The 6th Annual Pregnant Island Local Parenting Event takes place on Sunday, May 19th 2019 at
Hebrew Academy of Nassau County
25 Country Drive in Plainview from 12-2:30pm.
Tickets can be purchased in advance online at www.pregnantisland.com As always, kids are free!
Have you noticed that there are a dozens of mommy and pregnancy events in NYC and barely any on Long Island? If you attended one of the events in Manhattan in the past you know they are more like expos with thousands of people trying to get their freebies before they are all out. Although Pregnant Island events started out as a local pregnancy event without the schlep to the city, it quickly evolved into a family-friendly parenting event, despite its name. "I realized that rather than have the attendees go back home at the conclusion and try to re-educate their partners/spouses on what the learned at the events, they should really be there themselves. On top of that, the last thing I wanted was for families to have to find child-care on a Sunday so that they could attend the event comfortably, which is why we offer complimentary child-care and specifically chose a site like HANC in Plainview that has a secure outdoor playground and indoor play-scape for older children to use." says Pregnant Island founder Eleana Kaidanian. Attendees can meet other expecting Long-Islanders and parents from the community, while learning from professional speakers specializing in preconception health to early childhood at the 6th Annual Pregnant Island Local Family Event taking place in Plainview on Sunday, May 19th.
Kaidanian is a registered dietitian who started the event back in 2014 when she was expecting her first child and felt a lack of community opportunities for parents and parents-to-be not only to socialize but to also learn the most up-to-date information that they could use right away while raising their children. "As a parent and health professional, I realized that many of the recommendations provided in my field of expertise changed between the time I had my first child to just two years later when I had my second," says Kaidanian. "With my first I was taught that foods had to be introduced to the infant in a certain order by food group. Now I teach families that foods from different food groups can be introduced in any order with the recommendation that there be several days to a week in between to rule out any allergies. I quickly realized that this must be the case with other professions as well."
Is it safe to go to the dentist when you are pregnant? Should you place your infant on his/her back or on his/her side to sleep? Does a breastfed child need any additional vitamins? These are some of the questions we have answered at the annual Pregnant Island event. This year's speakers include childbirth educator and registered nurse Michele Mesbah of Mesbah OBGYN and family dentist Dr. Parul D. Makkar of PDM Family Dental in Hicksville. The event is not only educational but great fun, so much so that many attendees come back again each year. ""I've been to this event twice. Once before I was pregnant and again the following year when I was carrying my first born. The speakers and the vendors have truly helped my husband and I learn valuable information, as well as help us make important family decisions. We are looking forward to attending next year's event, this time with our son!" says Rachel R. a 2018 Pregnant Island attendee.
Pregnant Island supports local businesses as well by showcasing them as vendors at the event. Attendees get a taste of the services that they can use to their benefit, including My Gym of Huntington and Song for Seeds of Roslyn just to name a few. Lastly, high-end prizes are distributed throughout the event to lucky attendees to take home including highly coveted items such as a Guava Family Lotus Travel Crib, DockATot, OXO Tot Cubby+ Stroller, and services such as a baby photo shoot provided buy Award Studio 10.
Giving back to the community is part of the Pregnant Island mission. Hosting a diaper drive at the event to benefit the Allied Foundation's Long Island Diaper Bank has been one of our efforts for the past several years. The diaper bank distributes diapers to local families in need, right in our very own neighborhoods. Attendees can contribute by bringing diapers, swim diapers, or training pants with them to this event. Open packages are accepted as well!
To purchase your tickets, please visit www.pregnantisland.com.
Want a chance to attend for free? Please let us know!
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Hicksville Macaroni Kid is a hyper-local e-newsletter/website featuring events, activities, products, places for parents, kids and families. Serving the following towns: Bethpage, Carle Place, Hicksville, Jericho, Plainview, & Westbury. Want to find out about more family-friendly events? Subscribe to our free e-newsletter at hicksville.macaronikid.com
