Look here for tips and supportive information in each category.

Pregnancy

First Baby? How exciting! This is the time for you to look after yourself better than you ever have, and it's okay to be selfish! Because once you have your child, it's not as easy to put yourself first. Here are some tips to help you through this amazing nine months.

	Find an obstetrician you feel emotionally comfortable with. There are so many changes going on during pregnancy and you can experience a roller coaster of emotions. It is comforting to have a baby doctor you feel you can ask anything!
	Listen to your body and intuition and tell your doctor about any concerns. Follow your own instincts until you are satisfied you are getting what you need physically and emotionally.
	Eat healthy for you and baby and take a folic acid supplement recommended by your obstetrician.
	Don't smoke or drink alcohol and find positive support if you need to help you quit.
	Increase fibre intake and drink lots of water to ward off constipation.
	If you have a regular exercise routine, check with your doctor to get the okay to continue.
	Take a walk when you feel restless.
	Sleep as much as you need.
	Talk with your partner and share at least two things you need from each other for support through this transition. Your relationship changes when you have a baby. It helps to talk about it and plan for how you can work together to have individual, couple and family needs met.
	Surround yourself with positive, supportive people.

Baby (Newborn to 12 months)

Your new baby is here! You may be overjoyed, tearful, scared, anxious, excited, tired, overwhelmed, protective, and many other emotions you didn't know you could feel. So you ask yourself, now what? Here's some tips to help you with the emotional side of parenthood:

	Share your feelings with your partner and listen to their feelings too and support each other. You really need to stick together and help each other. This helps mom, dad and your baby.
	If you are a single parent, try to have a supportive person to share your feelings with. Follow your instincts and do what works for you and your baby.
	Babies have different temperaments. Some eat, sleep and need their diaper changed. Other babies cry and need to be held and comforted more. Some experts refer to this as a "high needs" baby. If you have a "high needs" baby, he really needs you to be calm and soothing in order to teach him how to be calm and self-soothing. (I know, easier said than done, but keep working at it, it usually gets easier once you and your baby get to know each other).
	Babies feel your emotions and will mirror them. Study your baby. Talk to her, smile at him, coo, and kiss and cuddle her. For the first few month's babies love your face more than any toy so make the most of it!

Toddlers (12 - 24 months)

Once your baby starts crawling and walking they become curious little explorers. Sit on the floor and look around. Imagine the world through her eyes. There are so many fascinating things to check out! If there are things you don't want your toddler to get into, move them. She doesn't have the impulse control to stay away from things so don't waste your time saying 'no" all the time. Learn to redirect her to another toy or activity.

Toddlers have a hard time sitting still and quiet for more than a few minutes so expect her to be active and energetic. Expect her to change her mind and her mood at the drop of a hat. She will want to do things herself, let her try and offer encouragement. She will play beside other children but she does not know how to share yet. She needs one or two naps a day, small meals and healthy snacks to keep her little body recharged throughout the day.

Preschool (3 - 5 years)

Preschoolers are active and continue to gain independence. He loves to try new things and seeks approval from mom and dad. He is curious and will ask "why" questions frequently. He knows how to share, but it is still hard to actually do it. He may have an imaginary friend. He likes to tell stories and make up silly words. He giggles and laughs and likes to make funny faces. Preschoolers are great dawdlers - try to allow enough time for him to stop and check things out along the way. You and he will be less stressed if you are not always in a hurry.

Some boys and girls are fully potty trained before age three and some take longer. Encourage him through toilet training but refrain from getting into a power struggle with him over the potty. Research has proven it doesn't make kids train faster.

School Age (6 to 9 years)

When children start school they become more focused on rules and fairness. They learn through playing games, sports and other school related activities that all have rules. When a classmate isn't following the rules, the others let him know. "It's not your turn! Get back in line!" can be heard from the other little boys and girls. Boys are usually more coordinated for running, jumping, kicking balls, and climbing, whereas girls are usually better at fine motor skills like printing, puzzles, coloring and cutting.

During this stage your child wants to make friends and be accepted by her peers. Gaining self-confidence helps your child to make friends. Let her make her lunch. Have her do some chores around home. Encourage her to try new things and look at mistakes as opportunities for learning and growth. The more skills she can start to master, the more confident she will feel overall.

Pre-Teen (10 - 12 years)

Girls grow faster than boys during this stage and emotions begin to fluctuate. Your child may display a healthy dose of self-confidence with activities he excels at and may shy away from things he is not as skilled at. During this stage school work, friends, sports/activities and general self-worth are all of equal importance. Learning to be well rounded is more important than being the star of the basketball team. If he gets hurt and can't play basketball, he will deal with it better if he has other areas he feels good about.

Teens (13 - 18)

During the teenage years, kids are trying to discover who they are and what they want to become. Physical growth, hormones, peers, parents, teachers and other significant adults pressures impact her self-concept. She can change her mind and her mood at the drop of a hat. Be patient and try to remember what you felt like when you were a teen. Discuss and agree on rules (i.e. curfew, chores) and consequences. Expect her to make mistakes. Help her learn from them.

In their quest to become an adult, many teens get caught in a situation they thought they could handle and become scared when it goes differently than they had planned. Let her know she can call you in tough situations. Refrain from lecturing while you're angry. You can discuss the situation later when you are both feeling calm and thinking clearly. Your teen needs you to be her parent, not her friend, someone that has her best interests at heart and can help guide her into adulthood with wisdom and unconditional love.

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