The time following the birth of a new baby is exciting, but also a period of adjustment for all families. Public Health’s support for families begins during pregnancy and then extends into the first few years of a child’s life, up to age five.
When you are first connected with Early Years, a Public Health Nurse (PHN) will talk to you during pregnancy or after birth to find out which service best suits the unique needs of your family. A Public Health Nurse will also meet with you in the hospital once you’ve had your baby to help with your next steps. If you adopted your child, you can connect directly with Public Health Early Years for support.
Early Years provides many services to help families with young children. Our three core services include Healthy Beginnings, Enhanced Home Visiting and Nurse-Family Partnership. You can explore these programs and other Early Years offerings on this page under Clinics, Programs and Services.
You can be referred to Early Years by a healthcare provider or community organization, or you can request these services for yourself by contacting your Early Years in your zone. Your local Public Health Office can also give you information about family supports and services in your community.
Central Zone Early Years
Halifax area, Eastern Shore and West Hants
902-481-4967/1-800-430-9557 (Toll Free)
earlyyearscz@nshealth.ca
Eastern Zone Early Years
Cape Breton, Guysborough and Antigonish
earlyyearsez@nshealth.ca
Northern Zone Early Years
Colchester-East Hants, Cumberland and Pictou
902-667-3319
nzeynurses@nshealth.ca
Western Zone Early Years
Annapolis Valley, South Shore and South West
1-833-601-0949 (Toll Free)
earlyyearswz@nshealth.ca
Public Health does not provide primary care services. To find primary care support near you, complete the steps at Accessing Primary Care.
Loving Care Books
Loving Care is a series of books for parents of children up to three years old. Loving Care gives tools to help young families protect, promote or improve their health and to prevent illness, injury or disability.
These books have been developed to help parents to better recognize and build on their own strengths as parents. They are available in downloadable PDF below:
The Loving Care books are available for free to parents from Public Health.
Feeding Your Baby
Feeding your baby is one of the most intimate and powerful parts of becoming a parent – and in Nova Scotia, you have a team by your side. Early Years Public Health Nurses (PHNs) offer free, personalized support from pregnancy through early childhood. Whether it’s in your home, in the community, or over the phone, PHNs are here to help you feel confident, informed, and supported every step of the way.
Public Health Nurses can help you create a feeding plan that aligns with your values and lifestyle. This includes looking at your different options for feeding, like breastfeeding/chestfeeding, infant formula feeding, or a mix of both. The plan will help you decide how you’d like to feed your baby, build confidence in your decision and knowledge-base, and prepare for feeding before your baby arrives. If your baby is already born and you aren’t sure of the options available, they can help you walk through this process post-birth as well.
Infant feeding supports can look different based on the unique needs of each family. Depending on your unique needs, in collaboration with your PHN, you can expect the following:
- One-on-one feeding assessments
- Help with latching and positioning
- Support to determine if your baby is getting enough milk
- Solutions for common feeding challenges
- Guidance on pumping, milk expression and safe storage of milk
- Tips for feeding while returning to work
- Education on newborn feeding behaviours
- Support for bonding and responsive, cue-based feeding
- Safe formula preparation techniques
- Compassionate, non-judgmental care
- Connection with community services and resources
From skin-to-skin care to responsive feeding and community connections, PHNs are your partners in nurturing your baby’s health and development. Contact your local Public Health Early Years team for more information, or free infant feeding support.
Information to help you decide how to feed your baby can be found in our Feeding Decision Resource. There you can access key information about different feeding options, see questions to ask yourself and your healthcare providers, and create an infant feeding plan.
Information on breastfeeding can be found in our Breastfeeding Basics booklet and on the La Leche League Canada website. There you can access helplines across the country, ask questions online, search for a leader in your province and share your feeding and parenting stories with others.
Information on infant formula can be found in our Infant Formula: What You Need to Know booklet, which has been developed for parents who have made an informed decision to feed their baby with infant formula. It tells you what you need to know to feed your baby safely.
Information on infant feeding in an emergency can be found on this dedicated webpage. People who care for infants should have a plan for how to feed your baby in the event of an emergency or power outage.
Do you have questions about how to feed your baby? Contact Public Health, your healthcare provider or family resource centre.
Additional Public Supports
211 Nova Scotia offers a free and confidential referral service, linking families with a variety of programs and services in your community that meet your needs. You can access the service by phone, online, or text.
811 Nova Scotia can offer information and advice from a Registered Nurse if you have a concern about your health, or want to know about services in your area. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Smartparent is a text message service that helps guide you through pregnancy and your child's first year of life. You will receive three evidence-based text messages per week pertaining to your baby's stage of development. You can sign up by texting 'Baby' to 12323. Learn more on the IWK SmartParent website.
Early Years Drop-in Sessions
Public Health’s Early Years program in Central Zone (Halifax Regional Municipality, Eastern Shore, West Hants) offers regular community drop-in sessions to support families with children from birth to five years old. These sessions are staffed by a Public Health Nurse who is part of the Healthy Beginnings program. Click here for a full list of drop-in sessions.
Drop-in sessions provide support and guidance on infant feeding, questions about sleep, immunizations, mental health, growth and development, nutrition, parenting and social supports.
Public Health Nurses are not able to diagnose or prescribe medication, and immunizations are not offered at drop-in sessions.
When schools are closed due to inclement weather, drop-ins are also cancelled. Please check with the location for closures or cancellations before venturing out.
