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PARENTING IN MANITOBA

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How Your Baby Grows and Learns: Six to Nine Months

Posted on by Lan

Milestones matter! How your child plays, learns, speaks, acts and moves offers important clues about their development.

This is a general guide to infants from six to nine months of age. Remember, each child is unique and will grow and develop at their own pace. It is normal for a child to be behind in some areas and ahead in others. For babies born prematurely, milestones are based on their corrected age (your baby’s actual age minus the number of weeks or months they were born early).

Babies can’t be spoiled so feel free to play, cuddle and respond to all your baby’s cues and cries. You can help your baby learn and grow.

Social and Emotional

Your baby knows who are their family and friends and who are strangers. Your bond with your baby makes them feel safe and secure and helps them develop confidence and self-esteem.

By six months, your baby is becoming more aware of other people. They may:

  • be afraid of strangers
  • be clingy towards you and other familiar people, especially in unfamiliar environments.
  • have favourite toys

You can help your baby learn by:

  • recognizing that these are normal parts of development and are signs that they have a strong relationship with you
  • paying attention to the way your baby reacts to new situations and people; try to continue to do things that make your baby happy and comfortable.
  • staying close as your baby moves around more, so they know that you are near.
  • using words to describe your baby’s feelings. For example, “You are upset that I took away the car keys. You can play with this toy instead.”
  • getting to know your baby’s favourite toys
  • offering choices of foods

Safety Tip

Never shake your baby. 

If you are feeling tired and frustrated, ask someone else to watch your baby while you take time to calm down, or gently place your baby in the crib, cradle or bassinet and leave the room to get your feelings under control.  Shaking a baby can cause permanent brain damage and even death.

See Why is my baby crying? What can I do? for tips on comforting your baby and staying calm.

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Language and Communication

Your baby may start to understand simple words and start using some gestures.

By nine months, most babies will be putting sounds together, and may:

  • say sounds like “ma-ma” and “da-da”
  • copy other people’s sounds and gestures
  • begin to understand the word “no”
  • start using simple gestures such as waving hello and goodbye
  • start to point at things

You can help your baby learn by:

  • talking, reading and singing to your baby throughout the day
  • encouraging your baby by copying the sounds they make
  • making new sounds to encourage your baby to copy you
  • teaching your baby wave to other people
  • as you read to your baby, point at the pictures in the book, and let baby do the same
  • describing what your baby is looking at; for example, “red, round ball”
  • talking about what your baby wants when they point at something.

Parent Tip

Instead of telling baby what not to do, try asking for behaviour that you want. For example, it is easier for a baby to understand “sit down” than “stop standing.”

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Thinking, Learning and Problem-Solving

You may notice that your baby is getting more playful – with you and with their toys.

By nine months, your baby’s brain is developing quickly and they may:

  • continue to be curious and enjoy playing with a variety of toys
  • enjoy banging objects together to make noise.
  • start to understand that something or someone still exists, even if it is out of sight. This is called object permanence.
  • look for a toy that they see you hide. Before learning object permanence, your baby will act as if the toy disappeared. Once they gain this skill, they will lift up a blanket to uncover the toy.

You can help your baby learn by:

  • playing games such as peek-a-boo and hide-and-seek
  • play games with “my turn, your turn”
  • showing your baby how to bang objects together
  • while your baby is watching, covering a toy that they are playing with and let them find it
  • continuing routines
  • rolling balls back and forth, pushing toy cars and trucks, and putting blocks in and out of a container

Parent Tips

  • Babies put everything in their mouths. Never give your baby a toy with small parts that they could choke on. As a general rule, if it is small enough to fit through a toilet paper roll, it is too small to give to your baby. For more information on choking click here.
  • Avoid letting your baby watch the television, smart phone or computer screen. Screen time is not recommended for children under two years of age.
  • Model healthy screen use by turning off screens when not in use and avoiding having the TV playing in the background.

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Movement and Physical Development

Your baby will be increasingly mobile and playful.  Parents can give their babies opportunities to play and develop. Anticipating your child’s next physical milestone can help you keep them safer.

Between six and nine months of age, your baby will become a lot more mobile and may:

  • scoot around on their tummy
  • start crawling
  • be able to get into a sitting position and sit without support
  • pull to stand by holding onto furniture or a person
  • pick up small items up between their thumb and first finger
  • learn to let go of objects. Babies enjoy throwing toys onto the floor and having you “go and fetch” them.

You can help your baby learn by:

  • giving them opportunities to use their fingers by giving small foods such as Cheerios and cooked peas
  • playing “come and get me.” Chase after your baby as they move and hug your baby when you catch them
  • placing some of your baby’s toys on the couch or a table so your baby can practice standing while playing with their toys
  • providing room for your baby to move and explore in a safe area
  • putting your baby close to things that they can pull up on safely

Safety Tips

  • As babies get increasingly able to move around the home, the environment can put them at risk of injury. To keep your active baby safe, see our Home Safety Checklist for tips on baby-proofing your home
  • Make sure that TVs, dressers and other furniture are sturdy and secured to the wall, so they can’t tip over if your baby pulls on them
  • Small items are a choking hazard for babies. Keep small things safely away from baby. If there are older siblings in the home, make sure that their toys that have small parts are kept out of baby’s reach
  • When starting solid foods, some foods should be avoided and others need to be chopped or mashed so that they don’t pose a choking hazard. Find out more here.
  • Use a pressure-mounted baby gate at the bottom of stairways and wall-mounted baby gate at the top of stairways to prevent a fall. See Tips for Preventing Falls: Newborns to Toddlers
  • Now that baby can move around poisons, cleaners and medications should be out of sight and locked up tight. See Poisoning Prevention for more information. Manitoba Poison Control Centre phone number is 1-855-776-4766.

