• Medical Information

• Post Partum Depression Help

• Support for Mothers

• Baby Product Recalls

• Childcare and Babysitting

• Postpartum Doulas

• Sanity Savers

• Moms' Groups

• Programs and Activities for Caregivers and Children (Incl Drop In Centres)

• Fitness with Baby

• Movies for Mamas

• Summer Camps/Programs

• Transportation (Taxis and TTC)

• City Malls

• Toronto Neighbourhoods

• Dining Out with Children

• Getting a Birth Certificate/Child Tax Benefit

• Preschool and Schools (Public and Private)

• Traveling with Children

• Insider's Guide to RESPs

• Other Great Resources for Toronto Parents

Post-partum Depression Help

Our Sister's Place is a resource centre at Yonge and Eglinton that deals with PPD. Click here for more information. Click here  for their PPD forums to chat with others going through the same thing.

Victorian Order of Nurses offers the Good Beginning Program to parents of healthy newborns with minimal family support who are feeling overwhelmed. Free. Call 1-800-727-1581 in Peel or 1-800-574-6059 in Toronto/York Region.

Women's Health Centre St. Joseph's Health Centre, Toronto, ON (416) 530-6850 or click

Click here for online PPD support group

Support for Mothers

York University houses the Association for Research on Mothering, and the Journal of the Association for Research on Mothering. The Centre's mandate is to promote feminist maternal scholarship by building and sustaining a community of researchers -- academics and grassroots -- interested in the topic of mothering-motherhood. Click here.

YWCA Family Support Centre offers pertinent programs and services to which you might refer your clients. Located in Scarborough, the Centre features support programs such as Mom & Baby and Teen Mothers; parenting programs such as S.T.E.P. (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting), 1-2-3 Magic and Kids Have Stress Too!; and a counseling program called Here to Help for children who have witnessed violence in their homes. All of our programs are free, and T.T.C. tickets are provided to program participants.

Baby Product Recalls

It seems like baby products are the most dangerous things on earth, given their recall frequency.  Click to get emailed whenever there is a recall in the U.S.  For Canadian recalls, click here.

Transportation

TTC

They say they are accessible.  Many T.O. moms would disagree.  It's very hard to find a working elevator for strollers at both stops.  Streetcars and buses are a little better. 

Subway stations with elevators are: Bathurst, Bayview, Bessarion, Bloor-Yonge, Davisville, Don Mills, Downsview, Dundas West, Finch, Kennedy, Kipling, Leslie, Queen, Scarborough Centre, Sheppard-Yonge, Spadina (Bloor-Danforth Line only), St. George, Queen's Park and Union.  And a new one at Eglinton West (thanks Kristin!)

Rosedale, Summerhill and Ellesmere do not have escalators.

To call to see if a TTC elevator is working, call 416-539-LIFT (5438).  Really.  I would have thought it would be easier just to fix the elevators than have a 24/7 hotline, but hey, what do I know.  To see if an elevator or escalator is working, call 416-393-INFO (4636) and press 5. 

If you want to ride a bus with a lift, click.

Cabs

Currently, the law does not require taxis to provide child seats.  You must provide your own or buckle the child in using the seat belt (yikes!). 

Parking

Recently, I got one of those sonar gizmos on my car to help me parallel park but my insurance company still prefers for me to stall park.  Click for a list of Green P lots.

City Malls (with free parking) You Might Not Know About

East York Town Centre (45 Overlea Boulevard, just west of Don Mills Rd).  Decent "errand" mall on one story (except Zellers which has elevator and soon a flat escalator thingy).  Stores include Zellers, a huge dollar store (downstairs, not stroller friendly), Shoppers Drug Mart, Hallmark, small food court with MacDonald's, Kids Joy sells kids clothes and toys Dominion, card shop,  Daytime Crowd: 60+ and a few moms with strollers.

Eglinton Square (Victoria Park and Eglinton).  Don't let the exterior fool you, this mall is light, bright and airy inside.  Decent "errand" mall.  Stores include The Bay (they have a small designer depot section with great bargains), nice bright food court, Coles, Hallmark, Trade Secrets, Payless Shoes, Public Library, Sunrise Records, Dominion.  Daytime Crowd: 60+ Coronation Street Fans (there is a Mrs. Bridges British Bakery which sells scones, scottish baps and loads of candy imported from Britain (Cadbury Flake anyone?).  I felt EXACTLY like Bridget Jones there).  Strollers available. Web site.

