At Bopomo, you hear a lot of peek-a-boos – usually followed by smiles, chuckles and giggles. Every one of our shoots reveals something special – come see for yourself!
Bopomo pictures – irresistible, inspired and affordable. Call today 604.678.1411 We also offer:
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HowtimeschangeSeemslike
How times change. Seems like only yesterday when I had my son, a strong and healthy full-term baby (who is now a strong and healthy full-fledged 13-year-old) that the main decision I had to make in terms of his health related to feeding times.
As breast milk was considered best, even back then, the choice was easy. But today, it seems there are so many more variables and decisions. From glass versus plastic bottles to cloth versus disposable diapers, it’s not just the health of baby to consider but also the health of the planet.
Not always an easy task for new parents. Disposables may, indeed, be the third most common solid waste item in landfills and some plastics might take 500 years to decompose, but the realities of 3am feedings and endless diaper changes can make convenience feel like a necessity and make the future feel very far away.
Then again, joining the ranks of eco-friendly parenthood gets a little personal when you consider it’s your own child who will inherit the earth.
And, as one friend told me some dozen years ago: “Strength, determination, patience, creativity…you don’t realize what you are capable of until you become a parent.” (Just remember to add exhaustion to that list!)
So, as you multitask between baby’s needs and everyone else’s, it’s worth the effort to add in, at least, some of that extra determination and mind the earth along the way. Thankfully, today, there are plenty of resources to make all of the above compatible and easier than ever (to help you out we’ve listed some green resources on page nine and some cool eco-friendly finds on page 24).
Chances are your child will thank you one day.
For as much as times change, some things seem to stay the same. From birth onwards, they’ll be plenty of decisions to make when it comes to your child. Though some will be more difficult than others (never mind the planet, by 13 they start asking to date!), you’ll know which choices are right for your family. Enjoy each moment! They go by fast.
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Premature/newborn to toddler. No age, weight or carrying time restrictions. To find a retailer near you, call 1-866-811-8103 or visit
Give your 4 year-old a head start at our new
A lively, nurturing place with a healthy balance of instruction and play giving children a happy, confident start to their educational career.
Monday to Friday half day sessions
8:30 – 11 am or 12:30 – 3:00 pm
Age requirement: 4 years of age by Dec. 31
To apply for admission please contact Judy Wilson-Neil, Director of Admissions
Tel: 604.925.3016
E-mail: judy.wilson-neil@collingwood.org
Found in a high percentage of plastic baby bottles (among other plastics), Bisphenol A is a known hormone disruptor associated with negative health effects, including attention deficit disorder and certain cancers. To sign the petition urging Canada to ban Bisphenol A, go to toxicnation.ca.
A fat-soluble vitamin produced in your skin when exposed to sunlight, vitamin D plays a key role in the development of baby’s teeth and bones, and works hand-in-hand with calcium absorption. The Canadian Paediatric Society (cps.ca) recommends that all babies who are exclusively breastfed receive a supplement of 400 IU/day, and that babies in the North (above 55 degrees latitude) get twice that amount during the winter months (from October to April). Pregnant or breastfeeding women should talk to their doctor about taking a supplement of 2000 IU/day.
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Keep these parent apology cards handy for when your little angel doesn’t quite live up to her reputation (like when she cries incessantly at the restaurant or when showing her off for the first time to friends). Available at chroniclebooks.com and chapters.ca.
Did you know that pregnancy can enlarge a woman’s feet up to two shoe sizes? It’s true. Relaxin, the hormone that loosens the pelvic joints in preparation for childbirth also relaxes the ligaments in the feet, causing the bones to spread—sometimes permanently.
Having a baby is hard on the feet. For tips on lightening the load, check out foothealth.ca.
For all the times you wish you had a pen and paper handy so you could exchange numbers. Perfect for arranging play dates, parent meets and babysitting... simply pass on your card. Pick out a design at graceannouncements.com.
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In your attempt to do what’s best for the planet, check out these earth-friendly sites… Etsy.com. A place to buy and sell all things handmade.
gDiapers.com. A compromise to disposables.
GreenEarthOrganics.com. Organic produce delivered right to your door.
Hankettes.com. Organic cotton products for home and baby.
MyLittleGreenShop.com. Socially responsible baby wear.
Looking for more? Go to happyfrog.ca for BC’s most comprehensive directory of green businesses.
If your household income is $35,000 or less, you may be eligible to receive cash assistance with your monthly rent payments. Effective April 2008, the Province has increased the maximum household income level for the Rental Assistance Program for low-income, working families.
To qualify, families must have at least one dependent child, have lived in B.C. for the past 12 months, and have spent part of the last year working.
For more information, call 604-433-2218 in the Lower Mainland or 1-800-257-7756 elsewhere in B.C.
www.bchousing.org
A 360-degree swivel seat. A multiple position recliner. A five-point padded safety harness. There’s not much this Fresco™ chair doesn’t have or do as it forms to fit your child from birth to school age. SRP $499.99. Find a local retailer at bloombaby.com.
A glass bottle with a modern twist: a non-toxic, non-plastic sleeve for easy gripping and fewer glass chips or breaks. Where to buy? Check under the wee-go™ bottle ($20 each) at gobabylife.com.
Easy to apply; easy to remove. Keep junior’s nursery simple, yet sweet with a wall decal that won’t peel the paint. $65 at surfacecollective.com.
Lull baby to sleep in this hammock and you’ll likely reduce her chance—make that your chance—of a sleepless night. More importantly, it may help prevent colic, acid reflux and SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), keeping baby healthy and happy. Check out hushamok.com for cost and details.
Stretch marks? Scars? Cover those war wounds of pregnancy with Mi Amore’s C-Section Regenerative Scar Therapy, an all-natural, highly potent formula devised to reduce scar size, colour and thickness. 100% plant-derived. $30.50 at upurea.com.
With plenty of pockets and compartments, carry all baby’s essentials effortlessly and in style with this messenger-like canvas diaper bag. Its innovative strapping system allows you to fasten it onto any type of stroller with ease. $75 at modernkid.com.
The world’s smallest highchair! The Me Too clips onto virtually any table, making it the perfect portable feeding companion for kids six months to three years. $69.99 at babyonboard.ca.
The average newborn cries for one to three hours each day. Pacify your little one with the first and only Newborn Soothing Center™, offering a multi-sensory experience scientifically designed to calm. At Sears and Toys “R” Us. SRP $249.99. Learn more at mysweetpeace.ca.
Life-sized templates to layout baby’s room before you buy the furniture, ensuring you have enough space for everything from the crib to the change table. $19.99US at designyourselfinteriors.com.
There are a multitude of reasons for your family (including baby when she’s ready) to eat organically. Organic farming and food is not only better for the planet, but it’s also better for you and your loved ones. Here are
There are a multitude of reasons for your family to food is also six reasons why…
By Dr Joey Shulman
Statistics show that conventionally grown fruits and vegetables are, on average, three to four times more likely to contain residues, and eight to 11 times more likely to contain multiple pesticide residues than organic samples. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 60 percent of all herbicides (weed killers), 90 percent of all fungicides (mould killers) and 30 percent of all insecticides (insect killers) are potentially cancer causing.
Based on a review of 41 studies designed to compare the nutritional value of conventional versus organically grown fruits, vegetables and grains, organic produce was nutritionally superior. Specifically, organic crops contained 27 percent more vitamin C, 29 percent more magnesium, 21 percent more iron and 13 percent more phosphorus.
For a farm to receive the designation of ‘certified organic,’ it starts with the soil— which must be herbicide and pesticide-free for a minimum of three years. In addition, organic farmers (who are audited two to three times yearly by the organic review board) use various techniques to maintain the integrity of the soil, such as composting and crop rotation.
Current conventional farming practices cause dangerous “spill-offs” due to the usage of synthetic ftiliThftilib
fertilizers. These fertilizers can cause an overabundance of nitrogen in the ground, and have been linked to the development of various cancers. In contrast, organic agriculture uses natural materials in the soil that protect drinking water supplies and safeguard against water contamination.
In recent years, there has been a rise in childhood illnesses, such as asthma and cancer, which have been linked to an increased use of herbicides and pesticides. Kids are at higher risk to the effects of these toxins due to their smaller body size and their faster metabolism.
When biting into an organic fruit or vegetable, you can usually taste the difference—organic food has more flavour. Studies have shown that organic produce is not only sweeter and firmer, but also more intact even after six months of storage.
There are over 7,000 different herbicide and pesticide products currently available in Canada. Many of these were approved prior to 1960 when their long-term effects were unknown.
For more reasons to eat organically, check out Dr Shulman’s articles at sweetpeababyfood.com. For more places to shop organically for your family, consider greenearthorganics.com and planetorganic.ca.
You’ve just arrived home with your beautiful new addition, and you are cradling him in your arms. He is adorable! Although he doesn’t do a whole lot yet…other than eat, sleep and cry.
You look into his eyes, smile, and wonder, “What exactly is going on in there?” The answer is a whole lot!
Since before you gave birth, your baby’s brain has been growing faster than it ever will again. On the day he was born, his brain had an estimated 100 billion neurons, nearly all that he will ever have in his entire life.
