Do you send a juice box with your child to school or to daycare? They're easy to pack, fairly cheap, and at least in our house, fairly guaranteed to be drank.
But think about this... Say you send a juice box with your child each day of the week. Multiply those 5 juice boxes a week times 52 weeks in the year, and you end up with 260 juice boxes. 260 juice boxes that eventually end up in the landfill. 260 juice boxes that probably cost you about $130.
Instead, consider buying a reusable bottle that you can fill with water, juice, watered down juice, or whatever your child likes to drink. When deciding what bottle to buy, do some research on Bisphenol A (BPA), and come to your own conclusion on whether you trust a bottle that contains BPA.
If you're looking for bottles that are BPA free, two great options are www.sigg.com and www.kleankanteen.com.
Both Sigg and Klean Kanteen bottles come in great colors. Our son and daughter loved picking out their own bottles and now use those almost exclusively when we are out and about.
And the best part, reusable bottles don't send a fountain of juice all over the inside of your car when your toddler accidentally squeezes them too hard.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Peanut Butter Recall Expands - Check Your Pantry!
As the FDA tries to track down what foods are affected by the recent salmonella outbreak, more and more foods are being added to the list of possibly contaminated foods. I've seen recommendations that you throw away all foods that are made with peanut butter, until the FDA is able to narrow down the source of the outbreak.
Just yesterday, salmonella was confirmed in a package of Kellogg's Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter.
Since may childcare providers offer snacks for the children in their care, check your pantry and throw away any foods that have peanut butter as an ingredient. As far as I've heard, jars of peanut butter are not affected.
Whenever anyhting like this happens, I believe that the cliche of it's better to be safe than sorry holds true. I would rather throw away a perfectly good package of crackers than serve tainted food to our children.
Just yesterday, salmonella was confirmed in a package of Kellogg's Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter.
Since may childcare providers offer snacks for the children in their care, check your pantry and throw away any foods that have peanut butter as an ingredient. As far as I've heard, jars of peanut butter are not affected.
Whenever anyhting like this happens, I believe that the cliche of it's better to be safe than sorry holds true. I would rather throw away a perfectly good package of crackers than serve tainted food to our children.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Flu season is just getting into full swing. Make sure you know how to keep your family safe.
Drs. Carol Baker and William Schaffner eliminate conFLUsion about influenza.
What is influenza?
Although influenza can cause headache, cough, sore throat, and a stuffy/blocked nose, it's not the common cold. A cold can feel like a cake walk compared to the flu. Influenza is a serious viral infection that can spread quickly through a home, school or office and cause severe illness, like pneumonia and sometimes even death. It hits you very suddenly, usually with high fever, aches and chills. Children can also have ear aches, nausea and vomiting. It?s not pretty.
How bad can it really be?
You've heard the phrase 'hits you like a ton of bricks.' People use the word 'flu' loosely, often to describe a terrible cold or a stomach virus. But flu is more than an inconvenience; it can wipe you out and it can lead to some pretty severe complications. When a person has the flu, he/she will probably spend at least a few miserable days in bed, miss work and not be able to perform other normal day-to-day activities. You really don't feel well for about 2 weeks when you get influenza, and longer if you develop complications. Flu in children can be especially severe young kids are hospitalized as often, or more often, than any other group, including the elderly.
But nobody in my family has gotten the flu before. Why should I be worried?
If nobody in your family has gotten flu before, you've been very lucky and we are very jealous! But unless you plan on hibernating at home during flu season with your flu-free family, you're at risk like the rest of us. Some people mistakenly think that hand washing completely prevents influenza, but this virus travels not only on hands but in the air. The absolute best protection is annual vaccination.
Isn't it too late to be vaccinated?
Influenza is just rearing its ugly head in the U.S., so if you haven't already been vaccinated you can still do so. The flu typically peaks in February and cases can continue for many months after. Make some phone calls to see if your health care provider or other health centers in your area have flu vaccine, or use the flu clinic locator or flu shot finder. Note that children younger than 9 years of age who haven't been vaccinated before will need two vaccine doses at least one month apart for full protection.
Who should be vaccinated?
