I wish I knew about Natural Resources sooner! A friend had introduced me later in my pregnancy, but I would have started visiting even early on had I known before. The free section had so many things I was looking for with everything clearly labeled and it became a great place for me to donate things I didn't actually need! The dropoff was super easy - you tell the staff what you have and they will take care of the rest. read more

Warm and inviting and knowledgeable staff. Great selection of well thought out items. Fairly priced for brick and mortar busines. read more

This is such a great shop to have in The Mission! Great selection of baby items and AMAZING customer service. They also have an online store where you can shop their products as well as their classes. While browsing their website you can see that they carry products that are not only adorable, but also high quality. Their prices are comparable to any other stores that sell baby items. read more

I was sent here to pick up one thing for my daughter, so I didn't spend too much time browsing around, but I was impressed with this quaint little store. The store is neat and organized. They have a lot of natural products for baby and mommy. My daughter needed sunflower lecithin for plugged milk ducts, and yeah you can order the same item online but it'll take a day or so to get it. It's so nice that there's a place where you can find natural products in stock. I didn't mind coming here all the way from Alameda. When I arrived, the manager Bobbi was on the phone with a customer. I can tell she was really patient and caring. I was also pleasantly surprised that there were a few street parking spots available on a Friday afternoon. All around a good experience. read more

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Top quality operation. We've done two baby-prep classes so far and had our high expectations exceeded thoroughly. Infant CPR and newborn prep Reserve, get on the waitlist, whatever. And if you do a Sunday class parking is a breeze (read the street signs carefully ;) read more

We took the newborn care & parenting class with Nile and it was so helpful! Highly recommended for other parents-to-be who want to learn about sleep, feeding, diapering, swaddling and more. read more

I love Natural Resources. My husband and I signed up for a newborn care class when we were on the list for adoption. I emailed the instructor ahead of time to let her know we'd be adopting parents just to make sure we still "fit" with the mould of the class. Mostly I was worried we'd walk into a whole long spiel about giving birth and breastfeeding that wouldn't apply to our situation and we'd feel as left out as we have through infertility. Fortunately, the instructor was kind and let me know they have specific classes for breastfeeding and giving birth so while they'd touch on it (of course), it would not be a focus. I really appreciated her making us feel included. During the class she was excellent about steering the convo away from those topics or following up with those interested during the breaks/after class. She even stayed after to give us some tips about flying home with a newborn in case we were matched out of state (we were!). Our fellow class mates were very supportive as well. We loved the class so much we signed up again for the CPR class which was also great. After our little peanut was born we took the Baby Sign Language Intro class with Bill, which I can't recommend enough, and plan to sign up for his baby sign language series soon! Worth noting: I like the clientele that take these classes: The type of people who want to learn, ask good questions with no ego, and who you'd actually want to be friends with. The store itself is great as well. I love that you can try out different carriers and they have a good selection of clothes, baby gear and fun presents you didn't know you needed. Have had nothing but pleasant interactions with the staff and instructors. read more

Purchased some items for my recovery from pregnancy, was planning for a third vaginal delivery.... Unfortunately my son was born 3 weeks early via emergency c section. Recovery was much different, mobility we several limited due to the nature of procedure and recovery. Items I purchased were no longer of any use due to not having vaginal delivery, but that's my problem. 30 day return policy had me stuck with these items. Very disappointed and so lame, finally able to leave the house to make a trek across the city with my newborn (I live next to ocean beach) only to find I can't return the items. DO NOT BUY ANYTHING HERE UNTIL YOU KNOW YOU NEED IT, DO NOT COME HERE TO PREPARE FOR LABOR, purchase items elsewhere. They have nice things and getting 2 stars because they do have things to buy AFTER you have baby read more

This store is the worst about being open. I don't shop here often, but when I have, it has been closed almost every time (but not according to their posted hours). Today I drove 25 min. there. I checked their hours before. It's Sunday and they should be open until 3. They are closed. Closed just for fun. No reason. Just closed. The other day, I drove 25 min and they had a sign that said "Out To lunch, Back in 30." No time given. I get they are a local business, but local shouldn't mean unprofessional and closed upon any whim. If you are headed there for overpriced baby items, I'd say definitely call first, but they don't answer their phone either! UPDATE: I went back today and they are CLOSED at 4 with this note on their door :)))) what a joke of a business read more

