Your baby will need a doctor within the first three to five days after birth so it is important to choose one in advance. Here are some tips from Today’s Parent magazine on selecting your baby’s doctor.
Do you have a legal obligation to have your child vaccinated to protect against certain diseases? Some provinces, such as Ontario, New Brunswick, and Manitoba require children to be vaccinated in order to attend school. There are, however, exemptions to this rule should you choose not to immunize your child due to medical, religious, or philosophical reasons. All other Canadian provinces have not enacted legislation requiring vaccination for children attending school.
Visit the Vaccination Risk Awareness Network website for a summary of provincial legislation pertaining to vaccination requirements for your child, along with exemption forms where applicable.
If your child has been vaccinated, use this updateable chart to track vaccination records: Publicly Funded Routine Immunization Schedule for Children.
There may be a time while caring for baby when you could benefit from helpful advice from a health professional. In the event that your baby's doctor is not available and you have a question for a health professional, the following provincial 24-hour health lines are available:
Alberta: 1-866-408-5465
British Columbia: 1-800-661-4337
Manitoba: 1-800-782-2437 or 204-940-2200
Newfoundland and Labrador: 1-888-709-2929
New Brunswick: 1-877-784-1010
Northwest Territories: 1-888-255-1010
Nova Scotia: 1-800-566-2437
Nunavut: 867-975-5700
Ontario: 1-866-797-0000
Prince Edward Island: 902-368-4947
Quebec: 811
Saskatchewan: 1-877-800-0002
Yukon: 811
For all health emergencies, you are advised to visit your local hospital or call 911.