There are many programs, supports, and resources available to you and your family. Explore the options on this page to find programs and services that meet your needs and support your family’s well-being.
Public health nurses facilitate these free drop-in programs, in partnership with local EarlyON centres. All parents and caregivers of infants and toddlers are welcome to attend. It is an opportunity to meet other families in a welcoming, play-based space for you and your child. EarlyON staff and public health nurses are available to answer your questions and can provide free resources, on topics like:
- Breastfeeding and infant feeding
- Infant growth and development
- Healthy eating, including the introduction to solids
- Parenting strategies
- Child safety and sleep questions
- Care of mother and mental health screening
- Community resources and referrals
Haldimand-Norfolk EarlyON Centres
| Date | Location |
| Tuesday 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. | EarlyON Centre 282 Argyle St South, Unit 4 Caledonia, ON |
| Wednesdays 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. | EarlyON Centre 12 Colborne St. North Simcoe, ON |
| 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. | EarlyON Centre Mapleview Public School 223 Fairview Ave. W. Dunnville, ON |
| 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. | EarlyON Centre Hagersville Secondary School 70 Parkview Rd. Hagersville, ON |
For more information, including changes and closures, please call the EarlyON Centre at 1-866-463-2759.
For many parents, having a baby can be exciting yet challenging. Parents may have questions or need help adjusting to their life with a new baby. The Healthy Babies Healthy Children (HBHC) program can provide reassurance and guidance.
HBHC is a free, voluntary home visiting program for families, from pregnancy until the child goes to school. The program supports pregnant moms, their partners, and their families. The goal of this program is to give your children the best start in life.
The public health nurse may introduce a family home visitor as part of the program. They are experienced parents who have special training to help families. Public health nurses can provide telephone support or home visits to help you learn about the following:
- Having a healthy pregnancy and birth
- Connecting with your baby
- How children grow and develop as well as what you can do to help
- Being a parent
- Breastfeeding, infant feeding, and healthy eating
- Taking care of yourself and your family
- Other services available to you and your child in the community
Eligibility:
- Live in the City of Brantford, Brant County, Haldimand County, or Norfolk County
- Be pregnant, have recently given birth, or be caring for a preschool-aged child
- Be the legal guardian of the child(ren)
- Be actively parenting the child(ren) in your home
- Be available for home visits during office operating hours (some exceptions can be made)
Learn more: Early Child Development – Healthy Babies Healthy Children (PDF)
How to register
If you would like to participate in the program, please fill out the online referral form.
We welcome all questions and referrals. Please call us if you or someone you know could benefit from the Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program.
Phone numbers:
- Brantford/Brant: 519-753-4937 ext. 6464
- Haldimand/Norfolk: 519-900-9600 or 905-798-9060 Ext. 3250
Are you pregnant or have a baby and have questions? Fill out the following form and a public health nurse from our Healthy Growth & Development team will contact you.
Please note that it may take up to 5 business days for a member of our team to contact you. Our business hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you want to speak with a member of our team sooner, please call:
- Brantford/Brant 519-753-4937 ext. 6464
- Haldimand/Norfolk 519-900-9600 or 905-798-9060 Ext. 3250
Breastfeeding and infant feeding support in the community:
| GEPH (Brantford-Brant site) Breastfeeding Support/Visit | |
| Description: | Telephone support or in-home visit from a public health nurse. |
| Location: | Brantford/Brant County |
| Contact: | 519-753-4937 ext. 6464 |
| Cost: | Free |
| Availability: | By appointment, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
| GEPH (Haldimand-Norfolk site) Breastfeeding Support/Visit | |
| Description: | Telephone support or in-home visit from a public health nurse. |
| Location: | Haldimand/Norfolk |
| Contact: | 519-900-9600 or 905-798-9060 Ext. 3250 |
| Cost: | Free |
| Availability: | By appointment, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
| Aboriginal Health Centre | |
| Description: | Breastfeeding support |
| Location: | 36 King St., Brantford |
| Contact: | 519-752-4340 |
| Cost: | FREE |
| Availability: | By appointment. Call for details. |
| Brantford Pediatrics Breastfeeding Clinic | |
| Description: | Staffed by lactation consultants and pediatricians. Self-referral. |
| Location: | 379 St. Paul Ave., Brantford |
| Contact: | Call: 519-512-0030 Text: 226-450-0300 |
| Cost: | FREE |
| Availability: | By appointment. Call for details. |
| Dunnville Drop-in Clinic | |
| Description: | In-person, weekly drop-in clinic that offers support with breastfeeding and tongue tie release from a trained provider. Referral required. |
| Location: | Dunnville |
