Okay, so I don’t live in Philadelphia, but I live close enough to reap all of the benefits the metro area has to offer. After an 8 month absence, I’m excited that my family is moving back to the Philadelphia area because of the plethora of resources, activities and abundance of like-minded parents. Here are 4 reasons to have your baby in the Philadelphia metro area:
1. Multiple midwifery & Birth Center options to choose from
I didn’t realize how much I took this for granted until we moved to South Central PA and I was unable find a midwifery/birth center for my prenatal care. While in the Philadelphia area, we used Valley Birthplace, and would gladly do it again. I can’t recommend Valley Birthplace, and the midwives, enough, despite having to have a cesarean section for the birth of my son. I couldn’t have asked for a better c-section birth experience, as my midwife had a VBAC-friendly OB that she worked with [for cases like mine], had privileges at an area hospital, assisted with my surgery/birth, and was my advocate throughout the process.
Valley Birthplace – this is my recommendation
*If you have used any of the above referenced practices, I encourage you to leave a comment about your experience.
1a. Placenta Encapsulation services
Placenta encapsulation was never up for debate with us, it was a necessity. Why would I pass up this natural supplement, even if just for the possibility of placebo effects? (PE worked for me and I swear by it — I had a noticeable drop in energy levels after finishing my placenta pills) While we didn’t use a service (my husband prepped and encapsulated my placenta at home), there are many options to choose from, including:
*Please note that I DO NOT endorse any of the above referenced companies, as I’ve not tried them myself. If you have used any of these services, I encourage you to leave a comment, at the bottom of this post, with your experience.
2. A large Natural Parenting community
Philadelphia is home to two natural parenting stores (The Nesting House & CLOTH), each offering classes, workshops and community events. Not only can you shop local for your family’s natural product needs, but you can get the personalized service and advice that is absent when you shop online (although both offer shopping through their websites).
Philadelphia is also lucky to host two parenting conferences, MommyCon and Inspired Family’s Mindful Parenting Conference. Whether you’re looking to enrich yourself, or connect with like-minded parents, Philadelphia is rich with opportunities to do so.
2a. A large Cloth Diapering community
Because of the abundance of cloth diapering families in the area, I was able to buy and sell used cloth diapers on Craigslist very easily (especially important for trying all of the different options). Not only that, but I was able to attend a Great Cloth Diapering Change event with a lot of other cloth diapering families. If you want to learn about cloth diapering in person, and see and feel your diapering options, I recommend shopping at both CLOTH and The Nesting House (mentioned above) and/or attending one of the the Cloth Diapering 101 sessions they offer.
Don’t want to wash your dirty cloth diapers at home? Philadelphia offers two cloth diaper laundering services:
If you’re looking to support local WAHMs, Eastern Pennsylvania is the place to shop! Check out some of the [many] great WAHMs in the area:
Rebourne
Helicopters Monkeys
Median Woolworks
Fancy Cloth Baby
Momma Wise Boutique
Bee Balm Workshop
Ewe B Green
Helicopters Monkeys
Median Woolworks
Fancy Cloth Baby
Momma Wise Boutique
Bee Balm Workshop
Ewe B Green
3. Consignment Sales
I can’t stress how much I love consignment shopping for my kiddo. Not only do you have the opportunity to reuse and repurpose items, you can save money to spend on your more important family needs. Here are a few of the area consignment sales:
Growing Express — this was the first sale that we attended, small and wonderful!
Just Between Friends — a nationwide franchise and, by far, the largest consignment sale I’ve been to.
Because there are SO many great sales in the area, Playground Buzz features a directory of area Consignment Sales HERE.
*Check out my consignment sale shopping tips HERE.
4. Plenty of beautiful parks and interactive outdoor activities for kids
We like to spend a lot of time outdoors, be it hiking trails or playing in parks, and the Philadelphia area has no shortage of options. Here are a few we’ve tried and enjoyed:
Elmwood Park Zoo – this is a smaller zoo with animals native to North America
On the to-do list this spring/summer/fall:
Active Acres FarmPhilly friends, what am I missing? What are your favorite reasons to start a family in the Philadelphia metro area? Have a favorite local family-friendly business, service or activity? Please share in the comments:
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