Parents' joy by Leonid Mamchenkov
Maybe you’ll be one of those lucky moms for whom everything just falls into place, but chances are, you’ll face some challenges as a new parent. Time is always an issue as parenting a newborn can be very stressful, frustrating and fatiguing when functioning on little sleep and trying to meet the needs of someone who can only express themselves by crying. Reaching out to friends and family members who can help with the daily demands of parenting is essential, but it may not always be possible – especially if your family is not in Toronto, if you are a single parent, or if your spouse works long hours. Here’s where to turn when professional help seems warranted:
Getting over the hurdle
Telephone Support & Home Visits: Toronto Public Health (416 338 7600) A nurse will follow up to answer questions and see how you and baby are doing physically, mentally and emotionally. If you need help coping with the baby, they will actually come to your Toronto home and offer practical, hands-on support.
Parenting: You thought having a new baby was hard enough, but as your child grows and develops, you may have many parenting issues such as toilet training, discipline, learning, etc. The Healthy Babies, Healthy Children program allows you to speak to a Public Health Nurse about such issues for free, until your child is 6 years old. (416 338 7600) For a fun outing with the little one, try a Parent Child Drop In Centre like the one at 160 Eglinton Avenue East (416 392 0511) where you can enjoy arts & crafts, story time, snacks, toys and play equipment. Three other such centres are operated by East End Children's Centre, and there are plenty more.
