childcare

New Year's Eve is a night when some moms go wild so call a sitter and take a much-needed break to ring in 2011.

• Rather than juggling your kids while getting dressed, have the sitter come over early so you can get ready in peace and feel relaxed when heading out the door.
• If you are planning to party like you did in your pre-baby days, hire your sitter to spend the night and tend to your tots the following morning.
• If your night on the town involves a loud location, consider communicating with your babysitter via text so you don't have to keep dashing outside to check in.
• There's no need to fret over how much to pay the babysitter. Sittercity offers an easy and free solution with their rate calculator that configures the rate.

Childcare is costly, but in some cases so is being a nanny! We asked LilSugar readers to chime in on who should pay for everything from food to movie tickets, and a number of moms had their nannies picking up the tab. Here's what they said:

• Even if the nanny cooks meals for the family, six percent of LilSugar readers said she should pay for her own food.
• The nanny may shuttle the kids in her own car, but 26 percent of LilSugar readers said she should also pick up the tab for wear and tear, maintenance, and gas.
• Nanny wants a diaper bag? Then six percent of LilSugar readers believe that she should buy one.
• Kids love to go out and about to movies, museums, and events, but 14 percent of LilSugar readers said that the nanny should pay her own admission.
• When a nanny buys her charges a small trinket or treat, 65 percent of LilSugar readers believe the cost should come out of her own pocket.
• There are daily expenses that come with having kids and 24 percent of LilSugar readers think the nanny should cover them and then be reimbursed.

Uncle Sam may soon be regulating your relationship with your nanny! In a bill that was passed this week, New York will be the first state that requires employers to guarantee paid days off, overtime wages and 14 days termination notice for all domestic workers. California and Colorado are also working on similar legislation. Eight-five percent of LilSugar readers said that parents should have a written contract with their nanny outlining such details before the relationship ever begins, but 53 percent don't pay their caregivers' taxes. Should the government be regulating terms of employment for childcare givers?

Mommy Dearest -

My Saturday evening babysitter has been with us for a few years now, watching my kids once or twice a month while my husband and I get a break from our home life. She is a local college student and is great with my two kids. Last weekend, for the first time, she asked if she could bring her boyfriend when she came to sit for us. He was visiting from out-of-town, but she had previously agreed to work for us, and she didn't want to cancel. While I appreciate her thinking of us, I said no because I was afraid that she would not be able to pay adequate attention to the kids and her boyfriend. My husband says I was wrong – that we trust her with our kids, we should trust her judgment too. Who's right here?

– Prudish Mama

To read Mommy Dearest's response, read more

Mothers may get all of the accolades, but it takes a village to raise a child. Spouses, grandparents, teachers, nannies, and friends all make their mark on our lil ones and become part of their very fabric. As moms, we come to rely on those around us for everything from parenting advice to watching our tots when we have to run out.

During a recent childcare crisis, a classmate's mom came to my rescue like a knight in shining armor. While my nanny was dealing with a family emergency of her own, the other mother offered to pick my son up from school and keep him through dinner so I could attend a meeting and finish up my work. The simple gesture made her a hero in my book and I look forward to returning the favor. Other times I've found a childless friend who lives 500 miles away (but is always available with a listening ear) to be the one who keeps me sane (and saves me thousands of dollars in therapist bills).

Who makes motherhood work for you?

Do you have a treasure trove of motherhood advice? Start sharing your advice and tips in our The Mommy Club! Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

This post was submitted by senorita in the Ask Anything box.

Daycare. My daughter is always sick . . . just wondering if other moms had similar problems with child care?

Motherhood is a mind boggler! Before driving yourself crazy looking for answers, head over to the LilSugar Community and type your inquiry away in our Ask the Community Anything box.

If you think you spend more time parenting your tots than your mother did with you, chances are you're right. While social scientists have spent a significant amount of time – and bookshelf space – arguing that today's moms work inordinately hard to raise "perfect" children, a new study from economists at UC San Diego found that over the past 20 years, women — regardless of their level of education – are spending more time raising their tots than previous generations.

According to the researchers:

After three decades of decline, the amount of time dedicated to childcare went up dramatically in the past 20 years, even while the number of children per household decreased. The rise began in the mid-1990s. It was twice as great for college-educated parents and was most pronounced among mothers. On average, the amount of time college-educated women spent on childcare went up from 13 to 22 hours per week since the mid-1990s. By contrast, the amount went up from 11 to 16 hours for women without a college education.

The husband and wife team behind the study found that moms were spending much of that extra time shuttling their tots from one activity to another, hoping that packed schedules will secure them admission to top-tier universities – a phenomenon they call the "rug rat race." Are you guilty of participating in the race?

"Vacation, all I ever wanted. Vacation, had to get away!" In the dead of Winter, a vacation away from the home you have been cooped up in for the past few months can seem like heaven. New surroundings and a beach or ski slopes that will keep the family busy throughout the day could be just what the doctor ordered to beat the Winter blues.

But mom and dad sometimes need a little break of their own. Once the kiddos hit the sack, some parents sit in the hotel bathroom reading books or surfing the web, while others call in the reserves – resort childcare – to give them an opportunity to explore restaurants, casinos and more adult-friendly nightlife. The pre-interviewed, CPR-trained babysitters can help put your children to sleep or can come after they have already called it a night, giving mama and pops a little vacation of their own.

Would you use a resort's babysitting services while on vacation?