Monica's "Mom-to-Mom"

Hi Everyone...I created this page as a quick resource for Mom's and Mom's-to-be in the Etobicoke area to share all the great programs, stories, tips, and activities available to you and your little-ones. Being a new Mom can be especially challenging at times and the best way to face and overcome these challenges is simply getting out with your newborns, embracing the programs and activities available in your area and fostering new friendships with the "experienced" Mom's....hahaha

I hope you find this little resource helpful and please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I also hope that you can add your own thoughts and tips so that the collective knowledge can be shared with the wider audience.

Monica

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Time Sensitive:

Great activities for when babies are any age:

1. EvyMama - Maternity & Nursing Wear Store (on Jane, north of Bloor, just south of Annette)

EvyMama is starting Prenatal breastfeeding classes. Take a look at their calendar for more information.  The first class is March 2, 2011.
http://www.evymama.ca/home.html

They also have other classes on the weekends on various topics...check out their calendar for more info.

2. Fit Mom - Fit Mom runs programs throughout the city for pre & post natal fitness...in addition, they have started a new email listing that you can sign up for that will give you 2 emails per week, one with a "motivation focus" and the second with a free work out in it. If you are interested in signing up for this email, please visit http://www.newmom101.com/ to enroll.

3.  The Library programs are great. They offer baby story time 2-3 times a year...you have to register within the first 1-2 hours that registration is possible to get in or they'll fill up. These are free programs.

4.  The Early Years Centres are amazing...all of their facilities and programs are free...they have great programs and are all over the city. They have 3 main locations in Etobicoke and each of these have a satellite that will be close to you...they are worth checking out.

Locations:
Etobicoke Centre (Rathburn & East Mall) = 416-622-5587...They have a Baby time program Friday's from 1:30-3:00

Etobicoke North = 416-747-0641

Etobicoke South (Lakeshore and Islington) = oeyc@lampchc.org or 416-252-8293... They have a Baby time program Wednesdays from 10:30-11:30 for babies 0-6 mths and Friday's 10:30-11:30 for babies 6-12 mths. Another thing I like about the Lakeshore location is that they run "Dad and kid" programs (kids 0-6yrs), on the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of the month from 5:30pm – 8:00pm (they feed them dinner)..it's nice to give the boys a chance to see what we get to enjoy....for more info: http://dadstoday.org/welcome.html

The Sunnylea Drop-in Centre is a satellite location of the Lakeshore Early Years Centre.  They hold a drop-in at the Royal York United church (Royal York, south of Bloor at the river) on Monday's, Thursdays, & Fridays (9:30-11:30) - As of July Thursday's and Friday's will occur at the Sunnylea park off of Prince Edward.

Of particular interest, is that they have a "Baby Club" on Thursdays from about 10:15-11:15.  It is a great chance for doing songs, rhymes, and stories with your babies, and they offer a topic each week.

5.  La Leche League Meetings - The La Leche League provides mother-to-mother breastfeeding support and support for those looking to mother through breastfeeding.  The meetings are a casual way to discuss breastfeeding questions or issues or to meet other breastfeeding mothers.

Etobicoke Chapter = Meets the first Tuesday evening of each month from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm.  The group meets at the United church at Burnthamthorpe and Dundas

Jane Chapter = Meets on the second Thursday of every month, off of Annette, east of Jane - from 7:30-9pm

Bloor West group = Meets on the third Tuesday of every month just north of Bloor off of Runnymede - from 9:45-11:00

6.  Be sure to check out the Toronto Fun Guide (parks & rec). They have a number of mom & baby programs (yoga, aquafit, music). You need to get your family number and individual family members numbers prior to registering – you need to register on the first possible day to get into these programs. You can request a book by calling their department

7.  Infant Music Classes – these are wonderful programs, it's amazing how early they like music.

1.  Kingsway Conservatory of Music holds baby music classes:

2.  Rainbow Songs which holds sessions at Swansea Hall in Bloor-West village:

3.  Body Language Academy of Dance (Bloor-West Village) has Kindermusik ( 0-18 mths and 18-26 mths) and Disco Ducks (toddlers)

8)  Now that the school year has begun...there is a parent and baby drop-in every day from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm for babies up to those 6 years old at the Eatonville Public school (Renforth & Bloor area).  You can call 416-394-2104 for more information.