Though his brain is only about one-quarter of the size it will be when he’s an adult, it’s growing rapidly. It has a lot of work to do in the coming days and months, but it’s a true miracle what it can do already.
At birth, your newborn recognizes your voice and, quite possibly, the household sounds and music he’s heard during gestation. In the first week of his life you’ll notice that he can follow objects with his eyes and express his preferences in ways that you can understand. (Like when it’s time for a change or a cuddle, or time to eat!)
By Terri Combs-Orme, PhD
Your baby can also sense your emotions and react as a kind of mirror, whether you are nervous, angry, calm or content. Even at this early age, how you feel and how you act can affect him.
What you can do: When baby is alert, hold him in front of you and make eye contact. Notice that as you do, his attention focuses on you. This activates the right side of his brain and creates an opportunity for learning and bonding. Croon to him, speak softly and converse together.
Each one of your baby’s 100 billion neurons is beginning to connect to about 10,000 other neurons or brain cells, and will until it reaches over two million miles in length.
Those connections, called synapses, form a highway to learning. Every experience baby has, from the kisses you give him to the scolding he receives for crying too much to the argument he overhears between you and your spouse, activates his neurons, forming a kind of “neural
map.” This map is either a sensory image or a verbal representation of something based on the firing of specific neurons.
We do not really know how this “firing” in the brain creates the image in the mind, but these images form the beginning of and the basis of learning. Repeated experiences, such as hearing frequent arguments or being cuddled daily, strengthen those connections and form what is learned.
In the first few months of life, the circuits for social and emotional functioning come “on,” lighting up the orbitofrontal region of the brain. Baby’s experiences essentially organize the circuits in his brain.
Science tells us that even though he will have no recall of specific arguments or cuddling episodes from those early years (called episodic memory—baby does not develop that for a few years yet), strong implicit memories are created from birth onwards.
It is implicit memory and those strong connections in the brain from early life that cause us to react strongly sometimes when we do not know why.
Baby Minds: Brain-building games your baby will love, by Linda Acredolo, PhD and Susan Goodwyn, PhD (2000).
Baby Hearts: A Guide to Giving Your Child an Emotional Head Start, by Linda Acredolo, PhD and Susan Goodwyn, PhD (2005).
What you can do: Interaction, particularly in the first few weeks of baby’s life, is extremely important. Use plenty of eye contact and touch, along with a soft voice to engage his attention and introduce him to a world that’s safe and loving.
The bottom line: Interaction, and not high levels of stimulation, is the key to early brain development. As baby’s early experiences influence how and what he learns, keep them healthy and happy!
Terri Combs-Orme, PhD, is a writer and a professor of social work, currently working in the States.
By Narece Bekker
My first pregnancy was a surprise. By the time I realized I was going to be a mom, I was more than ten weeks in and living a nutritional nightmare.
I had no idea I should have been taking folic acid—a B vitamin linked to a significant decrease in neural tube defects such as spina bifida—fast food was a common occurrence (mainly because it was fast), and my idea of exercise was the two-block walk from my place to the bus stop.
Luckily, my son Connor came out none the worse for wear, weighing 6lb 13oz and scoring full marks on his AGPARs. I felt blessed. But, when it came to having baby number two a couple of years later, I decided to plan ahead and start him off right from day one of gestation.
This meant adding more fruits and veggies to my diet and consulting with my GP and midwife to determine what additional nutrients or supplements I needed. Though I learned there are essential ones specific to pregnancy (with some needed in higher and lower concentrations depending on the trimester), I also learned that a lot can be attained through a healthy diet.
“A woman who takes care of herself, whose diet consists of unprocessed whole foods, fruits, a colourful variety of vegetables, whole grains and water, often has a sufficient supply of the required vitamins and nutrients and may not need a supplement for everything,” explains Vera Berard, a registered midwife working out of North Vancouver.
Supplements are meant to work in conjunction with, and not as a substitute for, a healthy diet, she says. “But, really, it’s something a woman needs to talk to her family doctor about before she conceives and once she is pregnant.”
Important advice as you want to ensure you are getting everything you need at the right levels. For example, Vitamin A, which is widely found in meat, dairy and eggs, is important for retinal and embryonic development. But, like any vitamin, in high doses it may cause toxicity, and in this case potential birth defects*.
For nutritional guidelines, go to Health Canada at hc-sc.gc.ca (type “pregnancy” into the search box). Also, check out the Canadian Pediatric Society’s site cps.ca/caringforkids.
And, always speak to your health care provider to find out what’s best for you.
Pregnant? Make sure you get enough of the following…
Studies have shown that taking folic acid supplements one month prior to and throughout the first three months of pregnancy decreases the risk of neural tube defects by up to 70 percent.
Found in: Oranges, strawberries, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, fortified cereal, pasta, beans, nuts and lentils.
Required in the production of haemoglobin, which is essential for transporting oxygen throughout the body, iron prevents a low birth weight in baby and anaemia in mom. A mother’s need for iron increases in the third trimester when baby is busy preparing for the early days of birth.
Found in: Red meat, dark poultry, eggs, tofu, lentils, enriched grains, fortified cereals and green leafy vegetables.
Note: Take iron with vitamin C for absorption and with fibre to stave off constipation. Take separately from calcium.
Considered brain food for baby. Some research has found that infants born to mothers with higher blood levels of omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) at delivery had advanced attention spans well into their second year of life. Even before that time, it’s impor-
tant for brain and retinal development in the fetus. DHA is also thought to lower the risks of premature birth and post-partum depression. Health Canada recommends women increase their intake of fatty acids during pregnancy. Found in: Canola oil, soya oil, flaxseed oil, walnuts, most fish and in enhanced milk, cheese and eggs.
Note: Pregnant women should avoid king mackerel and limit fish intake, including fresh, frozen or canned white (albacore) tuna to once a month or less due to mercury content.
*Maximum 3,000mcg RAE/day | Note: vitamin A is broken down into two parts—retinoid and beta carotene—you can still get all the beta carotene you want from fruits and vegetables.
By Angela Wiebe
In most cases, an umbilical cord holds only one purpose in life: the tube that connects a developing embryo to a mother’s placenta acts as a thoroughfare for an exchange of nutrients and blood between the two. It’s an important job, but one that usually ends once baby is born.
Discarded after a birth, all signs of the former lifeline are generally gone two to three weeks later. At least, until recently.
Due to a growing number of lifesaving stem cell transplants (using the blood saved from a baby’s umbilical cord at the time of
birth) more and more parents are choosing to hold on to part of their baby’s umbilical cord for potential future use by storing its blood in a cord blood bank.
Practice
Cord blood banking is the practice of collecting the blood remaining in a baby’s umbilical cord at the time of birth and storing it in a laboratory for possible future medical use. Known to hold a high density of stem cells in comparison to bone marrow and peripheral blood (the two other sources of stem cells
in the body), cord blood has the potential to greatly increase the success in stem cell transplantations, which already aid in treating more than 40 diseases, including a wide range of cancers, genetic diseases and blood disorders.
“There are properties that cord blood stem cells have that some bone marrow stem cells do not,” explains Dr Edmond Wong, scientific director of Healthcord, a cord blood bank based in Vancouver. “And, there’s more potential to proliferate.”
Currently, there are ten cord blood banks in Canada, including two in BC—Healthcord and Lifebank. All ten are privately owned, offering parents a place to pay for their children’s cord blood to be stored for their own personal use.
Not everyone agrees, however, that private is best. “I think what we need in Canada is a public bank with a wide variety of ethnic groups represented,” says June Friesen, board president of the Midwives Association of BC. Unlike private banks, a public bank accepts donations of cord blood for open, anonymous use.
Canadian Blood Services (CBS), which operates a stem cell donor base called OneMatch, is currently researching a business case for opening and operating a national public cord blood bank, upon the recommendation of the federal government.
“It’s recommended that cord blood be integrated [into the OneMatch database],” says Angie Gaddy, CBS spokesperson for the BC & Yukon regions. Because CBS’s OneMatch stem cell database is already linked to dozens of cord blood banks around the world, a public bank opened in Canada would only increase the potential for stem cell matches, notes Gaddy.
For parents interested in banking their child’s cord blood or in learning more about the procedure, there are two private banks located in the Greater Vancouver area, both accredited with AABB (formerly known as the American Association of Blood Banks, now an international association of blood banks).
• Healthcord Cryogenics Corporation (604.714.6361 | healthcord.com)
• Lifebank Cryogenics Corporation (604.738.2722 | lifebank.com)
A relatively simple procedure, parents are usually given a cord blood collection kit by their bank of choice, which they pass on to their doctor or midwife for the birth.
Although there are two methods for retrieving cord blood, the gravity method, in which the doctor allows the blood to naturally flow downwards from the cord into the bag is preferred, notes Wong, as there is less chance of contamination. “A closed system is better,” he says. (The other method uses a syringe to collect the blood after the cord has been cut.)
