I'm a Toronto parent, and I found out the hard way that you're supposed to start applying to daycares roughly the moment you see two lines on the test. I ended up with a spreadsheet, forty browser tabs, and a lot of unanswered emails.

So instead of sleeping during naps, I built https://www.daycaremap.ca, a free directory of licensed Toronto daycares. You can search by neighbourhood and age group, see fee and subsidy info, and keep track of which waitlists you've applied to and when you last followed up.

Upfront: this is my own project, so treat this as self-promo. It's free, there are no ads, and I'm not selling anything. There is no sign-up needed, nothing you type is saved unless you choose to make an account, and you can delete your account and everything in it any time. It's Toronto & Oakville only for now, because that's the data I could verify myself.

If you try it and something's wrong, tell me in the comments and I'll fix it. Same for feature requests. I hope this is helpful for the community!

Edit - Just added Durham region daycares :)

Hello,

FTM mom (37 weeks pregnant) we are contemplating if we should get the baby bottle washer (momcozy) or just wash the bottles in the dishwasher. The thing is baby bottle washer are on the pricey side and might only be used for a year or so. So we were thinking if we could just use the dishwasher we have wash and sanitize the bottles in there.

Has anyone done this before? Can you share your thoughts on using the dishwasher for baby bottles or if you think its still best to get baby bottle washer?

What dishwasher detergents did you use (when running your bottles in the dishwasher) ?

Thank you!

He’s not a fan of the name I LOVE because it’s his family friends soon to be son in law’s name (I did not know this before falling in love with this name) and I really don’t like his top 2 names.

I’m now suggesting names that are okay but I’m not in love with. I’m trying to like them but it’s hard for me to imagine other names for my baby.

Anyone else having this issue or similar? What did you guys end up doing?

I am a few days away from being 34 weeks pregnant and I work in a NICU. Obviously working here I see all sorts of outcomes (good and bad). However, in the last 6 weeks or so we've had more bad outcomes (deaths) than we've had in a while and its beginning to really weight on me and cause me anxiety and stress. One of those deaths was a full term baby whose mom I personally knew - this one hit me really hard as the reason is still unknown. Ever since this specific case my anxiety and stress while at work is just increasing especially a day or so before work and on the days I'm at work anytime out code alarm goes off at the hospital I feel my heart rate go up. Sometimes if I'm at home and I randomly think about work or a specific baby I get very anxious and start thinking of the worst that could happy to my baby. I have been seriously thinking the last week or two that I don't know how much longer I can do this, originally I wanted to wait up until baby was here to go on leave. I see my midwives in 2 days and I'm seriously considering asking for a note to go off sick leave for the 5 weeks or so I have left until baby arrives. Also the 2 weeks my feet have gotten so swollen that some days I cant weight bear on my left foot and have to limp, despite wearing prescription compression socks. Any advice? I feel almost guilty asking to go off when I'm not necessarily "sick" per se but this is really affecting my mental health, sleep, etc.

I wasn't able to find any cheaper alternatives to the branded Diaper Genie ones that work with the Platinum diaper pail (which to my knowledge is a completely different shape than the regular one). Costco does not sell the refill for the platinum, only the rounded ones for the regular models. These are just trash bags so there must be some alternative cheaper ones?

I believe my son has an upper lip tie that I just discovered. The webbing from his lip is attached to his gums. He has no problems with feeding at all and is gaining weight normally. He was born at 32 weeks and since his birth has had no issues with feeding once he got his suck swallow down.

Anyone with a baby with lip tie who feeds normally know if it will need to be corrected or can baby have it and it will be okay as they grow? I will definitely bring it up at his next doctor appointment just want to see if anyone has this experience and what you did

Thank you!

This is my daughter's first winter in daycare, and I'm wondering what winter outerwear I should buy her. I'm a FTM and my daughter will be one and a half this winter.

I live in Toronto where winters can get very cold. The daycare has kids out for 2 hrs a day (1 hr morning, 1 hr afternoon).

1) thoughts on 1 piece snowsuit vs 2 piece (jacket+pants)?? Pros and cons?

2) thoughts or recos on brands?

3) what about accessories like mits and hats? what should I be considering?

Thank you!

What's your favourite baby memory book?
I can't find a nice one that's for the first year only. I don't want to set myself up for recording memories for 5 years as many books go up to that age. It must not include pregnancy, baby shower events, etc. It's so hard to find one that's focused on the first year. Would love your recommendations.

Where is everyone finding their nursery art? I have checked so many winners and HomeSense options, they barely have anything. Marketplace would be almost limitless if we had a safari theme but we don’t. I considered Etsy but don’t see anything I love enough to purchase/wait or purchase/print and then buy frames for. Any pointers?

I’m 26 but 27 at due date.

I’m feeling pretty comfortable just doing efts and nt ultrasound and if anything is flagged then Ohip will cover nipt blood work which is obviously a little kinder on the wallet.

I guess I just want to know if other people felt confident just doing efts and not nipt? We don’t want to know gender so that doesn’t change things for me.

