Babies and toddlers don’t come with handbooks, and figuring out how to best encourage and contribute to your child’s development can be a daunting task, especially if you’re a first-time mom. We all want to do what’s best for our children, but with the many changes they go through in their early years, it’s hard to keep up with the different stages and be confident that you’re making the right choices. Mommy and me classes are a great way to bond with your baby or toddler in a safe and welcoming environment while learning the tools you both need to help them grow into amazing little people.
The options we’ve included on our list of the 10 best mommy and me classes in L.A. give parents, babysitters, and nannies the opportunity to connect with and learn from others under experienced, professional guidance. They encompass all ages of early childhood — from newborn to preschool — and the activities offered range from arts and crafts to swimming and yoga. You never really stop learning and evolving as a caregiver, and finding the perfect class or group to guide you on your parenting path can be a blessing! It really does take a village, and we’re sure you’ll find your “tribe” in one of these amazing and beneficial classes.
Dance for Kids Brentwood Mommy & Me
Address: 11677 San Vicente Blvd., #312, Brentwood, CA 90049
Phone: 310-820-5437
Class Times: Monday – Saturday, 10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Cost: $15 per drop-in class
What better way to encourage your child’s movement and coordination than by putting on some ballet slippers and joining the fun? The Mommy & Me class at Dance for Kids Brentwood gives moms the chance to dance with their child, helping them develop a love of dance and music while focusing on creativity and building motor and listening skills. The class is offered six days a week. It’s a drop-in class, so you’re not obligated to buy an entire series. Come as often as you and your little one want!
The Wright Mommy and Me
Address: 2904B Colorado Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90404
Phone: contact@wrightmommy.com
Class Times: Monday, 11:15 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Sunday, 9:15 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Cost: 8-week session is $320 for one parent, $400 for couples
With a staff full of licensed therapists and professionals experienced in working with children and families, the Wright Mommy and Me offers classes aimed at nurturing both Mama and Baby and helping you both through the often-tumultuous first year and beyond. Classes cover topics like sleeping, feeding, language, mindful parenting, and much more. You’ll be part of a group of moms just like you, allowing you to form bonds that can turn into friendships and endure long after your baby’s first year. Sessions are broken up by age and last for eight weeks. Check out the schedule to find the class that’s right for your child’s age and schedule.
PlayCreations Kids
Address: Classes are held in private homes or at one of their affiliated partner spaces.
Phone: 310-571-8028
Class Times: Classes held Monday – Friday | See the schedule for times.
Cost: Mixed Media or Preschool Prep class, $240 for 8-week session | Shabbat class, $255 for 8-week session
PlayCreations Kids believes that learning starts early and is most effective when done in partnership with parents and caregivers. They’ve developed a curriculum that focuses on interactive play, helping moms and kids develop communication, sensory skills, language, and more. They offer three classes for babies and toddlers ranging in age from 6 months to 3 years old. Mixed Media is a sensory arts and music class that lets moms and kids get their hands dirty with arts and crafts and musical instruments. Preschool Prep helps little ones get ready to enter preschool, with mom along to smooth the transition. The Shabbat class is a great way to introduce children to their Jewish culture through music, language, and food. Classes are held either at someone’s home or at one of their partner locations, like Sinai Temple or Le Petit Gan Beverly Hills.
Rinaldi Mommy and Me!
Address: 17450 Rinaldi St., Granada Hills, CA 91344
Phone: 818-925-6664
Class Times: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Cost: 7-week session for one child, $175 | 8-week session for one child, $200
Rinaldi Mommy and Me takes a slightly different approach than your average mommy and me class. At Rinaldi, the child and parent are both students! The classes take place in a typical classroom setting, with the parent there to participate and observe their child’s development, interaction with the teacher and other kids, behavior, and growth. The goal is for parents, as the child’s “first teacher,” to learn how to use some of the techniques employed in the classroom at home. There are sessions for infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged kids, each tailored to the specific needs of that age group. Activities include arts and crafts, music and storytime, water play, and listening stations, and they are centered around a daily discussion or idea. For example, water play is used to highlight the importance of water safety with the children and parents in a fun and interactive way.
The Family Room
Address: 2318 Huntington Drive, San Marino, CA 91108
Phone: 626-234-2106
Class Times: Monday – Wednesday, 9:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Saturday, 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Cost: 8-week session, $320
The Family Room has partnered with the Wright Mommy and Me to bring their amazing program to the Family Room’s facility. Each session is developed with a specific age group in mind, from newborn to toddlers, and covers topics like feeding, sleep training, baby-proofing, and separation anxiety. You’ll bond with other moms of kids of the same age and form lasting friendships and support circles. Sessions are broken up by the child’s birth month, so you can feel confident knowing you’re surrounded by moms who are going through the same changes and stages as yourself. Find and register for your appropriate age group on their website. Classes are conducted by the same experienced, professional staff who work with families at the Wright Mommy and Me, so you know you’re getting the help and guidance you need.