Natural Resources - Maternity Wear Near Me - San Francisco, California

This place is so peaceful. They are a tad pricier than online shopping but it's worth every penny more considering the cause. I love their gifts, clothing and services. read more

So lucky to have this amazing business in our area. Such awesome resources and high quality merchandise. I have gotten two doulas through their network. read more

Amazing place. I've taken several classes there, but the most helpful for me was the "New Parent Circle". I highly recommend Natural Ressources! read more

I visited the store few times and people are welcoming and super helpful. I also feel comfortable being there. My sister is pregnant and wanted to get her something. So I got a bag of Mommee Coffee for her! A perfect product for pregnant women who still work hard physically :) I also attended one of the community meet ups to connect with photographers, chiropractors, doulas and therapists. It was a great turn out to meet awesome women helping other women. I love this place! read more

Natural Resources - Maternity Wear Near Me - San Francisco, California

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7/28/21 This is a review only for the process of buying the Mrs. Patel's lactation/breastfeeding treats. Huge fan of these treats, this is not a negative review of the products). I can't attest to any of their other services or classes. There's about a $6 markup on the lactation bars from buying from Mrs. Patel's website directly. I don't remember there ever being a markup on these items when I purchased from NR before. The first time I went in, they were completely sold out. No one answers the phones so there's no good way to get info on when they'll have it in stock or what flavors they'll have. When I asked the associate the first time if I could buy from Mrs. Patels directly, she mentioned a super high shipping cost. So I came came back the next week, they didn't have the exact flavor I wanted and then I discovered they are marked up a good $6 more than Mrs patels website directly. Buying on the website directly is only a $6 shipping charge, so it basically evens out. As much as I'm trying to support brick and mortar stores right now, getting these from natural resources (where I used to get them all the time) was more hassle than it was worth. Maybe when things are more normal from covid and you can call during business hours to ask questions I'll try again. But in case any other mamas are looking for Mrs. Patels treats, do yourself a favor and just order online. It will be the same price (cheaper if you order multiple things), and you'll still be supporting small SF businesses directly. read more

I've taken several classes at Natural Resources. In addition to being great preparation for birth and having a newborn, they have been a great way to meet and connect with people in a similar stage of life. read more

Natural Resources classes helped prepare me for birth and parenting! I also love the products in the store. I recommend Natural Resources to all new parents in the area! read more

What a community gem. So welcoming, so supportive of new parents and the journey of parenthood. Of particular note is Bill's baby sign language class. Filled with humor, anecdotal stories of how sign has impacted his life and parenting tips along the way, this class is really great for teaching you the basics of sign and practicing each thing enough times that you feel comfortable and it feels natural to do with your baby. read more

What would I do without Natural Resources! This store/community played a huge role in my pregnancy and then post-pregnancy life. I have taken a variety of classes at the store, and overall have loved almost all of the classes I have taken. Highlights - Childbirth Prep with Amanda Garvey. Amanda is a fantastic instructor. The classes were long, but it was so worth it for myself and husband. 2 first time parents who didn't have a clue! They do place an emphasis on having a natural birth (unmedicated/no interventions), so be aware of that before going into it. Mom's Support Group 0-3 mo and 3mo.-and beyond- Lily Eggers is an amazing guide to this new mom and baby group. Sleep Solutions - Lauren Scout is AMAZING. fantastic teacher and really made an impact on me and my family. Store has many useful items. read more

