Template.comment_list.helpers({ has_comments: function(){ // note: use this.post to access 'post' object in parent template if(this.post){ return Comments.find({post: this.post._id, parent: null}).count() > 0; } }, child_comments: function(){ return Comments.find({post: this.post._id, parent: null}, {sort: {score: -1, submitted: -1}}); } })