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You Know Your Child Best.

Act early if you have concerns about the way your child plays, learns, speaks, acts or moves, or if your child doesn’t:

  • bear weight on legs with support
  • sit with help
  • babble
  • play games involving back-and-forth play
  • respond to their own name
  • recognize familiar people
  • look to where you point
  • transfer toys from one hand to another

Tell your child’s doctor or nurse if you notice any of these signs of possible developmental delay and ask for a developmental screening. Don’t wait. Acting early can make a real difference!

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How Your Baby Grows and Learns: Nine to 12 Months

Posted on by Lan

Milestones matter! How your child plays, learns, speaks, acts and moves offers important clues about their development.

This is a general guide to infants from nine to 12 months of age. Remember, each child is unique and will grow and develop at their own pace. It is normal for a child to be behind in some areas and ahead in others. For babies born prematurely, milestones are based on their corrected age (your baby’s actual age minus the number of weeks or months they were born early).

Babies can’t be spoiled so feel free to play, cuddle and respond to all your baby’s cues and cries. You can help your baby learn and grow. 

Social and Emotional

Your baby will have learned so much about interacting with others over the past year.  Keeping your baby close emotionally and letting them set the pace in new situations will help them develop.

Between nine and 12 months, babies begin to do things with a goal in mind and may:

  • cry when you leave the room
  • act shy with strangers
  • show fear in some situations
  • start to help you by sticking out an arm or leg when you are dressing them
  • hand you a book when they want to hear a story
  • repeat sounds or actions to get attention
  • play games such as peek-a-boo and pat-a cake

You can help your baby learn by:

  • understanding that new places and people are good experiences for your baby but can be scary
  • letting your baby watch and listen in new situations and be there to comfort them. Let them move at their own speed.
  • giving your child time to get to know a new caregiver. Bring a favorite toy, stuffed animal, or blanket to help comfort your child.
  • always say goodbye to your baby when you leave instead of sneaking out and reassure them that you will be back
  • saying “no” firmly to unwanted behaviours. Do not yell, spank, or give long explanations.
  • give your child lots of hugs, kisses, and praise for good behavior.
  • spending more time encouraging wanted behaviors than punishing unwanted behaviours (try to give four times as much encouragement for wanted behaviours as redirection for unwanted behaviors)
  • praising baby and thanking them for being so helpful when dressing

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Language and Communication

By 12 months, your baby will understand some of what you are saying. Parents can use everyday activities such as bathing and mealtime as opportunities to promote language.

By age one, most babies understand more words than they can say will be able to and may:

  • say “mama” and “dada” and exclamations like “uh oh”
  • try to copy words you say.
  • follow simple directions, such as “pick up the toy.”
  • point to simple images in a book when you ask. For example, “show me the cat.”
  • use actions to help them communicate to you what they want. For example, they may point at something they want or bring you a book when they want to hear a story.
  • responds to simple spoken requests
  • uses simple gestures, like shaking head “no” or waving “bye-bye”
  • makes sounds with changes in tone (sounds more like speech)

You can help your baby learn by:

  • reading with your child every day. Let your child turn the pages. Name what is in the pictures.
  • talking to your baby about what you are doing. For example, “Mommy is washing your hands.”
  • talking to your baby about their actions. For example, you could say, “You are pushing your food away. I think you are telling me you are full.”
  • naming something that your baby looks at or points to in the room or in a book
  • building on what your child says or what points to. If they point to a truck and says “t” or “truck,” say, “Yes, that’s a big, blue truck.”

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Thinking, Learning and Problem-Solving 

Your baby continues to learn about the world and how things work.  There are so many ways that parents can help their child learn.

Your baby is learning more about their world and how they can get things that they want. Your baby may:

  • find hidden things easily and enjoy finding “hidden” people and things
  • learn that their actions can make things happen
  • follow simple directions like “pick up the toy”
  • use things properly (drink from a cup, roll a toy or pretend to talk on the phone)
  • put objects into containers and take them out
  • shake, bang, or throw things
  • look at the right picture or thing when it’s named
  • copy gestures
  • let things go without help
  • poke with index (pointer) finger

You can help your baby learn by:

  • providing lots of safe places for your toddler to explore
  • playing hide-and-seek games. Try hiding toys for your baby to find.
  • letting your baby flip the light switch or ring the doorbell
  • giving your child opportunities to make noise. Pots and pans, small musical instruments like a drums or cymbals or toys with buttons that they can make sounds on are fun and help your child learn.
  • letting your baby play games over and over. Babies love repetition and it reinforces learning
  • singing songs with actions, like “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” and “Wheels on the Bus.” Help your child do the actions with you.
  • giving your child push toys like a wagon or toy “cars” that they can push or ride on

