The Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) has released the 2026 edition of its comprehensive guide, Mieux vivre avec notre enfant de la grossesse à deux ans (Living Well with Your Child from Pregnancy to Two Years), offering updated guidance for expectant and new parents across the province.
Available in both print and digital formats, the guide has been a free resource for Quebec families for over 45 years, serving as a key reference for parents and healthcare professionals specializing in perinatal care. INSPQ President and CEO Pierre-Gerlier Forest stated the institute is “proud to publish this guide which contributes to collective well-being for more than 45 years,” and expressed confidence it will provide “answers and useful ideas” to those navigating parenthood.
The 2026 edition features a complete revision of the “Bébé” (Baby) section, focusing on normalizing the challenges parents face in their relationship with their child. The chapter on child development has been entirely rewritten, emphasizing the importance of a secure and trusting parent-child bond, play, and independent exploration. A new section, “Le soutien au développement de l’enfant” (Supporting Child Development), provides practical activities – such as reading and play – to foster development in motor, cognitive, socio-emotional, and language domains.
Significant updates have likewise been made to the “Famille” (Family) section, which now prioritizes the experiences of parents transitioning to parenthood. The guide offers suggestions for preparing for and coping with this transition, and expands recognition and explanation of the diverse experiences of parenthood. New sections address specific contexts, including parenting in immigrant communities, parenting with disabilities, and parenting adopted children.
Responding to user feedback, the guide’s website has undergone a major redesign. Consultations with the public revealed a distinction in how parents use the print versus digital versions. While the print guide is typically read chronologically for general information, the online version is used to find answers to specific questions. The digital guide has been reorganized around common online search queries, simplifying navigation and improving the user experience.
The INSPQ notes the guide is updated annually, incorporating the latest scientific data and the expertise of Quebec’s healthcare professionals. The 2025 edition, released in January, included a focus on environmental considerations, with sections dedicated to environmentally friendly practices and transportation choices. The guide’s pages are printed on recycled paper from sustainably managed forests.
The 2026 edition of Mieux vivre avec notre enfant de la grossesse à deux ans is available at www.inspq.qc.ca/mieux-vivre.