Basically anyone who doesn't want to get the flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention specifically recommends influenza vaccination for all children 6 months through 18 years of age. Everyone around a baby who is less than 6 months of age should get influenza vaccine to prevent what can be a deadly infection in the very young. Get vaccinated for the baby and get the benefit of protection for yourself. There's a great tool available on the Childhood Influenza Immunization Coalition's Web site called the Flu Risk Calculator, where you can input information about yourself and your family to find out who is recommended for vaccination.
Can I just chance getting sick?
Sure, but why? Influenza can really knock you for a loop. And many people, including children younger than five and anyone with chronic medical conditions, like asthma or diabetes, are at increased risk for complications. Chances are there's no reason you shouldn't get yourself and your family vaccinated, so ask about the flu vaccine.
But my family was vaccinated last year!
That's great but as with taxes, it's something you have to do every year. The influenza virus likes to reinvent itself each year, so the vaccine changes too to provide the best protection. Even if you are vaccinated early, protection lasts throughout the entire yearly influenza season.
What should I do if I get the flu?
If you suspect you or someone in your family has the flu, check with a doctor right away there are medications available that may be able to help you feel better faster if they are given in the first 2 days of illness.
For more information, check out National Foundation for Infectious Diseases - Childhood Influenza Immunization Coalition
Keep Your Childcare Safe In A Tech World
We're surrounded by technology. Some of it is fantastic and makes our lives easier, like seriously, when is the last time you flipped through the yellow pages? But the constant access to mountains of information also presents some security concerns, especially for childcare providers.
Childcare providers need a way to get in contact with parents who are looking for childcare. Most providers use their home phone as their business phone. Did you know that if you type a phone number into most search engines, it will give you the complete address associated with that number, photos, and even directions to the location? Keep this in mind when you are giving out your phone number, and consider using a cell phone instead.
Do you have a website for your childcare? Websites are a great way to let current parents and potential parents know about your childcare, but they can also pose a risk. You can use a whois lookup to find who own a domain name. It often includes your first and last name, your address, and sometimes your phone number. You can prevent this information from being public by choosing a private domain registration.
Use caution with pictures too. If you use pictures in advertising, in flyers, or on your website, do not show the children's faces. Show the children from the back, or just post pictures of your facility and your supplies.
I love seeing groups of children out on field trips, and love seeing the colorful matching shirts they are often wearing. Believe me, I have a hard time keeping track of our two, and I can't imagine keeping track of 12. But be careful what you put on those shirts. Don't put the children's names or the phone number of your childcare. Both can lead right back to your address. Instead, put the child's name and information somewhere easily accessed, but not visible to strangers, like on a tag inside the shirt.
Instant access to information is great. But take some small steps to make sure the information is going into the right hands.
Childcare providers need a way to get in contact with parents who are looking for childcare. Most providers use their home phone as their business phone. Did you know that if you type a phone number into most search engines, it will give you the complete address associated with that number, photos, and even directions to the location? Keep this in mind when you are giving out your phone number, and consider using a cell phone instead.
Do you have a website for your childcare? Websites are a great way to let current parents and potential parents know about your childcare, but they can also pose a risk. You can use a whois lookup to find who own a domain name. It often includes your first and last name, your address, and sometimes your phone number. You can prevent this information from being public by choosing a private domain registration.
Use caution with pictures too. If you use pictures in advertising, in flyers, or on your website, do not show the children's faces. Show the children from the back, or just post pictures of your facility and your supplies.
I love seeing groups of children out on field trips, and love seeing the colorful matching shirts they are often wearing. Believe me, I have a hard time keeping track of our two, and I can't imagine keeping track of 12. But be careful what you put on those shirts. Don't put the children's names or the phone number of your childcare. Both can lead right back to your address. Instead, put the child's name and information somewhere easily accessed, but not visible to strangers, like on a tag inside the shirt.
Instant access to information is great. But take some small steps to make sure the information is going into the right hands.
Join Daycarematch On Facebook
We're always looking for ways to let others know about our site and to help parents connect with the childcare providers we have listed on our site. So we did it....we joined Facebook!
People who use Facebook can also use our Daycarematch application to search for childcare.
Make sure they find your childcare's listing!
To be included in our Facebook application you must:
- Have a paid enhanced listing
or - Have a profile rating of 'excellent'
If you have any questions about your completeness rating, please ask us. We are also always happy to help you post pictures to your profile.