Safety Tips

  • Never shake your baby; this can cause permanent brain damage and even death.
  • Toddler-proof your home. Lock away products for cleaning, laundry, lawn care, and car care. Use a safety gate and lock doors to the outside and the basement. Check out our Home Safety Checklist
  • Babies put everything in their mouths. Never give your baby a toy with small parts that they could choke on. As a general rule, if it is small enough to fit through a toilet paper roll, it is too small to give to your baby. For more information on choking click here.
  • As your baby learns to move around their environment, keep cleaning products, medications, poisonous plants and anything else that may be dangerous locked away or out of reach. Manitoba Poison Control Centre phone number is 1-855-776-4766.
  • Avoid letting your baby watch the television, smart phone or computer screen. Screen time is not recommended for children under two years of age.
  • Model healthy screen use by turning off screens when not in use and avoiding playing a TV in the background.

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Movement and Physical Development

“On the move” may describe your baby at one year.  Whether they are crawling, rolling or starting to walk, your baby will keep you on the go.

By one year, your baby may:

  • sit without help
  • start to crawl
  • pull up to stand and walk while holding on to furniture. This is sometimes called “cruising”
  • take a few steps without holding on
  • stand
  • start walking
  • dance to music
  • your baby will also begin using their index (pointer) finger to poke

You can help your baby learn by: 

  • placing several toys in out of reach on the floor to encourage them to move by to crawl and explore
  • playing music, holding your baby in a standing position and dancing together
  • providing plastic blocks or other toys and some larger containers so that they can put toys in and out of the containers
  • letting them put toys or other objects on and off themselves
  • giving your child crayons and paper, and let your child draw freely. Show your child how to draw lines up and down and across the page. Praise your child,
  • playing with blocks, shape sorters, and other toys that encourage your child to use their hands.

Safety Tips

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You know your child best

Act early if you have concerns about the way your child plays, learns, speaks, acts or moves, or if your child:

  • is missing milestones
  • doesn’t crawl
  • can’t stand when supported
  • doesn’t search for things that they see you hide
  • doesn’t say single words like “mama” or “dada”
  • doesn’t learn gestures like waving or shaking head
  • doesn’t point to things
  • loses skills they once had

Tell your child’s doctor or nurse if you notice any of these signs of possible developmental delay and ask for a developmental screening. Don’t wait. Acting early can make a real difference!

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Protect Your Baby from Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) with Immunization 

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Every fall and winter, RSV makes people sick. Most of the time, the illness is mild. But it can be more serious for babies and young children. Nirsevimab is a free immunization for all babies born between October 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026. It will be available in the fall of 2025, and your baby should receive it before they are discharged from the hospital, birth centre or home birth. If your baby doesn’t receive Nirsevimab before discharge, ask your local healthcare provider about how to get it.   

What is RSV? 

RSV is a common virus that spreads easily through coughs and sneezes, touching things such as toys or doorknobs, or kissing someone who has the virus. Most kids will get RSV by the time they turn two. 

RSV is usually mild, however babies under six months old may get really sick and need to be hospitalized.  

For more information on RSV, check out:  

What is Nirsevimab? 

Nirsevimab (Beyfortus™) is an antibody product that provides immunity right away to protect your baby against RSV. One dose, given by a needle, helps protect your baby for five to six months. It has been shown to lower the chances of serious illness and hospital visits by up to 90 per cent.

Tips for soothing your baby during immunizations: 

  •  Breastfeed/chestfeed or bottle feed your baby while they are being immunized. 
  • Hold your baby skin to skin and sing or talk to them while being immunized. 

When should my baby get Nirsevimab? 

It is best for your baby to get Nirsevimab soon after they are born so they are protected against RSV right away. A healthcare provider will offer to give Nirsevimab to your baby before they are discharged from the hospital/birth centre. If your baby doesn’t receive Nirsevimab before discharge, be sure to ask your local healthcare provider (midwife, nursing station, health centre) about how to get it.   

Who can get Nirsevimab? 

Starting in fall 2025, all babies born between October 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026 in Manitoba can get one dose of Nirsevimab. For up-to-date eligibility criteria for Nirsevimab, visit: Vaccine Eligibility | Health | Province of Manitoba 

Who should NOT get Nirsevimab? 

Talk to a healthcare provider if your child: 

  • Had a strong allergic reaction to a previous dose of, or to any ingredient in, Nirsevimab 
  • Is very sick , wait until they feel better. 

Note: A mild illness, like a runny nose or slight cough, does not mean your child should skip getting a dose. 

Are there side effects? 

Nirsevimab is approved by Health Canada and is considered safe. Side effects are uncommon.  Like with any immunization, mild side effects can include: 

  • A little soreness, redness or swelling where the shot was given 
  • Fussiness 

Did you know? 

