Baby and Toddler Resources in Ottawa

Do you have questions about your baby? 

Connect with a registered nurse from Health811 for free, secure, and confidential health advice. Service is available 24/7 in English and French, with translation support also offered in other languages. Call 8-1-1 or visit Health811.ontario.ca.

Parenting Courses

Family Services Ottawa- offers a wide variety of parenting programs covering many different topics, and can help you through the difficulties that come with parenthood. Plus, you'll meet other parents who are going through the same things as you are.

EarlyON child and family centres- offer a variety of workshops on parenting and child development topics to support families of children 0-6 in their parenting journey. These are a great opportunities to gain knowledge, create connections with service providers and other families.

Caldwell Family Centre

Life with a new baby

Welcome to the world of parenting! As the parent of a new baby, you will experience many changes and may have many questions. Ottawa Public Health is here to help. Visit our Life with a new baby page.

Health and development

Growth and Development

Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO): CHEO Access Team- is for those with complex needs. It is for children who have missed important developmental milestones like crawling or talking, or children and youth who have complex physical and cognitive health issues.

First Words- is for families of preschool children who live in Ottawa. First Words focuses on preventing and finding speech and language problems early. They also offer treatment for these problems.

EarlyON child and family Centres - offer a variety of workshops on parenting and child development topics to support families of children 0-6 in their parenting journey. These are a great opportunities to gain knowledge, create connections with service providers and other families.

Looksee Checklist® (formerly Nipissing District Developmental Screen®-NDDS)

Best Start: On Track Guide (PDF)

Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services: Your baby's speech and language skills

Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services: Blindness and low vision

Behaviour

Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO): CHEO Access Team- is for those with complex needs. It is for children who have missed important developmental milestones like crawling or talking, or children and youth who have complex physical and cognitive health issues.

Autism Parent Resource Kit - an online resource to help parents, caregivers and families better understand autism and the range of services and support available in Ontario.

Canadian Paediatric Society: Behaviour & Parenting

Centre of Excellence: Behaviour

Mental Health and Attachment

Crossroads Children’s Mental Health Centre- is a children's mental health centre. It has services for children up to age 12 and their families. The Crossroads team has specialized skills.They offer treatment, support and life-skills training. They help children and their families with different mental health needs.

Centre Psychosocial- offers mental health services in French. Families who have children from birth to age 17 can use these services.

Best Start: My Child and I Attachment for Life (PDF)

Best Start: Healthy Baby Healthy Brain

Parenting in Ottawa: Mental Health in Pregnancy and After Birth

Mental Health and Substance Use Resource List

Toilet Learning

Caring for Kids: Toilet learning

Sleep

Public Health Agency of Canada: Safe Sleep

Health Canada: Is Your Child Safe? Sleep Time

Caring for Kids: Healthy sleep for your baby and child

Encyclopedia of Early Childhood Development: Sleeping behaviour

Healthy Eating

Healthy Eating While Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding

Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding

Bottle Feeding

Introducing Solid Foods Six to Twelve Months

Feeding your Toddler One to Three Years

Good Food Box

Dietitians of Canada: Children's Nutrition

Health Canada: Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide

Active Play
EarlyON child and family Centres- offer a variety of workshops on parenting and child development topics to support families of children 0-6 in their parenting journey. These are a great opportunities to gain knowledge, create connections with service providers and other families.

Have a Ball Together (Best Start by Health Nexus) - This website will give you the tools you need to be able to promote and encourage physical activity for children 0-6.

Inspiring play for baby - Active for Life

Activity ideas for toddlers and others - Active for Life

24 Hour Movement Guidelines - Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology

Immunization

Immunization

Update Your Child's Immunization Record

Ontario's Routine Immunization Schedule (PDF)

Second-Hand Smoke

Ottawa Public Health: Smoke Free Regulations

Canadian Cancer Society: Second Hand Smoke

Ontario.ca: Smoke-free Ontario

Baby and Toddler Safety

Indoor Safety

Caring for Kids: Keeping your young child safe around the house
Caring for Kids: Healthy homes for childrenHealth Canada: Is Your Child Safe?
Parenting in Ottawa: Indoor Safety

Outdoor Safety

Parenting in Ottawa: Outdoor Safety
Health Canada: Extreme Cold

Car Seat Safety

Parenting in Ottawa: Child Passenger Safety

S.E.A.T.S. for Kids Canada

Ottawa Safety Council: Car Seat Program

General

General

211: Information and referral services for Eastern Ontario. We connect individuals to social, governmental and health resources for issues such as: parenting, child care, disabilities, finances, employment, stress, recreation, sexuality, seniors support, bereavement and more. 

Andrew Fleck Childcare Services

Banff Community House

Better Beginnings Better Futures

Blair Court Community House

Boys and Girls Club

Brighter Futures for Children of Young Parents

Centre des services communautaires Vanier

Centre Psychosocial

Centrepointe Co-operative Nursery School

Centretown Community Health Centre

CHEO

Children's Aid Society of Ottawa

Children's Inclusion Support Services

City of Ottawa Childcare Services

City of Ottawa Parks and Recreation 

City View Child & Family Services

Coalition of Community Health and Resource Centres

Conseil des écoles catholiques du centre-est

Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario (CEPEO)

Crossroads Children’s Mental Health Centre

Eastern Ottawa Resource Centre

Family Services Ottawa

Grandir ensemble

Hawthorne Meadows Nursery School

Lowertown Community Resource Centre

Michele Heights Community House

Military Family Resource Centre

Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services

EarlyON Child and Family Centres - Nepean Carleton

EarlyON Child and Family Centres - Ottawa South

Orleans-Cumberland Community Resource Centre

Ottawa Catholic School Board

Ottawa Children's Treatment Centre

Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization

Inuuqatigiit-Centre For Inuit Children, Youth And Families

Ottawa Police Service

Ottawa Public Health

Ottawa Public Library 

Parent Resource Centre

Pinecrest-Queenway Community Health Centre

Pinecrest Queensway Community Health Centre - First Words

Rural Family Connections

Russell Heights Community House

Service Coordination for people with disabilities

Somerset West Community Health Centre

South-East Ottawa Community Health Centre 

St. Mary's Home 

Walking in my shoes

Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre 

YMCA-YWCA

Youville Centre

There are a variety of Ottawa Public Health services to make it easier for your child to grow up healthy in Ottawa:

Do you have more questions about parenting?

  • Connect with a registered nurse from Health811 for free, secure, and confidential health advice. Service is available 24/7 in English and French, with translation support also offered in other languages. Call 8-1-1 or visit Health811.ontario.ca.
  • Connect with a Community Navigator from 2-1-1 for information about community programs and resources across Eastern Ontario. Helpline service is available 24/7 and in many different languages. Call 2-1-1 or visit 211ontario.ca.
  • Connect with other parents on the Parenting in Ottawa Facebook page.
  • There are a variety of services to make it easier for your child to grow up healthy in Ottawa.
  • You can update your child's immunization record using either the Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON) Tool or the CANImmunize App
  • If you have received a message from Ottawa Public Health such as a letter or a call regarding immunization, an infectious disease, or infection control lapse, please call 613-580-6744 and listen to the menu options carefully.
Good Food Box

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