LilSugar

Mommy Dearest: Second-Guessing Childcare Choice

LilSugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 05:00:39 -0700

Mommy Dearest,

I am about to return to work following the birth of my first child and am investigating my childcare options. After interviewing some nannies and visiting daycare centers both home- and program-based, I thought I had settled on a daycare center with low student to teacher ratio, clean rooms and a great daily schedule. After sharing my plans with family and friends, they started presenting me with horror stories about day care - children who are more aggressive, constant ear infections, lack of attention, etc. Should I just ignore my friends or should I reconsider my decision?

– Clueless About Childcare

To see the response from Mommy Dearest, read more.

Clueless About Childcare,

Childcare decisions are never easy and there are vast generalizations that can be made about any option you choose. Your decision must be made based on your personal situation - financially and otherwise - and the quality of the care you believe your child will receive. There are good and bad nannies and good and bad day cares. If you feel that you have done the research and are comfortable with the choice you made, stick with it. Don't let the naysayers convince you otherwise.

– Mommy Dearest

Submit a question for this feature at the Mommy Dearest Group on TeamSugar.

Do You Drop In Unannounced on Your Nanny or Babysitter?

LilSugar — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:00:13 -0700

When The Hand That Rocks The Cradle is in the back of a mama's mind, it can be stressful to find a trustworthy caregiver for her child. After hiring your babysitter or nanny, did you drop in unannounced from time to time to check things out?

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Daycare May Protect Baby From Serious Disease

babysugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:00:46 -0700

You may not like the ear infections and colds that your tot gets in daycare, but all the exposure they are getting may pay off in the end. A new study found:

Children who attended daycare or playgroups have a 30 percent lower risk of developing the most common form of childhood leukemia compared to those who do not.

To see what else the report said, read more.

The researchers looked at 14 different studies that examined 20,000 children. Of those, about a third of them had acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Researchers believe the earlier exposure to germs can strengthen a tot's immune system - even to leukemia.

While there are unknown factors that cause leukemia, this report may offer a peek into how the disease might be prevented.

Source

Tending to Baby, Part 1: The Daycare Option

babysugar — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 13:00:05 -0800

After a year of staying at home with my lil one, I'm back to work and loving it. The decision to work was easy, but babycare was my big dilemma. I searched for daycares, nannies, and nanny-share options. I'll share my journey with you in this three-part series.

This week: The Daycare Option.

I wanted my daughter to attend daycare to learn how to be a social being and be stimulated while I was at work. Daycare would teach her that she's not the center of attention, how to share, and how to take a lick and keep on ticking.

At the same time, I would be opening the door to colds, earaches, and biting! And, you need to factor in the time it takes to drop off and pick up your kid. Most daycares that I looked at closed around 5 p.m. "Excuse me boss, I am going to have to leave at 4:30 p.m. every day so I can pick up my baby on time." Not a good way to start a new job. And, all of this is assuming you have the option to attend daycare. read more

Here in San Francisco, finding daycare is like finding a needle in a haystack. Many well regarded daycares have year-long waitlists. By the time she'd be able to attend, my daughter would be in preschool. (I didn't know I had to have her name on the list when she was born!)

So I went on word of mouth and hunted around for smaller daycares. These are facilities run out of people's homes with a 6:1 child-to-caregiver ratio. Some of them were cute, clean, and well-maintained operations. Others, not so much.

The one I felt most comfortable with required each child to sleep for four hours a day. Come again? Yes. My child was expected to sleep for nearly half the time that she would be there. And, this place wanted to charge me more than I was going to make. So, I continued on my search.

If you do find a daycare that you are crazy about, here are some things you might want to check out:

Make sure the daycare provides a safe and healthy environment for your child.
All daycare centers must be licensed.
Upon request, they should provide you with references. (See if you can call families who have already graduated from the facility as well as current enrollees
Inquire about the staff's background and how long they have worked there. Also, ask what the daycare center's hiring qualifications are for them.
Know what the napping and sick policies are.
Make sure unannounced and unscheduled visits to the daycare are allowed.

Unfortunately for me, daycare was not an option. Next stop . . . nannies.

Getting in the Door One Tiny Foot at a Time

babysugar — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 08:00:52 -0700

Does quality childcare set kids on the collegial path? It used to seem like Ivy League Universities looked to creme de la creme high schools for applicants. But, before that the students had to attend elite grade schools. As the public school system continues to flounder in certain states, the competition to get into esteemed schools has elevated and leaves parents vetting for openings which are few and far between. Some moms and pops set up a plan before their child leaves the cradle or even takes his first breath!

To see what parents are doing to get on the fast track, read more.

In certain metropolitan cities, pregnant women put their fetus's last name (first one pending) on preschool wait lists and the application process in New York and San Francisco has become more like college admissions except the pupils can't write their essays because they don't recognize their alphabets yet!

Parents trying to get precious into the top preschools are now turning to elite day-cares and playgroups to get the extra edge on competition. Often times, those running the groups have connections that will benefit families in the preschool pursuit. So even though baby can barely walk or talk, the wheels are set in motion for a lifetime of privileged education.

