As a Healthy Babies, Healthy Children (HBHC) Public Health Nurse one of the best parts of my job is to help parents find moments of joy with their infants and children. Sharing joy and laughter can help parents and babies create a connection that will last a lifetime. Moments of joy may look like: A… Continue reading Increasing the joy in parenting
Author: Toronto Public Health
Toronto Public Health (TPH) is responsible for the health and well being of all 2.9 million residents. TPH has focused on protecting and promoting the health of Toronto residents since 1883. Learn more at toronto.ca/health
Reading to baby: Get an early start on a lifetime of learning
The time I spend with my kids reading a book is my favourite part of the day. It’s a time where everyone can wind down, snuggle in, explore new adventures and…have fun while learning language! So how early should we start reading to our children? Research shows that in the last 10 weeks of pregnancy,… Continue reading Reading to baby: Get an early start on a lifetime of learning
Vegetarian & pregnant? Tips to meet your protein needs
You can easily get all your protein needs when you are vegetarian - you just need to pay attention to where your protein sources are coming from so that you get all the essential building blocks. To help with the growth and development of your baby, protein needs increase in the second half of pregnancy… Continue reading Vegetarian & pregnant? Tips to meet your protein needs
5 ways to add summer squash to your meals
Tired of potato salad this summer….why not try summer squash! Some of the benefits of adding summer squash to your BBQ list: more potassium vitamin C fibre helps you stay hydrated In Ontario, summer squash are available from late spring to early fall, and come in green or yellow colours. If you are still wondering… Continue reading 5 ways to add summer squash to your meals
A picture is worth a thousand words
A child may find it hard to cope with new situations, routines, or experiences because they do not know what to expect. When this happens, it is common for children to have breakdowns and tantrums. So, how can we prevent these behaviours from happening? How can we help our child understand our expectations? By using… Continue reading A picture is worth a thousand words
5 Tips to become a mindful eater in pregnancy
The new Canada's food guide is encouraging us to be mindful of our current eating habits. This is something that I stress in my discussions with pregnant individuals because it has its benefits when it comes to adapting to pregnancy changes. What are the benefits of mindful eating in pregnancy? Mindful eating in pregnancy can… Continue reading 5 Tips to become a mindful eater in pregnancy
Baby’s speech, hearing & vision: Don’t wait and see
Did you know that approximately 1 in 10 children require support developing typical speech and language skills? It is important to know that milestones as early as 6 months of age can begin to impact a child's speech and language development. In the past, it was common for parents and some professional to take a… Continue reading Baby’s speech, hearing & vision: Don’t wait and see
Speech, hearing & vision: The importance of early detection
Speech, hearing and vision are important parts of your child's development. Babies begin to explore the environment around them through the sights and sounds they are exposed to. Through exploration, a baby's brain begins to make connections that helps them learn to communicate. May is Speech, Hearing and Vision month. But what happens if your… Continue reading Speech, hearing & vision: The importance of early detection
Canada’s new food guide: 3 Tips to help in pregnancy
"Healthy Eating is more than the foods you eat" is the main messages of the new Canadian food guide that was unveiled earlier this year. In pregnancy, this is very important because many external factors influence how and what you are able to eat. As the new guide points out, paying close attention to your… Continue reading Canada’s new food guide: 3 Tips to help in pregnancy
Build healthy eating habits for your little one
Imagine the last meal you had with a friend - there was good conversation, eye contact and maybe even a few laughs. No one was stressed about how much the other person ate. Everyone was relaxed and enjoying sharing the time together. Isn't this what we want for our families too? Build healthy eating habits… Continue reading Build healthy eating habits for your little one