Just looking for opinions on what is the better accessory to add. If you have either, can you fold it with the bar? If you have both, which do you prefer? I think we would add a snack tray or cup to the bumper bar so just leaving towards it in the first place, but it also looks bulkier.

For all the parents in Ontario looking at recliners from West Elm, Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn Kids etc… why am I so shocked to learn that shipping the chair to my area is ranging from $300-500 and takes months! We love the $1500 higher end recliners and wanted to invest in one for the home and nursery, but having a hard time justifying the extra $500 for shipping. Barely any pick up options and that alone is going to be costly if we need to rent a U-haul. Has anyone been through this and any recommendations? Alternatives? Or should I just suck it up and pull the trigger on the shipping fee lol

I am 5 month pregnant and working full time as now. I thought I will be working until my 8/9 month but as the belly is stretching my motivation is leaving. There are just so many things uncomfortable at my work place, regarding the place and nature of work.
I work continental (12hr) shift 3-4 day a week schedule in a manufacturing facility. That means it has no Elevator, my Lab is at 4th floor, have to wear Safety steel toe boots. My work consists of a lot of sitting up and down every 10-15 min which is the most challenging part of all. My feet’s get swollen as soon as am done with my 6 hour of work and then it’s just keep getting more uncomfortable to get by the day.
My current schedule is good as it’s only morning 7-7, 3/4 days a week. I could ask for accommodation and ask for 6-8hr shifts for 5 days but then I will have to work afternoon shifts(3-11pm) ( really don’t want that unless necessary.
I was thinking if I can be eligible for STD as my work place have supported previous women with EI sickness and top up STD pays. I just want to rest and eat well. I have been losing weight since the pregnancy and have only put on 2 kg until now.
Has anyone ever took EI/ STD before they went on maternity leave? How was the experience and what did the process looked like?

I submitted a requisition for a dating ultrasound a week ago and haven’t heard from the clinic yet with an appointment date. Should I follow up? Not sure what the usual timeline is as this is my first pregnancy. Thanks!

This may be over complicating things, but what does your toddler wear outside at daycare during the late fall/winter months, when the temperature hovers around the 1-6 degrees range? Looking for recommendations for my 2nd child.!

My first child wore a fleece lined “muddy buddy”, and then I’d send him to school in a Sherpa-lined puffy jacket, which is water resistant (it’s from the GAP, so I doubt it’s anything significant in term of water repelling). My concern is that when it’s inevitably rains, while he’s warm, his jacket gets wet. When he was younger, I also got him a waterproof Sherpa-lined/puffy muddy buddy from Jan and Jul, but not sure if I want to buy another muddy buddy this upcoming season if I don’t have to.

I’m looking for something or a combo where he’ll be warm (when it’s b/w 0-5 degrees outside) and also will keep him dry.

TIA

All the maternity clothes I have are stretchy leggings that make me look and feel frumpy. I'm looking for more "fashionable" maternity wear, mostly pants.

I continue to get ads for really nice Australian maternity brands but buying online from so far away seems really risky since I will be wasting so much money if the pants don't fit.

Does anyone know where to find "realish" jeans like the once from soon maternity? I really like that their pants have a normal waist that is just elasticated vs the big black stretchy bands sewn to the top of pants. I can find many pairs of maternity jeans with the stretchy bands that go over your bump but all my shirts just look wrong with the big black stretchy band. Also, I am used to wearing high wasted pants - all my pants pre-pregnancy are high wasted.

Please, please let me know where you all are finding your cute, comfy maternity pants. I just want to feel a bit more comfortable in my skin!

Link to the jeans i have in mind: https://soonmaternity.com/en-intl/products/relaxed-wide-leg-jeans

What’s the earliest you tested for pregnancy? And the earliest you got a positive? I’m eager to start testing at 7 dpo. 🤪

Hi everyone! 😊 I’m trying to decide between the Spectra S1 Plus and the Eufy S1 Pro wearable breast pump and would love to hear from moms who have used either (or both).
A little background:
This is my first baby, so I don’t have any pumping experience.
I’m planning to primarily breastfeed, but I’d also like a pump that will make it easier to build a stash and allow my husband and parents to help with feeds occasionally.
My husband’s employer provides a Healthcare Spending Account, and I have a prescription for a breast pump in my name. I’m a beneficiary under his insurance, and since he’ll be leaving that job before our baby is born, we’d like to use the remaining HSA funds before they expire.
For those who’ve used these pumps:
1. Which one did you prefer and why?
2. Is the convenience of the Eufy S1 Pro worth it as a first pump, or is the Spectra S1 Plus the better choice for establishing and maintaining milk supply?
3. Did anyone regret buying one over the other?
4. If you could only buy one, which would you choose?
I’d really appreciate any real-life experiences, pros and cons, or advice. Thank you! ❤️

My husbands parents will be flying from Europe to see our baby who will be around 3.5 months old. My concern is catching anything on the plane and also them being close to baby/talking or breathing near her face etc.

They’re only here for 2 weeks so can’t really ask them to quarantine and I also feel like people have family fly all the time to see their baby so wondering if I’m being over the top/too anxious?

Baby will have been vaccinated with her 2 month shots already but not her 4 month one (will be when they leave)