Walmart (St. Clair West and Runnymede) has come to Bloor West Village.  OK, It's not a mall but it will take you a good long time to check it out.  Personally, I gave up shopping at Walmart as a new year's resolution (because of stuff like this) but there is no denying that this is a huge store with LOTS of baby gear.  And free parking to boot.

Manulife Centre (Bay and Bloor). Park underneath and get free two hours of free parking if you spend $25. Indigo, Stitch-It, Value Mart, Pharma Plus, plus William Ashley and stroller access to the Holt's concourse (Science City and a very decent toy shop). Or pop above ground and hit the ground level Dollarama at Charles and Yonge. Web site.

Bayview Village (Bayview and Lawrence).  Baby Gap, Indigo, Loblaws and lots of Juicy Couture if you're into that scene.  Web site.

Hazelton Lanes (Avenue Road and Yorkville).  You get 90 minutes free parking with a $25 purchase (show parking attendant receipt on exit).  Whole Foods supermarket and T-H-E are the only good stores there but it's a nice place for kids to walk around and, hey, maybe you need another cashmere sweater for your chihuahua.  Web site.

Dufferin Mall (Dufferin and Bloor). This ain't the Dufferin Mall of the 1990's. Clean, kid friendly (some of the patrons are still a little too friendly to the kids, though, so keep an eye on them at all times, as usual). Wal-Mart, Toys R Us, Winners, Children's Place, good sized food court, H&M . Web site. Read the fantastic history. Read T.O. Mama's review.

We also love Cloverdale Mall and Dixie Outlet Mall (both of which can be accessed by driving Bloor Street is highway avoidance is key).

Toronto Neighbourhoods

Thinking of moving to T.O.  Don't know where to start.  Here is a Guide to Toronto's neighbourhoods which gives you a sense of what they are like. 

Dining Out With Children

Eating Out Tip: Order dry toast with a side of cream cheese for little Ethan as soon as you sit down and you will have a much happier time.

To Go, 1133 Yonge Street (southeast corner of Yonge and Summerhill).  Open M-F 7:30 - 6:30 and Saturday 7:30 to 6:00. Casual atmosphere, super friendly staff.  Kids tend to gather in the centre of the restaurant while adults enjoy decent breakfast fare.  They even have a good selection of books for the kiddies.

South Street Burgers. Big Box Mall at Millwood and Laird. Cafeteria Style with nice open seating area. Very kid friendly. Limited menu (burgers, chicken burgers, veggie burgers, New York Fries and salads) but good (although the meat is a tad on the overcooked side). Not cheap but in the era of the $22 hamburger, not too expensive!

Lessendro. Hazelton Lanes. Sunday brunch from 11am-4pm. Adults $22.95, kids $10.95, kids under age four eat free. Big, airy open place (located in the atrium) where there is lots of room for active kids to walk around. Good food selection (french toast, omelette station, chicken curry, meatballs, roast beef, rice, potatoes, eggs, sausage, bacon. Great dessert selection (including fresh baked chocolate chip cookies for the kids). Perfect place to celebrate a birthday or meet the grandparents or just hang out on a nice Sunday morning.  90 minutes free parking.

The Breakfast Place at 399 Church Street (the name changes a lot but usually has something to do with eggs) Great food, high chairs provided, friendly staff.

Cora at 277 Wellington Street West (at  Blue Jay Way) down near the Rogers Centre.  Excellent breakfasts and very friendly staff.  Lots of high chairs and excellent booths! - Mary

Fresh on Bloor West between Spadina and Bathurst, has great organic food that is delicious, has a noise level appropriate for kids and provides a high chair. 

Oliver & Bonacini Cafe.Grill, Bayview Village Shopping Centre (Bayview & Sheppard).  Nice ambience at lunch.  Michael Bonacini's mushroom soup and they don't give moms the crappy tables at the back.  They do not take reservations for stroller groups (moms fine, several strollers -- not so much). 

Autogrill at Avenue and Eg. is happy to accommodate strollers if you reserve in advance.

