Babies and toddlers

Comforting your baby when they are sick, hurt, sad, scared, lonely, or upset teaches your baby that you will be there when they need you. This is important for their development and helps them feel safe. Learning about your baby’s cues will help you respond to your baby.

Crying is a normal behaviour. Try these tips to comfort your baby when they cry:

• Pick them up and speak to them softly.
• Feed them.
• Check their diaper.

If these needs are met and your baby is still crying, try:

• Holding your baby in a different way.
• Rocking your baby or using a gentle movement.
• Snuggling your baby skin-to-skin.
• Going for a walk with your baby.
• Moving to a quiet, dark room.

There may be times when you can’t settle your baby’s crying. This is a normal experience and happens to all parents, and it can be frustrating.

• Try taking a few deep breaths.
• Tell yourself « it will be okay. »
• Ask for help from a neighbour, friend, partner, or family member.
• If you are feeling frustrated, put your baby safely and calmly into the crib. It is not harmful to leave your baby crying in a safe place for a short time until you are calm.

Never shake your baby. Shaken Baby Syndrome can cause brain damage, disabilities, or death. If you think your baby has been shaken, call 9-1-1 or go to the emergency room.

Routines help children know what to expect and help them feel safe, especially when they are included in some of the decision-making. When your baby is first born, your routine will be based on their needs, and it will be flexible and change often. As your baby grows, you’ll slowly be able to start building routines around naptime, bedtime, playtime, and eating time.

Routines for toddlers include

• Having regular wake-up and bedtimes.
• Eating together when you can.
• Planning some quality time with your child each day, such as a family walk.
• Sitting down and sharing something fun you each did during the day.

Bedtime routines can help children sleep better, including

• Turning off screens an hour before bedtime.
• Brushing their teeth or taking a shower or bath.
• Reading a book, calmly singing to them, or quietly chatting with them.
• Turning the lights low and lying close to your child.

Learn about feeding your baby and get the support you need. At around six months of age your baby may be ready to start solid foods.

Playing with your child helps their brain and body grow and thrive.

• • Repeat your baby’s sounds when playing with them. This helps them develop speech and language. Try copying the faces your baby makes too.
  • Let your child lead when playing. Wait to see what your toddler does next, then respond.
  • Have fun with your child. Get on the floor and be silly. Make funny sounds, and laugh together.
  • Move with your baby. For healthy growth and development babies one year of age or under should be active several times daily, and toddlers should move for 180 minutes daily.
  • Limit long periods of sitting or being in strollers, swings, or car seats. Too much sedentary time (sitting) affects healthy growth and development.
  • Avoid screens. Screen time is not recommended for children under two years of age, unless the child is video chatting with a caring adult.

Parenting in Ottawa offers a video series covering topics like bathing, changing diapers, and newborn baby behaviours.

Your child’s relationship with you is key to their emotional and physical well-being. Respond to your baby in a warm, calm, consistent way. Your baby learns through serve and return interactions with you. You are your baby’s favourite!

• Video: 5 steps for brain-building serve and return

All emotions are healthy and important – even negative ones such as anger, frustration, and sadness. You can help your child learn how to cope with strong emotions. When children can identify their feelings and work through their emotions, they will have the ability to manage life’s ups and downs.

• Create a routine. Routines help to make a child feel secure, and get enough sleep. When your child is hungry or tired, it is hard for them to control their feelings.
• Provide choices. Whenever possible, give your toddler options. For example, « Would you like the red cup or the blue cup? »
• Name your child’s emotions. For example, « It looks like you are frustrated with that toy. »
• Give your child the words or signs to ask for what they want or need.
• Let them know that feeling their emotions is okay. For example, « I know it can be sad when your milk spills. I’d be sad too. »
• Teach your child about other people’s emotions. Read stories and show pictures of people with different expressions.
• Show them how you cope with emotions. Staying calm and positive teaches your child how to respond to emotions.
• Teach your child ways to cope with strong emotions. Taking deep breaths or slowly count to five.
• Hug your child. Let them know you are there for them when they need you. With babies and toddlers, sometimes a cuddle and attention from you can soothe strong emotions.

When a child is upset or acting out, they are usually feeling overwhelmed and having trouble controlling their bodies and emotions. Children are more likely to have overwhelming feelings when they are tired, hungry, or out-of-routine. Instead of trying to correct the behaviour, focus on listening and connecting with your child.

When your child is upset, try to:

1. Be calm.
2. Listen to your child.
3. Help them find the words for how they are feeling.
4. Let them know you are there to help.

Sometimes children will have strong emotions, and that’s okay. Be calm; this is normal and will pass.

Children may act out when they feel scared, bored, tired, hungry, frustrated, or overwhelmed. Discipline is not about punishment. Discipline is about guiding children on appropriate ways to behave.

