Ontario is one of the 13 Canadian provinces, located in the central part of Canada. With over 250.000 freshwater lakes, it boasts a beautiful landscape. From big farming fields to dense forests and snowy mountains. The southern part mostly experiences warm and humid summers, this is also the more populated area. However, very cold winters are common too, thanks to the cold northern air. This all becomes more complicated if you recently had a baby. Take the responsibility of caring for a newborn, and add the moving stress to it. You have quite a situation on your hands. So, if you are moving to Ontario with a newborn this year, you need to prepare. The smoother the move goes, the more time you have to adapt to your new surroundings. Consider hiring a professional service like movers Brantford Ontario for the best experience.
Things to do before moving to Ontario with a newborn
Before you move to a new city or province you need to do some research. This needs to cover everything from taking care of the child, to researching the area you are moving to. Usually, when it comes to moves, infants are the least affected, but you still need to prepare them. Childcare doesn’t end or pause when the move is happening. Not only that, but you need to prepare for adapting after the move. Once all these preparation are done, you will be ready to raise your family in Ontario.
Make sure the baby is taken care of
- The most important thing is to not break your usual routine – Packing and preparing should not get in the way if your everyday cycle. Instead of rushing your packing, take it slow over a longer period of time. Don’t pull all-nighters to pack so you have more time during the day for the child. Use the baby’s early bedtime or nap time to get a bit of packing done each day. Parents need their sleep as much as babies do.
- Talk to your pediatrician – If you’re moving long-distance, your pediatrician is a great source of information. Ask him for tips on how to keep your baby calm and happy during a long car ride or even on the plane. You will need to find a new pediatrician when you move, so make sure to get your child’s entire medical record. Also, you need a list of the baby’s medical prescriptions, for easier communication with the local pharmacy. Your pediatrician can also help you with recommendations on finding a new doctor in Ontario. After you find a new one, set an appointment as soon as you can to get familiar with him.
- Prepare a care package – Where ever you go, you need to have supplies for the baby on the ready. The baby bag should include everything you need for at least 3 days. In case of a long-distance move, pack a month worth of supplies with you, the rest can go on the truck. Once you move in, you might not have easy access to all your diapers, formulas, and toys. This is why you need to prepare ahead for the move day, and a few days after it.
Do early research on important things
- Look for employment early – People often move to Ontario because they have a job opportunity already just waiting for them to arrive. If you are not one of those people, you need to start looking for employment in advance. Check available positions and their requirements. Use this information to plan ahead in terms of any extra training you will need, or transferring previous work certificates. Before you are done moving to Ontario with a newborn, you need to prepare in order to properly raise your family.
- Check for all the local facilities that make up everyday life. See how far away from your new location are the nearest hospitals, medical centers, and pharmacies. This should be the first thing to check off since you will be in a new surrounding with an infant. Next comes looking up the distance from your new or potentially new workplace. Lastly, check the locations of everyday necessities such as grocery stores, markets, bakeries, parks, and transport routes. If you’re by any chance hiring one of the many moving companies Oakville Ontario has to offer, their representatives will gladly help you with this.
When you’re done moving to Ontario with a newborn, adapt to your new life
After the move is all done and you’re settled in, it’s time to start living the Ontario life. Start by becoming a full-on citizen. All these are mostly administrative tasks and paperwork, but they are vital for a normal life
- Apply for health insurance – One of the first things you need to do after moving is applying for the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). This card covers everything health related. Doctor appointments, hospital visits, emergency rooms, medical tests and surgeries, and counseling with health-care providers are all covered by OHIP. You just moved to the province with an infant so this is extra important. Another reason why you should get OHIP is that your previous health plan may not be valid in the province of Ontario.
- Get a new drivers license – Do this by contacting the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) and book an appointment with them. Pay the fee, then go to the DriveTest Center where you will take a written knowledge test, as well as a road test. The issue is similar to the previous one. If you have an existing driver’s license from your old place of living, it may differ from Ontario’s traffic rules and regulations. Specifically, you are only allowed to drive with out-of-province plates for 60 days in the state of Ontario.
- Change the address of residence in your documents – You are now living in a new place, and that is great. But your documents and paperwork are all linked to the old address. Notify the needed private and public organizations individually of your relocation, so they can issue out new documents or change the address in their database.