If you aren't already a member of Daycarematch, sign up now! Creating a profile is free. Thousands of parents use our site each month to find childcare. Make sure they find you!
Join Daycarematch! And look for us on Facebook!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The Inauguration - What Did You Share With Your Children
Today was a monumental day in history. It doesn't matter what side of the political coin you fall on, todays swearing in of Barack Obama was an important moment in history.
I watched most of the inauguration and following ceremonies with our son. Our daughter was much more content empying our toy box, although the police on motorcycles did get a squeal out of her. Our son asked some questions about who the president is, what he does, why we chose a new one, and what happens to the old one. I explained as best I could so that he would understand.
How did you mark the day with your children? Did you do anything special with your daycare children?
It seems that today's festivities would be a great way to launch into a discussion about how our government runs, how laws are made, and how the president is chosen.
Our children are our future. They should understand how history is made.
I watched most of the inauguration and following ceremonies with our son. Our daughter was much more content empying our toy box, although the police on motorcycles did get a squeal out of her. Our son asked some questions about who the president is, what he does, why we chose a new one, and what happens to the old one. I explained as best I could so that he would understand.
How did you mark the day with your children? Did you do anything special with your daycare children?
It seems that today's festivities would be a great way to launch into a discussion about how our government runs, how laws are made, and how the president is chosen.
Our children are our future. They should understand how history is made.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Fighting Chapped Skin and Lips
If you're in a colder climate, then you're probably dealing with dry skin and chapped lips right now. And if your kids are anything like ours, then they aren't huge fans of anything designed to help them feel better.
Our son licks chapstick off his lips faster then we can apply it. And that constant licking, followed up with some rubbing of his drippy nose, leaves him with badly chapped lips and skin. I tried everything I could think of, and nothing seemed to work. Chapstick didn't stick around long enough to work, because he licked it off. He complained that lotion got into his mouth and tasted bad.
But finally I found something that works. And I mean really works. Lanolin. I had some left over from when our daughter was an infant and figured if it was safe enough for infants to be in contact with when hey nursed, that it would be safe for a 4 year old. I slathered some on him at bedtime and pleaded with him to try not to wipe his face all over the sheets.
And the next morning, his chaped lips and skin were almost completely healed.
I don't use it during the day, because if it rubs off on something else, like clothes or the couch, it leaves a greasy stain that is almost impossible to get out. But at bedtime, a coating of Lanolin seems to be a quick easy cure for chapped skin.
Our son licks chapstick off his lips faster then we can apply it. And that constant licking, followed up with some rubbing of his drippy nose, leaves him with badly chapped lips and skin. I tried everything I could think of, and nothing seemed to work. Chapstick didn't stick around long enough to work, because he licked it off. He complained that lotion got into his mouth and tasted bad.
But finally I found something that works. And I mean really works. Lanolin. I had some left over from when our daughter was an infant and figured if it was safe enough for infants to be in contact with when hey nursed, that it would be safe for a 4 year old. I slathered some on him at bedtime and pleaded with him to try not to wipe his face all over the sheets.
And the next morning, his chaped lips and skin were almost completely healed.
I don't use it during the day, because if it rubs off on something else, like clothes or the couch, it leaves a greasy stain that is almost impossible to get out. But at bedtime, a coating of Lanolin seems to be a quick easy cure for chapped skin.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Childcares and Unions - Good idea or not?
This is a topic that I'll have to turn over to the experts, the childcare providers, to see what they think. But recently I am hearing more and more about childcare providers joining unions. I remember a couple years ago, I spoke with several providers who were completely against the concept. But now I wonder if that is still the case.
I understand that the state of Maine is currently making the switch to unionizing the childcare providers. After doing a quick online search, it appears that California and Pennsylvania are also unionizing.
So providers, what do you think? Is your state trying to form a union? If so, are you planning on joining? Why, or why not?
Just curious.....
I understand that the state of Maine is currently making the switch to unionizing the childcare providers. After doing a quick online search, it appears that California and Pennsylvania are also unionizing.
So providers, what do you think? Is your state trying to form a union? If so, are you planning on joining? Why, or why not?
Just curious.....
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Starting Your Baby in Daycare - That First Week
I remember that day as if it was yesterday. And it wasn't. It was almost 5 years ago. It was our son's first day at daycare. I was almost to the end of my maternity leave so we were going to start him on half days at the daycare, just to get him used to it. I'm not sure if it was more for his benefit, or mine, but our thought was that easing into full days would make the process easier.
