So you just moved to Guelph with a baby...

Hello!  Welcome to Guelph!

So you just got to Guelph.  You want to go out with your baby, but where do you go?

Let's start with the Early Years Centre.

You can easily fill in lots of time just by attending free programs offered by the Early Years Centre.  Here is a link to their program page: http://www.guelphchc.ca/developmental-health/program-guide

There are registered programs and drop in programs.

• Infant Afternoons - drop-in program.  
• If your baby is less than 8 months old, try Infant Afternoons.  At the time of writing, Infant afternoons is offered at the Stone Road Mall location on Tuesdays at 2 - 4pm
• Get there early as the program does fill up.  Once it fills up, moms get turned away despite the fact that some moms might leave part way through the program
• What to expect - there are a few mats laid out with baby toys on them.  The moms and babies gather around these mats and let their babies play while having some friendly conversation and adult interaction

And how about the Guelph Public Library

The Guelph Public Library offers programs designed for children ages 0-2, as well as other age groups.  One particular program that is popular for young babies is Bouncing Babies

• Bouncing Babies - drop-in program
• Complete with bubbles, stories, songs, and a parachute, your baby is sure to love all that is going around him
• in the events calendar section, select the filters for your child's age to see what programs are offered.  Make sure to change the dates so that you can see more than what is offered for the one day https://www.guelphpl.ca/foundation/pages/calendar/

Breastfeeding Cafe
Have some tea or coffee, and meet other moms who are breastfeeding.  Even if you are an expecting first time mom, feel free to drop in.  They don't discriminate - as stated in their "Who We Serve" statement:

WHO WE SERVE

WE Breastfeed is a free program open to all new and expecting parents in Guelph, and anyone interested in breastfeeding, regardless of gender identity, age, race, national origin, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, disability or socioeconomic situation.

You can also connect with them on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/WEBreastfeed/

Review: 2016 Beyond The Bump Guelph Show

At first glance, this show seemed pretty well planned.  I saw advertising for the event through various mediums such as print and online  (shared in Facebook groups).  However, the show did not seem incredibly well attended.  I can not comment on actual numbers, but as an attendee who went at around 11 to 12PM there weren't a lot of people there.

Highlights:
- PRINCESS TEA PARTY!  There was a princess tea party complete with a visit from Princess Ariel in a mermaid outfit, and cupcakes!

Thoughts:
- there was a bouncy castle set up, but the fee was $2

Swag bag contents:
- metal baby spoon with silicone coated tip from eggs.ca/baby
- 2 newborn diapers
- sample of Sudocream diaper cream (10g)
- 2 individually wrapped Nursing Pads from Lansinoh
- May 2016 edition of Today's Parent magazine
- Today's Parent Pregnancy guide
- coupons

Vendors:
I didn't get a chance to connect with all the vendor tables there since I had a limited amount of time.  There are some interesting vendors that are local to Guelph!
- Cedar Lily - makers of nursing bras and other apparel with magnetic clasps (Babe Magnet)
- Anointment - natural skin care products
- Wellington Works - antique shelves, decor, and other wood products (Sean and Jill Reid - workwithwellington@gmail.com)
- House of Jude - www.houseofjude.ca, hello.houseofjude@gmail.com - bamboo turkish towels

The Best Fun, Free Activities for Baby in Guelph!

So you've finally got your mom groove on and you're looking to get out and about!  But what to do with your little baby in tow?

Okay, so I encountered this dilemma as well and here is my short list of fun free things to do. There is plenty more I could add to the list, but since these activities are free and pretty entertaining for my baby, I prefer these as my go-to activities with babe.

1. Ontario Early Years Centre
• This is definitely my favourite resource for activities for my children (even at the toddler, and preschool stage).  They have drop in programs running almost every day.  This link is one that is bookmarked on my computer:
• http://www.guelphchc.ca/developmental-health/program-guide
• It lists different locations, and times / days of different programs
• It's also a fabulous way to meet other moms
• My favourite location? - Stone Road Mall.  It is nice and spacious, with lots of activities and toys, and even a mini ball pit!
2. Guelph Public Library
• The library also runs programs now and then that are suitable for babies
• Apply the filter on the calendar for 0 - 2 years if you are looking for baby activities
• https://www.guelphpl.ca/foundation/pages/calendar/
• Bouncing Babies, and Itty Bitty Story Time are two faves

I can easily fill a week with lots of things to do for baby and me with just these two suggestions.  I know, I was surprised myself.  But there are registered programs offered through the Early Years Centre which fill the gap of drop ins - such as Baby Basics (for 0 - 3 months) and Infant Massage.

