OTTAWA CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

Ottawa Newborn Care Class | Bringing Baby Home

A hands-on virtual Newborn Care class for expectant parents preparing for life with a new baby, available online across Canada. OCEA has been helping families navigate the transition to parenthood since 2004, with small groups, an experienced instructor, and practical guidance you’ll actually use from day one.

Meet Our Team →

CHOOSE YOUR FORMAT

Two Ways to Take Your Bringing Baby Home Class

Whether you prefer weekend mornings or a series of weekday evenings, we have a format that fits your schedule.

A couple is defined as a pregnant person and one support person (partner, friend, or family member)

CURRICULUM

What You'll Learn in the Bringing Baby Home Class

Our newborn class covers the full transition from birth to home; from the first diaper change to babyproofing your space. Rather than telling you what to do, we give you the information you need to make the right choices for your family.

Basic baby care: bathing, swaddling, and holding your newborn
All options for infant feeding (breastfeeding & chest feeding, infant formula, starting solids)
Biologically normal newborn sleep patterns
Benefits of babywearing and how to choose the right carrier
Car seat selection, installation, and safe newborn restraint
Cloth vs. disposable diapers, diaper services, and loaner programs
Choosing daycare and navigating wait lists
Building your postpartum support system
What baby gear you need (and what to skip)
Finding a family doctor and filling service gaps
Common causes of infant injury and how to prevent them
Babyproofing and home safety essentials

“The perfect amount of PRACTICAL information. Erin has a knack for listening and responding to every question with approachable confidence. Everyone felt comfortable right from the start.”

~ OCEA’s Bringing Baby Home Parents

IS THIS FOR YOU?

Our Bringing Baby Home Class Is a Good Fit If You:

WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT

Why Choose OCEA?

OCEA has helped Ottawa families feel prepared, informed, and confident for parenthood for over 50 years.

Our approach is simple: we give you practical, comprehensive information so you can make the decisions that are right for you.

Real, Practical Education

We go beyond the basics, covering car seat installation, daycare planning, home safety, and community resources, so you are ready for the full picture of early parenthood.

Small Online Class Across Canada

Bringing Baby Home classes are kept small so that everyone’s questions are heard and answered.

It is open online to anyone in Canada.

An Instructor with 25+ Years of Experience

Erin Shaheen brings expertise in postpartum doula support, mental health counselling, and parent coaching, delivered with warmth and a gentle sense of humour.

Ottawa-Specific Knowledge

Erin knows the local parenting community: midwifery practices, resources, and the services available to Ottawa families. A list of professional referrals is offered to all participants.

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Bringing Baby Home Class

WHAT IS A BRINGING BABY HOME CLASS AND WHAT DOES IT COVER?

The Bringing Baby Home class is a practical, hands-on parenting class designed to help expectant families feel ready for life with a newborn. Developed by OCEA in 2004, the class covers the full transition from hospital to home, including basic baby care, infant feeding, newborn sleep, car seat safety, babywearing, babyproofing, daycare planning, and building your postpartum support system. Think of it as the “now what?” class.

HOW IS THE BRINGING BABY HOME CLASS DIFFERENT FROM A PRENATAL CLASS?

Our Prenatal Class focuses on pregnancy, labour, and birth; what to expect, how to prepare, and how to navigate your options in the delivery room. The Bringing Baby Home class picks up where that one leaves off.

It’s all about what happens once you are home: how to care for your newborn, set up a safe environment, feed and settle your baby, and take care of yourself in those early weeks.

Some families take Bringing Baby Home once they’ve completed their Prenatal Class.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE BRINGING BABY HOME CLASS?

The early weeks with a newborn can feel overwhelming, and taking this class before your baby arrives can build your confidence and resources.

We cover topics like car seat installation, daycare wait lists, home safety, and community resources that most new parents don’t think about until they are in the thick of it.

You’ll leave with real, practical knowledge and a lot more confidence.

HOW FAR IN ADVANCE SHOULD I TAKE A NEWBORN CARE CLASS?

We recommend registering between 25 and 35 weeks of pregnancy. That gives you enough time to absorb the material before your baby arrives, while keeping everything feeling timely and relevant. Reach out, and we will find a format that fits your timeline.

HOW MUCH DOES THE BRINGING BABY HOME CLASS COST?

The Bringing Baby Home class is $230 CAD (+HST) per couple. A couple is defined as a pregnant person and one support person; a partner, friend, or family member.

WHAT IS THE ONLINE CLASS EXPERIENCE LIKE?

The Bringing Baby Home class is exclusively online via Zoom. Classes are kept small so that everyone has space to ask questions, share concerns, and engage. We share resources, websites, and videos throughout the session.

We ask that all participants keep their video on, as in an in-person class, to create a sense of community and safety.

If you’d prefer not to be on camera, a private one-on-one session with our instructor is a great alternative.

CAN I TAKE THE CLASS IF I'M NOT IN OTTAWA?

Yes. Because the Bringing Baby Home class is entirely online, it’s open to families anywhere across Canada. Whether you’re in Ottawa or across the country, you’ll get the same small-group experience, the same instructor, and the same practical guidance.

The class is also a great option if you face barriers to attending in person, including transportation limitations, bed rest, or an immunocompromised condition.

CAN GRANDPARENTS OR A SUPPORT PERSON TAKE THE CLASS?

Yes. A “couple” at OCEA simply means a pregnant person and one support person, who can be a partner, grandparent, friend, or any family member involved in caring for the baby.

If you are looking for something specifically designed for grandparents and extended family members, we also offer our Grandparents & Supporters Class.

WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT NEWBORN CARE BEFORE MY BABY ARRIVES?

The early weeks with a newborn involve a steep learning curve: understanding their sleep patterns, safely installing a car seat, recognizing feeding cues, and knowing when to call your care provider. The good news is that’s exactly what this class is designed to help with. We cover it all in plain language, with time for all your questions.

WHAT DO I NEED TO PREPARE BEFORE THE CLASS?

Not a lot, Erin will send you a large document with all the live links you need. During class, it can be helpful to have a few items nearby if you have them: a receiving blanket, a doll or teddy bear, a newborn diaper, a sleep sack, or a car seat. But don’t stress if you don’t have everything yet. Figuring out what to get (and what to skip) is part of what we cover.

WHAT PARENTS ARE SAYING

Words from our Bringing Baby Home Participants

★★★★★

Erin is so knowledgeable about such a wide variety of baby care topics and we were thoroughly impressed. There was always an abundance of
information given on a topic with time for questions. In addition, her demeanor was so welcoming and friendly which is so important for potentially nervous parents-to-be.

BRINGING BABY HOME PARTICIPANT

★★★★★

The hands-on modules were fantastic and the theory/studies presented were eye opening. Erin was so welcoming, down to earth, and incredibly knowledgeable with a fantastic sense of humour.

OTTAWA PARENTS

★★★★★

We learned so much over the newborn course in two days, and are very happy that we decided to attend. We feel much better prepared both for the months leading up to our baby’s birth (we now have a better sense of what baby gear is really necessary) and the first year of her life.

OTTAWA MOM

Book Your Bringing Baby Home Class Below