New Baby Prep Checklist for Canadian Parents

First trimester (weeks 1 – 13)

• Confirm pregnancy with your family doctor, midwife, or a walk-in clinic
• Choose a care provider: family doctor, OB/GYN, or midwife (varies by province and availability)
• Start a prenatal vitamin with 0.4 mg folic acid daily
• Book the 10–13 week dating ultrasound and blood work
• Tell your employer in writing when you're ready — protects EI and job-return rights
• Review your benefits: short-term disability, top-up plans, and drug coverage
• Stop alcohol, cannabis, and smoking; review any prescriptions with your doctor
• Log symptoms and questions in one notebook or app for every appointment

Second trimester (weeks 14 – 27)

• Book the 18–22 week anatomy ultrasound
• Sign up for prenatal classes (in-person or online; many are free through public health)
• Apply for Service Canada's EI maternity + parental benefits online — allow 6 weeks
• Decide on EI: 12-month standard or 18-month extended parental leave
• Start the baby registry: car seat, crib, monitor, feeding gear, diapers
• Choose a pediatrician or confirm your family doctor takes newborns
• Plan childcare early — Canadian daycare waitlists run 12–24 months in most cities
• Update life insurance and name a guardian in your will

Third trimester (weeks 28 – 40)

• Pre-register at your delivery hospital or birthing centre
• Install the rear-facing car seat; get it checked at a free clinic (many fire stations offer this)
• Pack the hospital bag: health card, ID, phone charger, going-home outfit for baby, snacks
• Set up the nursery: firm crib mattress, tight-fitted sheet, nothing else in the crib
• Wash newborn clothes and swaddles in fragrance-free detergent
• Stock 2 weeks of freezer meals and household essentials
• Confirm your birth plan and share it with your care team + support person
• Learn infant CPR (Canadian Red Cross runs short courses)
• Discuss postpartum mental health warning signs with your partner

Hospital + birth registration (Canadian paperwork)

• Bring health card, photo ID, birth plan, and hospital bag
• Sign the Provincial Birth Registration form before you leave the hospital
• Apply for the birth certificate (province-issued — required for passport + benefits)
• Apply for baby's SIN (Service Canada) — often bundled with birth registration
• Apply for the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) via CRA — retroactive up to 11 months but do it early
• Add baby to provincial health coverage (OHIP, MSP, RAMQ, etc.)
• Add baby to any private drug + dental plan within the enrollment window (usually 30 days)
• Book the newborn hearing screen + first pediatrician visit within 1 week

Baby-proofing & car seat safety

• Outlet covers on every accessible plug — sliding plate covers, not the small cap style, which are a choking hazard themselves
• Cabinet and drawer locks in the kitchen and bathroom, especially anywhere cleaning supplies or medications live
• Safety gates at the top and bottom of every staircase — hardware-mounted at the top, pressure-mounted is fine at the bottom
• Anchor every dresser, bookshelf, and tall piece of furniture to the wall — tip-overs are a leading cause of preventable child injury
• Anchor or wall-mount the TV rather than relying on a stand alone
• Fireplace or wood stove: install a hearth gate before the baby is mobile
• Stove knob covers and a stove guard; fridge and appliance locks once your child gets curious
• Corner and edge guards on sharp furniture corners at head height for a new crawler
• Older kids at home: build a daily "toy sweep" habit — Lego, marbles, and other small parts are a top choking hazard for a baby who's started exploring
• Install the car seat rear-facing and get it inspected before your due date — many fire departments and EMS/paramedic services run free car seat clinics, so call your local fire hall to ask before booking a paid one
• Baby monitor positioned with all cords well out of reach of the crib — cord strangulation is a preventable risk

Postpartum recovery supplies

• Maternity/postpartum pads (heavy flow) — bleeding lasts several weeks regardless of delivery type
• Mesh disposable postpartum underwear
• A perineal irrigation bottle ("peri bottle") for gentle rinsing
• Witch hazel pads and padsicles for perineal swelling
• Nipple cream and nursing pads if breastfeeding
• Stool softener on hand — a common postpartum need that catches many new parents off guard
• For a planned C-section: high-waisted soft underwear that sits above the incision, incision care supplies as directed by your care team, and help arranged for the first 2 weeks (no stairs or lifting beyond baby)
• A robe or nightgown that opens easily for feeding, and a pillow for comfortable feeding positions

First 6 weeks at home

• Follow safe-sleep basics: baby on back, alone, in a crib or bassinet (Health Canada guidance)
• Log feeding, wet/dirty diapers, and sleep for the first 2 weeks
• Watch for jaundice, dehydration, and feeding trouble — call HealthLink / 811 with concerns
• Attend the 2-week and 6-week pediatric checkups; confirm the immunization schedule
• Schedule your own 6-week postpartum checkup — including mental health screening
• Accept help: meals, laundry, an hour of sleep — say yes
• Screen visitors for illness and vaccinations (whooping cough + flu shots for close family)
• Update your budget: diapers, formula (if used), and reduced income during leave

Practical tips

• Apply for EI parental benefits the week baby arrives — payments don't start until Service Canada processes the claim.
• Take a photo of the car seat installation before you leave the hospital. Bases loosen; the photo is your reference.
• The Canada Child Benefit is retroactive up to 11 months, but every month you delay is a month of missed payments.

Frequently asked questions