etc.).  Moms have a great afternoon out, meet and connect with other new moms, learn valuable lessons, and often take home fun prizes and giveaways.  Luncheons are intended for moms with babies who are still comfortable sitting for an extended period of time (i.e., babies under 8m of age). Yes, dads are more than welcome.

• Expectant Moms & Dads Events

Here in Brooklyn, we pride ourselves on being a go-to resource for expectant parents.  We host events for expecting moms, and often dads too, on an array of topics, such as breastfeeding, buying for baby, your birth options, best Brooklyn resources for new parents, and many others.  Our expectant moms events typically take place on weeknights and are hosted at various venues throughout Brooklyn, where moms can learn and socialize with other expectant moms in a comfortable setting.  Our expectant moms events usually include very fabulous giveaways and prizes.

• Seminars

About once a month, we host a seminar that is usually intended for our not-so-new-anymore moms, i.e., our toddler moms (and dads).  Seminars topics include potty training, sleep, positive discipline, feeding your toddler and more.  These seminars are typically held on weeknights or weekends in order to accommodate working moms and dads.   Typically, toddler are not invited to the seminar so that mom and dad can listen and focus, but sometimes we hold our seminars in spaces where we can also provide babysitting in an adjacent room so that parents who do not have childcare available to them don’t have to miss out.  We also host seminars on topics more relevant to moms of babies (such as starting solids) for moms of babies who are no longer on maternity leave and therefore can no longer attend our weekday luncheons.

• Sample Classes

If you’re interested in trying out a class with your little one, but you’re not ready to commit to a full semester, or you’re just looking for a fun activity with your baby, then our sample classes will be a great option for you.  We host classes at many different Brooklyn playspaces and with many different local classes, usually offering the class at a fraction of what it would otherwise cost.

• New Moms Groups

Though technically not an “event,” we want all our expectant and new moms to know about our just-added service — helping you join a New Moms Group in your neighborhood to find support and friendship with moms who have babies born around the same time as yours.  And guess what?  Its free!

• Special Events

Of course, all of our events are special, but . . .  our “special events” include holiday-themed parties, family-fun activities, luncheons for 2nd-time moms, special photo-sessions, and any other event that is not a typical luncheon, seminar or sample class.

Brooklyn Buzz

Chana, I am so grateful that you have brought Baby Bites to Brooklyn.  The luncheons have been so helpful and fun.  I look forward to attending many more events in the future.

-Natalie, Park Slope

I havent slept in 8 months and then I attended your sleep seminar with Janet Kennedy, and with your helpful hand and guidance, I have now successfully sleep trained little Henry so that there is happiness again.    Yay!  Thanks so much for being such a great support system for me and the other moms.  I will happily encourage all my Brooklyn friends to attend your events.

-Chloe, Williamsburg

I just wanted to thank you again for last nights’ event.  Winning that Quinny Buzz stroller was definitely a thrill, but even more important than that, your speakers were fantastic, it was so nice to meet other pregnant mamas and you were so reassuring and nice.   I definitely intend to take you up on your offer to be a continuing resource to me and my husband throughout our pregancy and after the little bundle arrives.  Thanks so much Chana.

-Alice, Cobble Hill