Book Comparison
Already Have “What to Expect”? Here’s What It Won’t Tell You About Having a Baby in Toronto.
Hospitals. Midwives. OHIP. EI. Daycare waitlists. Local classes. Baby-friendly Toronto resources. All in one place — the local companion every Toronto parent needs alongside the classic.
150 pages. $37. Instant download.
This Guide Is for You If…
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You are pregnant in Toronto or the GTA
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You are comparing hospitals, OBs, or midwives and don’t know where to start
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You are confused about EI, OHIP, daycare waitlists, or newborn paperwork
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You want one local resource instead of 50 Google searches
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First: Let’s Give Credit Where It’s Due
What to Expect When You’re Expecting has been helping parents for over 40 years. It’s sold tens of millions of copies for good reason. If you’re pregnant and haven’t read it — it’s worth reading.
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Deep Medical Coverage
Detailed explanations of pregnancy symptoms, fetal development week by week, potential complications, and what’s medically normal. Written with clinical depth no local guide can match.
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Week-by-Week Structure
Easy to follow at each stage. Many parents find it comforting to open it each week and see exactly what’s happening with their baby’s development.
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Trusted, Evidence-Based
Written with medical oversight. It’s the book OBs and midwives have recommended to patients for decades — and that reputation is well-earned.
So if it’s that good — what’s missing?
What What to Expect Can’t Tell You About Having a Baby in Toronto
What to Expect is written for a North American audience of millions. That’s its strength — and its unavoidable limitation. It cannot tell you anything about the city you’re actually having your baby in.
Here are the questions Toronto parents asked after reading What to Expect — that it couldn’t answer:
“Which Toronto hospital should I choose — Sunnybrook, Mount Sinai, or St. Michael’s? What’s actually the difference?”
“How do I get on a daycare waitlist in Toronto? When should I start? How many should I apply to?”
“What exactly does OHIP cover during pregnancy? What will I have to pay out of pocket?”
“Should I choose an OB or a midwife? Which Toronto midwifery clinics are actually accepting new patients?”
“How do I apply for EI maternity and parental leave? What’s the difference between standard and extended?”
“Where can I find OHIP-covered lactation support in Toronto after the baby arrives?”
“What free activities can I do with my baby in Toronto? Where are the EarlyON centres near me?”
“How do I navigate the TTC with a stroller? Which stations have elevators?”
I’m Nicole Kingston, and when I was placed on medical leave during my pregnancy I set out to find the answers to these questions. I searched endlessly for Toronto-specific guidance on hospitals, midwives, daycare, OHIP, and EI. It was scattered, outdated, and exhausting. So I compiled everything into one place — a guide built entirely for parents having a baby in Toronto and the GTA.
It’s not a replacement for What to Expect. It’s the companion guide for everything that book can’t cover about actually navigating this city.
Side-by-Side Comparison
A factual look at what each resource covers:
| Topic | What to Expect When You’re Expecting |
Ultimate Guide to Having a Baby in Toronto |
|---|---|---|
| Pregnancy & Medical | ||
| Week-by-week fetal development | ✅ | — |
| Pregnancy symptoms & what’s normal | ✅ | — |
| Genetic testing overview | ✅ | ✅ Ontario-specific (OHIP criteria, costs) |
| What OHIP covers (and doesn’t) | ❌ | ✅ |
| OB vs. midwife comparison | General only | ✅ Toronto clinics listed by area |
| Choosing Where to Give Birth | ||
| GTA hospital comparison | ❌ | ✅ 15+ facilities compared |
| Toronto midwifery clinic directory | ❌ | ✅ |
| Prenatal classes in Toronto (free & paid) | ❌ | ✅ Full directory |
| Financial & Leave Planning | ||
| EI maternity & parental benefits | ❌ | ✅ |
| CWELCC daycare subsidy (Ontario) | ❌ | ✅ |
| RESP setup guide | ❌ | ✅ |
| Daycare & Childcare | ||
| Daycare waitlist strategy | ❌ | ✅ Apply to 10+ before birth |
| How to evaluate Toronto daycares | ❌ | ✅ |
| After Baby Arrives | ||
| OHIP-covered lactation support | ❌ | ✅ Toronto clinics listed |
| Ontario vaccination schedule | US schedule only | ✅ Ontario schedule |
| 5-in-1 newborn registration (Ontario) | ❌ | ✅ |
| Sleep training (Toronto consultant costs) | General only | ✅ Local directory + costs |
| Living in Toronto with a Baby | ||
| TTC & GO Transit with a stroller | ❌ | ✅ |
| EarlyON centres & free activities | ❌ | ✅ |
| Toronto parent communities (by neighbourhood) | ❌ | ✅ |
| Top 10 baby stores in Toronto | ❌ | ✅ |
| Format & Access | ||
| Format | Physical book | Searchable PDF — phone, tablet, laptop |
| Current edition | Published 2016 (Updated 2025) | ✅ Updated 2026 |
| Price | ~$25 | $37 |
150 pages. $37. Instant download.
Do I Need Both?
Honestly? Most Toronto parents end up with both — because they answer fundamentally different questions.
