A Checklist For Newcomers Who Are Starting A Family in Canada

 This guide will walk you through what to expect before, during, and after your child arrives—whether you’re growing your family through pregnancy, surrogacy, or adoption. It ends with a checklist that should help you keep everything in order before your child’s birth and afterwards.  

Key Takeaways 

• Canada offers a wide range of healthcare and financial support for parents and children.  

• Each province and territory has its own specific resources, so it’s a good idea to learn about local benefits and healthcare. 

• Managing costs during the first few years with children is important – but hard.  

What To Do Before Your Child Arrives 

There is plenty to do in the weeks and months before your baby arrives and plenty of feelings that come with it. Sure, it’s an exciting time, but it’s also stressful and nerve-wracking. It can also come with a strange sense of loneliness for newcomers, as it becomes very apparent that we’re not in the same country as those friends and family who have offered support over the decades.  

We’ve put together a list of some of the absolute essentials that are worth looking into before your child arrives:  

Healthcare and Prenatal Support in Canada 

If you’re expecting a child through pregnancy, you’ll want to learn about prenatal care and healthy habits. Resources like Your Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy and local prenatal education classes can help you understand what to expect. 

If you’re pursuing surrogacy or adoption, you might spend this time learning about infant care, bonding, and early-childhood development is useful.  

Regardless of the route you take, finding a trusted healthcare provider—like a family doctor, obstetrician, or midwife—will help you navigate the process of preparing for parenthood. 

Financial Support and Leave Options Available Before Your Child Is Born 

Maternity benefits cover you for up to fifteen weeks if you’re pregnant and need time off work in the twelve weeks before birth or up to seventeen weeks after the birth to care for your health. If  you experience complications, sickness benefits can help with income support if you’re unable to work during a difficult pregnancy.  

If your child is arriving through surrogacy or adoption, you may be eligible for parental benefits after your child is born. If you’re looking for financial support and leave to prepare for your child, you will need to check to see if you can qualify for other benefits or leaves that support your situation. Use the Canada government benefits finder tool to learn more or check out our dedicated resource discussing maternity and parental leave in Canada. 

Consider Buying Essentials For Your Child  

Here’s what you’ll likely need to buy before your child comes home:  

• Crib or Bassinet: Safe sleep space with a firm mattress and fitted sheet.

• Car Seat: Properly sized (infant or convertible) and installed. 

• Diapers & Wipes: Newborn size diapers and gentle wipes. 

• Basic Clothing: Onesies (5-7), sleepers (3-5), socks, and hats. 

• Feeding Supplies. 

• Blankets: Swaddles or lightweight receiving blankets (2-3). 

 The good news is that many of these supplies can be bought secondhand, and there is a great secondhand market for baby supplies in most Canadian cities and towns. We recommend checking out Karrot marketplace. Karrot verifies the locations of its users and has a robust reviews system to promote safety. Plus, you’re buying from verified community members so it can help you connect with other locals with children.  

Review Your Fixed Expenses 

It’s likely that, at least for a period, when you bring your child home, you will have a reduced income. Canada’s maternity and parental benefits don’t replace your full wage – they cover up to 66% of it.  

So, reducing your fixed expenses can be a helpful way to manage finances during this period. We’ve listed some expenses you might want to look at, plus a few links to our partners who we believe offer good value for money:  

• Phone plan expenses – especially if you’ve been on the same one for a while. Telecoms costs are going down year-over-year. So, it’s likely there’s a better deal out there for you.  

• Home internet expenses (get one-month free home internet with oxio) 

• Subscriptions (could you live with just one or two tv subscriptions?) 

• Home and car insurance (get a free quote from Scotia Insurance). 

Start To Review Childcare Options 

We know, it’s wild to be thinking about childcare before your child is born. But there are long wait lists for childcare in many cities in Canada. So, preparing as early as possible can be really helpful. 

At this point, we suggest creating a shortlist of providers and working out what costs will look like – especially if you will have to wait for a $10-a-day childcare space. From there, work out what the application process looks like for each provider so you know in advance what you need to do.  

Once Your Child Is Home 

Financial Support and Leave Options Once Your Child Is Born 

After your child arrives, you may qualify for parental benefits. These benefits allow you to spend more time with your new child and adjust to your new routine without the burden of losing all your income. If your child becomes ill, caregiving benefits may also be available. 

Canada’s government website currently advises parents to apply for EI maternity or parental benefits as soon as possible after you stop working. It cautions that waiting too long (beyond 4 weeks after you stop working) may mean you lose access to the benefits. So timing is really important. We recommend reviewing the current guidelines for yourself, since these may change over time.  

There are a lot of documents required to apply for maternity or parental leave, so it’s a good idea to prepare early too. Here are some of the things you’ll likely need:  

• Employer details and records of employment 

• A social insurance number (SIN) 

• Banking details for payment deposits.  

You should also apply for the Canada Child Benefit as soon as possible after the birth of your child, or after they start to live with you. Generally, you’ll be given the option of applying for CCB when you register the birth of your child (more on that below). But you can register separately through your CRA My Account or by mail as well.  

Registering the Birth or Adoption 

You’ll need to register your child’s birth to apply for documents like a birth certificate or Social Insurance Number (SIN). Registration is managed at the provincial or territorial level, so you’ll need to find the birth registrar for the province you give birth in to register.  