Once the blood is collected and the paperwork is filled out (doctors are paid by cord blood banks to perform this procedure, as it is not covered by the Medical Services Plan), the kit is returned to the parents to deliver to the cord blood bank, usually within 24 to 48 hours after the birth.
Continued on page 20…
…continued from page 19
At this time, the cord blood is tested (as is the mother’s blood, also collected during the birth) for viral diseases, such as HIV, syphilis and hepatitis. Afterwards, the cord blood goes through a volume reduction procedure, in which most red cells and plasma are removed and the stem cells are counted. The samples are then frozen within a computer-controlled liquid nitrogen freezer.
“Temperature fluctuation is very bad for stem cells,” says Wong, which is why cells are frozen at a level where all biological activity essentially stops. “[The blood] is frozen in time biologically.”
So far, neither Healthcord nor Lifebank has contributed any of its blood units for transplant surgeries, although Lifebank is currently discussing the possibility of using a sample in the treatment of Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes.
For one mom who has banked her second child’s cord blood with Healthcord, the peace of knowing her baby’s blood is available should any complication arise is worth the money spent.
“The last thing you want to do is look back with regret,” says Elena Hallows, adding that she’s sorry she didn’t bank her firstborn’s blood as well. “What you do today may be useful for the future.”
Hallows may not have to worry though, as Wong notes there’s still a 25 percent chance for the blood of the siblings to be a perfect match if needed. “Banking for your family is increasing the potential of use in the future,” he says.
Already used in more than half of pediatric stem cell transplants and close to 20 percent of adult transplants in the US, the use of cord blood is also growing in Canada, and was used in 18 percent of stem cell transplants performed in 2006.
“While cord blood banking is still in its infancy and in research stages,” notes Dr Anil Mangal, scientific director for Lifebank, “its utilization is rapidly expanding, and the list of other new uses continues to grow.”
“In essence, the collection of the cord blood is not disrupting the standard birthing procedure,” adds Wong. “And, the most exciting thing is the future uses. To me, it’s so worthwhile.”
Although cord blood banking has grown in popularity over the last decade, there are still some who are not convinced of its benefits.
Friesen, for instance, would disagree with Wong and says cutting the umbilical cord immediately after birth (which is needed to extract the largest sample of cord blood), is not always best for baby. Though the practicing midwife is not against the procedure, it isn’t something she discusses with her patients unless they bring it up first.
She also doubts the strong need for families
to save their children’s blood strictly for their own use. “There’s a reality that if cord blood is collected, it’s probably not going to be needed by the child that it’s been collected from,” notes Friesen, which is why she would like to see a national public bank opened in Canada.
Others are dissuaded from the procedure due to cost. Although Hallows felt it was worth the investment, she noted none of her family or friends would be willing to pay the price.
Though annual payment plans are an option, the procedure costs roughly $1,500 to $1,800 for 15 to 18 years of storage, depending on which cord blood bank is used.
Regardless of your income or your doctor’s recommendations, Wong notes choosing to store your baby’s cord blood often comes down to personal preference.
“Most people don’t think life insurance is unaffordable. Do you need life insurance?” Wong questions. “It’s more of a personal choice.”
To learn more about cord blood banking, consult your health care provider and visit parentsguidecordblood.org.
fyou’reanewmomexperiencingthe
1. If you’re a new mom experiencing the after-effects of pregnancy and labour, such as sore nipples and tender nether regions, you’ll love Soleado Casa’s line of organic made-inBC body products, including the Sunny Mum Kit ($29.99), which contains ultra-healing postpartum herbal sitz bath, nipple salve and hemorrhoid cream. And, after a restorative soak in the tub, you just might have enough energy to try their natural house-cleaning products, too! soleadocasa.com.
2. Looking for the perfect eco-friendly baby shower invitation or birth announcement? How about ones you can actually plant? Just pop any of Botanical PaperWorks’ handmade paper products into some soil, and the seeds embedded in them will blossom into gorgeous wildflowers. The brainchild of a Canadian mom-and-daughter team, these handmade, growable papers start at $2.25, and are available in dozens of beautiful designs at botanicalpaperworks.com.
Classes for infants to kindergarteners...and the grown-ups who love them.
• bond with your child
• develop musical skills & have fun!
| www.mtphoenixsong.com
3. Chances are you haven’t thought about how to reuse animal waste. But, the folks at The Great Elephant Poo-Poo Paper Company have. This international company creates stationary, journals, picture frames and wine bags out of…you guessed it, elephant poo! Made from naturally-dried, recycled elephant waste mixed with fibres from banana trees and pineapples, these unique products (ranging from $10.99 to $24.99) don’t smell—we promise! A single piece of elephant poo makes about 25 large sheets of paper for ten journals. A portion of each purchase goes towards programs to improve elephant welfare. Shop at their ‘poo-tique’ online at poopoopaper.com.
4. These luxuriously soft cashmere and merino wool organic breast pads ($12.99 per pair) are washable and made of natural fibers that absorb moisture, allowing your skin to breathe. Made in BC, the stay-at-home mom who created Luxe Baby diapers also offers organic cloth diapers and hand-dyed cotton baby clothes. luxebabydiapers.com.
…continued from page 25.
5. Want to spend more time with your baby, and less time cramming homemade, pureed food into ice cube trays? Check out Sweet Pea Baby Food’s line of frozen organic fruits, veggies and meats in delicious combinations. Launched by two Canadian moms in 2006, these all-natural meals come in easy-to-use trays and cost between $7.49 and $9.99 at retailers across BC. sweetpeababyfood.com.
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6. Tired of the same old nursery furniture? If you have deep pockets and appreciate sleek, modern design, have a look at Crocodile’s nurseryworks line of sustainable furnishings. The new Studio Crib, which integrates a crib, change table and complete storage system, can later be converted into a toddler daybed and built-in desk. Check out crocodilebaby.com for costs and details.
7. Nothing is more soothing for a baby than being carried snugly against Mom or Dad. Created by a former nurse and stay-at-home mom of three in Cranbrooke, BC, these handmade, organic baby slings by Nurtured Cub ($60) allow you to ‘wear’ babies up to 35 pounds. Made of cozy fleece or cotton, these hands-free carriers make grocery shopping, gardening or camping a breeze. Order at nurturedcub.ca.
sure whattodoonce
Not sure what to do once baby’s here? There’s more to life than night-time feedings and round-theclock diaper changes. Really. In The Rookie Mom’s Handbook ($17.95), authors Whitney Moss and Heather Flett share 250 things you can do to get out of the house and stay refreshed— with or without baby in tow. Based on the popular Web site rookiemoms.com, buy your copy there or at chapters.ca.
If “Anakin” is number one on Dad’s baby name list (in honour of his favourite movie Star Wars), then chances are Sci-Fi Baby Names ($15.95) is right for you. With more than 500 distinct and out-of-thisworld names from science fiction books, movies and TV shows, you might be able to convince him that “Luke” (as in Skywalker) is actually the better choice. Or, you can just hope for a girl. After all, “Leia” isn’t so bad. Buy online at quickbooks.com.
Can name the ten most
Can you name the ten most important organic food choices for your family’s health, or six ways to reduce exposure to harmful toxins in your own kitchen? If not, pediatrician Dr Alan Greene’s new book, Raising Baby Green: The earth-friendly guide to pregnancy, childbirth and baby care ($19.99) is a must-read. Chock-full of tips for today’s urban family, including how to prepare a sustainable nursery and create an edible garden, the book can be found at amazon.ca.
By Wendy Helfenbaum
Having a baby is exciting, exhausting and expensive. At some point between midnight feedings and mountains of diaper changes, you will need to decide when or whether to return to work.
A Statistics Canada study released last June revealed that nearly 90 percent of mothers and 55 percent of fathers take a leave of absence from work after welcoming baby into the world. Nearly one-quarter never go back at all.
The decision to return to the workplace afterwards is one that’s often fraught with varying degrees of anxiety, doubt and fear, because it will affect your family’s future and, perhaps, your sense of identity as well. The decision may also change once baby arrives.
Some parents-to-be who are certain they’ll never want to return to the office after giving birth soon swing the other way, realizing they aren’t prepared to give up that hard-earned spot on the corporate ladder. Others plan on
taking minimal parental leave, only to find themselves taking a year off, or quitting their jobs altogether.
So, how do you decide what’s right for you? And, are you prepared to live on one parent’s salary or to work full-time just to pay skyrocketing childcare costs? We asked two families to share their wisdom and experiences.
When Sharon Mason and Steve Bellamy* started their family six years ago, they came up with their own rather unorthodox parental leave program. Since they both wanted to stay at home with their new baby daughter, they found a creative solution.
“We had just moved to a new city and neither of us were ‘on leave’ from a job we wanted to return to,” recalls Mason, 40. “We felt no pressure to go back to anything in particular. It was a fresh start.”
So, over the next four years, Mason stayed at home with Miriam, now five, and Saul, now three; whereas, Bellamy, 36, spent the first six months of his daughter’s life at home, and then took on a series of part-time sales jobs to maximize the time he could spend at home with his family.
“I think when most people say they went back to work for the money, they also had big dreams for that money,” says Mason. “We live very modestly, and our dream was to stay home with our kids.”