Those first couple days are bound to be hard, both on the parents and the baby. You're all getting used to a new routine, and that takes time. Give everybody a chance to adjust and realize that there are going to be some bumps.
Keep your goodbyes short and sweet. I love a lingering kiss on a baby's cheek as much as the next person, but drawn out goodbyes are harder on you both. It's similar to ripping off a bandaid; it hurts more if you do it fast, but the recovery is quicker. By the time you are getting back in your car, your baby is probably snuggled in the provider's arms or exploring a new toy.
Ask your provider if they mind if you call during the day. It will help you fell connected to hear that your baby is doing great, or that he had peas and crackers for lunch. As you get more comfortable, you'll probable feel the need to call less.
And realize that you are going to miss your baby and your baby is going to miss you. That's natural, and that's part of the love you share.
It took me about 2 weeks to really adjust to having our son at childcare.
But that first day was hard. As soon as the door closed, I cried. I sobbed. I bawled. And that's ok too.
Those first couple days are bound to be hard, both on the parents and the baby. You're all getting used to a new routine, and that takes time. Give everybody a chance to adjust and realize that there are going to be some bumps.
Keep your goodbyes short and sweet. I love a lingering kiss on a baby's cheek as much as the next person, but drawn out goodbyes are harder on you both. It's similar to ripping off a bandaid; it hurts more if you do it fast, but the recovery is quicker. By the time you are getting back in your car, your baby is probably snuggled in the provider's arms or exploring a new toy.
Ask your provider if they mind if you call during the day. It will help you fell connected to hear that your baby is doing great, or that he had peas and crackers for lunch. As you get more comfortable, you'll probable feel the need to call less.
And realize that you are going to miss your baby and your baby is going to miss you. That's natural, and that's part of the love you share.
It took me about 2 weeks to really adjust to having our son at childcare.
But that first day was hard. As soon as the door closed, I cried. I sobbed. I bawled. And that's ok too.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Where Do Sex Offenders Live And Work? Find Out!
Who lives next door to your childcare provider? Who lives next door to your parents? To your babysitter? To you?
Parents do everything they can to keep their children safe. Here's one more step you can take. Check to see where registered sex offenders live in relation to addresses where your children spend time - their school, their daycare, your home. We recently bought a new house and we used this site to check our neighborhood before we made an offer on the house.
It should be noted that these online directories only include individuals who are registered sex offenders. An individual may have committed a lesser crime and not be required to register as a sex offender, so they would not be included on these sites.
http://www.familywatchdog.us
I believe that information like this should not be used to frighten, but to educate. There are threats all over our lives and you cannot possibly avoid them all. What you can do is educate yourself and your children on how to stay as safe as possible.
My Dad is a retired police officer. When I was little, he gave me pointers on how to stay safe. He didn't scare me, but he was honest. He empowered me by teaching me how to grow up with a strong sense of self and how to look at my surroundings to keep myself safe. They are lessons I plan to pass on to our children.
So, check out who lives near you. And make sure you keep talking to your children. Help them learn how to make choices to keep themselves safe.
Parents do everything they can to keep their children safe. Here's one more step you can take. Check to see where registered sex offenders live in relation to addresses where your children spend time - their school, their daycare, your home. We recently bought a new house and we used this site to check our neighborhood before we made an offer on the house.
It should be noted that these online directories only include individuals who are registered sex offenders. An individual may have committed a lesser crime and not be required to register as a sex offender, so they would not be included on these sites.
http://www.familywatchdog.us
I believe that information like this should not be used to frighten, but to educate. There are threats all over our lives and you cannot possibly avoid them all. What you can do is educate yourself and your children on how to stay as safe as possible.
My Dad is a retired police officer. When I was little, he gave me pointers on how to stay safe. He didn't scare me, but he was honest. He empowered me by teaching me how to grow up with a strong sense of self and how to look at my surroundings to keep myself safe. They are lessons I plan to pass on to our children.
So, check out who lives near you. And make sure you keep talking to your children. Help them learn how to make choices to keep themselves safe.