Great for when babies are little:

1.    "Living and Learning with Baby" through Toronto Public Health occurs throughout the year.   This is a program for new parents and babies ( 6 weeks to 6 months of age).. For more information & to register call Nicki 416-338-1511 at Toronto Public Health. This is free :)

2.     

Stars & Strollers Performance - Movies for moms & babies during the day. The movie volume is lower and you can tend to your baby during the movie...also no one is upset if your baby gets a little fussy. It becomes difficult to do this program as the babies get older than 3/4 mths.

3.    Salsa Babies - You wear your baby in a carrier and learn to Salsa....the baby either loves it or falls asleep...it's great for when they are really little but it's best to wait until they can hold their head up. This class is offered at Swansea Community Centre just south of Bloor & east of Windemere.

Great for when babies are getting older (6/9mths+):

1) Wee Hands - As your babies get older, you might be interested in taking a baby signing class....Wee Hands offers classes in Bloor West village. 

2) Story time at Pottery Barn Kids - Every Tuesday at 11:00, Pottery Barn Kids at Sherway holds a story time - this is free :)

3) Parks/Attractions:

A) High Park is amazing, especially the free city zoo there...from this link you can find a map to locate the zoo and more details. To access the zoo, park at the restaurant.

B) Riverdale Park & Farm in Cabbage town...as your babies get older and become interested in farm animals, it's definitely worth the trip to the Riverdale farm. This is another free, city run park that truly caters to toddlers. In the summer there is a splash park in the park beside the animal area too.

C)  William's Apple Orchard.  Just north on Milton called William's Apple Orchard - Hwy 25 N, follow the blue tourism signs from there.  It's more authentic and less busy then Chudleigh's (http://www.chudleighs.com/) - which is also close to there.

Call to confirm hours of operation at (905) 876-4220.

Getting There:

From Hwy. 401 take Hwy. 25 N. to the second stoplight. Turn E. on Reg. Rd. 9 (Campbellville Rd.) and go 1 km E. to Third Line. Head N. and go 3 km to the dead end.

D)  Pumpkin Patch....Also in this weather you might want to head into the Pumkin patch to get your pumkin...Andrew's Scenic Acres is great for this.  You could spend the whole day there for your $2 entry fee...this gets you on the pumkin tracker, allows you through their mini corn maze, climb on their hay mountain, visit with the animals, and shop.  It's a busy place but lots of fun for kids that are walking.  Andrew's is also off of Hwy 25, just north of Milton.

http://www.andrewsscenicacres.com/

Infant Studies:

There is a University of Toronto baby study that you can participate in with your little one.  The study is occurring at the Scarborough campus and they will compensate our participants for their time at a rate of $20 an hour. This includes time spent traveling and at the campus. Here is some information and a list of questions related to the study:

We are interested in which part of the brain is activated in infants
when they listen to changes in language sounds (syllables) and how this
brain activity varies depending on the language background of the parent
(bilingual or monolingual). So in this study, your baby will be sitting
in your lap while watching a cute fish tank video and listening to
language sounds. We will be using a safe, child friendly and
non-invasive technique called Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS), which
has been approved by the FDA and Health Canada. It consists of a
headband that shines very low-intensity light, similar to that of a
flashlight, on to the surface of your baby's head. This allows us to
track brain activity during the experiment. It's a one-time visit to the
University of Toronto Scarborough campus that takes a maximum of 30
minutes. After the session, your baby will receive a small gift for your baby or your baby participation and you will be reimbursed for your time and travel
($20 per hour).

If you are interested in participating, please contact Matthew Dubins babylab@utsc.utoronto.ca

For those with older kids:

A)  Pull-Ups is giving away a free DVD to help the potty-training process.

B)  Michaels Craft Store has an email group that you can join for craft ideas with your little ones...more information is at:

As a member, you'll be inspired by fun online projects, a monthly e-newsletter, exciting in-store events and much more.

And, each Saturday they have a craft program for little ones for a nominal fee (usually $5).

C)  Snug as a Bug:  Offers free Fabric for crafts and projects from Sun as a Bug.  Sun as a Bug (a Kids clothing store one Dundas, by Keele) offers free fabric all the time....it's left overs from their clothing.  If you are intersted in getting a bag, give them a call and they will set a bag out for you.

D)  Dance Party's for Family's.  I'm late getting this notice out since the event was on Sunday, but we'll keep an eye on this site for upcoming Family dance party's.  This is a chance to take your family to a club during the day for some dancing in a kid-friendly environment :)

http://www.bunchfamily.ca/bunch/fdp.htm