The couple’s family and friends often wondered how they managed, says Mason. After saving enough money before becoming pregnant to ensure a good-sized cushion for the future, they bought a small bungalow in the suburbs, doing most repairs themselves.
Mason breastfed and used cloth diapers, which she estimates saved them “thousands of dollars” during that first year of parenthood. The couple also graciously accepted hand-me-down gear, clothing and furniture, and shopped at consignment stores to fill in the gaps.
“People get so caught up in this consumer world,” says Mason, “and I think people need to sit back and ask, ‘What do I really need? What is really important to me?’”
Continued on page 30…
• Planning on parental leave? Canadian parents receive 55 percent of their salary, up to a maximum of $423 per week. Self-employed parents do not qualify for this federal program.
• The best time to look for childcare is before you need it. Go to childcareinfo.gov.bc.ca/childcare for information, referrals and resources. You can claim childcare expenses on your income tax return.
• Check out CanadianParents.com, a great online support forum for parents returning to work.
Childhood is a time for discovery. Maplewood Farm has been part of that discovery process for 33 years.
Open year round. April through August, daily. September through March, closed Mondays. Open all Statutory Holidays except Christmas Day. Hours always 10 am to 4 pm.
405 Seymour River Place North Vancouver, B.C. V7H 1S6
www.maplewoodfarm.bc.ca
…continued from page 29
Michael Preto certainly agrees with that assessment. As a certified financial planner for the Kerrisdale branch of Investors Group in Vancouver, Preto advises many young parents.
“The most important thing for a couple to know is how much they’re spending in that first year after baby is born,” he explains. “If you keep track of your expenses in that first year, you should have a very good idea of how much money you’re spending, and how much you need.”
Next on the list, says Preto, is weighing the monthly cost of childcare, which runs about $1,000 in BC, against your potential earnings. “Often, a parent is working for a difference of $500 a month.” Just remember to add in the other costs associated with going back to work, such as work clothes, commuting costs and lunches out.
“But it’s not only a financial decision,” adds Preto. “If you’re a high-income earner and you’ve got a career that you really enjoy, then it’s a no-brainer. If not, it becomes a difficult decision to make.”
Fortunately, the decision of whether or not to return to work is not an irreversible one, as Dana Jennings discovered.
Jennings had eagerly anticipated going back to her job as a trademarks examiner for Industry Canada after taking a 14-month maternity leave when her daughter Samantha was born. “Part of it was financial, but I also missed the social interaction with my colleagues. Most of my friends work, so I always thought this was normal,” she shares.
Putting Samantha in full-time daycare meant dropping her off at 7:30am and picking her up
at 5:30pm. “It was a long day for her, but she seemed very happy there,” recalls Jennings, 39.
A year later, her husband Mark, an attorney with the federal government, was transferred to Vancouver. Between the stress of leaving her job, packing up and moving to a new city, Jennings had several miscarriages. She felt a strong need to be with Samantha, and chose not look for a new job.
Adapting to the stay-at-home-mom beat proved challenging, she admits. “It’s a constant job, with so much more responsibility. I juggle and multi-task on a daily basis and, in some ways, my stress levels have gone up since I stopped working! But, I am enjoying my time so much now.”
Because Jennings was a government employee, she is notified every time there’s a job opening in her field. Although she thinks about returning to work, not deciding right away is sometimes the best decision of all.
“Life is so short, and now is the time to appreciate every minute,” she says. “You have to do what’s most comfortable for you.”
Steve Bellamy agrees and believes anything is possible with the right attitude. “If having one parent stay at home is something you really want, you have to adapt to it,” he says. Flexibility is key.
After four years as a stay-at-home mom, his partner Mason returned to work full-time last fall, and Bellamy, who is now at home with the kids, says he’s never been happier. “I’ve just always wanted to be a stay-at-home dad.”
To parents agonizing over whether taking an extended parental leave is akin to committing career suicide, Mason admits that at first, she wondered how her long absence would affect her opportunities.
“People are so afraid that taking time off is going to reflect badly on them or ruin their chances for advancement,” she says. “I think a lot of people don’t do what they really want to do because of fear. Now, when I tell colleagues I was home with my kids for four years, nobody bats an eyelash.”
* Names changed upon request.
Author Wendy Helfenbaum also grappled with returning to work after motherhood, and now works from home as a freelance writer.
See ad in this issue.
Aquaventures Swim Centre
Vancouver
604.736.7946
aquaventuresswim.com
Arts Umbrella
Vancouver
604.681.5268 artsumbrella.com
Cineplex: Stars and Strollers
Multiple locations cineplex.com
Gabriela’s Movement
Studio Richmond
604.272.0607 movementstudio.ca
Greater Vancouver Zoo
604.856.6825 | gvzoo.com
Gymboree
Various locations
gymboreeclasses.com
Jump Start Music & Movement
Various locations
604.777.7179 | jumpstartmusicandmovement.com
Kids Market, Granville Island
Vancouver
1.800.746.2230 camelotkids.com
Koko’s Activity Centre
Port Moody
604.469.3357 | kokos.ca
Kuddles Early Infant Stimulation
North Vancouver
604.729.6538 | kuddles.ca
Maplewood Farm
North Vancouver
604.929.5610
maplewoodfarm.bc.ca
Mimic Baby Sign Language
Vancouver
604.687.0425 (ext 1) mimicbaby.com
Music for Young Children
Various locations
1.800.828.4334 | myc.com
Music Together Phoenix Song
604.327.5165
mtphoenixsong.com
Phoenix Gymnastics
604.737.7693
phoenixgymnastics.com
Play Paradise
Port Coquitlam
604.468.PLAY (7529) playparadise.ca
Richmond Parks & Recreation
604.276.4300 | richmond.ca
Sunset Community Centre
Vancouver
604.718.6505 | mysunset.net
The Arts Connection
Richmond
604.241.0141 theartsconnection.ca
The Baby & Family Fair
Vancouver
604.323.3761 | baby-fair.com
The Little Gym Langley
604.539.2543 | tlglangleybc.com
Watermania
Richmond
604.276.4300 | richmond.ca
YMCA
Hocking Centre, Chwk: 604.792.3371
Cheam Chwk: 604.824.5250
Tong Louie, Surrey: 604.575.9622
Downtown, Vancouver: 604.681.9622
South Slope, Vancouver: 604.324.9622 | vanymca.org
ADOPTION RESOURCES
Adoptive Families Assoc of BC 604.320.7330 bcadoption.com
BC Foster Parents Association
604.664.0124 bcfosterparents.ca
CHOICES Adoption & Counselling
604.682.6234 choicesadoption.ca
Family Services of Greater Vancouver Adoption Agency 604.731.4951 | fsgv.ca
Federation of Aboriginal Foster Parents
604.2941.7091 | fafp.ca
LDS Adoptions Services of BC 604.585.7735
Ministry for Children & Families
1.877.236.7807 mcf.gov.bc.ca/adoption
Society of Special Needs
Adoptive Parents
604.687.3114 | snap.bc.ca
Sunrise Adoption Centre
604.984.2488 sunriseadoption.com
The Adoption Centre
1.800.935.4237 adoption-bc.com
BABY CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES
B-Cozy Blankets Co
Online store
604.224.0388 bcozyblankets.com
Babes on 4th
2354 W 4th Ave, Vancouver
604.739.9870
Baby Belle
421-650 W 41st Ave, Vancouver
604.263.2660 | baby-belle.ca
Babykins
