Loving Care Booklets for Moms, Dads and Children

Loving care for you and your child is what it is all about as moms and dads navigate their way through the joys and challenges of raising healthy and happy children.

That message headlines a brand new series of education booklets called Loving Care, from Nova Scotia's public health services.

Barry Barnet, Minister of Health Promotion and Protection, joined parents and families today, June 10, to launch the booklets.

All parents will benefit from the new booklets which feature Nova Scotia families. The booklets are written in plain language to help parents better recognize and build on their parenting strengths, with a focus on parent and child interaction, and growth and development. The booklets also complement public health programs and services already provided to support families including home visits, breast feeding support, pre-natal education and parenting groups.

Loving Care: Birth to Six Months, is the first of the series, which takes a different approach from previous publications by presenting information in a quick and easy manner. Special care and consideration was given to provide need-to-know information in a way that empowers parents to know how best to respond to their baby's behaviour. The book teaches parents what to look for so they are confident when responding to their baby's needs in the best way possible.

"The goal is to ensure children have the best start in life possible," said Mr. Barnet. "Loving Care supports the province's work to strengthen support for our children, youth and families. As the early years set the course for life-long health, we need to be sure parents are well-supported, which includes providing health information they need that is a quick read and easy to understand."

Loving Care: Parents and Families is the other booklet that has been released. It focuses on the health of parents and families and includes information to help parents identify and address their own health needs. Key areas include healthy and active living and mental health. Information about smoking and alcohol is also included, in a way that is relevant to parenting a newborn.

"The booklets will be very informative and valuable to new families," said Felecia Outhouse, mother of two who participated in the development of Loving Care. "I was also very impressed by the families chosen for the book because they represent the rich diversity of Nova Scotia."

Parents of children from birth to age three will start to receive the new booklets this week. Plans are in the works for two other booklets covering ages six to 12 months and one to three years.

The booklets received extensive input from Nova Scotian families through focus testing by moms and dads, including French and English, African Nova Scotians, and Aboriginal Peoples and newcomers to Canada.

The project was managed by representatives from Public Health Services from across the province, the Department of Health Promotion and Protection, Reproductive Care Program, the IWK-based program -- Extra Support for Parents, Dartmouth Family Centre and the Department of Community Services.

The booklets are available from public health and on the Department of Health Promotion and Protection's website at www.gov.ns.ca/hpp and will also be available in French in October.