Aspirin® (ASA) should not be given to children, as it can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye’s Syndrome. Talk to your healthcare provider about the use of Acetaminophen (Tylenol®, Tempra®) or ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®)

There have been no reports of serious allergic reactions with Nirsevimab. Severe reactions are extremely rare but could happen. Watch for signs of an allergic reaction, such as: 

  • Hives (raised, itchy bumps on the skin) 
  • Trouble breathing 
  • Swelling of the face or throat 

Does my baby need Nirsevimab if I got the RSV vaccine in pregnancy? 

  • If you have received an RSV vaccine while pregnant, ask your health care provider if your baby still needs Nirsevimab. 
  • There are no known safety concerns with giving Nirsevimab to your baby if you received the RSV vaccine during pregnancy.  
  • Using both is not routinely recommended however, it may be considered if your baby is at high risk or born less than 14 days after the birthing parent received the RSV vaccine. 

Learn More 

If you have questions about RSV or Nirsevimab, talk to your local healthcare provider or contact: 

Health Links–Info Santé 
Winnipeg: 204-788-8200
Toll-free: 1-888-315-9257
www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/cdc/div/index.html 

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Safer Sleep Practices and Traditions 

Posted on by Lan

Your baby will spend a lot of time sleeping. It is important to create a safe space for every sleep. Check out this video on safe sleep from The First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba to learn more.

For more information on safe sleep practices, including safe sleep environments for every sleep, take a look at our article on Safe Sleeping for Your Baby. 

The safest place for a baby to sleep is in a crib, cradle or bassinet. Parents may also choose to use cradleboards and moss bags. Ask a Knowledge Keeper about safe use of cradleboards and moss bags.  

on the left, an infant inside of a colourful cradleboard. On the right, an infant inside a red and white moss bag. Both images have green check marks in the top left corner

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What is Measles? 

Posted on by Lan

Measles is a respiratory infection caused by a virus that can make you very sick and spreads easily. Measles is mainly spread through the air. You can catch measles when someone with measles coughs or sneezes, and the spray from their droplets land in your nose or mouth. The virus can live in the air for an hour or more which means you can catch it by being in the same room with a person with measles or where someone with measles has recently been.

Did you know?

In severe cases, measles can cause swelling of the brain, which is called encephalitis. This can lead to seizures, permanent brain damage, hearing loss or death. Measles occurring during pregnancy has been associated with miscarriage, premature delivery and babies born with low birth weight.

What are the symptoms of measles?

  • Measles begins with a fever, aches and pains, runny nose, a severe cough (often bronchitis, an infection of the airways) and very red eyes. You may think it is a cold. Symptoms can appear in people who are not immune 7-21 days after being exposed to the virus.
    close up of an adult with very red eyes
  • In a few days, a reddish blotchy rash begins around the face and head, then spreads down to the body, arms and legs. Bright light may cause eye pain.
    a blonde child lying in bed on their side, with their arm partially covering their face. A red rash is visible on their back.
  • Measles can cause an ear infection or pneumonia (a serious disease where breathing becomes difficult). 

Did you know?

Measles is very contagious four days before the rash starts and up to four days after. This is why it is important to stay home if you know you have been exposed to someone with measles.

Who is more likely to get very sick from measles?

  • Babies and young children
  • Pregnant people 
  • People with weakened immune systems

What should I do if I think me or my child(ren) have been exposed to measles or have symptoms?

Avoid contact with others. Stay home from work, school or daycare. Call your health care provider or local public health office for advice. If you are going to a clinic or hospital, tell the front desk staff that it might be measles and follow their instructions. To prevent the spread of measles you should not wait in the same waiting room as other people. 

How can I protect myself?

There is no cure for measles. You can protect yourself by making sure you are vaccinated. The measles vaccine is offered free of charge as part of Manitoba’s Recommended Routine Immunization Schedule and to those who meet Manitoba’s eligibility criteria. If you or your child(ren) are eligible for the MMR or MMRV vaccine, appointments can be scheduled through your health care provider or local public health. A list of public health offices in Manitoba is available here.

Please note that pharmacists do not administer publicly funded MMR or MMRV vaccines. For general health inquiries, you can also call Health Links – Info Santé at 204-788-8200 or toll-free at 1-888-315-9257.

Did you know?

If you are not fully vaccinated against measles, pregnant or have a weakened immune system and you were exposed to the virus, call your healthcare provider right away. Depending on when the exposure occurred, you could receive measles preventive treatment. This can protect you from measles infection or make the symptoms less serious.  

Other ways to prevent spreading the virus are:

  • frequent hand washing
  • covering your nose and mouth when you cough and sneeze
  • avoiding sharing personal items such as water bottles, lip gloss and cigarettes

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Think you might be pregnant?

Posted on by Lan

If you planned your pregnancy, finding out you are pregnant can be exciting news, but it also can be a time of uncertainty. If your pregnancy was unplanned you may want to know more about your options. Either way, you have come to the right place for information to help you make the best choice. 

Missed your period? Peeing more than usual? Have tender breasts? Feeling tired and nauseated? Do you think you could be pregnant? The only way to know for sure is through a positive pregnancy test. You can take a home pregnancy test or have a test done through your health-care provider.

When should I take a home pregnancy test?