Niche Coffee & Tea Co (1364 Danforth Ave) Nice wide aisles for strollers and stroller parking at the back. Very mom friendly.

Cha Liu Dim Sum.  2352 Yonge Street, 2nd Floor.  Yes you have to carry the stroller upstairs but they are happy to tuck it away for you.  They have highchairs (the white plastic Ikea ones) and they are friendly.  They open at 11am on Sunday morning for Dim Sum.  The Puff Pastry with Duck, BBQ Pork Buns, Shrimp Dumpling, Mango Pudding, Crystal Dessert Balls are fabulous.  Best Chinese food I have had in North Toronto.  Bonus, they serve Dim Sum all day so you can do an early dinner here too!  Fair Warning - for those who love Chinese restaurants because they are noisy (and thus child-friendly) - this is not a big loud place.  If your little one is going through a rowdy phase ask for a table at the back or you might want to head to Spadina or up to Richmond Hill (where Magic Wok and Golden Court Abalone are to die for).

Golden Griddle at Laird and Eglinton has Kids Eat free days on Wednesdays.  They do not bat an eye when my little darling throws cheerios all over the floor.  They have lots of highchairs and free balloons. 

Jack Astors at Don Mills Centre (Don Mills and Lawrence) has great staff, decent food (for a place with crayons on the table) and they are cool if little Billy throws food all over the floor.

Sunset Grill and Yonge and Eg. is great - especially before 9am when they are pretty empty.

Coffee Klatch Meeting Spots

Meggies (174 Eglinton Avenue West at Edith) Anyplace that will accommodate 6 strollers for tea without batting an eyelash is good in my book.

I must admit it, Timothy's is the most mom-friendly spot in my view. Starbucks is OK. Ditto for Second Cup. Tim Horton's has those lines that are a little too narrow for a double stroller (but kick-ass cheese scones if you have a singleton). But Timothy's are large, friendly, and have comfortable chairs: 

Timothy's (Yonge and Manor Road) It is large, the staff are friendly and if you are an English major or Jeopardy viewer you can often score a free coffee by answering their question of the day.

Timothy's (Yonge and Summerhill, at the LCBO). Lovely spot with comfy chairs and a great patio to people watch (with trains roaring by on the bridge above to amuse the kids).

Timothy's (Mount Pleasant and Soudan) I'm kind of a fan. Just avoid on improv comedy nights. Trust me.

Tackling Yorkville with an Infant

I am not Colin Firth or Julianne Moore so Yorkville restaurants do not welcome me and my toddler with open arms. However, I have had some good experiences.  Cantine on Avenue Road would be fine for breakfast/lunch since it's big, noisy etc.  Seen kids in there before but not sure if they have high chairs.  For dinner it tends to get quieter so not sure.  For casual breakfast/lunch - Flo's(Yorkville Ave) is good.  It's a windey way but there is an elevator to take you there.  Not sure on high chairs.  On Yonge Street, Springrolls is good and anything pan-asian tends to be noisy and kid-friendly.  The hotels are also be a safe bet.  I like the Bay but I'm not sure if a cafeteria offering Jello with congealed whipped cream is everyone's cup of tea (btw the Chicken Pot Pie is better than Jump's).  You can grab a sandwich under Holt's but the seating is squishy.  Whole Food's coffee shop has high chairs and the new restaurant (Lessandro) in Hazelton lanes is nice and big. Tip: wear yoga pants, dirty hair and sunglasses and they will think you are an actress and treat you tres tres bien.  As for the Bloor Street Diner (Manulife Centre)... If you don't want kids, post a sign or something.  Don't seat us in the most trafficked area in the joint and then completely ignore us!

Getting a Birth Certificate

OK, I've seen the commercials too. 15 days or the certificate is free. Hopefully times have changed since my daughter was born. But if they haven't...

So you filled out the "Statement of Live Birth" forms at the hospital and your tot is now 7+ months old and there is no sign of the "Notice of Birth Registration" (aka long form birth certificate) required to get the birth certificate, passport and SIN.

The provincial website is less than helpful so here is a summary of how some mums got the necessary documentation:

To Expedite the Birth Certificate

The hospital will have asked you to fill out a Statement of Live Birth form to go to the City of Toronto registering your baby's
birth. If you call Toronto Division resistrar at 416-392-7036, the city will tell you your registration number and the date the form was sent to Thunder Bay (Ministry of Consumer and Business Services). At least this way you know that it was not lost in the mail (it happens).

