Thank you to Lani Hersh for helping out.
Things to do:
The YMCA has a mommy/ baby exercise class that meets in the park 2 mornings a week (currently Sun and Wed at 10AM).
It is run by "Great Shape." You can buy a card that allows you to attend 20 classes for the year.
The phone number is: 02-569-2684
Yankuta is parent and child center located on Jabotinsky. They have a playroom, a nursing room, music classes, exercise classes for moms, and some for moms with their babies. They have inexpensive, on-site, babysitting available during the exercises classes if you request it in advance. It can be a nice place to meet other parents. It is free to play in the play room if your child is less than 6 months, after that there is a charge. You can buy a card that allows you to play in the playroom 10 times. It can be a nice place to spend time when the weather is bad.
It is run by Bella and Ori. Bella speaks fluent English.
02-563-3067
Tanya Jacobs
Runs (English)baby/ parent music classes out of her home on Hapalmach. I think she also does baby sign language- but that was not offered this year. The price varies, but this year it was 15 shekels/hour. Another nice way to meet other parents.
tanya Jacobs <tanya@jacobs-shipway.org>
Resources:
Janglo
A website that is a great way to buy/ sell baby things second hand.
This website provides weekly information of things for babies/ toddlers/ children going on around Jerusalem. You can sign up to receive a weekly e-mail with the weeks happenings.
Diapers:
Can be purchased at supermarkets and pharmacies.
The scoop on the pricing:
Supersol: about 74 shekels per package (occasionally have deals: 2 for 100 shekels)
Superpharm: about 69 shekels
Mega (in Talpiot): the cheapest we have found -about 49 shekels per package
Medical/ Insurance:
Harel- the Israeli insurance available to students/ families does not cover vaccinations.
Aetna- insurance available through JTS, reimburses 80%
The schedule of vaccinations is slightly different in Israel as compared to the states. Bring a copy of your US MDs schedule so you can let your MD in Israel know what should be given and when, taking into consideration what the child had prior to your arrival in Israel. Also be aware that the combinations of vaccinations in Israel is different from what is offered at home. It is crucial to be aware of what vaccinations your child had at home and what the combination vaccinations included (ie: Pediarix includes DPT, IPV, and Hepatitis B). In Israel, this is not an option and if you are unaware of what was previously given, you risk getting part of the combination again when it was already given.
Physicians/ Practices:
Wolfson Clinic: If you have private insurance from the states, you pay out of pocket and get reimbursed. 400 shekels per appointment. 80 shekels per vaccination administration + the cost of the vaccination itself.
If you are a patient with private insurance, you have access to the MD on call outside of office hours. If necessary, they will do a home visit (outside of office hours). If you have Harel, you can pay extra to have this service available to you.
Dr. Recommendation at Wolfson: Dr. Meresky. English speaking, very professional, great with children.
Private MD, American. Dr. Gribitz. located on Emek. Very nice, good with children. If you call, they put you through directly to him which is a plus. He doesn't really do well visits, and prefers that his patients to go to Tipat Halav for well checkups (I have no information on this since we did not do it). He does sick visits and to access him outside of office hours you must call him at his home. No nurses available at his office. Not possible to get vaccinations there.
Nursing and pumping milk for baby:
If you have a Medela breast pump, the pump will not work when used with a converter/ adaptor. It is necessary to purchase a special plug from the company or use the battery pack. The plug costs about $15.
Phone # for Medela: 1-800-435-8316
Baby clothes:
Generally cheaper to buy in the states.
There are several baby clothing stores in the Malca Mall.
One place in the shuk (Machane Yehuda)
A few places on King George
Baby Gear:
Dr Baby is a store in Talpiot: they have strollers, car seats etc.
Baby Michelle in Talpiot, clothing and baby gear.
One place on King George (past Jaffa): they have cribs, mattresses, strollers, car seats etc
Other:
-For freezing purees of baby food, it is easiest to use silicon muffin trays. The frozen food comes out of them easily. They can be bough inexpensively at the Shuk.
-I highly recommend purchasing a travel bed for use while in Israel and traveling. Pea Pod version 102 by KidCo is excellent. http://www.kidco.com/main.
Cost: about $70 This model is Shabbas friendly and easy to use. It is small, lightweight, and can be easily hung on a stroller hook. We take it with us so our baby to sleep at friend homes during Shabbat dinner or nap during Shabbat lunch. We also used it to travel in Europe.
-"The Mommy Hook" A karabiner like stroller hook. Much better than plastic ones that can break.
-Bundle Me (light and heavy). Great for stroller and carseat to keep baby warm while out and about.
-Phil and Teds metoo chair: portable highchair, attaches to most tables. Good for Shabbat meals for baby to have a place to sit. (We accidentally left it at home and wished we had it)
-Stroller recommendation: Baby Jogger City Mini. Excellent for Israel. Positives: handles well on uneven surfaces and going up/down curbs, has a car seat adaptor bar available, wheels can be replaced if necessary, great, sun visor, folds easily. Drawbacks: handle height is high for short people, seat does not achieve a 90 degree angle (always slightly reclined).
I am happy to be listed as a reference.
Loni Hersh
email: elanahersh@gmail.com
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