130-3751 Jacombs Rd, Richmond
604.275.2255 | babykins.com
Baby on Board
Richmond Centre Mall
604.273.0884 | babyonboard.ca
Baby Planet Boutique
Online store
1.888.823.6129 babyplanetboutique.com
Baby’s Best Designs
Online store
604.682.7281 babysbestdesigns.com
Baby’s World
6-1300 Woolridge St, Coquitlam 1946 W 4th Ave, Vancouver
604.515.0888 | 604.731.5487 babysworld.ca
Bambino Specialty Bedding
Online store
604.723.9275 bambinobedding.com
Beansprouts
4305 Main St, Vancouver
604.871.9782 | beansprouts.ca
Beba Bean Online store
1.800.276.9221 | 604.552.7741 bebabean.com
Belly and Beyond
4118 Main St (at 25th), Vancouver
604.874.2298
4372 West 10th Ave, Vancouver
604.568.1725 bellybeyond.com
Big Bouncy Baby
Online store
604.542.2500 bigbouncybaby.com
Bigfoot8 Kids Store Inc
301-2748 Lougheed Hwy Port Coquitlam
604.464.6388 | bigfoot8.ca
Bobbits for Kids
2935 W 4th Ave, Vancouver
604.738.0333 bobbitsforkids.com
Boomers & Echoes Kids & Maternity Ltd 1985 Lonsdale Ave North Vancouver
604.984.6163 boomersandechoes.com
Buckets of Fun Consignment 74-15515 24th Ave, Surrey
604.542.TOYS (8697) bucketsoffun.ca
Chick Pea Children’s Boutique
613 Front Street, New West
604.525.2266 | chickpeakids.com
Childish Notions
Online store 1.877.968.4667 childishnotions.com
Classy Kids Consignment 3712 W 10th Ave, Vancouver
604.222.4035
Cotton ‘n Crayon 12867 16th Ave, Surrey 604.535.0466
Crawlies: Clothing for Babies on the Move Online store 1.866.222.1512 | crawlies.ca
Creative Queen Enterprises Online store
1.877.354.7701 creativequeen.com
Crocodile Unique Baby Store 2156 W 4th Ave, Vancouver 230-15355 24th Ave South Surrey
604.742.2762 | 604.542.8860 crocodilebaby.com
Dandelion Kids
1206 Commercial Dr | Vancouver 604.676.1862 | dandelionkids.ca
doudou bebe
Online store
1.888.936.8368 doudoubebe.com
Elephant Shoe Online store elephant-shoe.ca
Ethicbaby Online store
1.800.706.3842 (ETHC) ethicbaby.ca
Goober Baby Online store
604.880.5433 | 604.837.9775 gooberbaby.com
Hip Baby 2110 W 4th Ave, Vancouver 604.737.0603 | hipbaby.com
Isola Bella Design Ltd
5692 Yew St, Vancouver 604.266.8808 | isolabella.ca
Jelly Bean Garment Company
Online store
604.815.0830 jellybeanbaby.com
Just Kids Clothes
Online store
604.649.3779
justkidsclothes.com
Kai Kids Online store kaikids.com
Kid Corral Online auction kidcorral.ca
Kidazzles
1253 Johnston Rd, White Rock 604.531.7931
Kiddie Kobbler Shoes
2002 Park Royal South West Vancouver 604.926.1616
Kidswap Online store
604.773.1220 | kidswap.ca
Köhlr Baby: Sleepsacks & More
Online store
604.317.5705 | kohlrbaby.com
Koo Koo Design Inc
Online store
1.866.844.7427 kookootowels.com
Kuddel Muddel Kids
4342 Gallant Ave North Vancouver
604.929.2524
La Cache Online store aprilcornell.com
Little Baby Hugs Online store babyhugs.ca
Little Critters Outfitters 5631-176A St, Cloverdale 604.575.2500
Little Earth
2643 E Hastings, Vancouver 778.737.7004 littleearthvancouver.com
Little Monkey Inc
Online store
1.877.463.2685 littlemonkeyinc.com
Little Treasures Children’s Boutique 2839 W Broadway St Vancouver
604.733.0190
Lovable Labels Online store littleladybug.lovablelabels.ca
Luna Winters
3073 W Broadway St, Vancouver 604.733.7305 | lunawinters.com
Mabel’s Labels Online store
604.709.6147 | marilyn.mabel.ca
MacGillycuddy’s for Little People 4881 Mackenzie St Vancouver 604.263.5313
Mally Bibs Online store
1.866.531.3255 | mallybibs.com
Mia Moon Online store
604.904.2173 | miamoon.ca
Milk Factory Designs Online store
778.371.8201 | milkfactory.com
Moda-Mondo Imports Inc Baby shoes
1.877.322.0989 | modamondo.ca
Mountain Baby Online store
1.888.990.2292 mountainbaby.com
My Little Green Online store mylittlegreenshop.com
Pagasa Children’s Wear 185 E 16th Ave, Vancouver 604.708.4166
Parade Online store
604.687.7163 | parade.ca
Peekaboo Beans
Find a retailer online 604.536.9495 peekaboobeans.com
Pinky & Company
Online store
604.628.7544
pinkyandcompany.com
Pinky Blue Unit 176-8120 No2 Rd, Richmond
604.204.2720 | pinkyblue.ca
Pippalily
Find a retailer online pippalily.com
Planet-Twin
1116-11497 236th St Maple Ridge
604.657.7333 | planet-twin.com
Play & Learn
228-123 Carrie Cates Court North Vancouver
604.980.4055
PoPo’s Ponchos
Online store
604.258.9045
Posh Pigtails
Online store poshpigtails.com
Robeez Footwear
Online store
1.800.929.2649 | robeez.com
Sage Creek Canada
Online store
1.877.513.2183 sagecreekcanada.com
Simply Baby
Sold at various locations
250.833.9687 | simplybaby.ca
Simply Colors
Online store simplycolors.ca
Sleep Huggers Inc
Online store
1.877.462.2351 sleephuggers.com
Spa Baby Tubs Inc Ontario
519.575.9152 | spababytubs.com
Stonz Baby Booties
Online store
604.339.7776 | stonz.ca
Stuck on You Online store
1.866.904.9790 | stuckonyou.ca
The Clothes Encounter
1-3891 Chatham St, Richmond 604.271.0310
Tiggy Winkles Children’s Consignment
708 W 16th Ave, Vancouver
604.731.8647
Tip Toey Joey Baby shoes / Online store tiptoeyjoey.com
Tricky & Titch
Online store
604.985.5546 | trickyandtitch.com
Wee Ones Reruns
612 Kingsway, Vancouver 604.708.0956
weeonesreruns.org
Diapers Naturally Cotton
Diapers Service
604.682.8860
Discount Diapers Corp
1.866.DIAPER1 ecobumz
1.866.376.8081 ecobumz.com
gDiapers
1.866.55.FLUSH (35874) gdiapers.com
Wee Care
1.888.722.BABY (2229) weecarediapercompany.com
Bloom Family Wellness
604.988.1411 bloomwellness.com
Birthing Buddies birthingbuddies.com
Cherish Childbirth Care
604.626.1079
cherishchildbirth.com
Dancing Star Birth
604.254.1100
dancingstarbirth.ca
Doula Services Association of BC 604.515.5588 | bcdoulas.org
Family Midwifery Care
604.515.1505
Family Practice Maternity Service at BC Women’s Hospital
604.875.3436
Gloria Lemay 604.737.7063 glorialemay.com
Midwifery Associates
604.450.1126
Midwifery Care Association 604.536.4344
Midwifery Care North Shore 604.984.6960
midwiferycare.ca
Midwifery Practice at BC Women’s 604.875.3266
Midwives Association of BC 604.736.5976 | bcmidwives.com
Mother Me
604.524.1793 | motherme.ca
New Additions Doula Services
604.682.2801
Not Just Nannies
604.723.5683 notjustnannies.net
Pacific Midwifery
604.874.7999
Ridge Meadows Midwifery Services
604.466.5541
Seeds of Birth
604.738.1543
seedsofbirth.com
South Community Birth Program
604.301.2280 | scbp.ca
The Birth Place
Maple Ridge
604.466.5811 | thebirthplace.ca
The Midwifery Group
604.877.7766
Village Health Clinic
604.575.7275
villagehealthclinic.ca
3D Baby Vision-Fetal Imaging
778.737.6619 | 3dbaby.ca
Brighstars
604.662.8554 | brightstars.ca
British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)
604.434.5734 | bcit.ca
CEFA: Core Education & Fine Arts
604.924.2330 | cefa.ca
Children’s Education Fund
604.646.7282 ext 292
Collingwood School
604.925.8375 | collingwood.org
ColourStrings Music
604.730.5418 colourstringsvan.com
Council Of Parent
Participation Preschools in BC
604.435.4430 cpppreschools.bc.ca
CST Consultants
Distributors of Canadian Scholarship Trust Plan
604.681.5253 | cst-plan.com
Googol Learning
604.720.9377 | googolpower.com
Gymboree Play & Music
1.877.449.6932 gymboreeclasses.com
Knotty Toys
604.683.7854 | knottytoys.com
Mimic Baby Sign Language
604.687.0425 (ext 1) mimicbaby.com
Montessori Mes Petits Preschool
604.980.1102 ourpreschool.com
Music For Young Children
1.800.828.4334
Music Together Phoenix Song 604.327.5165 mtphoenixsong.com
My 3D Ultrasound Inc
Oakridge Centre Mall Vancouver 604.267.3387 my3dultrasound.com
Reach For The Stars Montessori
604.688.STAR (7827) Montessori.com
St George’s School 604.224.1304 |stgeorges.bc.ca
St John Ambulance
604.321.2652 | sja.ca
Safety Station at BC’s Children’s Hospital 604.875.2244 bcchildrens.ca/safetystation