Imagine this...you have just experienced the miracle of birth. You are completely in love with your new baby. You love your new life, the completeness of your new family, and the amazing gift of breast feeding your child to a healthy beginning. Mothers all over the planet start singing Kumbaya. And everything is all "happily ever after" and rainbows and unicorns fly out of your butt. NOT SO, LADIES. Take heed. Your labor and delivery rips you asunder. Literally. Post partum depression kicks you into a never-ending crying jag that may or may not destroy your marriage. Your baby cries...screams...and for the first week or so (when you're the most exhausted) you can't figure out why or make it stop. Breast feeding is a beast. It's a labor of love that makes your nipples bleed and crack. If you're lucky, you'll only deal with plugged ducts. If you're not so lucky, Mastitis (or "the infection that shall not be named.") And you'll also have boobs that look like deflated footballs after you're done weaning. No one ever mentions that in the hospital. When I was reaching the depths of despair, Natural Resources gave me support in the form of helpful staff, classes and support groups, and materials that helped me nurse my poor body back to health. They had all the necessary products I needed to soothe me during the first few months of breast feeding, and if there were questions, they had the answers. Also, if you are in need of a doula or midwife, they have monthly meet and greets so you could get a better understanding of what they actually provided. All in all, we are very pleased with our membership. As new parents, it was comforting to know there was a place to go when we were at our wit's end. After bringing our baby home from the hospital, we thought we had been duped. It was hard. Excruciatingly so. And there seemed to be no light at the end of the tunnel. But in the end, you have this beautiful thing in your arms that coos and batts eyes and makes your Grinch-ly heart swell. It's worth every moment of pain, worry, depression and pure Hell. Natural Resources is the place to go when you need to be reminded of what it means to be grateful. read more

Horrible experience! I was blown away recently by the way I was treated here. I registered to take a class from them and needed to cancel with two days notice. I did not ask for my money back. I simply asked to take the class at a different time. I spoke with the manager and the owner and they were very clear that they would not make an exception to their policy, which is that if you cancel with less than 7 days notice, you are out of luck. No store credit. No rescheduling. Nothing. Way to go Natural Resources for understanding the hectic lives moms live and doing what you can to accommodate us! God forbid you actually do something to keep my business and treat me like an individual rather than a credit card number. Well, by all means, keep your policy in tact and good luck. Oh, and I hope my $40 for the class was worth losing my business forever. read more

It was my first visit to Natural Resources. I pass it almost daily since it's so near my home. I went in and stood at the wrap desk to ask where to be directed for a class that they were having, and the young lady was so rude! She pretty much ignored me then grunted "I'M BUSY!!!" and turned and walked off quickly. I stood there for a few minutes and no one that worked there acknowledged my presence. I found the class eventually because some one came in berating me with questions about what was I doing there (as if to suggest I didn't belong there). As I was leaving, the girl rolls her eyes and goes "sorry, I was busy." I WILL NEVER SPEND A DIME IN THAT STORE, NOR WILL I SUGGEST THAT RUDE PLACE TO ANYONE. Now about the class. I also wouldn't recommend ANY of the doulas in the SF Birth Doula group (not to be confused with SF Birth Doula Collective, a different group). They were stand-offish, and obviously ignored me. They pounced on one of the soon-to-be mothers who asked a question as if she didn't deserve a doula because she wasn't clear on something. Before the class started, one of them walked up to me and rudely asserts "AND WHO ARE YOU?" and hammers me with questions about if I'm a doula, a nurse, lord forbid that I'm a woman about to conceive a child and happen to be doing a little research before getting knocked up or a GROWN WOMAN who lives in the neighborhood. She made me feel like I didn't belong there. To be clear, I am not sensitive, but she singled me out and made it clear that she did not feel I should be there, where as the other mothers who did not look like me were treated slightly more hospitably. Her questions were very abrasive. Whatever her reasoning, I didn't think it was amusing to be so curt once the class got going and she giggled and goes "oh, I'm giving you the third degree!" Not funny! I was not given any information like the other attendees, and I repeat, I was openly ignored during the question and answer session. I do not understand why anyone would think that sort of rudeness is okay, busy or not. I should give one star, but I'm sure there's someone, somewhere, who they will be polite to, but if that isn't you, stay far away from this place and those nasty doulas! They'll treat you like crap and hold their hands out for your (or your partner's) hard earned money. read more

Not very helpful staff. 3 workers just chatting big while I waited to pay. Not goodbye or thank yous either

