In-Person Infant Care Class · New Beginnings at the Nest · Hermosa Beach, CA
Baby Care Basics
Practice on a practice baby before your little one arrives.
Taught by Denise Curtis, Doula and new parent educator
$90 per participant
2-hour hands-on class · 6:30–8:30 PM · Hermosa Beach
The class meets at New Beginnings at the Nest, and sign-up and payment happen on their website.
What Is Baby Care Basics?
Bringing a newborn home comes with a lot of firsts: the first diaper, the first bath, the first time they cry and nothing seems to help. Baby Care Basics is a 2-hour, hands-on class where you practice all of it on practice babies, so the real thing feels a lot less scary.
Who’s it for?
- Expecting parents: get comfortable with the basics before your little one arrives.
- Partners and support persons: strongly encouraged to come along.
- Grandparents and other caregivers: welcome, too.
What Will We Cover?
Newborn sleep and soothing: What newborn sleep actually looks like, how to set up safe sleep, and how to calm a crying baby with Dr. Harvey Karp’s 5 S’s.
Swaddling and pacifiers: Hands-on swaddling practice (as many tries as you need), plus an honest talk about whether a pacifier is right for your family.
Feeding basics: Reading hunger cues, what to expect in the early days, how often your baby will eat, and bottle feeding basics. Breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or both, with zero judgment.
Holding, diapering, and bathing: Holding and passing your baby safely, diaper changes (including around the umbilical cord stump), bath time, and how often a newborn really needs a bath.
Your questions: Open Q&A for whatever is on your mind, like when to call the pediatrician, how to handle visitors, and that fussy evening stretch.
Bring your questions. We’ll bring the practice babies.
SIGN UP for Baby Care Basics on the New Beginnings at the Nest websiteThe Details
When:
Tuesday, December 8, 2026, 6:30–8:30 PMTuesday, February 2, 2027, 6:30–8:30 PM
Where:
New Beginnings at the Nest
730 11th Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
Length:
2 hours, hands-on with practice babies
What to bring:
Yourselves and your questions
(Practice babies and all supplies are provided)
Cost:
$90 per participant
(Sign-up and payment on the New Beginnings at the Nest website)
One note about scope: this class focuses on the early weeks, not the whole first year. Want more one-on-one time? My Private Infant Care Class is a 4-hour session at your home that also covers sleep, soothing, feeding, and developmental milestones.
Meet Your Instructor
Denise Curtis, CLD, CPD, HBCE
- Certified Labor & Postpartum Doula (CAPPA)
- HypnoBirthing® Certified Educator
- Childbirth & Infant Care Educator
- Lactation Coach & Educator
Hi, I’m Denise Curtis. I’m a CAPPA Certified Labor & Postpartum Doula, new parent educator, and lactation educator. I’m also a mom myself, so I remember those first weeks well.
I’ve supported hundreds of families through pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenthood. The questions that come up most are the everyday ones: How do I hold them? How tight should a swaddle be? Is this a hungry cry or a tired cry?
This class is where you get to practice the answers with your own hands, ask everything on your mind, and head home feeling a lot more ready. (Partners, that includes you!)
Denise Curtis, CLD, CPD, HBCE
- Certified Labor & Postpartum Doula (CAPPA)
- HypnoBirthing® Certified Educator
- Childbirth & Infant Care Educator
- Lactation Coach & Educator
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the class?
Two hours, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. It’s hands-on, so you’ll spend a good part of it practicing on practice babies.
How much does it cost?
$90 per participant. Sign-up and payment happen on the New Beginnings at the Nest website, not on this site. Coming with your partner? Add one spot for each person when you sign up.
Can my partner come?
Yes, and I encourage it! Partners and support persons are encouraged to attend, and grandparents and other caregivers are welcome.
What should I bring?
Yourselves and your questions. Practice babies and all supplies are provided.
Does the class cover the whole first year?
No, it focuses on the early weeks. For deeper sleep and feeding support with older babies, the Nest offers Mommy & Me classes. And if you’d like more one-on-one time, my Private Infant Care Class is a 4-hour session at your home.
Ready to Practice?
Two hands-on hours at New Beginnings at the Nest in Hermosa Beach, $90 per participant, and partners are encouraged to come. Sign-up happens on the New Beginnings at the Nest website.