Outside the Box
Address: 20841 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA 91364
Phone: 818-348-7529
Class Times: Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Sunday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Cost: Day pass for one class, $25 | Memberships start at $85 for one class per child, per week.
Outside the Box wants to turn the mommy and me class on its head and make you the teacher! They understand a child’s early learning starts at home with mom and dad and want to give parents the tools to be an effective teacher. Classes focus on activities developed to increase a baby’s brain growth and development, improve sensory stimulation, help children feel comfortable in social situations, and encourage growth and bonding between parent and child. They are divided by age — like younger baby, older baby, younger toddler, and so on. One of the most popular classes is their mixed-age class, which aims to teach empathy, cooperation, and social learning in a group of all ages — all key in early childhood education!
Zooga Yoga
Address: 11054 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232
Phone: 310-839-6642
Class Times: Classes held daily | See schedule for times
Cost: New-client special, $65 per person for 1st month | Monthly memberships start at $110 | Drop-in packages start at $22 per class, per person
If you’re looking for a fun, physical outlet for you and your little ones, Zooga Yoga is the place to go. Beginner and experienced yogis will love the one-on-one time spent introducing their kids to the practice of yoga and helping them develop balance, mindfulness, and total zen, all while getting a workout. Classes like Baby Booty Barre for moms with infants or toddlers allow the parent to get in shape by incorporating their kids right into the workout. Little Monkeys Yoga lets moms and toddlers bond over fun animal poses in a playful environment. Zooga even offers music and Spanish mommy and me classes — called Baila Baila Mama Y Yo — for children from 6 weeks to 4 years of age. They’ll sing, dance, and maybe even pick up a second language in a fun and energetic environment!
Two Hearts Yoga
Address: 4454 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Phone: 818-501-9642
Class Times: Sunday – Tuesday and Thursday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – noon
Cost: Single class, $20 | Class packages start at $85 for five classes.
If you’re looking for a quieter, more intense yoga class for you and your baby or toddler, the Baby & Me yoga class at Two Hearts Yoga is the perfect option. This class is uniquely tailored toward the mother, allowing her to continue her yoga practice while being able to attend to the needs of her baby or toddler. Children are welcome to play or just hang out right in the yoga zone, and you can even incorporate your babies into new and challenging poses. You can also help teach your child the importance of relaxing during your breathing exercises.
Swimming Los Angeles
Address: 15777 Bowdoin St., Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 (Palisades Charter High School) | 601 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405 (Santa Monica High School)
Phone: 310-994-7946
Class Times: Saturday, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Sunday, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Cost: Santa Monica classes, $159 per month | Pacific Palisades classes, $179 per month
Living in Los Angeles, where the temperature soars into the high 90s in the summertime, we spend a lot of time in pools. So water safety and knowing how to swim are important, especially for kids. Swimming Los Angeles recognizes the need for babies and toddlers to feel safe and confident in the water and understands that building those skills is easier when mom is in the water with them. Classes are open to kids from 2 months up to 3 years of age. They’re broken up into age groups, so all participants are at the same skill level and learning the same techniques. Each class focuses on different aspects of swimming, including water safety, breathing, floating, submersions, and, eventually, independence from mom or dad. Mommy and me swim classes are a great way to get kids comfortable in the water while having some fun, too! Tight-fitting, non-disposable swim diapers are required for all baby and toddler classes.
The Pump Station Mommy and Me
Address: 2415 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90403 | 1248 Vine St., Hollywood, CA 90038
Phone: Santa Monica, 310-998-1981 | Hollywood, 323-469-5300
Class Times: Class times vary by location.
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Santa Monica: Monday & Wednesday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Tuesday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Sunday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
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Hollywood: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Saturday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Sunday, by appointment only.
Cost: 8-week sessions range from $300 – $400, depending on class type and location.
The Pump Station has been helping L.A. moms for almost 30 years, and their mommy and me class series is just one of the many support groups they offer. What sets them apart from other classes is their willingness to help find the perfect class for you. Once you register, you’ll be personally contacted by a curriculum manager, who will discuss your needs and goals and find the right class for you at the location that is most convenient for you. Whether you have a new baby or an energetic toddler, they will match you with a group of your peers, and you’ll be able to spend quality bonding time and aid in your child’s development and growth. They also offer a full range of parenting classes, touching on everything from postnatal care to breastfeeding. If you have a specific need that isn’t addressed by a class, they’ll work with you to find a solution, and make sure that both mommy and baby or child are taken care of.