An at home pregnancy test, provides the most accurate result one week after you have missed your period.

When should I seek prenatal care?

Getting early and regular prenatal care improves your chance of having a healthy pregnancy. Call to book an appointment as soon as you think you may be pregnant. Click here to see what options are available in Manitoba for your regular prenatal care.

Signs and symptoms of pregnancy

With this pregnancy, you may have none, some or all of these symptoms, which can range from mild to intense. You may find your experience different from that of your friends or family.

  • Late period or missed period: This is the most common sign of pregnancy. Your period stops because your body produces hormones that stop ovulation and the shedding of the lining of your uterus.
  • Tender (swollen) breasts: Your breasts may feel tender and sore. They may start to enlarge and your areolas (the area around your nipple) may also start to darken and enlarge. As your pregnancy progresses, your cup size may increase (due to increased fluids and milk production) as well as your band size (as your ribs expand to make room for your growing baby).
  • Peeing more often: This can be an early sign of pregnancy. Your pregnant body makes more blood to nourish your growing baby. This increase in fluids makes you pee more often.
  • Nausea and Vomiting: These common symptoms of early pregnancy are caused by your changing hormones. Despite being called morning sickness, it can occur any time of day. For tips to help with your morning sickness, see our article Morning sickness got you down?
  • Fatigue: Your changing pregnancy hormones may make you feel extremely tired in your first trimester. People often get their energy back in their second trimester, then often feel more achy and tired as they get closer to their due date. This is due to your changing pregnancy hormones.
  • Spotting and cramping, especially around the time you expected your period
  • Strong cravings or dislike of certain foods

Learning about the healthiest choices for you and your baby, whether your pregnancy was planned or unplanned, is very important. If you planned your pregnancy, finding out you are pregnant can be exciting news, but it also can be a time of uncertainty. If your pregnancy was unplanned, you may want to know more about your options. Either way, you have come to the right place for information to help you make the best choice for your experience.

Planned Pregnancy

You can start taking care of your unborn baby right away by:

Now is the time to connect with your health care provider.

Unplanned Pregnancy

For some people, an unplanned pregnancy is simply a welcomed change in life plans. For others, it can be quite an unwelcome shock. You are not alone, as many pregnancies are unplanned. For pregnancy counselling and supports, see Women’s Health Clinic for more information.

Abortion 

Making the decision to end your pregnancy can be very difficult. Abortion is safe and legal in Canada. You do not need the permission of a parent or partner to have an abortion. Speak to your health care provider as soon as possible to learn about the process and about the availability of abortion services. Seek help early because abortions should be done early on in pregnancy.

For more information, see the Women’s Health Clinic.

Adoption

Another option available is allowing another family to adopt your baby. Visit The Government of Manitoba to learn about the options in Manitoba.

Quick links:

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Alcohol Use: Know the Facts

Posted on by Lan

Many people drink alcohol occasionally to relax, socialize or celebrate. Some use alcohol because they feel it helps with mental health problems and life’s stresses. 

Safety tip:

If you use alcohol to manage your stress, anxiety, depression or other mental health symptoms the best choice is to seek other supports. Talk to a health care provider. If you do not have a health care provider, Family Doctor Finder can help. 

Also see our information on Well-Being and Mental Health. 

Call Manitoba Addictions Helpline 1-855-662-6605 if:

  • You are concerned about your drinking
  • Alcohol is affecting your family and/or your relationships

Even though alcohol is commonly used, there is no amount that is safe in pregnancy. All types of alcohol are equally harmful, including all wines and beer. Alcohol use can affect health, learning, relationships, children and parenting.

Alcohol and Fertility

Alcohol can:

  • decrease sperm production and quality 
  • reduce your sex drive 
  • can cause erection problems 
  • affect fertility 

Safety tips:

  • When planning a pregnancy, it’s safest not to drink any alcohol because you might be pregnant and not know it for up to four to six weeks. During this time your unborn baby’s brain is already developing. You could be drinking and exposing your unborn baby to alcohol without meaning to. 
  • If you didn’t know you were pregnant, stopping or reducing alcohol use as soon as possible is the safest choice. If you choose to use alcohol despite the risks, use as little as possible. 
  • Stopping alcohol use can be difficult, especially if you are also trying to cut down on other substances. While alcohol, cigarettes and cannabis are all harmful to your unborn baby, alcohol causes the most harm and should be what you quit first. 
  • If you find it difficult to stop using alcohol, speak with your health care provider about the safest way to quit. For other supports see Government of Manitoba-FASD Prevention. 

Alcohol and Pregnancy

When you are pregnant your unborn baby is connected to you by your placenta. Your placenta sends what you eat, drink and breathe to your unborn growing baby. 

If you drink alcohol during pregnancy, it gets passed on to your baby through the placenta. The baby’s organs are developing and cannot break down the alcohol like you can. Alcohol use during pregnancy may cause permanent damage to the baby’s brain and spinal cord. There is no known safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy. 

Did you know?

