BabyD Agency is preparing to open Guyana’s first Montessori-inspired school in September as part of a broader initiative to strengthen parenting support, early childhood development and awareness of postpartum care.
The announcement was made by BabyD founder and Chief Executive Officer, Donette Brotherson, on Sunday, at the agency’s first Mommy and Me Village Expo at the Promenade Gardens, where she outlined plans to expand the organisation’s services and establish safe and supportive spaces for mothers and children.
Brotherson said the agency’s primary focus is to educate women about postpartum care, parenting and the importance of the first 1,000 days of a child’s life.
“Stroller Walk was a success, but when I spoke to the parents there, it was so heartbreaking because most parents were suffering from postpartum depression. They don’t know the signs, and I want to bring awareness to that,” she said.
BabyD, a professional family support and parenting company founded in the United States several years ago, was introduced in Guyana in 2025 by Brotherson. The agency provides professional nannies, lactation consultants, parenting workshops and training for women interested in becoming childcare or newborn specialists.
The organisation launched its Guyana activities with its first BabyD Stroller Walk at the National Park in Georgetown and the Guyana-China Friendship Park in July.
Brotherson said conversations with parents during the initiative highlighted the need for greater awareness and education surrounding postpartum experiences and early childhood development.
She said the agency wants to “take this all to the next level” by creating a safe environment where mothers can access information and support.
“My main focus is re-educating the women in Guyana about postpartum, parenting, and all of that,” Brotherson said.
She stressed that parenting and caregiving should not be viewed as beginning only after a child is born, noting that development and preparation start from conception.
According to Brotherson, many parents are also unfamiliar with the significance of the first 1,000 days, a critical period spanning pregnancy and the early years of a child’s life.
“Some people feel like parenting begins when the child is born, or caregiving begins when the child is born. No, it’s from conception, and I want to bring awareness to that,” she said.
The Montessori-inspired school is expected to focus on sensory development, intentional interaction, early learning foundations and milestone awareness, with the agency hoping to use the initiative as a foundation for expansion into other regions.
Brotherson said BabyD has already received requests from parents for its programmes and Stroller Walk initiative to be extended to Berbice and Linden.
“We plan to, because we have parents reaching out to us to go to Berbice for the Stroller Walk, and also to Linden; but of course, we have to figure things out and put all those recommendations into consideration,” she said.
She reiterated that ensuring a safe and supportive environment for mothers remains central to the agency’s plans.
BabyD currently has a team of eight persons in Guyana, although Brotherson said the number is expected to grow as the organisation expands its programmes.
The agency is also hoping to collaborate with the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security as it advances its plans for parenting education, maternal support and early childhood development.
Brotherson said the agency’s long-term vision is to establish additional schools in other regions if the Georgetown initiative proves successful, while continuing to provide practical and professional support to families.
The planned expansion represents BabyD’s effort to build a stronger support network for parents while promoting greater awareness of maternal wellbeing and the importance of early childhood development.