If you live in a province different from where the birth took place, you’ll register through that province’s vital statistics office. Adoptive parents should follow provincial guidelines for finalizing the adoption and obtaining the necessary documents, which may include a birth certificate and an adoption order. 

Helpfully, many provinces and territories register the birth by paper at the hospital or birthing centre. But in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta you can also register online.  

Health Insurance Cards and SIN 

It’s important to get a provincial health insurance card for your child so they can access healthcare services.  

Once you have your child’s birth certificate or adoption papers, you can apply for a health insurance card in your province or territory. You’ll also need a Social Insurance Number for your child to access certain government programs and benefits, which you can usually request when you register the birth. 

If you have private health insurance, you should also consider adding your child to your coverage – though this may increase the overall policy costs.  

What if you’re a temporary resident in Canada? 

If your child is born in Canada, your child will be a citizen of Canada and may have certain rights and access to healthcare, even if one or both parents don’t. We recommend speaking with your provincial or territorial health authority in advance of the birth to discuss coverage.  

In any event, you should make sure that you have adequate private health insurance if you’re pregnant and a temporary resident in Canada. 

Stock Up on More Baby Essentials 

At this stage, you may want to consider a few additional purchases to make life with a baby more convenient. Consider:  

• A stroller 

• Changing station 

• Basic first aid kid 

• Baby monitor 

• Additional burp cloths/bibs 

• A range of clothing sizes, to cater to a quickly growing baby. 

Register For Childcare 

While some childcare providers might allow you to sign up before your child is born, others might require you to wait until after the birth. So, you should register for childcare as soon as you can after getting home to make sure it’s available when you need it.  

After the First Few Weeks 

Caring for Your Child 

After the initial survival mode of the first few weeks, you can start to establish routines and focus on bonding and development. Self-care is also critical during this period. 

For those who gave birth, postpartum care will be critical in the weeks and months afterwards. For all parents, resources on infant care, bonding, and early development can guide you through the first few months of parenthood. 

It’s also a really good time to get a little more social, often with parents who have children of a similar age or stage to your child(ren). You can join parenting groups, which often run at your local recreation centre, and online forums. It’s also helpful to lean on family and friends during this time, even if this just looks like a phone call home while you go for a walk with the child sleeping in the stroller.  

Consider Opening a Registered Education Savings Plan 

Setting up a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) will help you save for your child’s future education. The funds in a RESP can be used for a wide range of educational expenses, including tuition, books, tools, transportation, and rent, covering programs such as universities, colleges, trade schools, and apprenticeship programs. 

One of the primary benefits of an RESP is tax-deferred growth on investments. Any earnings within the plan are not taxed until they are withdrawn and when funds are withdrawn for educational purposes, they are taxed in the hands of the student. Typically, the student has a lower income and a lower tax rate, resulting in little to no tax liability. 

Another is that the Canadian government matches 20% of annual contributions up to $2,500 annually, providing a maximum grant of $500 per year per child. There’s a lifetime maximum grant of $7,200 per child. 

Managing Money As Your Child Grows 

It can be costly to raise children in Canada, but the growing movement towards shopping secondhand and creating community resources can help. There’s a growing trend towards “Little Libraries” in local neighbourhoods, plus a host of toy libraries in cities around Canada.  

For sports, second hand stores can help to reduce cost barriers to entry for sports, and if your child wants to get into snow sports, many cities have providers that offer seasonal rentals so you don’t need to buy new gear each year.  

We find that it is helpful to examine expenses for your child that may seem necessary and to just ask ‘is there an alternative here?’. This can help you to manage your budget and focus spending to areas where it matters most.  

Checklist for New Parents

Research Healthcare Providers 

• Find a family doctor, obstetrician, or midwife (if you’re pregnant). 

• Investigate pediatricians or child healthcare providers (for all parents). 

Plan Your Finances and Leave 

• Look into maternity benefits, sickness benefits, or special benefits for surrogates or adoptive parents. 

• Confirm you qualify for parental benefits and caregiving benefits (if needed). 

Prepare for Your Child’s Arrival 

• Take prenatal or infant-care education classes (helpful for all parents). 

• Build healthy habits to support self-care  

• Buy necessary supplies (diapers, clothes, sleeping arrangements). 

Register the Birth or Legal Adoption 

• Register the birth (or finalize the adoption) through your province’s vital statistics office. 

• Apply for a birth certificate, or if you’re adopting, ensure you have the appropriate legal documents. 

Obtain Essential Documents 

• Apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN) for your child. 

• Get a health insurance card for your child. 

Secure Your Financial Benefits 

• Apply for parental and caregiving benefits. 

• Explore the Canada Child Benefit and GST/HST credit eligibility. 

Plan for Healthcare and Dental 

• Enroll your child in your provincial health plan. 

• Check if you qualify for additional support such as the Canadian Dental Care Plan. 

Set Up Future Education Savings 

• Open a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP). 

• Look into the Canada Learning Bond (CLB) and Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG). 

Research Childcare Options 

• Compare different childcare providers and programs in your community. 

• Plan how childcare will fit with your work or school schedule. 

Starting a family in Canada can be both exciting and challenging. By following the steps above and exploring the many services available, you’ll be well on your way to a smooth transition into parenthood—no matter how you choose to grow your family. Take advantage of the support systems in place, and don’t hesitate to reach out to healthcare providers, community groups, or government agencies for guidance. Congratulations on this new chapter!