child care

Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren in China
News

Important For Parents (Not Grandparents) to Raise Their Children?

Should children's primary caretakers be their parents?
by

Should children's primary caretakers be their parents? An LA Times report talked about the millions of kids in rural China who are being raised by their relatives since the youngsters' parents moved to secure jobs. It said:

House after house, the same family tale repeats itself: The parents migrated to the big cities for work; their young children stay with grandparents, great-grandparents or any other relatives who can shelter and feed them. At the age of 10 or so, when the youngsters are considered old enough, many move into packed boardinghouses attached to their public schools.

While the circumstances may not be as extreme in America, for economic reasons, parents rely on their kids' grandparents for childcare. In a way, the elders are raising the next generation. What is your opinion on this?

Babysitting at Grocery Store
parenting

Load Up the Cart: Phoenix Grocer Provides Babysitting

A trip to the grocery store with a tot in tow is never as quick a trip as it would be on your own.
by babysugar

A trip to the grocery store with a tot in tow is never as quick a trip as it would be on your own. From the constant whining asking for a sugary cookie to the battle over sitting in the cart, a grocery excursion is often more hassle than it is worth.

I was recently lamenting about a disastrous shopping experience with a friend based in the Phoenix area when she told me about the novel idea they have there. Their local grocery store offers a babysitting service complete with toys, videos and indoor gym spaces to occupy the kids while mama fills her cart. Staffed with trained (and CPR-certified) babysitters, the play area allows my friend to get her shopping done and keeps the kids happy at the same time.

Would you seek out a grocery store that had child care services?

Child Care Questions
nannies

Mommy Dearest: Nanny Neglecting Household Responsibilities

Mommy Dearest, I am a full-time working mother who has had a nanny for the past two years.
by


Mommy Dearest,

I am a full-time working mother who has had a nanny for the past two years. She's great with the kids – singing and reading with them, making playdates with other nannies, etc. Over the past month though, She has started neglecting some of her non-childcare duties like cleaning bottles, doing the kids' laundry and picking up after them at the end of each day. I want her primary focus to be on the children, but coming home to a clean home is important to me too. After a full day in the office, the last thing I want to do is tidy up. What would you do in this situation?

– Neatnik Mommy

To see the response from Mommy Dearest, read more

Tending to Baby: Cost of Childcare
MSN

Tending to Baby: Cost of Childcare

The cost of childcare can be astounding for new parents especially if they live in a metropolitan area.
by

The cost of childcare can be astounding for new parents especially if they live in a metropolitan area. While hanging out at a San Francisco park with my kids, a nanny said she gets paid $24 an hour for her single charge. And, this is in a working class neighborhood.

Then, a friend employed by a corporation known for having progressive family policies told me it would cost her $1700 (the reduced rate) to place her infant in the office's on-site daycare.

While these numbers may seem shocking, it's not likely that they will take a plunge anytime soon based on a working mothers need to find quality child care.

A recent MSN article about the expense said:

"Forget about the angst and expense of finding shelter that is safe and warm for your new arrival. I'm talking about the sticker shock of handing over a significant chunk of your paycheck every month just so you are free to work."

To finish the post, read more