Early parenting

Becoming a parent opens up a whole new world, and if you're living far from family and friends, you might have questions about how things work here in Belgium.

In this section you can read about:

• where you can turn for support during the postnatal period
  
  
• registering your baby's birth in the commune where they were born, as well as information about nationality and citizenship applications
  
  
• types of leave you (and your partner) may be entitled to take around the birth, including materity leave, co-parent leave, adoption leave, as well as leave you might choose to take later, such as parental leave and career break
  
  
• allowances and other benefits you may be entitled to, such as the birth allowance, adoption allowance, family allowance, and bonuses from your mutuelle
  
  
• what you need to know about organising daycare for your baby, finding a babysitter, and – before your child is 2.5 – sending your toddler to pre-schoolschool
  
  
• parenting support, including family-friendly spaces, parental coaching, career and relocation advice, invaluable local Facebook groups, and other support networks
  
  
• activities, including parent-child activities and looking after your body after birth