Read What to Expect when you want to know…
- What’s happening with your baby’s development this week
- Whether a specific symptom is normal
- The medical details of labour, delivery, and recovery
- General newborn care (feeding, sleep, development milestones)
- What to eat, what to avoid, and why
Read the Toronto Baby Guide when you want to know…
- Which Toronto hospital or birth centre is right for you
- How to apply for EI maternity leave
- When and how to get on daycare waitlists in the GTA
- What OHIP covers — and what it doesn’t
- Where to find free lactation support in Toronto
- What to do with your baby on a Tuesday in this city
- How to register your newborn and set up their RESP
- How to navigate the TTC and the city with a stroller
150 pages. $37. Instant download.
Think of it this way: What to Expect tells you what’s happening inside your body. The Toronto Baby Guide tells you how to navigate the city it’s happening in.
What’s Inside the Toronto Baby Guide
150+ pages covering everything Toronto-specific — from your first prenatal appointment to baby’s first birthday.
Complete GTA Hospital & Birth Centre Comparison
15+ facilities: Sunnybrook, Mount Sinai, St. Michael’s, Michael Garron, Scarborough Health Network, Toronto Birth Centre, and more.
Toronto Midwifery Clinic Directory
Clinics listed by area (Central, East, West, North Toronto) with hospital privileges. Fully OHIP-covered.
EI Maternity Leave Navigator
Standard vs. extended parental benefits explained, how to apply, and what to check in your HR policy.
Daycare Waitlist Survival Guide
When to apply (before birth), how many waitlists to join (10+), CWELCC fee reductions, and how to evaluate Toronto daycares.
Prenatal Classes (Free & Paid in Toronto)
Toronto Public Health free programs, hospital-based classes, and paid options including Kaer, Oona, Baby Academy, and Liberty Movement.
OHIP-Covered Lactation Support
Hospital-based clinics (Mount Sinai, Sunnybrook, Michael Garron, Toronto Western), Newman Breastfeeding Clinic, and Toronto Public Health support.
Sleep Training Resources
Methods explained (Ferber, chair, no-tears), Toronto sleep consultant directory with typical costs ($250–$800), sleep solutions for Toronto condos.
Newborn Paperwork Playbook
Ontario’s 5-in-1 bundle (birth certificate, SIN, Canada Child Benefit, RESP), baby passport, NEXUS for infants, and extended health enrollment.
Toronto Baby Activity Guide
EarlyON centres, library storytimes, drop-in play centres (Jump for Joy, Sprouts, Kidnasium), stroller-friendly routes (High Park, The Beaches, Distillery), and parent meet-up groups by neighbourhood.
Printable Checklists & Templates
Baby registry checklist, hospital bag checklist, first prenatal appointment checklist, and birth plan template.
What Toronto Parents Are Saying
Trusted by 1,000+ Toronto families | 100+ guides sold | 20k Instagram followers
“I had no idea how much I didn’t know until I opened it. From OHIP to EI to daycare timelines to what to expect in each trimester, it covered things I didn’t even know were topics. It instantly made me feel so much more prepared and a lot less anxious about the months ahead.”
— Robyn Murphy
“The most informative and comprehensive information outlining everything you need to know about getting pregnant and giving birth, post birth, in the GTA and beyond. A must have for any newcomer or any new parent. Highly recommended.”
— Reen
“What I love most is how it covers all the little ‘unknowns’ that no one really talks about. Even in my second pregnancy, I’ve found myself constantly referring back to it. Round two comes with its own surprises, and this guide makes navigating everything feel so much easier.”
— Sonya
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Toronto Baby Guide instead of What to Expect?
No — they serve genuinely different purposes. What to Expect is the gold standard for medical and developmental information about pregnancy. The Toronto Baby Guide covers everything Toronto-specific that no general book can: local hospitals, OHIP, EI, daycare waitlists, Toronto baby activities, and navigating this city with a newborn. Most Toronto parents find both useful.
Does the Toronto Baby Guide cover pregnancy, or just after the baby arrives?
Both. The guide covers everything from the moment you find out you’re expecting (prenatal care, midwife vs. OB, genetic testing, OHIP coverage) through your baby’s first year (sleep training, activities, newborn paperwork, returning to work). It follows the same pregnancy-to-first-birthday arc as What to Expect — just with a Toronto lens.
I live outside downtown Toronto — is this still relevant to me?
Yes. The guide covers the entire GTA: Scarborough, Etobicoke, North York, Mississauga, Markham, Richmond Hill, and surrounding areas. The hospital comparison includes facilities across the GTA, and the midwifery directory is organized by area.
What format is it? Can I read it on my phone?
It’s a searchable PDF — works on phone, tablet, or laptop with no app required. Save it to your home screen for one-tap access, or download it for offline use. Many parents keep it on their phone and reference it throughout pregnancy and baby’s first year.
Is this updated for 2025?
Yes. Hospital information, OHIP coverage details, government programs (EI, CWELCC), clinic locations, and costs are all current for 2025. What to Expect was last updated in 2016.
You’ve Got the Pregnancy Book.
Now Get the Toronto Guide.
What to Expect tells you what’s happening inside your body.
The Toronto Baby Guide tells you how to navigate the city it’s happening in.
150 pages. $37. Instant download. Trusted by 1,000+ Toronto families.