Photo: Emma Friedman/WBZ NewsRadio
MEDFORD, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A group of parents and caregivers carrying their newborns took some much-needed reprieve Tuesday morning as they strolled along the Middlesex Fells Reservation trail in Medford.
This is a program offered by Friends of the Fells called Babes in Woods, that meets weekly for a guided, three-mile hike.
The adults enjoyed some time reconnecting with nature and “the babies usually fall asleep,” program coordinator Diana Lomakin told WBZ NewsRadio.
The guided hikes are co-led by Laurie and Dennis.
Dennis, who has been volunteer for 15 years, said that the group hikes attract at least 20 people during the summer.
“For some women, in terms of coming out after pregnancy it can really help them with their postpartum depression and anxiety with the newness of being a parent,” Laurie added.
Amanda Garms, the Visitor Services Supervisor for the Middlesex Fells Reservation with the Department of Conservation and Reservation (DCR), said that this program is specially catered to inspire new parents to get out and meet new families.
“It can be really isolating being a new parent sometimes, and it can also be really difficult to get out of the house at all,” she said.
For the last 25 years, Babes in the Woods has met up every week, all year long. Lomakin added that they only cancel meet-ups if the weather drops below 25 degrees.
“That’s the thing about little kids-- they’re your personal little space heaters, and so if you’re carrying a baby, you are actually really warm,” she said.
Photo: Emma Friedman/WBZ NewsRadio
Photo: Emma Friedman/WBZ NewsRadio
WBZ NewsRadio’s Emma Friedman (@EmmaFriedmanWBZ) reports.