r/torontomoms

Hi everyone,

I’m new to posting on Reddit but I’m a young person looking into new, interesting business ideas/ventures! I know here in Ontario there aren’t many if any spas that provide childcare during spa treatments. I’m hoping to get some insight, opinions and suggestions into if people think this would be a good/beneficial business and what could make it worthwhile for parents! I may post other business ideas I have and ask for feedback on them as I’m looking into starting my own business!

Thank you all in advance for your feedback and time responding to my post!

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Hello, I'm looking for app or website recommendations to find a nanny. I had used Sitly previously and would like to try a different one now. Thanks!

This might be a silly question (I'll probably end up getting a recommendation from my doctors), but I have a high-risk pregnancy for various reasons and I'm wondering where other women with similar pregnancies ultimately gave birth and what their experiences were. I live in the city, not in the surrounding area.

I need to get blood work done for my 4 year old. Two years ago we went to Life labs and the experience wasn't great. The lab technicians were very nervous and hesitant about doing it for a young child. They were taking too long and my child was flailing his arms, and we were struggling to hold him down. It was so chaotic! Are there any testing centres that are specifically for kids or can we request for some provision? Thank you!

I recently came across something called a baby registry — Walmart baby registry, Amazon baby registry, etc. — and I’m genuinely trying to understand how this works.
From what I’ve understood so far, you basically add all the baby items you need from different stores to your registry and then share it with family and friends so they can buy those things for you as gifts.
If that’s actually what it is… who does this?! 😂

Like, imagine calling someone and saying, “Hey, can you buy me a car seat?” 😭

When I first heard about baby registries, I assumed they were something that made life easier for expecting parents, like you make a list of things you need and the registry gives you discounts, coupons, or some kind of deal on those items.

I had NO idea it was basically a wishlist that you send to people so they can buy the stuff for you.
Am I understanding this correctly? 😂
Do people actually use baby registries this way? And if you’ve used one, what was your experience like?

I bought a silly number (150+) of size 3 diapers that I’d like to give away (our little guy is in size 4/5s now).

Does anyone know of somewhere I could donate these? Some aren’t sealed but are clearly unused and clean.

My son is starting JK at a TDSB school in less than a month and we haven’t received anything from the school yet besides confirmation that he’s been enrolled. Is this normal?

When I was a kid, I remember getting info mid summer about who my teacher was, school supplies to bring, etc.

We couldn’t enrol him until July because we were living outside of Toronto until then, so I know we missed the kindergarten welcome/tour that would have happened in the spring. Does anyone have an idea of when I should expect info? Does it all come through email?

Thanks!

I have so many questions but I’ll try to keep them as succinct as possible.

1. What was the process like? What kind of home do they want you to be in (does a condo work? I assume it would need to be 2 bed minimum)?
2. Is it a problem if you’re a single woman?
3. Do you get to have a preference for the age or sex of the child you want to adopt? Or the circumstances they are coming from? (I.e a pregnant teen who is just too young vs addiction/mental health issues with the birth mom)?
4. If you adopted, what are the main challenges or things that you wish you considered before going into it?
5. Are you happy you chose to do it on your own or do you wish you had a partner?
6. What are things you didn’t expect about the process?

Thank you in advance!!!

Hello I’m due early 2027 does anyone have any experience at good hospitals in Toronto? Thanks

Hello moms! I’m an anxious mess thinking about my oldest son’s transition into JK in a month. I feel like I have not prepared enough and I’m starting tp panic. I wouldn’t say my son is a picky eater, but there are some things he’s not fond of. Sandwiches of any kind are one. I have a few ideas of what I will be packing, but I’m stuck on recess snacks. Do parents typically pack two small containers; one for AM and PM? Do you send an apple sauce pouch only for a snack? I’m not sure how big or elaborate to get. I want to stay as healthy as I can, but I also want to let him have a bit of a treat some days because his overall diet is very healthy. Any tips? I also can mention I have a bentgo box and I’m thinking about getting a secondhand omie box to try out solely for the build-in thermos. Thanks you and I hope the other moms in my position have an stress-free September!

Wondering if anyone has any suggestions for good PD/ March Break/ Summer Camps in the city and what I should expect to pay? 5-year old mom of a kid who likes most things....

We are parents of a 2 year old toddler and are feeling very lost. He currently goes to a daycare which is 25 mins away from home each way. We love the facility and staff and he is thriving. The daycare is about 8 mins away from my office in a different town.

We just got the call about a spot opening up at a centre 5 mins from our home. The center is not as modern as our current daycare but it’s close to home and the kids will eventually go to the same school.

We are also expecting our second child in January. If we choose to keep him in his current place it would mean driving about an hour just to do drop off and pick ups while also having a newborn at home.

We are so lost and on what we should do. We are worried about how our child will adapt to the new daycare and teachers. Has anyone experienced this before? What would you do in our shoes?

Thank you for any help! Signed a very lost mom!

Hey everyone,

We’re planning our baby's birthday party for early October and need venue ideas in Toronto/GTA. Most private places are very expensive, and some affordable city venues are not available in October.

Ideally, our preferences are:

• Indoor + Outdoor space (Approx 50-60 people): A warm indoor area with a patio/yard option for October weather and photos.
• Aesthetically nice: Bright, clean, or surrounded by greenery so it looks good for photos without heavy decor.
• No play-places needed: Since it's for a baby and there aren't any grown-up children, standard studio, boutique, or open event spaces work best. No big play setups required.

We know around $500 is a tight budget for Toronto, so these are just preferences rather than hard rules. We’re open to lofts, studios, or community hubs.

Any hidden gems or recommendations? Thanks!

Hi all, I’m a single mom of 2 active boys (ages 3.5 and 6). We live in midtown (Avenue and eglinton area) and would love to find some families for planned and last minute play dates to pass the time and make summer memories :)

My partner and I are looking for any community centres that offer free in-person prenatal classes for first time parents that are not income based. (I understand the city of toronto has free programs for individuals in social assistance but we wouldn't qualify). Any leads? Preferably west end or central Toronto.

We're currently deciding between two daycares for Toddler room onwards, starting in the fall. (If anyone has experience with either Kidshaven or Mcnicol Ave daycares in North York, please let me know!)

Both seem like great choices overall (both 5 min drive away, both have great staff/teachers, nice facilities). The main differences are:

1. one of them has a "Montessori enriched curriculum' for their senior preschool program. It is not a full Montessori daycare, but rather they have one teacher that is Montessori certified and the curriculum is 'Montessori inspired". What do you all think of this? Do you think it makes a difference?

2. One daycare has 15 kids in the Toddler class (with 3 teachers) and the other has only 10 kids (with 2 teachers). Do you all think a toddler class of 10 or 15 is better??

3. One has a nicer outdoor playground (and toddler vs preschoolers have a seperate age-appropriaye playground), but the other has nicer/bigger classrooms inside. Thoughts on whether one's more important than the other?

We're really struggling to decide, so would love your input!!