I would really, really, really like to like this place because i've been in the neighborhood for many years (and hope to stay for many more). However, I have had enough poor experiences here that I feel deserves the two-star rating: 1. while i was pregnant i wanted to learn about the different diapering options, including the different cloth diapers and composting services. I went in for their "diaper clinic" during the time shown on their website, but when i showed up there was no clinic. instead, a salesperson showed me the shelf of diaper options, but she really wasn't helpful or knowledgeable (she didn't even know about the Earth Baby composting service). 2. when my baby was around 6-weeks -- peak of fussiness -- i went in for their baby and mom support group. the moderator had her toddler there and was very distracted and had to breastfeed her toddler a few times in the middle of the group. she also didn't have much input other than "wear your baby," for pretty much every problem that the moms had. she apologized profusely about her fussy toddler but still...i wasn't coming back again and paying $15 for this. 3. the store seems to have an inventory issue -- once I went in to try on the maya wrap and once to rent a breastpump, and both times they were out. they did end up calling me once the inventory came in, but by then i had already taken my business elsewhere. 4. finally (and this is what prompted me to write this review), i went in today for their drop-in sleep support group at the time indicated on their website, and it was cancelled last minute. it took me a whole day to plan on getting out of the house in time for the sleep support group (and this is on little sleep, hence the need for a support group) so i was quite disappointed when i showed up -- in the rain -- to find out that the session was cancelled. all in all, i think the concept of a community-centered space with natural baby gear and support groups and classes is great....but this place isn't run as an efficient business, and at the end of the day, that is what it is -- a business. read more

I am updating my previous one-star review, in part based on the very professional response of the manager to my previous complaints. Also, after two failed attempts (outlined in previous review) I recently went back and bought the best damned sippy cup I have ever seen. Every time she hoists it to take a few, very serious, big-girl gulps, my daughter smacks her lips and aaah's her appreciation. The good: Local, non-profit business devoted to the needs of mommies and babies. Carefully curated selection of products with emphasis on safety, sustainability, and health. Cute and convenient location in the Mission. The ...um, not so good: Inconvenient hours for working parents. Jekyll and Hyde customer service (although that appears to be changing). Narrow range of options for some products (although they appear quite receptive to feedback) read more

There are so many toxins and who knows what else out there, and you really start to pay attention once you have your own child. Everything NR carries is, well, natural. Or organic. Or very tested and approved, at the very least. The store is also a great "resource" for parents, since they have classes, information sessions, parents groups, etc. If you're at all concerned about what your kid wears, sleeps in, feeds from, burps on, and rolls around in, I'd recommend a visit and then some. read more

Boobs everywhere. Bernal/Mission style mamas breastfeeding in a circle of rocking chairs. Awkwardness abounds. In walks Sarah with her Rich&Skinny Jeans, Tom Ford sunglasses, Juicy Couture tank, and crystallized flip flops. Hey, us store bought, furtherest thing in the universe from natural "tub" birth mamas gotta get our BPA free bottles too. Luckily, they had them here. And I could easily park my Benz right out front for quick getaway. Haha. read more

What a comfortable, relaxing place to shop and explore! After hearing about Natural Resources for months and never making time to go, I finally went at the end of my pregnancy to get fitted for a nursing bra and Sasha helped me figure out sizes and walked me through the different kinds. I gawked at all of the cool kids' stuff and knew I'd be back. Now that our wee one is here, I have lots of excuses to hang out with Sasha and the other cool people at Natural Resources. We went to find a baby carrier because by the time Liam was two weeks old, I realized that one-handed dish washing, laundry folding, and oatmeal prep while I held him in the other arm was going to get old. And I would soon starve b/c one-handed food prep doesn't actually work. So Sasha calmly helped me brave the wide world of baby slings, packs, and carriers--all of which you can rent by the week and try on at Natural Resources without pressure. And without irritation when inevitably your infant needs to be fed 10 minutes after you get there. We just plopped down in one of the three different glider/rocking chairs in the middle of the store for this purpose and did our thing, then resumed the baby carrier comparison afterward. Liam chose the Ergo carrier, and now mommy gets to make oatmeal and tea and even consume them, all while holding my happy baby close to me. I think the main reason people go to Natural Resources is for the classes. Childbirth prep, breastfeeding, new parent, and so on. My friends have loved the classes and I am signed up for a new mothers circle. I have heard great things about Tracy Masselon's classes in particular (and have used and loved her as a post-partum doula). There is also a lending library of videos and books and other resources (free if you become a member for $95/yr). Thanks to Natural Resources, I have never once had to step foot in Babies R Us! I'm sure it's a fine store and have been told by more than one mom friend that I'm a freak for avoiding it, but I get hives in windowless, labrynthian megastores designed to make you spend hard-earned bucks on things you never even knew existed (butt wipe warmers, really?). read more

