Happy Halloween!

What a beautiful fall season it has been! We hope that you and your family have been able to take advantage of the prolonged warm weather this month before the chilly weather sets in.

With Halloween fast approaching, we wanted to share some of our best tried-and-true tips for trick-or-treating with toddlers for families who might be heading out to experience it for the first time.

1.     Read books about trick or treating ahead of the big day. Picture books are a great way to explore a new experience from the safety and comfort of home, removing some of the anxiety about the unknown. Some possibilities, available at the Ottawa Public Library, include: Happy Halloween Little Critter!; Llama Llama Trick or Treat; Pete the Cat: Trick or Pete; and The Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat.

2.    Go early. The sun sets around 6:00pm on Halloween in Ottawa, so plan to head out before the sun goes down. There will still be some light in the sky until about 6:30, so going from about 5:30-6:30 is ideal for little trick-or-treaters.

3.     Have some reflective tape or have your child wear a reflective costume. Make sure passing cars can see your toddler clearly. You can buy rolls of reflective tape that can blend in on a costume but will make sure your child is visible to drivers.

4.     Bring a stroller or wagon. Even if your toddler is keen to walk around the neighbourhood, they might get tired on the way home. Even if they walk the whole way, you’ll have a wagon to tow their candy in!

5.     Bring a blanket for the wagon. Once the sun sets, the temperature will drop significantly. A cold toddler is a cranky toddler!

6.     Bring water and snacks. Have a favourite snack ready when energy levels dip, especially if trick or treating will throw off your usual dinner routine.

7.     Consider alternatives. If trick or treating might be overwhelming for your toddler, the City of Ottawa offers Trick or Treating with the Mayor at City Hall on October 25^th at 5:30. 

Bring a non-perishable donation for the Ottawa Food Bank and enjoy a more relaxed environment for Halloween. You can also check out the Diefenbunker Museum in Carp on October 30^th and 31^st as they host their annual Toddler Halloween Hunt. Tickets are $13 for grown-ups; kids under 5 are free.

Upcoming classes

Once Baby is Here

Are you looking to connect with other parents? Are you wondering how to create new routines and rhythms with your new baby? Join educator Michelle for the seven-week group for new parents, Baby Steps, to meet new friends, share ideas and suggestions, and come away with tips and tricks for making the most of those early months with a new baby https://www.ottawacea.com/special-events. Next class starts November 4th-December 16th and will explore ways to navigate holiday stressors.


Is your baby ready to start solids? Are you unsure what to feed your baby, or are you worried that baby-led weaning will lead to choking? Refresh your CPRskills with an evening class https://www.ottawacea.com/cpr and get advice on raising a foodie who enjoys a variety of flavours and textures with a four-week Baby at The Table class https://www.ottawacea.com/bt_event.

Tylenol and autism

You might have heard the claim from the President of the United States that taking Tylenol in pregnancy can increase a baby’s risk of developing autism. Despite there being no evidence for this, and in fact, there is strong evidence that Tylenol does NOT increase a child’s chance of developing autism, we understand that such claims from such an influential and public figure can cause anxiety. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada has responded, evaluating the scientific evidence, and restated that Tylenol is the only safe treatment for pain and fever in pregnancy, which you can read more on here: SOGC Position Statement Acetamenophin_EN_20250911.pdf

(Infographic from the American Academy of Pediatrics)

New Board Members

Are you looking for an opportunity to volunteer with an established non-profit organization supporting expectant and new families in the Greater Ottawa Area? We recently had two long-serving members retire from their Board positions and are seeking applications from the community. The positions ensure the financial health and accountability of the organization and help us to deepen our community engagement and impact. Please contact Shaheen.erin@gmail.com for more information.

OCEA is proud to be a safe and welcoming space for people of all identities, including but not limited to sex, gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, disability, and neurodiversity. We believe in the inherent dignity of every individual and stand firmly against the misuse of any identity as a scare tactic or tool for division. Discrimination, fear-mongering, or marginalization have no place here. Everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and respected.

OCEA is a registered not-for-profit and is holding its annual AGM on December 21, 2025, 2-3 pm