"Baby Bites" Gets New Moms & Babes Socializing

by Judy Silberstein

(September 4, 2008) If the strollers are lined up at Palmer’s Crossing in Larchmont, then it’s a good bet that Baby Bites of Westchester is holding one of its bimonthly social and informational lunches for new moms.

At the latest Baby Bites luncheon on August 21, eleven moms and infants were in attendance to network with each other and listen to the featured speaker, family coach Catherine Pearlman, who provided tips on getting a baby to sleep, when to introduce solids and other issues important to new moms. Organizer Shelly Blaufeux, herself a Larchmont mom with young children, was on hand to greet the attendees.

New moms at a Larchmont Baby Bites luncheon networked and heard from a parenting expert.

Also at the August luncheon was Lisa Walter from Larchmont, who found Baby Bites to be “exactly what I wanted.” In a follow-up email she commented, “I loved the friendly atmosphere created by Shelly, the guest speaker was tremendous and I met some great moms and babies!"

“It’s a winning concept all around,” said Ms. Blaufeux, whose friend and colleague inititiated the luncheons in Manhattan. her former hometown. “Moms stroll in with their infants, eat a nice lunch, hear a speaker and go home. It’s very easy and non-committal.”

The first few months of new motherhood can be exciting, exhausting and at times lonely, Ms. Blaufeux explained. “Moms can feel disconnected and reluctant to socialize until they lose that ‘baby weight.’ Baby Bites "throws them a life vest and gives them back the social life they enjoyed before becoming a mom," she said.

New moms at home with their infants aren’t the only ones feeling “at sea.” Mothers who have returned to the workplace “sometimes feel left out,” said Ms. Blaufeux. “Baby Bites will be holding events tailored to a work-world schedule where moms can mingle with each other and set up caretaker play dates for the kids.”

Baby Bites also caters to “New-to-Westchester” moms looking to make friends in their new community. “Leaving the Upper West Side and moving to Larchmont was a huge decision for us,” said Ms. Blaufeux. “ I was very nervous about essentially starting all over again socially. I left a nice circle of friends in the city.”

Baby Bites has been both a business venture for Ms. Blaufeux and her way of helping other moms to make new friends. She tends to leave her own three-year-old and 10-month old at home so she can facilitate at the luncheons, but said the attendees typically don’t need much help from her to start networking with each other.

The next event is on Wednesday, September 10 from 12-2 at Palmer’s Crossing. Cynthia Parson Puccio, a floor-time play therapist, will be speaking on the "Power of Play: How Social Interactions with Your Baby Affect Emotional and Cognitive Development."

Reservations are encouraged but not required. RSVP: shelly@babybiteswestchester.com or, for a discount, prepay at babybiteswestchester.com. Walk-ins – or stroll-ins – are welcome. To get on the mailing list, email shelly@babybiteswestchester.com.

The Baby Bites luncheons are open to all mothers – those with new infants or new to the community.

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