Watch for blue boxes in the resource tabs below. Our Public Health Nurses have highlighted important information and tips they often use on the phone line.
To speak to a nurse about caring for your baby, contact the Family Health Information Line (FHIL) at 705-474-1400 ext. 5351 or email healthy.families@healthunit.ca.
Feeding Baby |
Breastfeeding Resources
We really love the latching your baby video on this page. Watch closely starting at 1:12 for the laid-back position. This position can really help when first learning to latch!
“When babies are held skin-to-skin, they can hear their parent’s heartbeat and breathing, and smell and feel their skin. This is familiar and comforting and helps them to use their natural instincts." (Best Start - Breastfeeding Matters) Starting Solids"At around six months of age, your baby will start to show signs that they are ready for solid foods. Some babies will be ready a few weeks before six months of age and others will be ready just after six months of age. Follow your baby’s signs of readiness for solid food." (Nutrition Connections - Feeding Your Baby)
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Infant Feeding Survey |
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Do you have a baby under the age of six months? The Health Unit wants to hear from you! We are doing a study to learn about how people feed their babies in the first six months. This will help us improve services for new parents and babies in our community. Learn more on our Infant Feeding Survey webpage. |
Sleep |
"Comfort your crying infant. It will not spoil them! They will learn that you will be there when needed. It helps your infant feel more secure and comfortable." (Best Start - Sleep Well, Sleep Safe)
"Babies who always sleep on their backs have a lower risk of SIDS [sudden infant death syndrome]." (Public Health Agency of Canada - Safe Sleep for Your Baby) |
Car Seats for Baby |
“Keep your child rear facing for as long as they still fit the larger, rear-facing seat. Your child is safest riding rear facing until 2, 3 or even 4 years old." (Parachute - Child car safety) |
Supporting Baby's Growth and Development |
Tummy Time for Baby
“Aim to achieve at least an hour of Tummy Time total per day by 3 months of age. This hour of Tummy Time can be broken up into smaller parts. From newborn age, start with a few minutes at a time and build up to longer sessions.” (Pathways.org - Tummy Time Tips)
Play for Baby
Try their activity “Lift and Look!” We like this activity because babies strengthen their vision, head movements, and neck and shoulder muscles. Extra bonus – they listen to and are comforted by your voice, their favourite sound! Connecting with your Baby
“By taking small moments during the day to do serve and return, you build up the foundation for children’s lifelong learning, behavior, and health—and their skills for facing life’s challenges." (Center on the Developing Child - 5 Steps for Brain-Building Serve and Return)
“Even though babies can’t speak, they have ways of letting you know how they’re feeling. If you pay attention to these signs and act on them to comfort your baby, you will form a bond of trust.” (Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development - Parent-child Attachment) Milestones for Baby
“Talk to baby every day to show that language is used to communicate.” (Pathways.org - Tips for Baby Development) |
Caring for Self
Caring for Your Mental Health |
Tip: Nesting typically involves preparing yourself and your living space for the arrival of your baby. Before and after birth, continue to nurture your physical and mental well-being by focusing on another type of nest, NEST-S: Nutrition, Exercise, Sleep, Time for self, and use of Supports.
Connect with the resources you need when you need it. You are not alone.
It's okay to take care of yourself. It's part of parenting. |
Play Groups for You and Your Baby |
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Ontario EarlyON Centres: Interactive drop-in programs for children and their families, from birth to six years of age.
Looking for something more? Other parenting groups may be available for support. Visit our playgroups list. |
Local Support for Parents |
Talk to us about pregnancy - whether planning a pregnancy or currently pregnant, breastfeeding (including breastfeeding clinic appointments), mental health during or after pregnancy, registering for online prenatal or parenting classes, child growth and development, feeding your baby, general parenting, and community resources.
Speak with us on the Family Health Information Line to see if this program is right for you! |
Substance Use |
Quitting is a process that can be different for everyone.
“Only time will remove the alcohol from breastmilk. Strategies such as drinking more water, eating, pumping and discarding the milk, and exercising do not help the body remove the alcohol from breastmilk any quicker.” (Best Start - Mixing Alcohol and Breastfeeding)
“Breastfeeding is still the healthiest choice for your baby. Until further information about the potential harms is available, it's recommended women stop using cannabis while they are pregnant, and while breastfeeding." (Risks of Cannabis on fertility, pregnancy, breastfeeding and parenting, 2019) |
Download the Free Postpartum Guide
If you are pregnant or you have just welcomed a new baby, this guide is for you!