| Contact: | Call: 905-701-7428 |
| Cost: | FREE |
| Availability: | Referral required. |
| Grand River Community Health Centre | |
| Description: | Support and advice from a nurse practitioner. |
| Location: | 363 Colborne St., Brantford |
| Contact: | 519-754-0777 |
| Cost: | FREE |
| Availability: | By appointment. Call for details. |
| Haldimand Pregnancy Care and Family Centre | |
| Description: | Support and education from a Certified Lactation Consultant. |
| Location: | 70 Argyle St N, Caledonia, ON 121 Alder St W, Dunnville, ON |
| Contact: | 905-765-0228 (Caledonia) 905-774-1228 (Dunnville) |
| Cost: | FREE |
| Availability: | Call for details. |
| Healthy Moms Eating Well for 2 | |
| Description: | Registered participants in the “Healthy Moms Eating Well for 2” program receive a variety of services, including breastfeeding education and support. |
| Location: | Haldimand-Norfolk |
| Contact: | 519-587-2441 or 1-800-265-8087 Ext. 407 |
| Cost: | FREE |
| Availability: | Visit the website or call for details. |
| La Leche League Canada: Brantford | |
| Description: | Mother-to-mother support or telephone help from an accredited leader. |
| Location: | Brantford |
| Contact: | Website |
| Cost: | FREE |
| Availability: | Monthly group meetings. See website for details. |
| La Leche League Canada: Cayuga | |
| Description: | Mother-to-mother support or telephone help from an accredited leader. |
| Location: | Cayuga |
| Contact: | Website |
| Cost: | FREE |
| Availability: | Monthly group meetings. See website for details. |
| Maternal Newborn Clinic at Norfolk General Hospital | |
| Description: | The Maternal Newborn Clinic at Norfolk General Hospital offers a variety of services for up to six weeks postpartum, including breastfeeding support. |
| Location: | 365 West St. Simcoe, ON |
| Contact: | 519-587-2441 or 1-800-265-8087 Ext. 407 |
| Cost: | FREE |
| Availability: | Call for details. |
| Midwives of East Erie | |
| Description: | Registered Midwives offer breastfeeding support as part of midwifery care. |
| Location: | Haldimand-Norfolk |
| Contact: | (905) 701-7428 |
| Cost: | FREE |
| Availability: | Call for details. |
| Norfolk Breastfeeding Clinic | |
| Description: | The Norfolk Breastfeeding Clinic offers virtual breastfeeding support with an International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC). |
| Location: | Norfolk |
| Contact: | 519-587-2441 or 1-800-265-8087 Ext. 407 |
| Cost: | Fee for service |
| Availability: | Call for details. |
| Norfolk Roots Midwives | |
| Description: | Registered Midwives offer breastfeeding support as part of midwifery care. |
| Location: | 100 Colborne St N, Suite F, Simcoe, ON |
| Contact: | 519-428-1414 |
| Cost: | FREE |
| Availability: | Call for details. |
| Six Nations Breastfeeding Support Group | |
| Description: | Group gathering for mothers and babies. For mothers living on Reserve only. |
| Location: | Stone Ridge Children's Centre, 18 Stoneridge Circle, Ohsweken |
| Contact: | 519-445-4922 |
| Cost: | FREE |
| Availability: | Monthly group meetings. Call for details. |
Other supports: Your family physician, midwife or doula is also able to provide support.
Brantford-Brant supports
- EarlyON Programs
- Hope Pregnancy and Family Support
- Westside Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Margots Place: Supportive Programs For Young Moms
- The Parachute Program – Kids Can Fly
- Grand River Community Health Centre
- Six Nations Family Gatherings
Haldimand-Norfolk supports
- EarlyON Child and Family Centres
- Haldimand Pregnancy & Family Resource Centre
- Haldimand Family Health Team Pregnancy & Postpartum Services
- Maternal Newborn Clinic – Norfolk General Hospital Maternal Newborn Clinic
- Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation EarlyON (MCFN)
- Norfolk Pregnancy and Family Resource Centre
- Norfolk Prenatal & Newborn Health Program: 519-582-2323 ext. 282
| Breastfeeding & Newborn Assessment (BANA) Clinic (St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton) | |
| Description: | Outpatient breastfeeding support and inpatient assistance dependent on the demands within the clinic. For all babies born at St. Joe’s or discharged from the Special Care Nursery up to 3 weeks of age, no referral is needed. |
| Location: | 50 Charlton Ave E Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6 |
| Contact: | 519-620-3600 |
| Cost: | FREE |
| Availability: | By appointment. Call for details. |
| Health 811 | |
| Description: | Get breastfeeding advice and referrals 24 hours a day, seven days a week by visiting Health811 online or calling 811. |
| Contact: | 811 |
| Cost: | FREE |
| Availability: | 24hrs / 7 days a week |
| GEPH (Brantford-Brant site) Breastfeeding Support/Visit | |
| Description: | Telephone support or in-home visit from a public health nurse. |
| Location: | Brantford/Brant County |
| Contact: | 519-753-4937 ext. 6464 |
| Cost: | Free |
| Availability: | By appointment, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
| GEPH (Haldimand-Norfolk site) Breastfeeding Support/Visit | |
| Description: | Telephone support or in-home visit from a public health nurse. |
| Location: | Haldimand/Norfolk |
| Contact: | 519-900-9600 or 905-798-9060 Ext. 3250 |
| Cost: | Free |
| Availability: | By appointment, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |