Papoose Staff

Carol Pennell RNC,IBCLC, CCE,Co-Owner of Papoose Carol has 33 years experience working with families beginning with the birthing process, breastfeeding, post partum and parenting. She is an Internationally Board Certified Breastfeeding Consultant, Certified Childbirth Instructor, a member of ILCA and the College of Breastfeeding Medicine and a Registered Nurse.  Carol has lectured at  La Leche League conferences and has spoken widely on maternal health and breastfeeding. Carol is also a member of La Leche league International. She is highly respected among pediatricians, doctors and breastfeeding mothers in Southeastern Connecticut for her expertise in the care of the new mother. She has five children, eleven grandchildren and is a voracious reader. She is also a certified in Reiki and homeopathy.  Carol leads breastfeeding classes and meets with moms by appointment to address breast feeding challenges. Carol shows new parents how to adapt to their new family lifestyle easily  by incorporating attachment parenting which includes; how to wear your baby, keeping your baby close to you, and picking up on your newborns cues on demand. If you would like Carol to lecture about breastfeeding and/or maternal health please contact her directly through email or 889-2323. You can email her at Carol@ShopPapoose.com

Amy Camassar, BS Ed., CIMI, ICI,Co-Owner of Papoose Amy leads the Babysigns program and is a wife and mother of an elementary aged son.  Amy received a degree in Elementary Education from the University of Connecticut with a minor in Human Development and Family Relations in 1991.  Prior to opening Papoose Amy most recently was an Early Literacy Teacher in the New London Public Schools where she worked since 2000.   Amy is a Motheread/Fatheread Certified Facilitator that instructs adults about how to help their children improve their literacy while enhancing their own while reading renowned children's literature.  Amy and her husband have been licensed foster care and adoptive parents through the the Department of Children and Families and Amy has been a Big Sister in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program since 2005. Amy was drawn to papoose to share her enthusiasm for learning and teaching and her love of family nurturing. She is a strong proponent of Attachment Parenting and is always happy to talk about the benefits of co-sleeping and bed-sharing. Amy teaches Infant Massage, Baby Signs® Parent Workshops, Sign, Say and Play™ classes, 1-2-3 Magic Positive Parenting Classes and Stroller Strides® -Fitness Classes for Moms with their babies.  Child development, education and literacy are Amy's specialites and she welcomes any questions you may have in these areas. Amy is a member of La Leche league International. She can be reached at Amy@ShopPapoose.com

Holly Salegna, HBCE, CLC, Co-Owner of Papoose is a mother of 3 young boys. She currently serves on the board of the Connecticut Down Syndrome Congress. Holly is also a member of La Leche League International and an educator for The Rebozo Way Project. Holly has traveled to many La Leche League conferences including Chicago and Scottsdale. With over 9 years practical experience in breastfeeding and attachment parenting, she is an advocate for anyone who needs assistance with in-arms parenting and related issues. Holly HypnoBirthed her 3rd child, Sam. She is a Certified HypnoBirthing® Practitioner. Holly offers classes on HypnoBirthing®, Babywearing and Kindermusik. Holly is also a Certified Lactation Counselor where she triages the 24/7 breastfeeding support line, moderates the in-store breastfeeding support and the online breastfeedign support group. Holly is currently interning with her mother Carol Pennell for her IBCLC. ( Internationally Board Certified Breastfeeding Consultant). She literally has been interning all her life on every breastfeeding question imaginable with Carol and could probably have answered any basic breastfeeding question at age 8! Holly is also obtaining her degree in Maternal Health: Lactation through the Union Institute University and Healthy Children. Holly also hosts a monthly Babywearing Group at Papoose. Holly has over 7 years of vocal training locally and was a student at HB Studios in NYC. She is a Certified Kindermusik Instructor in the babies and toddler program. Having cloth diapered and perfected babywearing with all 3 sons and for over 11 years, Holly can help in answer to all your cloth diapering and babywearing needs. Holly's 3rd son Sam has Down syndrome and has worked with many Physical Therapist on the best way to carry a child with low tone and other related special needs issues. She can be reached at Holly@ShopPapoose.com Cheri Meester,Natural retail guru, Mom Support Liason cheri's bio is coming soon!   Sarah Brassard,Natural Retail Guru,Babywearing group, Cloth Diapering 101 Sarah graduated from Wesleyan University with a degree in Sociology and American Studies, and has held jobs ranging from traditional wooden boatbuilder to editorial assistant at a university press to stay at home mom.  She is a strong believer in experiential education and lifetime learning, and believes that you can't learn something--or retain knowledge--without teaching it to others.  Sarah was drawn to Papoose because she enjoys sharing information with other parents and learn from them as well.  She loves the local community of like-minded mamas she has met through the store, classes, and playgroups.    Sarah and her husband have two young daughters, and she has been researching, learning about, and practicing babywearing, breastfeeding, cloth diapering, and attachment parenting since becoming pregnant.  She is fluent in American Sign Language, and has taught both of her children to sign.  She attempts to raise her family as "green" as possible, and is always looking for ways to improve in that area.  Sarah is a member of La Leche League and is currently working toward becoming accredited as a LLL leader.  email:Sarah@ShopPapoose.com     Kelly Wood Mama Baby Zumba! Instructor....coming soon!   Renee Frechette,R.D., Babyfood Workshop Educator Renée is a mother of three beautiful blessings, Patrick, Ayden and Elizabeth. As a Registered Dietitian with 10 years experience she provides nutrition counseling and medical nutrition therapy to her clients at the William W. Backus Hospital.  She enjoys coordinating and participating in wellness activities, including a cooking class series. Her passion about infant and child nutrition and wellness drew her to Papoose where she now teaches the Baby Food Workshop. In addition to teaching, Renée is a freelance writer for the Norwich Bulletin. Her love of writing also spills over into the elementary school newsletter where her two sons attend school.  The topics are “naturally” kid nutrition and cooking. Renée is a graduate of Montclair State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition. She completed her Dietetic Internship Program at MSU and became a Registered Dietitian in 1997.  She is a member of the American Dietetic Association and the Connecticut Dietetic Association.  As a wife and mother of three, she finds time to pursue her interests in Yoga, Gardening and Cooking.    In 2009 Renée hopes to bring a family workshop to Papoose entitled, “Feeding the Kids”.  This Workshop is designed to empower families to manage peaceful meal times in a healthy way. You can email Renée at RFrechetteRD@yahoo.com

Laura Nichols,Nationally Certified, Licensed Massage Therapist Laura holds a Bachelor of Arts from Western Connectiuct State University, and Graduated from the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy in December, 2006. Her Massage Therapy education includes proficient training in Classic Western Massage, Pregnancy Massage, Energy work, trigger point work, and myofascial release techniques. Laura is also a certified master-level Reiki practitioner. Over the past two years, in addition to giving birth to, and mothering, a beautiful son, Laura, has been seeing massage clients through Atlantic Massage, LLC, and Coastal Chiropractic and Family Wellness Center, as well as through her own home business. She served as a doula for her friends birth, which was an enlightening and hugely fulfilling experience. Laura was drawn to Papoose through her love of attachment parenting, and has enjoyed, as well as benefitted from, many of the programs and support groups offered there. She hopes to be able to give back to the Papoose community through Massage Therapy and Bodywork, and all of the benefits that these modalities bring, particularly to the pre-and post-natal mother. Laura is a Member of the American Massage Therapy Association, and La Leche League International.

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