Friday, January 09, 2009
Preschool Registration Time
The beginning of next shool year is month away, right? Not even on your radar? Something you'll think about in a couple months. Well, if you're planning on enrolling your child in preschool, it's something to think about right now. And right now might be too late.
Our son's preschool sent home information on registering for next year. I still have Christmas cards that are waiting for addresses before I can mail them. It doesn't seem like the two should happen at the same time. But they do.
Many preschools are now enrolling for next year. Some are so popular that they enroll in stages, giving priority to current families before openings enrollment to first time attendees.
And then there are the ones that are so poular it's like trying to get tickets to a rock concert. Last year my friend was looking around for preschools. She finally found one she liked. When she asked about registration, she was told that it was very competitive. Competitive to me means that maybe you turn in your application paperwork and some kids are enrolled and some aren't. Competitive at this preschool means that parents started lining up in the registration line at 4am. And this was in the bitter cold of winter in Wisconsin, so we're talking some hard core souls here. They camped out, tailgated, and guarded their spot in line until the preschool office opened and it was first come first served.
Now, I love our children. They are our life, our loves, and my husband and I do everything we can to give them the best upbringing possible. But I draw the line. And sitting outside in 5 degree weather is where I draw the line.
We found a preschool that we love. And I didn't even have to stand outside.
Also, consider in-home childcare providers who offer preschool curriculum. Your child will get similar programming to a preschool, but in a smaller environment.
Good luck!
Our son's preschool sent home information on registering for next year. I still have Christmas cards that are waiting for addresses before I can mail them. It doesn't seem like the two should happen at the same time. But they do.
Many preschools are now enrolling for next year. Some are so popular that they enroll in stages, giving priority to current families before openings enrollment to first time attendees.
And then there are the ones that are so poular it's like trying to get tickets to a rock concert. Last year my friend was looking around for preschools. She finally found one she liked. When she asked about registration, she was told that it was very competitive. Competitive to me means that maybe you turn in your application paperwork and some kids are enrolled and some aren't. Competitive at this preschool means that parents started lining up in the registration line at 4am. And this was in the bitter cold of winter in Wisconsin, so we're talking some hard core souls here. They camped out, tailgated, and guarded their spot in line until the preschool office opened and it was first come first served.
Now, I love our children. They are our life, our loves, and my husband and I do everything we can to give them the best upbringing possible. But I draw the line. And sitting outside in 5 degree weather is where I draw the line.
We found a preschool that we love. And I didn't even have to stand outside.
Also, consider in-home childcare providers who offer preschool curriculum. Your child will get similar programming to a preschool, but in a smaller environment.
Good luck!
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Childcare Forms - Contracts, Policies, Activity Sheets,and more
Not everybody is a huge fan of paperwork, but sometimes it's necessary. When you're a childcare provider, forms can establish a relationship between you and the parents, serve as a means of communication, and help ensure that everybody is on the same page.
The childcare contract is what parents sign when they decide to enroll their child in your daycare. This is a legally binding contract. Make sure you cover all the basics, like cost, when you are open, when you take vacation, how the parents give notice, how you give notice, and procedures for picking up late. The conact should be thorough enough that is covers all the main points and leaves you and the parents with few questions, but it doesn't need to be so long and detailed that it spells out how many grapes the child gets for snack. Some providers choose to have a lawyer review their contracts.
There are other forms that help a childcare run smoothly. Emergency contact cards; releases for field trips, medications, photos, and more; daly activity logs; and applications for enrollmentcan all help your childcare run smoothly.
You can find samples on Daycarematch.
The childcare contract is what parents sign when they decide to enroll their child in your daycare. This is a legally binding contract. Make sure you cover all the basics, like cost, when you are open, when you take vacation, how the parents give notice, how you give notice, and procedures for picking up late. The conact should be thorough enough that is covers all the main points and leaves you and the parents with few questions, but it doesn't need to be so long and detailed that it spells out how many grapes the child gets for snack. Some providers choose to have a lawyer review their contracts.
There are other forms that help a childcare run smoothly. Emergency contact cards; releases for field trips, medications, photos, and more; daly activity logs; and applications for enrollmentcan all help your childcare run smoothly.
You can find samples on Daycarematch.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
January - National Give Blood Month
January is National Give Blood Month. What a great new year's resolution to vow to donate blood at least once, or twice, or as often as you are able.
