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Ministry of Health

Parent Publications

Parent publications are produced and updated in order to provide evidence informed, practical information to expectant parents and families with babies and toddlers up to 3 years of age in BC. The publications include information and guidance on child development, safety, nutrition, and overall child health and parenting. The handbooks are used across B.C. by parents and health care providers who deliver services to parents.

Baby's Best Chance: Parents' Handbook of Pregnancy and Baby Care (second revision 6th edition)

This book provides up-to-date information on healthy pregnancy, infant care, and parenting for babies up to 6 months of age. Endorsed by professional organizations, this publication is in high demand province-wide by parents and health care providers. Baby's Best Chance is also sold to other provinces.

Baby's Best Chance is available to pregnant women. Please contact your local health authority to confirm how to access Baby's Best Chance in your area. You can purchase a copy ($14.95) here or by phoning 1-800-663-6105 (toll free).

download (PDF 15M) a free copy

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Baby's Best Chance: A Guide for Expectant Parents (DVD)

This DVD is a companion to Baby's Best Chance: Parents' Handbook of Pregnancy and Baby Care. It provides information about planning for and having a healthy pregnancy and childbirth, as well as care of your baby in the weeks following birth.

The DVD is divided into 7 chapters. In the first 6 chapters, 4 BC women share their personal prenatal journeys and welcome their new babies into their lives. Chapter 7 focuses on pre-conception health, and highlights things to consider in planning for a healthy pregnancy, before becoming pregnant.

The video is designed to be used for prenatal education across BC. It can also be watched online by viewing the chapter of interest:

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Toddler's First Steps: A Best Chance Guide to Parenting Your 6- to 36-Month-Old Child (revised 2nd edition 2009)

Toddler's First Steps provides information to parents about caring for children ages 6 months to 3 years old. Endorsed by professional organizations, Toddler's First Steps is filled with important information on child development, healthy eating, child health and wellbeing, parenting and safety to help parents and caregivers nurture and support young children.

Please contact your local health authority to confirm how to access Toddler's First Steps in your area. You can purchase a copy ($16.95) here or by phoning 1-800-663-6105 (toll free).

You can view and download the full publication here:

Toddler's First Steps: A Best Chance Guide to Parenting Your 6- to 36-Month-Old Child (revised 2nd edition 2009) (PDF 3.9M)

Or, download the publication in two smaller sized files here:

Toddler's First Steps (without appendix) (PDF 4.4M)
Appendix: Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide (PDF 3.9M)

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Child Health Passport

The Child Health Passport is a passport-sized booklet for parents to use to record important health information about their child, including height and weight, illnesses, accidents, allergies, hospitalizations, and vaccinations. Space is also provided to record findings of hearing, dental and vision checks. Safety tips are also included.

The Child Health Passport is distributed to all parents of newborns in the province. Please contact your local health authority to confirm how to access the Child Health Passport in your area.

You can view and download the full publication here:

Child Health Passport English Version 2011 (PDF 459K)
Child Health Passport French Version 2011 (PDF 1.3M)

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Every Sleep Counts! Safe Sleep Parent Resource

The safe sleep parent resource provides parents and caregivers with up-to-date information about safe sleep environments for infants 0-12 months of age. For nap time, night time, home, or away, the resource helps parents reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and prevent accidental death due to infants being trapped between two surfaces or suffocating during sleep.

The resource is based on the BC Safe Sleep Environment Guideline for Infants.

You can view and download the full publication here:

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The Best Chance Website

The Best Chance website is filled with up-to-date and practical information, useful tools and resources for women, expectant parents, and families with babies and toddlers up to 3 years of age.

Explore this website to find information on preconception health, perinatal depression, a healthy pregnancy, and how to give your baby a good start in life, and support your healthy future together.