The CBS Web Site  (click here) will tell you to wait to get your Notice of Birth Registration before applying for a Birth Certificate. They lie. Fill out the birth certificate application (download from the CBS site and fax it to 1-807-343-7411 or 1-807-343-7459 or apply online). If you want a birth certificate in 10 days (instead of 18 weeks from application), send in a letter proving evidence of urgency (like from an employer saying when summer vacation requiring passport is or an airline ticket, that sort of thing). You can call 1-807-343-7418 to check on the progress (this line is picked up unlike the 1-800 number) only when you have submitted your application.

Even if you have sent in a birth certificate application, it does not hurt to send in a new one. They will not issue two certificates but the only thing that triggers action is the receipt of an application.

Expedited delivery fees are an extra $15. It does not say this on the application form so add it yourself.

Then cross your fingers and toes and light a votive candle.

If you want to get your $100 for beer and popcorn (aka Universal Childcare Benefit), you must have signed up for the Canada Child Tax Benefit. Click here to sign up.

Preschools and Schools

Public Schools

Want to know the school district you are in?  TDSB's web site lets you locate your designated school by street name. 

CD Howe's 2007 Ontario Public Schools report can be found here. The Fraser Institute's 2006 Report Card on Ontario Elementary Schools can be found here. It is The Fraser Institute, but at least it's something.

Click for Schoolbus Cancellations

Finding a Preschool

After I wrote about the trials and tribulations of getting my daughter into preschool, I received a few panicky emails from parents of newborns wondering if they had already missed the boat.  Well, unless your heart is absolutely sent on OISE's lab school (in which case register them as soon as they are born), you've got time to find a good school.    

Most preschools want kids to be 2 1/2 to 3 but some programs will take children at 18 months.  Some insist that children be out of diapers before they are admitted - a consideration if you do not want panicky toilet-training sessions in August. 

The BEST way to find a place is through word of mouth.  Ask your neighbours where their children go.  Most schools host open houses or offer tours so once you build a shortlist of names, you can call the schools and ask for a looksee. 

The admissions process usually occurs in January/February for the following September (with a staggered entrance depending on your child's age).  Some schools accept children first come first served from a waiting list (like daycare, some of these lists are a couple of years long), some do a lottery method of admitting kids, some accept siblings and alumni children first, others require interviews/observations with the child, some require that you camp out over night (seriously!) as they do not work from a waiting list.  It is best to call around early to find out what the process is and have a chance to visit the school before the actually registration process begins.  Many schools require a deposit or a non-refundable administration fee when you fill out the registration form (ranging from free to $300). 

This website lists all of the daycares and preschools by municipal riding.  Help We've Got Kids has a good listing as does Today's Parent.  The Local Newspapers are also a good source of information.  Many community centres offer preschool fairs in January or February. 

Caveat Emptor: Many preschools sell themselves as Montessori schools but there are no restrictions around who can use the Montessori name.  If you want your child to receive a Montessori education, ask lots of questions to ensure the staff is Montessori trained and Montessori equipment is being used (and used properly).

Organization for Parent Participation in Childcare and Education, Ontario - Information on Cooperative Preschools/Daycares

Parent Cooperative Preschool Corporation - Information on Toronto Cooperative Preschools

Traveling with Children

Traveling with Infants without losing your mind.  There are lots of great kids programs for the 3yr+ set.  But if you are traveling with younger children, you might want to check out the following sites.  Tiny Travellers, Vacation Kids.  I always read the reviews at Trip advisor.com before I book. If you are traveling to an island, Jet Set Babies might be helpful as they will ship diapers/formula etc. to your hotel .  Baby's Away rents out cribs/strollers etc.  In Ontario, check out Blue Mountain and Fern Resort which offer kids programs for all ages.   Update: Harborside Resort at Atlantis in Nassau rocks as does Club Med Sandpiper. For reviews of family travel destinations written by parents who have just returned, check out WeJustGotBack.com or Have Baby Will Travel (a Canadian site!)