• Do not spank your child. Spanking can teach children that hitting is okay and cause them to distrust their parents.
• Give yourself 10 seconds to calm down and slowly breathe before responding. It’s normal to feel frustrated. Model staying calm in tough situations.
• Try to catch unwanted behaviour and redirect your child early. Suggest a different activity.
• Say what you want instead of what you don’t want. Instead of « stop shouting » say « please speak quietly. »
• Use a consequence that relates to the behaviour (e.g., if they have made a mess in a room, have them help to clean it up). Consequences are not about punishment, but about helping your child learn from the situation and take responsibility for their actions.

You can support your child’s emotions and still have boundaries. This might look like: « I can see you are mad that your turn is over, and it’s okay to be mad, but it’s not okay to hit. Let’s try taking a deep breath together. »

As a parent, you’re trying to do the best you can for your child. But your alcohol, cannabis, or other drug use can impact your child as well as yourself.

Don’t use alcohol, cannabis products, or other drugs in front of your child, or when caring for your child.

When you’re affected by alcohol, cannabis or other drugs, you might not be able to do things like:

• Supervise your child and keep them safe.
• Complete daily tasks, like making meals.
• React or drive in the event of an emergency.

Alcohol, cannabis, or other drug use can impact your physical and mental health. This might make it hard for you to see your children’s emotional needs or be available when your child needs support or comfort.

Children who see their parents under the influence of alcohol and other drug use are more likely to:

• Experience stress
• Develop social, emotional and behavioural problems.
• Start smoking tobacco
• Have their own alcohol, cannabis or other drug problems in the future

Help with substance use is available! In Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington contact Motherwise or the Thrive Program. Thrive is also available in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties and Leeds, Grenville, and Lanark area. Talk to your health-care provider.

Babies and toddlers can’t always tell what is safe or not, so they need extra care and protection. To keep them safe and avoid injuries, parents must watch them closely and make sure their surroundings are safe.

Babies and toddlers need continuous supervision.

• Make your space safe. Consider what your baby or toddler can reach and any possible hazards. Secure furniture to the walls so they cannot tip.
• Use distraction by offering a different activity. For example, if your child is playing with the remote control, put it up high, and give your child some blocks instead. Your child might be upset for a moment but will enjoy playing with you even more.

Falls are the leading cause of babies and toddler hospital visits.

To prevent falls, remember to always keep one hand on your baby when they are on raised surfaces and never place a baby in a car seat on a table or couch.

Use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs. Gates at the top of stairs should be anchored into the wall or banister. Do not use pressure gates at the top of stairs.

Correctly choosing, installing, and using a child seat is the best thing you can do to keep your child safe in the car. The best car seat is the one that fits your child, your budget, and your vehicle. SEATS for Kids offers local car seat clinics.

• Video: Child car seat safety

There are safe sleep guidelines that lower the risk of your baby dying or getting hurt while sleeping. Everyone who cares for your baby should be aware of these guidelines and follow them each time your baby goes to sleep. Learn more about your baby’s sleep.

Health Canada also has information about the safety of child sleep products.

All children develop at different rates. If you are worried about your child’s development, speak to your health-care provider. It’s better to catch delays early and get your child the support they need.

Two in 1,000 babies have hearing loss at birth and another two develop hearing loss by five years of age. Children with hearing loss are at risk for delayed development in areas such as listening, talking, learning, and social skills.

The Ontario Infant Hearing Program offered by KidsInclusive provides:

• • Hearing screening for all newborns in the hospital or community setting.

• Assessments to identify permanent hearing loss.
• Monitoring of children who are at risk for developing hearing loss.
• Language development services (spoken or signed languages).

If your baby is under eight weeks old and you have not yet accessed a hearing screen, contact the KidsInclusive Infant Hearing Program.

The Ontario Association of Optometrists recommends all children have their first eye exam at six months of age, three years of age, and every year after that.

Eye exams with an eye doctor (optometrist) are free for children 19 years of age and younger who have an Ontario health card.

Visit Canadian Association of Optometrists for information on eye health and exams for babies, toddlers, and school aged children.

Anyone can get lice, but it’s more common in children because they are often in close contact playing together. Having head lice doesn’t mean that your child is not clean. Head lice are tiny insects that live on the scalp and can cause itching. They do not spread disease and therefore are not a public health concern. There is no medical reason for your child to be excluded from school or childcare for having head lice. For tips on what to do if your child has head lice, visit the Canadian Paediatric Society website.

There may be coverage for specific head lice treatment products under OHIP+. OHIP+ covers the cost of certain prescription drugs for anyone 24 years and under who are not covered by a private plan. A health card number and an eligible prescription from a health-care provider are required. Speak to a health-care provider or pharmacist to learn more about options.