Semiahmoo Family Place 778.881.4122 semiahmoofamilyplace.com
The Arts Connection 604.241.0141 theartsconnection.ca
UC Baby 3D Ultrasound 20171 92A Ave, Langley 1103-750 W Broadway St Vancouver 604.882.1515 | 604.708.8853 uc-baby.com
Usborne Books at Home 1.800.303.6467 kidsbookmart.com
Vancouver Bilingual School 604.261.1221 vancouverbilingual.com Vancouver Waldorf 604.985.7435 | vws.ca Wee Hands 1.866.746.7446 | weehands.com See ad
WestCoast Academy of Etiquette
604.708.4393
Abbotsford Community Services Family Centre
604.859.7681
abbotsfordcommunityservices.com
Antepartum Home Care Program
For women expecting multiples
604.875.3557
Association of Neighbourhood Houses of Greater Vancouver
604.875.9111 | anhgv.org
Autism Society of BC 1.888.437.0880 | autismbc.ca
BC Association of Family Resource Programs frpofbc.ca
BC Housing
604.433.1711 | bchousing.org
Battered Women’s Support Services
604.687.1867 | bwss.org
Belly to Baby Prenatal Education
604.469.2698 | bellytobaby.ca
Burnaby Family Place
604.299.5112
Canuck Place
—A Children’s Hospice
604.731.4847 | canuckplace.org
Cedar Cottage
Neighbourhood House
604.874.4231
Cherish Childbirth Care
604.626.1079
cherishchildbirth.com
Child Care Resource & Referral
1.888.338.6622 | ccrr.bc.ca
Collingwood Neighbourhood House
604.435.0323 | cnh.bc.ca
Coquitlam SHARE Family & Community Services Society
604.540.9161
Dorothy Lam Family Place
604.718.6563
Dr. Meagan Smith North Vancouver
Registered psychologist
604.990.2547
Dr. Oliva Scalzo
Vancouver
Registered psychologist
604.251.7275
East Burnaby Family Place
604.444.1090 | ebfp.ca
East Side Family Place
604.255.9841
eastsidefamilyplace.org
Family Services of Greater Vancouver
604.731.4951 | fsgv.ca
Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House
604.251.1225 | froghollow.bc.ca
Gordon Neighbourhood House
604.683.2554 | gordonhouse.org
Guildford Family Place
604.583.3844
Hastings Family Drop-in Centre
604.718.6223
Helen Sands, Sleep Consultant
604.803.0068 | helensands.com
Information Children Parent Support Line
604.291.3548
Kitsilano Neighbourhood House
604.736.3588 | kitshouse.com
Kiwassa Neighbourhood House
604.254.5401
Langley Family Services Association
604.534.7921 | lcss.ca
La Leche League
Multiple locations
604.520.4623 | lllc.ca
Lice 911
778.LICE (5423) | lice911.ca
Life Coach Family Counselling & Education
604.222.3474
Little Mountain Neighbourhood House
604.879.7104 | lmnhs.bc.ca
Mamaspeak
604.266.8124 | mamaspeak.com
Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Child Care Resource & Referral Program
604.467.CARE (2273) childcarechoices.ca
Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Community Services Family Place
604.467.6911 | comservice.bc.ca
Marpole Oakridge Family Place
604.263.1405 | marfamplace.org
Medela Canada Inc 1.800.435.8316 | medela.ca
Mount Pleasant Family Centre
604.872.6757 mpfamilycentre.ca
Newborn Hotline
604.737.3737
New Westminster Family Place
604.520.3666 | nwfamily.bc.ca
North Shore Family Services
604.988.5281 familyservices.bc.ca
North Vancouver Lions Gate Maternity Hotline
604.984.3813 (24 hours)
Pacific Post Partum
Support Society
604.255.7999 | postpartum.org
Parent Help Line
1.888.603.9100
Parent Support Services Society of BC
604.669.1616 parentsupportbc.ca
Parents of Multiple Births
1.866.228.8824 multiplebirthscanada.org
Place Maillardville Neighbourhood House
604.933.6166 placemaillardville.ca
Raycam Family Drop-in
604.257.6949
Richmond/Delta Parents of Twins and Triplets Club
604.271.8348
Richmond Family Place Society
604.278.4336 richmondfamilyplace.ca
Riley Park Community Centre Branching Out Family Drop-in
Safety Station at BC’s Children’s Hospital
604.875.2244
bcchildrens.ca/safetystation
Semiahmoo Family Place
778.881.4122
semiahmoofamilyplace.com
Shari Bender
Vancouver
Registered Psychologist
604.221.9053
psychologists.bc.ca/pro/ sharibender
Simon Fraser Health Region
604.294.7292
Single Mothers Support Network
604.739.6850
Society of Special Needs Adoptive Parents
604.687.3114 | snap.bc.ca
South Delta Health Unit
604.587.4600 | fraserhealth.ca
South Vancouver Family Place
604.325.5213
South Vancouver Neighbourhood House 604.324.6212 | southvan.org
St Matthews Day Care Society
604.527.1031 stmattewsdaycare.com
Babies are born with 300 bones, but will only have 206 as an adult. As baby grows, some bones fuse together.
The cost of raising a baby to age 18: between $125,000 to $250,000
Most newborns cry without tears until they are a few weeks old.
Storey (Family) Law
604.731.5676 | storeylaw.com
Sunrise Family Drop-in
604.251.2913
Support for Parents of Young Children Program
604.596.4321 | options.bc.ca
Tri City Family Place Society
604.945.0048
Tummy Tickles
Fetal Doppler rentals. 1.866.961.1580 tummytickles.com
Vancouver Breastfeeding Clinic
604.738.1912 breastfeedingclinic.com
We Care Home Health Services
604.264.9003 | wecare.ca
Welcome Wagon welcomewagon.ca
West Side Family Place
604.738.2819 www3.telus.net/wsfp
FITNESS
Alive Yoga Therapy Ltd
604.505.9108
Aquaventures Swim Centre
604.736.7946
aquaventuresswim.com
Corebody Pilates + Yoga Inc
604.916.9335 | corebody.ca
Fit for Two
604.602.1546 | fit4two.ca
Hycroft Wellness Centre
Prenatal Fitness
604.731.8027
In the Nest
604.812.9441 | inthenest.ca
Into Yoga
604.421.9872 | intoyoga.ca
Just Ladies Fitness justladiesfitness.com
mbody Fitness and Wellness Spa
604.891.5189 | mbodyspa.com
Momentum Fitness
604.732.4884 | mfit.ca
My Adventure Boot Camp
604.329.7867 myadventurebootcamp.com
North Star Fitness
604.761.7064
northstarfitness.ca
Open Door Yoga
778.371.8179 opendooryoga.bc.ca
Panarama Fitness
pfit.ca
Pilates Unlimited
604.875.0404 | pilates.ca
Prenatal Yoga with Lesley
604.730.9274
Pure Yoga
778.668.5954 | pureyoga.ca
Richmond Parks & Recreation
604.276.4300 | richmond.ca
Runners and Booties Fitness
604.461.7827
runnersandbootiesfitness.com
Stroller Strides
1.800.467.9576
strollerstrides.net/vancouver
The Fitness Group
604.654.1725 | fitnessgroup.com
TOPS: Take Off Pounds Sensibly
604.462.1010 | tops.org
Van Yoga Programs
604.646.0134 | vanyoga.com
Yoga Pod
604.924.9642 | yogapod.com
Yummy Mummy Lifestyle
778.241.4612
African Violet Slings
Online store
1.250.395.5224 africanvioletslings.com
Animal Crackers Announcements
Online store
604.710.4760 animalcrackersonline.com
Babes on 4th 2354 W 4th Ave, Vancouver
604.739.9870
Babykins
130-3751 Jacombs Rd, Richmond
604.275.2255 | babykins.com
Baby’s World
6-1300 Woolridge St, Coquitlam 1946 W 4th Ave, Vancouver
604.515.0888 | 604.731.5487 babysworld.ca
Baby Celtic Productions Online store
604.929.6914 babyceltic.com
Baby on Board
Richmond Centre Mall
604.273.0884 | babyonboard.ca
Baby Planet Boutique
Online store
1.888.823.6129
babyplanetboutique.com
Bambino Specialty Bedding
Online store
604.723.9275
bambinobedding.com
Bamboobino
Online Store
604.551.3882 | bamboobino.com
Bamboletta Online store | bamboletta.com
B-Cozy Blankets Co
Online store
604.224.0388 bcozyblankets.com
BC Playthings
3070 Edgemont Blvd North Vancouver
604.986.4111 bcplaythings.com
Bears Toy Store 1459 Bellevue Ave, West Vancouver
604.926.2327
Beba Bean Online store
604.552.7741| bebabean.com
BEDCetera.com
4502 Main St, Vancouver 604.677.2337 (BEDS)
Bella Announcements
Online store bellaannouncements.com
Belly and Beyond
4118 Main St. (at 25th), Vancouver 604.874.2298
4372 West 10th Ave, Vancouver 604.568.1725 bellybeyond.com
Belly Bonding Casting Co
Online store
604.219.7379 | bellybonding.ca
Bobbits for Kids
2935 W 4th Ave, Vancouver
604.738.0333 bobbitsforkids.com
Boomers & Echoes
Kids & Maternity Ltd
1985 Lonsdale Ave North Vancouver
604.984.6163 boomersandechoes.com
ad in this issue.