I wish I'd known about this place sooner! I just went in for the first time today (found out about it, of course, on Yelp!), and wow, it's amazing! It's great for moms like me who are into organic products that you can't find at conventional baby stores. It's geared toward families from pregnancy through children age 2. read more

It is non-essential to become a member within this company/boutique as excited as i was as a new mother. I was exploring and utilizing the neighborhood city and Natural Resources I found to be overpriced and overrated. The staff are somewhat stuck up yet helpful, like a boutique full of top brand items. The list of classes offered do not change over the months, no highlights. If you plan to give birth in a hospital, it might be better to go through birthing classes there. I became a member, but now I realized I could have saved the $95. Although, they offer ten percent off to members twice a month to retail items and ten dollars off each class, I realized it wasn't worth becoming a member. I didn't save any money this way. I feel that I really didn't have to become a member here to satisfy my motherhood or to become a better mother. I took infant message class, great, but when the teacher saw my baby rolling around, she mentioned aloud that is why this is an infant message classes and we really don't reccommend this for babys five months and over. I felt like my baby was still an infant and if she wanted a message, then she should have one. Other than that. they don't offer anything new or exciting or unique from what a hospital would offer. I expcected neighborhood, local, resources, but insead I got boutique, standard, retail. read more

Update: I've had a few negative/indifferent experiences with the staff / owner here recently, which dismays me as someone who goes there regularly and has dropped a TON of cash here over the last year. Beware the late fees on any videos or books you borrow from the library if you're a member. It seems like they may have inventory issues as well, because they are always out of stock in something I'm looking for -- the positives remain, but I have to take it down a star. I like NR for its quality collection of products and relaxed family-friendly vibe -- when I was pregnant I would come here to just sip tea and hang out and look at books from their lending library -- you almost invariably strike up a conversation with another parent or parent-to-be. The membership is worth it for discounts and services like the library. You can weigh your baby here, too. You know that each product sold here has been reviewed by the owner/staff and is going to be good for your little one -- not something you can say about Babies R Us. We took their childbirth prep class (6 week), breastfeeding, and newborn care classes. The classes were good, overall, although the materials were a bit lacking and the space is small and can be hot, especially if you're 8 months pregnant. Our instructor, Michelle Welborn, was fantastic -- knowledgeable and kind. read more

I love this place. If you are pregnant, wanting to be pregnant, have adopted a child, are postnatal -- this is your place to be. It has everything you need, might need, and didn't know you needed. The mom's support group was integral in my finally getting out and feeling better (in control!) of being a new mom. I met wonderful ladies there. It's a great place to just come with your baby and hang out; they have gliders to sit and feed your baby, a changing table, a scale. You can test out baby carriers and breastfeeding bras. They offer free pregnancy or lactation tea. There is a library of books you can refer to and check out -- I have one on baby sleep right now.... They also have classes to help with all sorts of challenges: sleep, eating, baby carriers, baby sign language, lactation, infant care, etc, etc. And BONUS: it's a block away from Jane Austin's prenatal/postnatal yoga classes at YogaTree and Stephanie Forster's Preggo Pilates classes. This place is fab for momma and baby. read more

For expecting families, new families or someone in search of a gift, this is the go-to place in San Francisco. They also have many helpful classes (that they ran throughout the pandemic) for pregnant people and new parents. It is a place where you can connect with your new parent community. It also has many of the necessary items new parents need that you can pick up at a moment's notice (and not need to order for delivery). Specifically, items like breast-pump parts. The staff is knowledgable and can help guide you in your purchases (such as helping you select a baby carrier). This Legacy business (and non-profit) is a gift to the City. read more

The best resource in the city: 1 - leaning about cloth diapering! There are so many great cloth alternatives out there other than the basic folded cotton cloth. They really helped me get an idea of what would work for me with out pressure to buy into a big system right away. 2 - Baby carriers - they have a great variety in the store to test out. They are also very helpful with figuring out the easiest way for you to carry your babe in one of these as he grows through different stages. read more