  • Consuming alcohol at any time during pregnancy can cause harm to your baby. 
  • The effects of alcohol will last for your baby’s lifetime. 
  • Alcohol use can cause Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)  
    • FASD is a lifelong disability that can affect motor skills, physical health, learning, memory, attention, communication, emotional control and social skills. 
    • For more information check out FASD-Manitoba Government 
    • If you are worried your baby might have FASD, talk to your health care provider. Getting diagnosed early and having the right supports can improve outcomes. 
  • Alcohol may cause neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS)  
    • Babies who are exposed to drugs and/or alcohol during pregnancy may experience withdrawal symptoms (NAS) after birth such as tremors, irritability, poor feeding, diarrhea, vomiting, sleep problems and seizures. 
    • For more information check out Stanford Children’s Health- Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. 

Alcohol and Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding 

When you drink alcohol, it passes into your breastmilk/chest milk. The safest choice is not to drink alcohol if you are breastfeeding/chestfeeding because: 

  • Drinking alcohol decreases your let-down reflex (it may take longer for your breasts/chest to release your milk) 
  • Drinking alcohol can cause a decrease in your milk production (Drinking alcohol does not increase your milk production as urban myth suggests. Your baby’s feeding determines how much milk you make.) 
  • Babies may not like the taste of breastmilk/chest milk containing alcohol which could make them drink less 
  • Very young babies have immature organs which makes it harder for them to clear the alcohol from their bodies. 
  • Alcohol may affect your baby’s sleep   

How long does alcohol stay in my breastmilk?

On average, it takes two to three hours to clear one standard size drink from your body. 

How fast your body gets rid of alcohol depends on: 

  • the amount of alcohol you drank 
  • how fast you drank it 
  • whether you have eaten food 
  • how much you weigh
  • how fast your body processes alcohol  

Do I have to pump and dump after drinking an alcoholic beverage?

No. As alcohol leaves your bloodstream, it leaves your breastmilk/chest milk (it doesn’t stay in your breastmilk/chest milk). Pumping and dumping, drinking a lot of water, resting or drinking coffee will not speed up how quickly your body gets rid of the alcohol. 

Can I have a drink and still breastfeed/chestfeed? 

Mothers who only drink once in a while should continue to breastfeed/chestfeed, because the benefits outweigh the risks. Here are some ways to make it safer for your baby: 

  • it’s best if you can plan ahead if you are going to have a drink
  • If you are planning to have a drink, limit it to one standard alcohol serving in a 24-hour period. 
  • Drink alcohol after breastfeeding/chestfeeding (not before). 
  • Wait two to three hours per drink before breastfeeding/chestfeeding again to allow time for the alcohol to clear from your breast/chest milk and body. 
  • Invite your partner to limit their alcohol use to support you. 

Did you know?

Babies feed often in the first 3 months and during growth spurts. These are good times to limit your alcohol intake.

For more information on alcohol and breastfeeding see Best start’s Mixing Alcohol and Breastfeeding

Alcohol and Parenting

You can keep your children safe and model healthy attitudes about alcohol by drinking in moderation. See Canada’s low risk drinking guidelines. 

Parents who drink alcohol need to be aware of the risks to their children. These include: 

Poisoning:

  • Children should not consume alcohol because it can make them very sick and put them at risk of poisoning. 
  • Smaller children are at higher risk of poisoning because of their size and weight. 
  • Children can mistake drinks containing alcohol for regular drinks (punch, juice, slushies, Jell-O, pop, etc.) so alcoholic beverages should never be left unattended.  

Safety tip:

Store all alcohol and products with alcohol (mouth wash, cosmetics, cleaning solutions etc.) out of the sight and reach of children, if possible, in a locked cabinet. 

What to do if you think your child has swallowed alcohol: 

Call 911 right away if your child is:

  • having difficulty breathing or breathing slowly
  • having a seizure
  • very sleepy or will not wake up

Go to the emergency department if your child is:

  • vomiting
  • being silly/giddy
  • having difficulty breathing,
  • having trouble with coordination (unsteady walking)
  • extremely sleepy or will not wake up.

If you are not sure, call the Manitoba Poison Centre at 1-855-776-4766 or Health Links – Info Santé 204-788-8200 or toll-free 1-888-315-9257 for advice.

Parenting your Kids:

Consuming alcohol can:

  • reduce your ability to pay attention, make decisions and react to emergencies.
  • change your behaviour such as making you aggressive, angry, sad or sleepy.
  • affect your ability to respond to your child’s needs and keep him safe. You could miss if your child:
    • is in danger and if he requires medical attention. If you are impaired you will not be able to drive your child for care.
    • needs to be comforted
    • shows cues for hunger
    • needs to connect, play and learn

Safety tips:

Keep your child safe by always having someone available who is not impaired to take care of your child.

Impaired Driving:

Alcohol affects your judgment and ability to drive. No one should ever drive impaired. Know the law and always have a designated driver. 

If you find it hard to cut back or stop drinking alcohol, talk to your health care provider. 

Resources:

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Tobacco Use: Know the Facts

Posted on by Lan

Many people smoke commercial tobacco for many different reasons. Pregnancy is often a time when families consider their lifestyle choices. If you smoke, you might be wondering how it can affect the health of your pregnancy, breastfeeding/chestfeeding and your children.   This article is referring to commercial tobacco use and gives a brief statement about ceremonial tobacco.