Bopomo Pictures
604.678.1411 | bopomo.ca
Bug in a Rug
Online store
1.866.766.2349 buginarug.info
Camelot Kids
Kids Market, Granville Island Vancouver
604.688.9766 | camelotkids.com
Cards By Kids
Online store
604.987.4178 | cardsbykids.ca
Childish Notions
Online stores
1.877.968.4667 childishnotions.com
CK International Enterprises
130-4140 No3 Rd, Richmond
604.270.4696 twinkietwinkie.com
Classy Kids Consignment
3712 W 10th Ave, Vancouver
604.222.4035
Creative Kidstuff Toys
1199 Lynn Valley Rd
North Vancouver
604.987.3210
Cribs & Carriages
1849 Lonsdale Ave
North Vancouver
604.988.2742
cribsandcarriages.com
Crocodile Unique Baby Store
2156 W 4th Ave, Vancouver 230-15355 24th Ave
South Surrey
604.742.2762 | 604.542.8860
crocodilebaby.com
Desneige Memory Castings
Online store
1.877.615.8450 | desneige.ca
Dimpleskins
Natural Body Care
Online Store
604.395.6262
dimpleskinsnaturals.com
Discovery Toys Canada
Online store
1.800.341.8697
discoverytoysinc.com
doudou bebe
Online store
1.888.936.8368
doudoubebe.com
Dream Designs
1111 Union St, Vancouver
604.254.5012 | dreamdesigns.ca
Duck Under Cover Blankets Inc
Online store
604.842.2809
duckundercover.com
ecobumz
1.866.376.8081 | ecobumz.com
Elements of Art
604.817.7038 | artelements.ca
Elephant Shoe
Online store elephant-shoe.ca
Fino Lino Fine Linens & Accessories
2715 Arbutus St, Vancouver 604.736.1828 | finolino.net
Goober Baby
Online store
604.880.5433 | gooberbaby.com
Grobag Canada
Online store
1.866.768.4224 | grobag.ca
IKEA
1000 Lougheed Hwy, Coquitlam 3200 Sweden Way, Richmond 604.636.1000 | 604.273.2051 ikea.ca
Just Imagine Fun Clothing
4253 Dunbar St, Vancouver 604.222.3523 | dressups.com
Kaboodles Toy Store
4449 W 10th Ave, Van 1496 Cartwright St, Vancouver 604.224.5311 | 604.684.0066 kaboodlestoystore.com
Keep the Moment Ltd
Online store
604.357.1433 | babyprints.ca
Kid Corral
Online auction kidcorral.ca
Kidlet Chronicles
Online store
604.329.0686
kidletchronicles.com
Kids Market
Granville Island, Vancouver
604.689.8447 | kidsmarket.ca
Kidsbooks
3083 W Broadway St
Vancouver
3040 Edgemont Blvd
North Vancouver 15033 - 32nd Ave, Surrey
604.738.5335 | 604.986.6190
604.541.9939 kidsbooks.bc.ca
Kinderguard Safety Decor Inc
Online store
604.875.2244 | kinderguard.ca
Knotty Toys
Kids Market, Granville Island
Vancouver
604.683.7854 | knottytoys.com
Kuddel Muddel
4342 Gallant Ave
North Vancouver
604.929.2524
Little Forest Baby Care System
Online store
604.723.4949 littleforest.com
Lucy Ann
1.888.739.2299 | lucyann.ca
Lush Baby Online store
778.998.7080 | lushbaby.com
Mama Goddess Birth Shop
Online store
604.782.6679 mamagoddessbirthshop.com
Mia Moon
Online store
604.904.2173 | miamoon.ca
Milk Factory Designs
Online store
778.371.8201 | milkfactory.com
ModernKid
45 Water St, Vancouver
604.662.3181 | modernkid.com
Molly’s Furniture Salad
4055 MacDonald St, Vancouver
604.732.7712 | furnituresalad.ca
Molded Memories
Mobile service
604.619.7330 moldedmemories.com
My Little Green Online store mylittlegreenshop.com
Nestings Kids
2835 W 4th Ave, Vancouver
604.734.5437 nestingskids.com
Northern Feather Dream Makers
1854 W 4th Ave, Vancouver 8068 River Way, Delta 925 Main St, West Vancouver
604.736.7233 | 604.940.9551
604.926.3120 nfdreammakers.com
Off to Bed 23343 Mavis Ave, Ft Langley 604.513.1151 | offtobed.ca
One Tiny Suitcase
1.877.ONE.TINY onetinysuitcase.ca
Out on a Limb Creations Online store outonalimbcr.com
Organic O’Canada
Online store
604.637.6379 organicocanada.com
Peapod Creations
Cuddly Wrap baby carriers
1.866.811.8103 peapodcreations.ca
Pedagogy Toys 424 E.Columbia St New Westminster 604.395.3459
Pinky & Company Online store 604.628.7544 pinkyandcompany.com
Pinky Blue 176-8120 No2 Rd, Richmond 604.204.2720 | pinkyblue.ca
Play Paradise
Port Coquitlam 604.468.7529 | playparadise.ca
Rieva & Reine 2329 Granville St, Vancouver 604.730.7133 rievaandreine.com
Sage Creek Canada Online store 877.513.2183 sagecreekcanada.com
Simply Baby Online store 1.250.833.9687 | simplybaby.ca
Sola Robes Online store 604.551.3882 | solarobes.com
TJs Kiddies Store
Multiple locations tjskids.com
Toy Jungle 2022 Park Royal South West Vancouver 1132-2929 Barnet Hwy Coquitlam
604.925.0741 | 604.464.7766 thetoyjungle.ca
The Fort Toy Box 9199 Glover Rd, Ft Langley 604.882. TOYS (8697) forttoybox.com
The Toybox
3002 W Broadway, Vancouver 604.738.4322
The Village Toy Shop
262 Newport, Port Moody 604.949.0444
Toy Traders
19888 Langley Bypass, Langley
604.532.9516
Tupperware tupperware.ca
UC Baby 3D Ultrasound 20171 92A Ave, Langley 1103-750 W Broadway St Vancouver
604.882.1515 | 604.708.8853 uc-baby.com
Usborne Books at Home
Online store
1.800.303.6467 kidsbookmart.com
Wee Ones Reruns 612 Kingsway, Vancouver 604.708.0956
weeonesreruns.org
Wee Piggies & Paws
Online store
905.988.5437 | weepiggies.com
What I See Photography
778.829.0071 | whatisee.ca
GROCERY SERVICES
Avalon Dairy Delivery
604.888.2024 | avalondairy.com
BoboBaby
1.87.298.2985 | bobobaby.com
Dairyland/Saputo Foods
1.800.667.1228 morethanmilk.ca
Green Earth Organics
604.708.2345 greenearthorganics.com
Small Potatoes Urban Delivery
604.215.7783 | spud.ca
Stongs Market
604.266.1401 | stongs.com
Sunrise Soya Foods
604.512.8886
Organics at Home
604.983.6657 organicsathome.com
3D Baby Vision-Fetal Imaging 3dbaby.ca
Arbutus Acupuncture & Massage Therapy Clinic
604.264.9921 | healthtoday.ca
BC Association of Optometrists
604.737.9907 | absee.ca
BC Children’s Hospital
604.875.7100 | bcchildrens.ca
BC Women’s Dietary Clinic
604.875.2330
Corinne Eisler
Registered dietitian & pediatric nutrition specialist
604.738.4344
Dial-A-Dietitian
604.732.9191 dialadietitian.org
Dr. Gerry Pochynok Pacific Pediatric Dental Centre
604.983.2253
Dr. Jenny Yang Naturopathic physician
604.736.3800
Dr. Maria Fabbro Naturopathic physician
604.737.7575 | drfabbro.com
Dr. Pollock Infant Circumcision
Multiple locations
604.717.6200 | pollockclinics.com
Evolve Family Wellness Centre
604.936.0888 evolvewellness.ca
Family Passages
604.312.8203 familypassages.ca
Helen Sands, Sleep Consultant
604.803.0068 helensands.com
Integrative Healing Arts
604.738.1012 | integrative.ca
Lady de la Sol Botanicals 1.877.471.1144 ladydelasol.com
Mashala Baby Organics
Online store
1.800.981.4626
mashalababyorganics.com
McNeil Consumer Healthcare
1.877.223.9807 mcneilcanada.com
My 3D Ultrasound
Oakridge Centre Mall Vancouver
604.267.3387 my3dultrasound.com
St John Ambulance
604.321.2652 | sja.ca
Sweet Momma sweetmomma.com
Théra Wise: Natural Therapeutic Ointments
604.879.2623 | therawise.com
TOPS: Take Off Pounds Sensibly
604.299.4149 | tops.org
Tummy Tickles
Fetal Doppler rentals.