According to the Red Cross, when you give blood just once, you can save the lives of three people. Three people! That's amazing.
The Red Cross website has easy ways to find locations to give blood.
www.givelife.org
If there are other childcare providers in your area, you can host a blood drive. What a great way to teach your children about giving to others. Encourage your daycare parents to sign up, have them recruit friends, even have a little friendly competition between daycare providers to see who can get the most donations.
And hey.....you get free cookies for donating!
According to the Red Cross, when you give blood just once, you can save the lives of three people. Three people! That's amazing.
The Red Cross website has easy ways to find locations to give blood.
www.givelife.org
If there are other childcare providers in your area, you can host a blood drive. What a great way to teach your children about giving to others. Encourage your daycare parents to sign up, have them recruit friends, even have a little friendly competition between daycare providers to see who can get the most donations.
And hey.....you get free cookies for donating!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Balancing Diapers and Deadlines
Tips for working from home with an infant
Whether you are new to working at home while caring for your infant, or you’re a pro at typing while bouncing a baby on your knee, getting work done while also parenting can be a challenge. You can set yourself and your environment up to better balance both roles and your work and baby will benefit.
Your Work Space Area
Take a good look at where you do most of your work. Set up the area so you can manage your work and baby at the same time.
Use a portable crib, swing, bouncy chair or gates to keep your baby close. Your baby is happy, entertained, and contained and you don’t have to interrupt work every time he goes crawling off.
Have a stash of new toys near your desk, since babies tire quickly of the same toys.
Baby proof your work area as much as possible. Cover or tie back cords, lock cabinets and make sure your baby can’t reach anything that could hurt him. Not only will this keep your baby safe, but it’s no fun losing hours worth of work because your little one rebooted your computer or emptied your filing cabinet.
If baby’s room is not close to your work area, store diaper supplies close too. Having diapers and wipes close means you don’t have to spend time taking baby upstairs every time she needs a change. The more time you spend at your work area, the more work you’ll be able to accomplish.
If your baby is eating finger foods, keep some snacks close.
Managing Your Time
Plan time at your desk, but also plan breaks for both you and your baby. Meal and snack times are a great chance to get away from work and spend time with your baby. Make sure you take enough time to play and talk with your baby so she gets the attention she craves. Most babies are content to play by themselves for a while, but they also need interaction from you. Be realistic about how much time you can spend working and how much time your baby will need.
Working Around Naps
Be careful counting on naptimes to get your work done. It’s true that infants sleep a lot, but it probably doesn’t come in long stretches, especially when they are very young. Nor are nap times completely predicable. You may schedule an important conference call at naptime only to be faced with a wide-awake baby. Schedule tasks and calls that require complete quiet and focus for times when somebody else can watch your baby.
Hiring Help
A great way to increase how much you are able to focus on work is to hire a mother’s helper. Mother’s helpers care for your child in your home while you are home. You’re able to focus on work, but you’re also able to step in if your child needs you. Because you are home and able to monitor your baby’s care, you may consider helpers with less experience than somebody you would trust to watch your baby when you’re not home. High schools and colleges are often good places to start your search for a mother’s helper.
You may also want to consider finding childcare outside your home for a couple hours a day. It's easiest of all to focus on work if you can't hear your little one playing, or wailing, in the next room.
Whether you are new to working at home while caring for your infant, or you’re a pro at typing while bouncing a baby on your knee, getting work done while also parenting can be a challenge. You can set yourself and your environment up to better balance both roles and your work and baby will benefit.
Your Work Space Area
Take a good look at where you do most of your work. Set up the area so you can manage your work and baby at the same time.
Use a portable crib, swing, bouncy chair or gates to keep your baby close. Your baby is happy, entertained, and contained and you don’t have to interrupt work every time he goes crawling off.
Have a stash of new toys near your desk, since babies tire quickly of the same toys.
Baby proof your work area as much as possible. Cover or tie back cords, lock cabinets and make sure your baby can’t reach anything that could hurt him. Not only will this keep your baby safe, but it’s no fun losing hours worth of work because your little one rebooted your computer or emptied your filing cabinet.
If baby’s room is not close to your work area, store diaper supplies close too. Having diapers and wipes close means you don’t have to spend time taking baby upstairs every time she needs a change. The more time you spend at your work area, the more work you’ll be able to accomplish.