Tobacco and Fertility

Research shows that smoking:

  • can reduce fertility, making it difficult to conceive.
  • may negatively affect hormone production.
  • and exposure to tobacco smoke can harm the reproductive system
  • can damage the DNA in sperm

Tobacco and Pregnancy

When you are pregnant, your unborn baby is connected to you by your placenta. Your placenta sends what you eat, drink and breathe to your unborn growing baby. When you smoke cigarettes or breathe in secondhand smoke during pregnancy, the nicotine, carbon monoxide and tar are passed on to your baby. This can: 

  • cause harm to your placenta. Your baby will get less food and oxygen than they should. 
  • cause babies to weigh less at birth. This makes them more susceptible to infections and other health problems. 
  • reduce blood flow which affects your unborn baby’s heart, lungs, digestive system and brain. 
  • increase your risk of miscarriage or stillbirth. 
  • increase the risk of your baby being born prematurely (early). 
  • increase the risk for Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID).

Safety tips:

  • Stopping smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke is the safest choice for you and your unborn baby. 
  • If you choose to smoke despite the risks, smoke as little as possible. 
  • The best time to quit smoking is before you get pregnant. 
  • If you quit within the first four months of your pregnancy, you can lower the risks of health problems for your baby. 
  • Even if you quit at the end of your pregnancy, it still helps you and your baby. 
  • For support with quitting or cutting down visit Smoker’s Helpline, Tobacco Has No Place Here, NUQUITS and/or talk to your health care provider or public health nurse.  

Tobacco and Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding 

The healthiest choice for your baby is to breastfeed/chestfeed and for you to avoid tobacco use. If you can’t stop or cut down, breastfeeding/chestfeeding is still recommended. Breastmilk/chestmilk gives your baby immunities to help fight illness. It can also help lessen some of the negative effects of tobacco on your baby. 

If you choose to smoke while breastfeeding/chestfeeding, follow these tips to help protect your baby:  

  • Try to cut down. For support with quitting or cutting down visit Smoker’s helpline, Tobacco Has No Place Here, NUQUITS and/or talk to your health care provider or public health nurse. 
  • Don’t smoke right before or during breastfeeding/chestfeeding. This way there won’t be as much nicotine in your milk and your baby won’t be exposed to secondhand smoke. 
  • Wait as long as possible between smoking and breastfeeding/chestfeeding. 
  • Keep your home smoke free. Smoke outside, away from your baby and other children. Don’t allow anyone else to smoke near your baby. 
  • Protect your baby from thirdhand smoke. Wash your hands and change your clothes after you smoke and before you hold your baby.  

Tobacco and Parenting 

Parents who smoke cigarettes need to be aware of the risks to their children. These include: 

1. Poisoning:

Nicotine is very poisonous. The amount in only one cigarette butt is enough to poison a child. Other forms of nicotine that are poisonous to a child are:

  • cigarettes,
  • cigars,
  • chewing tobacco,
  • pipe tobacco,
  • nicotine gum and patches
  • and liquid nicotine used for electronic cigarettes (vaping).

Safety tips:

Keep all tobacco products out of the sight and reach of children, if possible in a locked cabinet.

Throw out all cigarettes butts to keep them out of your child’s reach.

2. Secondhand Smoke:

Secondhand smoke is the combination of smoke that comes from a cigarette and smoke breathed out by a smoker. When a non-smoker is around someone who is smoking, they breathe in the secondhand smoke. 

Babies and children are smaller and breathe faster than adults, so they take in more of the harmful chemicals from secondhand smoke. 

Risks to babies and children:

  • Secondhand smoke can harm a child’s behavior and ability to think things through. 
  • Babies who breathe in secondhand smoke have a higher risk for dying from Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID).
  • Babies and children exposed to secondhand smoke have more colds, pneumonia, bronchitis, croup and ear infections.
  • They are also more likely to develop asthma. 

Secondhand smoke is harmful to everyone, including your pets. 

3. Thirdhand Smoke:

Thirdhand smoke is the remaining nicotine and other chemicals left on indoor surfaces by tobacco smoke. Thirdhand smoke clings to these and other surfaces long after smoking has stopped: 

  • Clothes 
  • Furniture 
  • Drapes 
  • Walls  
  • Bedding 
  • Carpets 
  • Dust 
  • Vehicles  

Children and non-smoking people can be at risk for health-related problems when they inhale, swallow or touch surfaces containing thirdhand smoke. Infants and young children are more at risk because they like to touch and put things in their mouth to learn about their world.  

4. Fires and Burns

Children can get a burn from:

  • Butt’s that have been tossed
  • A lit cigarette
  • From playing with lighters and matches

Be sure to store all smoking gear (lighter, matches) out of reach from children.

Every year there are smoking related house fires. To prevent fires:

  • Don’t smoke in bed or if you are feeling drowsy.
  • Install smoke alarms outside all sleeping areas and on each level of your home. Test them monthly by pressing and holding the test button.
  • Make sure you have a fire extinguisher and know how to use it.

Creating Smoke Free Spaces:

Make your house and vehicles smoke free.  