At the rate things are going, a babe's future is going to depend on the hospital in which they were born. If mama labors in the right maternity ward, perhaps she will have access to the best lactation consultant who will refer her to a particular mommy group. The mother's group will then direct her to the popular music and yoga classes that will get her the in to the "it" daycare. From there, it's a breeze. Preschool, grade school, high school and college are just hurdles to be had.
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Lil Links: Tot Leaves Daycare to Hang Out at Hooters

LilSugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:00:20 -0700

Five-year-old leaves daycare, hits Hooters - Parent Dish
Surf's up for lil Levi McConaughey - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Vote for my little fashion twin - The Poop
Knotheads replace scrunchies - Cool Mom Picks
Kim Kardashian doesn't want to adopt - Celebrity Baby Blog
Hip rooms from Dear Kids - Ohdeedoh

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Reasons For Lack of Physical Activity at Daycare Revealed

babysugar — Wed, 07 May 2008 09:00:45 -0700

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute presented a study to the Pediatric Academic Societies that said flip flops, lack of warm clothes, and in some cases, less than enthusiastic caretakers were to blame for the lack of physical activity in youngsters.

In 34 child care centers, caretakers sat with researchers from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center to dish on child activities.

To see what they had to say, read more.

When asked about outdoor time, the staffers often cited children's clothing as an issue. Many parents send their tots to school in flip flops or sans jackets – keeping the kid from participating in outdoor activities.

Some of the caretakers believe the parents intentionally send the kids ill equipped for playground time to keep them indoors. Still, others claimed that playground items (i.e. mulch) were dangerous and used as weapons. In addition to all of those reasons, some daycare workers explained their own disinterest in bundling up or going outside themselves.

Parents generally hope their child is getting ample mental and physical stimulation.

I can sympathize with the caretakers since there are days when I am too tired to take my daughter to the park, however nobody is paying me to do so.

What are your thoughts on this issue?
Source

New Special Shows Day in the Life of a Child With Allergies

LilSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:30:40 -0700

We are all aware of what our lil ones eat, but parents of kids with allergies have to be extra sensitive when it comes to the menu. The rate of allergies has increased over the past 20-30 years and now more than three million kids have them. By the time they enter middle school, one in every 20 kids is watching what she puts in her mouth.

Fifty-four percent of LilSugar readers' children attend a peanut-free school or daycare center, making them well-aware of the issues. While most kids know someone affected by food, eczema, asthma, hay fever, it is virtually impossible for them to understand the emotional issues they deal with on a daily basis. This Sunday, Sept 27., Nickelodeon takes on the world of life-threatening allergies with a new special called I’m Allergic to My World. The Nick News with Linda Ellerbee special follows the lives of several children with various allergies and shows what it is like to spend a day in their shoes. The eye-opening program is a must-see for anyone who has ever questioned their school's no-nut policy. Will you tune in to watch it?

Photo courtesy of Lucky Duck Productions

Lying About Your Child’s Age

LilSugar — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:00:22 -0700

When it comes to fudging the truth, are kids or adults the experts? Tweens find ways to round up their age to sound older than their actual years while their parents try to slow the aging process and round as their own birthdays pass. At the park the other day, I overheard a woman admitting she flat out lies to her gym about her child's age so they will admit her to the daycare. Her friend claimed they skirt the 2-year-old airline regulation by begging their son not to speak when asked how hold he is - an interesting tactic considering most airlines require a birth certificate upon arrival. Nevertheless, the conversation got me thinking – do you fib about your wee one's age?

Do you have a treasure trove of funny stories you want to share with fellow moms? Join our Mommy Club group over in our LilSugar community!

Babymel x2 Diaper Bag Does Double Duty

babysugar — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:00:06 -0700

Just when I thought I'd seen the end-all-be-all of diaper bags, I was sent the Babymel x2 to review. Specifically designed for parents of twins, it's perfection for any mom on the go. The designers created a two-in-one satchel that easily detaches so mom can carry only what she needs.

This bag is ideal for the following mamas:

Mums of Twins: Mothers with twins can pack a separate bag for each tot. Instead of trying to decipher which bottle belongs to whom, they can easily reach into the babe's particular side leaving confusion and concern out of the equation.

Moms of Varied Ages: Often times, moms of two have to double check sizes of diapers before putting them on their youngsters. A tiny infant wouldn't do well in a size five diaper and a 30 pound toddler would look ridiculous in a nappy that's too tight. Keep their goodies isolated by divvying up the loot. And, if mum has to drop one child off at daycare, she can release the bag with two simple clicks and take the other with her.

To see uses for this bag, read more.

Traveling Mommies: Flying with junior is always a challenge. Typically mamas pack a bag of entertainment goodies, snacks, books, and crayons. Always armed for diaper duty, she's usually got another bag full of creams, wipes and pampers. The Babymel x2 relieves some of her stress by carrying it all in one. Mama can relax until she gets to her seat at which point she can stow the toy portion of the bag under the seat in front of her and tuck the parcel full of diapers in the overhead to be retrieved during times of need.

Any Mom: When less is more, mom can unsnap one of the totes and leave the house with whichever color fits her fancy. When mummy is heading somewhere for an extended period of time and she needs more space, she can easily fasten the other side to the hooks to be doubly equipped.

A unique concept, the construction of the bag is well thought out and executed. The Babymel x2 has secretive zippered pouches on each side allowing baby bottles and sippy cups stability and insulation. Inside the zip style totes are two changing pads and plenty of pouches for rattles and the like.

Babymel X2 Diaper Bag - Black/Red - $99.99	Babymel X2 Diaper Bag - Army/Sand - $99.99
Babymel X2 Diaper Bag - Black - $99.99