Their shop: I wanted to support a local business so put natural resources (NR) on my baby registry and several of their items. I got many of my friends and family to purchase lots of items from NR off my registry even though it is cheaper to get those things elsewhere. Unfortunately, NR enforces a very strict 30 days returns/exchanges policy. This doesn't work for registries and gifts. I was gifted something that was too small and even though I had the receipt and all tags attached, they wouldn't offer an exchange or store credit... nothing. I was given just a flat "no." You'd think a local business would at least try to make exceptions to support loyal customers. It left a bad taste in my mouth that they were not willing to budge at all. I'm sure the store itself is lovely with lovely people. Unfortunately, I can't recommend them for gift giving/receiving or registries because of their return policy. Classes: The classes were okay, some were very lecture style and not as interactive as I thought. However, they do collect feedback and hopefully they will improve. read more

Oh god. I have to update this review now that I have had my child and am no longer cranky and pregnant. My original issue still stands (below), but I have been to NR many times since my baby was born and, well, most of the people who work there are sweet and knowledgable. And I love that there is somewhere near my home where I can pop in and meet with a lactation consultant without paying out the hiney for the privilege. Plus, I rented a sling to make sure I would really like it. That's pretty huge. Sorry, NR! Also, the dum-dum in the review below has not been spotted by me since that terrible day. Oh god, I was really cranky. Okay. You know what? I was so excited when I finally got pregnant, and I pored over the NR website looking for all the cool classes I could take. My midwife also specifically recommended this place as the right spot for me to find a mama's group -- a support group of other pregnant women with similar due dates, talking about the same things. I was all into the vibe, the groovy organic goods, and trusted I'd have all the various options at my eager fingertips. Baby Boppy versus Breast Friend? They'd have both, with reasoned arguments for each! Fast-forward to today: I finally plodded in after work, after weeks of not being able to get to the store because -- why? -- because they don't open till 11 and close at 7. What's that, you say? Some mommies have to work for a living? The hell you say! But really, what upset me was the general ignorance of the lonely little dipstick in charge of the store. Here, a one-act play dramatizing my interaction with said dipstick: -Do you have one of those pillows that protects my back when I sleep? -Uh, no... it's weird, I think we ran out of those, I guess they're gonna order them... -Huh. Can I use this wedge between my knees, the way one of my mommy friends suggested? -No, no, that's *only* for under your belly. -Hokay. So I won't get that. Can you tell me if I can sign up for a mommy's group of similar-due date women, communing together in mutual support, as my midwife recommended? - No. No, we absolutely don't have those. We only have classes, and they're [this is the punchline, folks] only for after you give birth. Okay. Now that you've read my dramatic re-enactment, click on the link above and go to their website. Go! Do it now! Do it in a new tab, so you can come back here after! Did you go? DID YOU SEE THE CHILDBIRTH PREP SERIES?? Well, GUESS WHO DIDN'T! I feel so bad for my lovely midwife, who is laboring (haw) under the impression that they do have pregnancy support groups at NR. I mean, she's the one who sent me there, but clearly she's not as well-informed as the dipstick who can't read her own store's website. 'Scuse me, I'm off to ruminate on my childbirth phobia, which I really thought was going to be allayed by some kick-ass sisterhood... then I'm going to call these sancti-hippies and demand my membership money back. p.s. And they only carry Breast Friend, not Baby Boppy, so you're SOL if you've come out on the "wrong" end of that debate. I hate them. And I'm their target audience! And I still hate them. Sadness! read more

UPDATE: After I posted my review, the manager, Bobbie, reached out to me. Apparently my emails had been auto archived and had not been viewed. After speaking with her she did give us a 3 class credit, which is what I originally asked for and thought was fair. I've updated my review to 3 stars as it should not have been so difficult to resolve this in the first place. This is a cool place and it looks like they offer great classes, however beware that they offer ZERO customer service and ZERO flexibility should things change at the last minute. We signed up for the six week birth class. The class alone cost several hundred dollars and you have to also become a member which is another $200, the membership is valid till the baby is one. In total, we paid over $700. While signing up, I did read that they have some stringent cancelation policy's. Yes, I read them. Yes, I still signed on the dotted line. At the time, I never anticipated something going wrong. We attended one birth class and then we learned that my father in law's caretaker couldn't watch him for two evenings a week, unfortunately one of the nights fell on the day of the class. I reached out to cancel the class because we could no longer attend. Given their stringent policies, I assumed that we would lose two of the classes as they require 2 weeks notice, but I thought we should get a minimum of a 3 class credit to our account. I didn't expect money back. I didn't expect even a full credit for the 5 unused classes. They refused. Not only did they refuse, they stopped answering our emails. They did ask me if I could share when them the reason why we couldn't attend so they could see if they could make an exception. Once I shared the reason why they never responded to my emails again. I also felt it was highly inappropriate for them to ask in the first place. So not only did we not take the classes, we lost all our money and apparently our reason for having to cancel wasn't good enough for them to even respond. I feel like we were robbed. I'd stay away if I were you. There are many other great places and classes out there read more