And in the summer time, there are a bunch of nice parks that you could go to.

What are some of your favourite activities in town?

Prenatal Birthing Classes in Guelph

First time mom?  Or you want a refresher?  Here are two options when you are looking for a prenatal class in Guelph:

1: Tummies to Toes - http://tummiestotoes.ca/guelph

2: Wellington-Dufferin Public Health - https://www.wdgpublichealth.ca/?q=prenatalclasses

Besides getting a primer on pregnancy and birth, you get to meet a bunch of other parents with babies due approximately when your little one is due.  It's a great way to form new friendships with other new parents.

Sometimes spaces fill quickly, so give them a call when you are thinking about it to see how full they are.

Guelph Bike Reuse Program!

I have not personally had the opportunity to use this program myself, but I think that the Guelph Bike Reuse Program is an awesome idea!  Not only does it divert waste, it saves you money.

Bicycles are available to residents all year round, free of charge.

You can get up to 2 bicycles a year.

Here is the link:

http://guelph.ca/living/garbage-and-recycling/waste-reduction/bike-reuse-program/

Hours of operation:

Tuesday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Closed Sunday, Monday and holidays

Waste Resource Innovation Centre
110 Dunlop Drive, Gate 2
T 519-767-0598.

If anyone has any feedback about this program, I would love to hear it.  I'll be sure to check it out when it comes time for me to look into a bicycle (might be a while though).

Where can you get passport photos for babies in Guelph?

You're excited about a big trip you're going to take with your new little one!  Oh wait...she needs a passport!  It's one thing to find a place that does passport photos, but it's another to find a place that does passport photos for infants!

Passport photos get rejected when they don't follow the required criteria (such as looking straight at the camera, no teeth showing, no shadows, etc).

LOCATIONS THAT DO INFANT PASSPORT PHOTOS (as of fall 2015)
- Zehrs (Imperial and Paisley location)
- Walmart (on Woodlawn)
- Ponds (located downtown)
* Costco and Shoppers Drug Mart have sent some parents away when their babies were really young (some 3 months and younger).  Others have said that they were able to get photos done at these two places
* try calling any of these places before you go to save yourselves from having to find another store to take your photos

NOTES:
You need the long form birth certificate when you go to apply for the passport.
You can print an application online, or get one from the post office to fill out.
$55 an application
You can pay extra to get them faster but can generally get your passports in 2 weeks.
The closest passport office to drop off your application is in Kitchener.
The post office in Downtown Guelph (on Wyndham) also processes passport applications for an additional fee ($20 - $30) which might be worthwhile so you don't have to spend the time and gas going to the Kitchener office.

Quest for FREE Parking at Guelph General Hospital

Okay, who doesn't hate paying loads of money for parking at the hospital.  It always seems to cost so much, and really when you are sick do you really want to park far far away?

So I looked around for free, or cheaper alternatives to parking in the hospital parking lot (by the way, I am not opposed to paying for parking at the hospital since it is one stream of income...it's just difficult to always have to fork out for hospital parking especially if you have to come back many times)

The cheap and / or free alternatives I found (as of Fall 2015) were:

1) FREE option - park down the street and walk.  If you turn onto Delhi Street from Speedvale, there is free parking along the street.  Then you will see the parking meters pop up.  I parked the closest you could possibly get to the hospital before having to pay for parking.  This resulted in an 8 minute walk to the hospital (pregnant woman waddle pace).  Now, this may not be a practical option if you can't walk that far or that long.
PRO: Free, get in some exercise
CON: walk is 8 minutes at the very least

2) Another FREE option - parking along Havelock Street.  The disadvantage is that you cannot park there Monday to Friday, 8AM - 6PM
PRO: Free, close to hospital emergency entrance
CON: only free at certain times / days (like free on weekends, and not allowed to park most of the weekdays during day)

3) Free option after 9PM - right across from emergency entrance on Delhi Street, subject to overnight parking bylaws
PRO: Free, close to entrance
CON: time is restricted to 9pm - 8am

Note that parking on the street means that you are subject to Guelph parking bylaws (time duration, etc)

PAY options:

1) right across the street from the emergency room entrance, there is metered street parking.  There is 2 hour maximum and the cost is $2 / hour, I believe.

2) Hospital parking: price ranges from $2.50 per half hour, to $12 for a full day ($14 for full day with multiple entry / exit).  More information is found on the Guelph General Hospital website (http://www.gghorg.ca/index.php/patient-visitor, parking section)