Health and Wellness Blog

For me, this is the summer of babies! There are a ton of mommies and daddies-to-be in my life so I thought why not give these folks a shout out. 

As a librarian, I have witnessed the natural life cycle of a library patron. Some young adults/adults forget about us until they have a baby and then they remember that the library is a fantastic community resource. For those looking to rediscover what we have to offer you, strap yourselves in!

We have your classic kids programs:

• Baby Time (BIRTH-18 months)
• Toddler Time (19 months – 3 years)
• Preschool Time (3-5 years)
• Family Time (5 years and under)
• Pyjama Time (5 years and under)
• Recommended activities to do with little ones (from BIRTH!): talking, reading, singing, playing, writing

But even before the little one (or ones in the case of my brother and sister-in-law!) graces us with their presence, we have a ton of healthy resources for pregnant women and their pregnancy partners. In an age when you can google anything, take solace in the fact that the library is a trusted information resource.

Here are just a few of the library's offerings to get you started:

1. Living and Learning with Baby – come to the library and enjoy a talk given by a registered Toronto Public Health nurse about all things baby, including paren'thood, infant growth, health and nutrition.

   

2. MOMs: Meeting Other Moms – a free program for mothers to meet and befriend peers in their community and to discuss common issues. Join us for informative, lively and inspirational talks. 

3. Have a pressing pregnancy question? Take advantage of the eChat service available through the Your Health Matters section of the library's website (hosted by the City of Toronto). The service is available: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. (excludes statutory holidays).

4. By signing in with your library card online, you have instant access to a ton of interest articles through the Health Reference Center. Including this pregnancy gem, "100 Women on the Wildest Ways Their Bodies Changed After Pregnancy"

To all the mommies and daddies-to-be, Lennon and I wish you nothing but healthy, smooth sailing into paren'thood (and dog kisses of course)!