My husband and I took the childbirth series at Natural Resources before the birth of our son. We were looking for an overview of childbirth and we were hoping for a natural birth. Tracy was our teacher and we got a great education on natural birthing. Although I ended up going against everything I was taught I still felt that the classes were very helpful and educational in all of our choices that we made during my labor. The store is fantastic. They have great, safe products. I have been wanting to take some additional classes there but the trek from Marin is a bit to long. read more

Natural Resources is a great, unique, local business that supports healthy parenting in the Bay Area. When my husband and I found out we were pregnant, it opened up so many questions about how we were going to care for our new baby. A visit to Natural Resources was inspiring and fun. We browsed the store, appreciating all the options for baby items that are much healthier than most of what you find at stores like Babies R Us. We also found the woman working there that day to be very helpful, and she even promptly followed up with us about a question we had on the phone. When I was planning for my baby shower, I found the Natural Resources website to be very helpful. While the selection on the site is not as broad as on some baby websites, the items were very carefully selected and of high quality. I found more items I wanted on my wish list through that site than I did on any other site. If you can't visit the store in person, this is a great option. I don't live in SF, but if I did I would be very interested to try some of their classes. They have some good offerings with local midwives and doulas, and they have devoted a large part of their store to a classroom. Way to build community for new parents and local practitioners! read more

Note - NR is not a full service baby product store. They do have some maternity & baby clothes, books, various body products for Mom & baby, and diapering accessories, but a very limited selection and supply of these things. The reason to go to Natural Resources is to use their lending library of birth books and videos (if you're a member) and especially, to take their classes. My husband and I attended the Newborn Care & Parenting Class and Meet the Doulas, and we will be taking a Childbirth Prep class there next month, in addition to the class that we are taking at our hospital (Kaiser). The classes at NR provide a balanced perspective to the classes that we're taking at Kaiser, which are also good, but of course skewed toward hospital interventions and doctor's perspectives. The perspective at NR is, as the name suggests, oriented toward natural birth. However, so far, the staff & teachers don't beat you over the head with a lot of dogma about it, either. Its just good information, presented simply, by qualified folks. read more

This place is undeniably the most parent/baby/child centered store I've ever been in. I ran in there once, 7 months pregnant and said "I am not going to buy anything, I just NEED to pee!" and the woman was like "Bathroom's in the back- no worries!" Those are the words that sing to a pregnant mamas' heart, I swear. They also have a changing table, a semi-circle of rocking chairs for nursing, and great play area for little ones (my 3 year old has yet to realize it's a store and not just a play area for him). Ok, but I have also shopped there. They have a barrel of carriers and wraps that they will demonstrate to you (which made it so much more clear to me what I wanted, verses trying to puzzle it out from photos online). They have a few types of cloth diapers you can pick up and get a feel for, again, nicer than wondering and staring at choices on a computer screen. And from there, they have a ton of products that I'd describe as "natural" , "organic", and "expensive" for an expectant mother and baby. it's pretty much all there, from nursing bras to handmade pinafores for toddlers to postpartum teas and tinctures to BPA-free orthopedic sippy cups. I mostly drool over their items because, lets face it, it's wildly expensive to be an organic-natural-attachment parent. But here's a hint for ya- mixed in with $80 maternity shirts you might find a $12 maternity dress that you LOVE (I did). I'm taking off one star because I kind of feel like the staff I've interacted with haven't been as knowledgeable as I'd like for the type of store that it is. One time I asked abut how many prefold cloth diapers they'd recommend for a newborn, and the woman didn't have an answer. That felt like a pretty basic thing to me- especially somewhere where they sell $23 newborn bonnets, ya know? read more