Pregnancy and parenting resources

Pregnancy and parenting resources

Last updated: September 19, 2024

The following pregnancy and parenting resources are Ministry of Health publications that support health professionals and families to raise healthy children. Based on best practices, these evidence-based documents provide new parents with information on having a healthy pregnancy and providing information they need to give their baby the best start in life.

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Baby's Best Chance: Parents’ handbook of pregnancy and baby care

Your baby’s development is very important for your child’s future health and well-being. Baby’s Best Chance provides easy-to-read tips on having a healthy pregnancy and giving your baby a good start in life. It also provides you with information on how to take care of your own well-being.

Read Baby's Best Chance

If you are about to become a parent, or you’ve just had a baby, this handbook is for you. Baby’s Best Chance is a reference guide for parents. Topics covered include pregnancy, birth and parenting a baby up to six months of age.

You can download the complete hand book in English, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, Punjabi, Spanish or Tagalog. To read the guide by topic, see the links below:

Introduction
English |Arabic | Chinese | Farsi| French | Punjabi | Spanish| Tagalog

Pregnancy

Birth

Life with your baby

Baby care

Baby development

Feeding your baby

Canada's Food Guide

See healthy eating recommendations for the whole family. English | Arabic | Chinese | Farsi | French | Punjabi | Spanish | Tagalog

Other parenting resources

Find key resources for parents. English | Arabic | | Chinese | Farsi | | French | Punjabi | Spanish | Tagalog

Print copies

Baby's Best Chance may be available in English through your health care provider or you may be able to find copies at your local library. A small number of copies are available for purchase from Crown Publishing. If you wish to make a purchase, please visit the Crown Publications website. If you have access to a computer, we encourage you to use the online version of this resource, as print copies are limited.

Print copies of Baby's Best Chance are also available in French from the Fédération des parents francophones de Colombie-Britannique. The book is also translated into Chinese, French, Punjabi and Spanish.

Please note that there is an error on page137 in the printed copy of Baby’s Best Chance (sixth revision sixth edition) in the box titled “Signs of Dehydration”. It should read, “A baby may be dehydrated if they have decreased urination (fewer than 4 wet diapers in 24 hours after 4-5 days of age)." The error has been corrected in the online version.

Toddler's First Steps: A best chance guide to parenting your 6-to-36 month old child

Toddler’s First Steps provides trusted information on how to nurture the healthy development of your child. As your child grows, they will learn and change at an amazing speed. This resource provides guidance on how to support your child as they go through the many stages of toddlerhood and encounter new experiences such as the arrival of a new baby or entering childcare. You will also find information on where to find additional resources to support you and your family.

Read Toddler’s First Steps

You can download the complete handbook in English, Chinese and French. To read the guide by topic, see the links below:

Introduction

English | Chinese | French

Toddler development 

Feeding your toddler

Your toddler’s growth, learning and health

Parenting your toddler

Toddler safety

Canada’s food guide

See healthy eating recommendations for the whole family. English | Chinese | French

Print copies

Toddler's First Steps may be available in print in English through your health care provider, or you may be able to find copies at your local library. Translations are available in Chinese and French.

Child Health Passport

The Passport helps parents plan their child’s vaccinations to ensure the best protection against serious childhood diseases. It includes an area to record height and weight, illnesses, injuries, allergies, hospitalizations and vaccinations and safety tips. Space is also provided to easily record findings of hearing, dental and vision checks. Parents typically receive a Child Health Passport in their birth packs, or they can be obtained through the local public health units as part of immunization services.

Perinatal Services BC has released the Pregnancy Passport and Aboriginal Pregnancy Passport, which can be found here.

Getting your Pregnancy Passport

Pregnancy is a special kind of journey - and you can get a special kind of passport to help. Our Special Journey: Pregnancy Passport is a booklet to support you in having a healthy pregnancy, tracking your progress, and preparing for your baby.

The Pregnancy Passport includes:

  • Information for you to think about and discuss with your care provider relating to your needs throughout your pregnancy, birth, and after your baby is born
  • Information about the care you can expect during pregnancy, birth, and the first weeks after your baby's birth
  • A place to record check-ups and tests
  • Places to write down goals, questions, ideas, decisions, and hope and dreams for their baby
  • A list of resources for more information

Ask your doctor, midwife, or local health unit for a Pregnancy Passport.

The Pregnancy Passport is published by Perinatal Services BC in partnership with the Ministry of Health and health authorities.

Indigenous pregnancy passport

Our Sacred Journey: Indigenous Pregnancy Passport can help take you and your family through your sacred journey of pregnancy, birth, and baby’s first few weeks. The passport provides an expectant mother with health information, resources, traditional teachings, growth charts, checklists, and a place to write down goals, thoughts, ideas, and dreams for your baby.

Ask your doctor, midwife, care provider, or health unit for an Indigenous Pregnancy Passport.

Safer Sleep for My Baby

This safer sleep resource informs parents about how to provide a safe sleep environment to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and accidental sleep related deaths in infancy.

2011 - 2016 Resource: Every Sleep Counts

The resource “Every Sleep Counts” was officially retired in 2017, but copies are still available in the languages listed below.

Brochures (PDF):

Posters (PDF):

English 8.5x11 (colour)
English 8.5x11 (B & W)
English 11x17 (colour)
English 11x17 (B & W)

Posters in other languages (PDF)

To check out more information on Parenting and Pregnancy, click here.

Translated articles on breastfeeding/chestfeeding

 Breastfeeding - learning the basics

 Breastfeeding positions

Getting started and feeding cues

 Importance of skin-to-skin contact for breastfeeding/chestfeeding

 Your milk supply