1.866.961.1580 tummytickles.com
UC Baby 3D Ultrasound
20171 92A Ave, Langley
1103-750 W Broadway St
Vancouver
604.882.1515 | 604.708.8853 uc-baby.com
Bambino Specialty Bedding
Online store
604.723.9275
bambinobedding.com
BEDCetera.com
4502 Main St, Vancouver 604.677.2337 (BEDS)
Belly Bonding Casting Co
604.988.1697 bellybonding.ca
Bippity Boppity Boo
Children’s Rooms
604.468.1755
Dream Designs
1111 Union St, Vancouver
604.254.5012 | dreamdesigns.ca
Felt Fantasia
604.595.6627 | feltfantasia.com
Fino Lino Fine Linens & Accessories
2715 Arbutus St, Vancouver
604.736.1828
If Walls Could Talk
604.582.6811
IKEA
1000 Lougheed Hwy
Coquitlam
3200 Sweden Way, Richmond
604.636.1000 | 604.273.2051 ikea.ca
Keep the Moment Ltd
Online store
604.357.1433| babyprints.ca
Kidoodles Design
604.812.8432
kidoodlesdesign.ca
Kidscapes Wall Art
604.507.9888 | kidscapes.ca
Kinderguard Safety Decor Inc
Online store
604.839.4668 | kinderguard.ca
Knotty Toys
604.683.7854 | knottytoys.com
“Look What I Drawed!” KidArt Company
604.722.5400 or 1.800.661.5400 kidsart4kidsrooms.com
Maria Tratt Custom Wall Design
604.218.4258
mariatratt@gmail.com
Mia Moon
604.904.2173 | miamoon.ca
Molly’s Furniture Salad
4055 MacDonald St
Vancouver
604.732.7712 | furnituresalad.ca
Molded Memories Mobile service
604.619.7330 moldedmemories.com
Northern Feather Dream Makers 1854 W 4th Ave, Vancouver
8068 River Way, Delta 925 Main St, West Vancouver
604.736.7233 | 604.736.7233
604.926.3120 nfdreammakers.com
Ocean Silks Find a retailer online 604.275.4124
Off to Bed
23343 Mavis Ave, Ft Langley 604.513.1151 | offtobed.ca
Organic O’Canada Online store 778.892.4044 organicocanada.com
The Creative Individual 604.857.3270 thecreativeindividual.com
MATERNITY NEW & CONSIGNMENT
Baby Planet Boutique Online store 1.888.823.6129 babyplanetboutique.com
Belly and Beyond 4118 Main St (at 25th) Vancouver
604.874.2298 4372 West 10th Ave Vancouver
604.568.1725 bellybeyond.com
Blissfulbabes Nursing Wear Call to order 1.877.612.5477 | blissfulbabes.com
Boomers & Echoes
Kids & Maternity Ltd
1985 Lonsdale Ave
North Vancouver
604.984.6163
boomersandechoes.com
Bravado Designs
Online store
1.800.590.7802
bravadodesigns.com
Classy Kids Consignment
3712 W 10th Ave, Vancouver
604.222.4035
Corsierre 3-in-1 Nursing Bra
Online store
1.877.612.5477 | corsierre.com
Flirty Maternity
1116 - 11497, 236th St Maple Ridge
604.657.7333
flirtymaternity.com
Hazel & Co 3190 Cambie St, Vancouver 604.730.8689 hazelhipmoms.com
Jelly Beans Kids Consignment
520 Clarke Rd, Coquitlam 604.939.4846
Kai Kids Online store kaikids.com
Kidazzles 1253 Johnston St, White Rock 604.531.7931
Kidswap Online auction 604.607.1494 | kidswap.ca
Little Earth
778.737.7004 littleearthvancouver.com
Pinky Blue Unit 176-8120 No2 Rd Richmond 604.204.2720 | pinkyblue.ca See ad in
Mama Goddess Birth Shop
Online store
604.782.6679
mamagoddessbirthshop.com
Mooternity Nursing Fashions
Find a retailer online
778.838.1707 | mooternity.com
Ni Ma’ma Maternity
604.734.8800 | nimama.ca
Nummies Nursing Bras Find a retailer online nummies.ca
Pinky & Company
Online store
604.628.7544 pinkyandcompany.com
Room for Two Maternity Apparel
1409 Commercial Drive
Vancouver
604.255.0508
The Classic Closet Consignment Boutique
6197-136 St, Surrey
604.590.8290 classicclosetconsignment.com
The Maternity Shop
Online store
1.888.860.1211 thematernityshop.com
Tiny Town Children’s & Women’s Consignment
106-16055 Fraser Hwy, Surrey
604.597.0040
NANNIES & CHILD CARE RESOURCES
Able Nannies
604.540.7453
Absolute Care Services
1.877.925.8474
absolutecarenanny.com
Almost As Good As Mum Nanny Agency Ltd
604.542.0548 almostasgoodasmum.com
Canzac Nannies & Babysitters
604.985.3654
Child Care Options Resource & Referral Program
604.572.8032 | childcareoptions.ca
Elite Nannies
604.876.5520
Geraldine Macmullin, Nanny
New Westminster
604.520.3086
International Nannies Ltd
604.609.9925 internationalnannies.com
Langley Child Care Resource & Referral Program
604.534.7921
Loving, Nurturing Nanny
604.520.3086
Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Child Care Resource & Referral
604.467.6911
Moppet Minders Child & Home Care Services Ltd
604.942.8167
Nanny Finders Directory
604.272.1622 nannyfindersbc.com Nannies on Call
604.734.1776 | nanniesoncall.com
Norfolk Nannies
604.263.5867
North Shore Childcare Resource & Referral Program
604.985.7138 | nscr.bc.ca
Not Just Nannies
604.723.5683 notjustnannies.net
OptiMum Childcare & Nannies Inc
604.671.4965 | opti-mum.com
Richmond Child Care Resource & Referral Service
604.279.7020 volunteerrichmond.ca
St Matthews Day Care Society
604.527.1031 stmatthewsdaycare.com
Susan’s Nannies
604.538.2624
Vancouver Child Care Resource & Referral
604.709.5661 | wstcoast.org
PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO
Bliss Photographic Images
604.970.3872
blissphotographic.ca
Bopomo Pictures
604.678.1411 | bopomo.ca
Choo Choo Photography
604.515.0748 choochoophotography.com
Coates Portrait Design
604.739.9600 coatesportraitdesign.com
David Beckett Photography
604.688.6864 | beckettphoto.com
Eclipse Photography
604.984.7427
eclipsephotography.ca
Frozen Reflections
Photography
604.590.9769 frozenreflections.com
Gemini Visuals Creative Photography
604.312.6330 geminivisuals.com
Hong Photography Hong-photography.com
Jane Photography
604.435.9581 janeeatonhamilton.com
Kalem Photography
604.273.0401 kalemphoto.com
Key Images
604.715.8099 | keyimages.com
Kevin James Day Photography
604.915.7500 | kjdkids.com
Life Story Videos
1.866.321.0100 lifestoryvideos.ca
Metro Photographic Company
604.222.0555 metrophotocompany.com
Myshsael Schlyecher
604.618.6972
Noel Photography
604.291.2908 noelphotography.com
Perfect Moments Photography
604.832.1628 perfectmoments.ca
Photography by Cheryl
604.576.1637 photographybycheryl.ca
Pogo Pix
604.431.7600 | Pogopix.ca
RD Captured Memories
604.761.5178
rdcapturedmemories.com
Red Wagon Digital Images
604.318.3259 redwagondigitalimages.ca
Silver Shadow Photographic 604.628.2490
silvershadowimages.com
Steele Photography 604.945.9844
Susan Carmody Photography
604.815.2165 susancarmody.com
Sweet Pea Photography 604.986.0204 sweetpeaphotography.com
Toy Box Studios
604.681.2252 toybox-studio.com
Wendy D Photography
604.253.1451 wendydphotography.com
What I See Photography
778.829.0071 | whatisee.ca
BCAA: Infant/Child Car Seat Information Line
604.298.2122 | bcaa.com
Road Safety: Child Restraints/Car Seat Safety roadsafety.ca
St John Ambulance
604.321.2652 | sja.ca
Safety Station at BC’s Children’s Hospital 604.875.2244 bcchildrens.ca/safetystation
Wee Travel Inc
604.222.4722 | weetravel.ca
WEB LINKS WORTH CHECKING
• britishcolumbiamoms.com
• helpwevegotkids.com
• http://vap.informe.com
• mybabystuff.ca
• parentsinbc.ca
• savvymom.ca
• urbanmommies.com
• vancouverdad.com
• vancouver.parentzone.com
• vancouvertwins.com
• wetcoastwomen.com
• ywsinglemoms.org
The Pre-natal Package
Hip & Happening
Your belly might be growing, but that’s no reason not to look or feel every bit the Yummy Mummy that you are. Thanks to Vancouver’s Belly and Beyond (bellybeyond. com), you could be sporting a stylish and ultra-comfy pair of designer jeans from 7 for All Mankind’s maternity line. Value $250.
Treat your growing tummy right with Bug & Pickle’s Belly Cream. Designed to leave your skin soft and subtle while keeping those stretch marks at bay (sweetpz.ca)
Value $20.
We’ve got a few very cool prize packs for some lucky Baby Guide readers…
The Post-natal Package
Get more for less Pump more milk in less time with Medela’s Swing™, an award-winning, electric breastpump that mimics baby’s natural nursing rhythm and is customized for comfort (medela.ca).
Value $200.
Track
Can’t remember when you last fed baby? Not to worry. The Nursing Bracelet has the answer. Using beads to represent the 12-hour clock, this bracelet can even help you track nap times, diaper changes and appointments (uniquemums.com).
The Grand Prize Picture Perfect
Celebrate baby with a professional photo shoot showcasing the beauty of either your pregnancy or your newborn. You select the occasion (before or after birth), and local photographer Michelle Moore of What I See Photography (whatisee.ca) will welcome you into her studio.
Value $300.
Value $35.