Know the law-it is illegal to smoke in your vehicle with children under the age of 16 present. 

Click here for more tips from Health Canada on making your house and vehicle smoke free. 

Smoke outside - either take your child outside with you or plan to have someone watch them while you go out for a smoke (a neighbour, a partner or a child who is over 12). 

A pregnant person breaking a cigarette in half.

Cutting Down and Quitting

Quitting smoking is the single most important thing you can do to improve your health and your family’s health. 

  • If you cannot quit, start by cutting down.  
  • Fight cravings with deep breathing, a breath mint or nicotine gum.  

If you use cigarettes to cope with stress, anxiety depression or other mental health symptoms, the best choice is to seek other supports. For help and more information, visit: 

 

The Benefits of Quitting

Your body will start to feel the benefits of quitting on day one! 

20 Minutes after quitting 

Your blood pressure and pulse return to normal. 

A pregnant person having their blood pressure checked by a health provider

After eight hours 

You can breathe easier and your oxygen levels return to normal 

After 24 hours 

Your lungs start to clear out the mucus. 

Graphic of lungs

After 48 hours 

Your sense of taste and smell start to come back. 

Illustrations showing the placement of the taste areas on the tongue - sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami.)

After one year 

Your risk of having a heart attack is cut in half. 

After 10 years 

Your risk of dying from lung cancer is cut in half. 

For more information:

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How to Keep Your Kids Safe Around Cannabis Edibles 

Posted on by Lan

Cannabis in any form is toxic to children. Parents who use cannabis need to be aware of the risks. Since edibles look like regular food (gummy bears, brownies, lollipops, cookies), children can’t tell the difference. They need to be protected. Parents who use cannabis need to be aware of the risks to their children. These include: 

Poisoning 

  • It is important that children do not eat cannabis. It can make them very sick and put them at risk of poisoning or overdose. 
  • Smaller children are at higher risk of poisoning because of their size and weight. 
  • If you think your child has swallowed cannabis, call the Manitoba Poison Centre at 1-855-776-4766 or seek medical attention right away. 
  • Call 911 or your local emergency number right away if your child is having difficulty breathing, trouble with coordination or is extremely sleepy. 
Change the way you think about poison: Cannabis edibles can make your child sick. Did you know? A poison is anything that makes you sick when you eat, breathe or touch it. Kids can't tell the difference between regular food and food made with cannabis. How to keep kids safe: - Clean up - Talk to older kids - Label it - Lock it - Keep visitors’ bags out of reach If you know or suspect your child has eaten cannabis, call the Manitoba Poison Centre at 1-855-776-4766.)
Printer friendly Cannabis Food infographic  

Tips for Keeping Kids Safe

Set an example:

Kids love to watch and copy what their parents do. Whether using cannabis as medicine or for recreation, avoid consuming it in any form in front of children. 

Lock it up 

Parents should keep cannabis out of the sight and reach of children, if possible, in a locked cabinet. Invest in a safe, a lock box, a locking bag or have a lock put on a cupboard. It is best for any poisonous products to be stored “out of sight and locked up tight.” 

Store your guests’ purses, coats or bags that have cannabis products in a secure (locked) place while they are in your home. 

Label it 

Keep all medicine and other drugs in their original, child-resistant packaging. If it is not in its original packaging, make sure to label it.  

Clean it up 

Put cannabis products away after every use, even if you plan on using it again later. 

Always throw away waste products like ashes, unfinished joints or pieces of edibles. 

Talk to older kids

If you use a babysitter, ensure they are mature, responsible and recommended by someone you trust. Ask them not to bring cannabis, alcohol or any other harmful substances into your home. 

Make sure teens and friends are aware of the danger of cannabis to young children. Share this article with them. 

Second-Hand Cannabis Smoke 

Second-hand cannabis smoke may cause some of the same health problems as second-hand tobacco smoke. It is harmful for everyone, especially pregnant people, babies and young children. 

Children exposed to second-hand cannabis smoke are being exposed to the active chemical THC. The THC enters your child’s body where it can remain for weeks. 

Cannabis smoke can affect babies’ and young children’s alertness, understanding and judgement. 

It is best to avoid smoking or vaping anything around your baby or children. 

Parenting your Kids:

Using cannabis can reduce your ability to pay attention, make decisions and react to emergencies. This can affect your ability to respond to your child’s needs and keep them safe. You may not notice if your child: 

  • is in danger 
  • needs medical attention. If you are impaired, you will not be able to drive your child for care. 
  • needs to be comforted 
  • shows cues for hunger 
  • needs to connect, play and learn 

When you consume cannabis edibles, the effects are delayed (up to two to three hours for some people) and you may end up taking more cannabis than you planned. Consuming cannabis in foods or drinks can make people feel higher than expected and the effects can last for several hours or sometimes days. 

Safety tips:

  • To ensure your child’s safety always have a plan in place.
  • Be sure that there is always someone available who is not high to take care of your child.

Impaired Driving

Like alcohol, cannabis affects your judgment and ability to drive. No one should ever drive impaired. Know the law. 

For more information on cannabis, see:  

References 

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