You won't get a statement of live birth for months, let alone a birth certificate.  Apply for a passport for your child well in advance.  Most photographers do not seem to know how to photograph babies using the new passport rules.  It's frustrating to wait in line and have your photo rejected so make sure your photographer knows what he/she is doing.  We have heard that the passport photographer at the Japan Camera at Yonge and St. Clair is very good!  Click for the new rules. 

If you are traveling to Toronto or Vancouver, Wee Travel Inc. rents baby equipment to people visiting Toronto and Vancouver. They offer a delivery/pick-up service and provide virtually
everything a customer needs to make their stay more enjoyable, such as car seats, pack and plays, strollers, high chairs and exersaucers. They also supply diapers, wipes, baby food and formula. All products are less than one year old, safety checked and are sanitized for each client.

gogoBaby provides baby equipment rentals to people visiting Toronto. They can provide car seats, cribs, high chairs, toys and everything else you need. 

Insider's Guide to RESPs

RESPs seem to be one of those things like wills. You keep meaning to get around looking into it but, well, you know, a rerun of Law and Order is on. But you do need one (for the record you really ought to have a will too lest your money get tied up by the legal system and your kids end up living like the girl in Angela Carter's Magic Toyshop.) And the good people at the Ontario Securities Commission (The OSC, if you want to sound like a pro) have outlined what you need to know about setting up an RESP for your child in this PDF brochure (or call 1-877-785-1555 to get one mailed out to you.) I wouldn't urge you to read it if I didn't think it was important.

Here are the basics:

The money you pay into an RESP basically grows tax-free. In addition to this, the government will match your contributions up to $400 per year or $7200 in total. In other words, THE GOVERNMENT IS GIVING YOU $7200 but only if you enroll in an RESP program.

Hey Bob, sounds great! What do I need to do?

You need to 1) get your child a SIN number and 2) enroll them in an RESP plan. You can enroll in an RESP plan through a scholarship plan (the big ones have probably already phoned you if you attended any sort of baby show over the past year) but you can also get them through any bank, mutual fund company or investment dealer (asking someone at your local branch will get the ball rolling here if you are not already dealing with other investment advisors).

The scholarship plans do all the work for you and are low risk as they usually invest in fixed income things like t-bills and GICs but they also give lower returns over time and can have hefty management fees. They are a good option if you've been putting this off because the world of investing freaks you out a bit.

Going through a bank or mutual fund company or dealer can seem a little daunting if you are new to the world of investments but they do offer you maximum flexibility in terms of how you invest your money (you can go low risk as with a scholarship plan or invest in mutual funds or stocks with more risk but also potentially more reward). Both options are valid ones but beware of companies who try to make it sound as though only by investing through them and right now will you be able to access the $7200 from the government; that's just a marketing technique, and not a good one ( I always like to have a little fun with these people when they call me up during the witching hour). The government does not care how or with whom you invest in your child's education, only that you do! Oh and get started now because, remember kids, time value of money is your friend.

Other Great Resources for Toronto Parents

Wee Welcome.  A couple of awesome mamas have published a free guide outlining TO's mama friendly venues.  All Wee Welcome locations have a baby change area and support breastfeeding.  Pick up a copy at your doctor's office/coffee shop or check it out online!

Toronto 4 Kids - your free online guide to experience all that Toronto and its surroundings has to offer ... Family Shows & Events, Theatre & Entertainment, Birthday Party Planning, Summer & Winter Camps, Playlands, Fun Places to Go, Free & Cheap Outings, Daycares, Parenting Resources, Seasonal Activities, Education, Free Buy & Sell Ads, Sports, Leisure

Kidding Around Toronto is a detailed family-friendly calendar of events across the city, articles by local professionals, reviews, an imagination station and an FYI section (which changes weekly). 

Fun4Moms lists things going on around the city - especially in the BWV/High Park area. 

Like www.sweetspot.ca but wish they had more stuff for mamas?  You can receive emails from www.savvymom.ca or www.babblingbananas.com

Nicole has compiled some great resources for Toronto Moms.

Check out the new Toronto online parenting community at Mom2Mom.ca.

TorontoBabies.com is an A to Z (ad driven) directory for everything baby.

For those in the 905 area code, check out York Region Baby.

And of course Urbanmoms.ca, Help We've Got Kids and Toronto Families (but you knew that already...)