OCEA Blog

Although official spring has sprung and days are getting longer, we are still waiting for that beautiful warm sun that brings leaf buds, garden flowers and warm walks with baby!   OCEA has some exciting spring classes to share and a new area resource for families with children 0-6 years. Ottawa's Early ON centres have offered FREE workshops, playgroups, toy lending libraries and outdoor events to area families for 30 years in Ontario. It has been challenging to filter through the 60+ locations to find the activity on any given day or location. This is where an amazing local parent ...

As we wrote this newsletter the freezing rain and snow were bucketing down and we had our first snow day of the season.   Winter holidays are a time of joy for many families, but we also recognize the challenges of balancing postpartum life and family visits. You may have a house full of guests, or you might be travelling long distances.  Newborns are not used to being passed around during large gatherings and meeting lots of new faces can be overstimulating.    Here are a few things you may want to consider when planning your holiday activities:   - ...

  Signs of fall are in the air with cooler mornings and earlier sunsets! Many of us are feeling drawn to comfort foods, beautiful walks, cozy sweaters, and craving daily rhythms. With that in mind, we have classes starting this week!   Infant Massage   Infant Massage is a hidden gem of a class. This IAIM routine has been shown to reduce crying, help with gassy bellies, encourage sleep, and support parents in learning how to read their baby’s body language. Join Brandie and other families for warm class dynamics in the comfort of your home (pyjamas welcome). 4 Thursday mornings starting Oct. ...

Spring is finally here! If you’re like most of us, you’re dreaming about the freedom of walking out the door jacket-free to enjoy the warm sunshine. But if you have a little one, or two, there may be some questions that make you hesitate at the door. We’re happy to help with tips and upcoming courses!   How do I protect my baby from the sun? Sunscreens are unsafe for babies under six months old, so shade is the answer.  Covering car seats or strollers with blankets can raise the temperature underneath by 5 degrees (imagine that on a 28C ...

Brrr, Baby, it's COLD outside! We have the perfect recipe for connecting and staying warm this week!  Join Brandie on Monday mornings, starting this Monday, February 6-27 for some Infant Massage right from the warmth of your living room! Infant Massage is the perfect way to increase the Oxytocin-love hormone in your family. It has been proven to reduce crying, support digestion and reduce gas. Who doesn't love a massage?! Register here  For classes starting on February 6 or April 4   The second ingredient to staying warm is a sweet woolly slipper! Our favourite brand for all members of the ...

Just in time for the holidays, OCEA brings you a special workshop to make the season even brighter.... and a lot less messy: WAIT!! Don't throw the Mashed Potatoes: A Communication Workshop for the Holidays Family visits and holiday events are coming up fast. Even though you’re excited about your family gathering to share in the joy of the new little one, there may also be a little bit of trepidation. After all, even with all the delights of the holidays, they can also bring a little extra “gift” of tension or misunderstanding. Whether this new baby is your child, ...

Happy September! This end-of-summer newsletter is jam-packed with community news, events, and some dates for upcoming fall classes!   Local Resource SpotlightThis month we would like to share the services of the Family Services Ottawa (FSO) FSO Offers six FREE parent coaching sessions for any family who self-refers with children aged 0-6 years.  Topics that can be explored include routines, establishing reasonable limits, positive discipline techniques, reducing anxiety, reasons for behaviour, child development, co-parenting, effective communication and many more.   It's time for re-introductions! There are five incredible OCEA teachers who work together to bring you all of the programs ...

Did you know that June was most likely named for the goddess Juno, the patroness of marriage and childbirth? It's one of our busiest months welcoming many families to classes and supporting families with their newborns. Summer Safety With the hot weather at the other end of this rainy week, we have a few reminders for sun safety and newborns. Ottawa Public Health reminds families to refrain from using sun lotion until babies are six months old. When it is hot outside, tenting the car seat or stroller results in a temperature that is 5 degrees warmers, with reduced air ...

We had our first communication workshop this week and it was AMAZING! We gave away one copy of "Raising Good Humans" by Hunter Clarke-Fields in a draw for our participants. If you missed it, the next session will run over two Mondays June 20 & 27 from 7-9:15 pm, facilitated by Lilly. Lilly has been working with parents-to-be and new families for over 30 years as a birth doula, midwife, postpartum doula and early parenting coach. She has been teaching with OCEA for 10 years She can be reached independently at http://lillybianchi.ca Register here: Communication Workshop We will address conversation roadblocks; those ...

Spring is in the air; can you feel it? It is getting easier to get outside with our littlest family members as the temperature is slowly creeping upwards with a promise of more to come.   With this in mind, we have some exciting news to share about a series of workshops that we will be launching here at OCEA.   Our first workshop is called  Building A Communication Toolkit: A workshop for new parents, grandparents and other “villagers” This two-hour practical workshop will focus on building communication skills, one of the foundations of a healthy and happy family. We ...

Pregnancy and postpartum, or what health practitioners call the “perinatal period,” is a vulnerable time in a person’s life. For many, parenthood can cause conflicting emotions: joy, love, protectiveness, anger, exhaustion, and confusion. Parents can experience a significant amount of stress as priorities shift to the all-consuming role of caring for a newborn. For some, the added stress can lead to mental health problems.  A 2018 survey found that almost one-quarter (23 percent) of Canadian mothers reported feelings consistent with a diagnosis of postpartum depression or anxiety. Partners can experience mood changes too, and some research has estimated that rates ...

Happy February! Ottawa is experiencing a warm stretch after a particularly cold January. We hope you have had an opportunity to get outside to enjoy the start of Winterlude and our beautiful walking trails.  With shifting and changing services and supports for new families we would like to offer you a FREE weekly Q & A every Monday afternoon in January from 1-2 pm to address all your baby-related questions.  Log in on Zoom to meet with Lilly who will have a cup of tea in hand and will be ready for all your questions. Lilly started out as a birth ...

  As 2021 comes to a close we have an opportunity to look back at all the amazing families we have met over the last 12 months; 1599 families to be exact! We are grateful and honoured to have been part of your parenting journey over the year. Moving into the New Year, we have a full roster of classes for you and your baby from the warmth of your own living room. Come and meet other parents and caregivers during the cold winter months.    Infant Massage with Brandie will be starting on Monday January 3-January 24 https://ottawacea.com/register/2538 Monday ...

  Our May newsletter is dedicated to Grandparents and extended family members during Covid-19.  OCEA would also like to remind the whole Ottawa community that we have a free virtual drop in on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons on Zoom, called Lilly’s living room from 1pm-2:30.  The log is Zoom meeting links:  Tuesdays  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/819801010 All of our summer classes are on our website, with a few more to be added! With all other prenatal and parenting classes currently put on hold in the City, we welcome any referrals you may like to share with other families who are expecting at this ...

We know it's been a tough adjustment for everyone as we deal with COVID-19 and physical distancing. Here at OCEA we worked non stop to bring you our wonderful classes in an online format without interruption. Same content and same amazing teachers, but now we'll get to see each other's smiling faces live over Zoom! Because of the changing needs of our communities, Prenatal and Postnatal classes around the country have been cancelled. We are opening our classes to individuals and families ACROSS CANADA. We would love for you to share this news with any friends or family seeking pre- ...