If your baby is eating finger foods, keep some snacks close.
Managing Your Time
Plan time at your desk, but also plan breaks for both you and your baby. Meal and snack times are a great chance to get away from work and spend time with your baby. Make sure you take enough time to play and talk with your baby so she gets the attention she craves. Most babies are content to play by themselves for a while, but they also need interaction from you. Be realistic about how much time you can spend working and how much time your baby will need.
Working Around Naps
Be careful counting on naptimes to get your work done. It’s true that infants sleep a lot, but it probably doesn’t come in long stretches, especially when they are very young. Nor are nap times completely predicable. You may schedule an important conference call at naptime only to be faced with a wide-awake baby. Schedule tasks and calls that require complete quiet and focus for times when somebody else can watch your baby.
Hiring Help
A great way to increase how much you are able to focus on work is to hire a mother’s helper. Mother’s helpers care for your child in your home while you are home. You’re able to focus on work, but you’re also able to step in if your child needs you. Because you are home and able to monitor your baby’s care, you may consider helpers with less experience than somebody you would trust to watch your baby when you’re not home. High schools and colleges are often good places to start your search for a mother’s helper.
You may also want to consider finding childcare outside your home for a couple hours a day. It's easiest of all to focus on work if you can't hear your little one playing, or wailing, in the next room.
One Income or Two - Does it Pay To Work
Second only to the mortgage, childcare costs are one of the highest expenses most working families have. And sometimes the cost is more than a mortgage.
It might be easier than you think to have one parent stay home and make it on one income. That probaby sounds counterintuitive coming from us, who run a childcare website. But one of our main goals has always been to make life easier for families. And that may mean helping you realize that staying home just might be affordable.
We had the exact same discussion almost 5 years ago when our son was born. We wondered if we could make it on one income. I went back to work for several months and our son was with a childcare provider that we loved. When my job role changed, the decision was almost made for us that I would stay home. We never looked back. Going down to one income takes some adjusting, but it wasn't as painful as we thought it would be.
When thinking about the money you save by having one parent work, don't just consider salary. There's a lot more that is spent on maintaining a working parent. Since I no longer go to work at an office, my usual work wear is now jeans and a sweatshirt, which is much cheaper than maintaining a wardrobe of business suits (and matching shoes). Makeup? Since I never seem to have time to put it on, I save money there. I save money on hairstyling costs by going longer between cuts and no longer getting frequent highlights. Although, going back to my natural, unhighlighted color has added the unwanted highlight of showing more grey hairs. And I"m pretty sure that I remember what each child did to cause each grey strand.
There are many other costs you can save by not working - lunches out, expensive coffee breaks (although coffee stores with drive throughs are still a weakness of mine), gas, car maintenance, professional memberships, and more.
Here's a helpful calculator to help you add up the pros and cons of one income versus two.
http://moneycentral.msn.com/personal-finance/calculators/Adding_a_second_income_calculator/home.aspx
It's a tough choice to make, and sometimes your situation makes the choice for you. But regardless of whether you work outside the home or not, you already have the best job in the world - being a parent.
It might be easier than you think to have one parent stay home and make it on one income. That probaby sounds counterintuitive coming from us, who run a childcare website. But one of our main goals has always been to make life easier for families. And that may mean helping you realize that staying home just might be affordable.
We had the exact same discussion almost 5 years ago when our son was born. We wondered if we could make it on one income. I went back to work for several months and our son was with a childcare provider that we loved. When my job role changed, the decision was almost made for us that I would stay home. We never looked back. Going down to one income takes some adjusting, but it wasn't as painful as we thought it would be.
When thinking about the money you save by having one parent work, don't just consider salary. There's a lot more that is spent on maintaining a working parent. Since I no longer go to work at an office, my usual work wear is now jeans and a sweatshirt, which is much cheaper than maintaining a wardrobe of business suits (and matching shoes). Makeup? Since I never seem to have time to put it on, I save money there. I save money on hairstyling costs by going longer between cuts and no longer getting frequent highlights. Although, going back to my natural, unhighlighted color has added the unwanted highlight of showing more grey hairs. And I"m pretty sure that I remember what each child did to cause each grey strand.
There are many other costs you can save by not working - lunches out, expensive coffee breaks (although coffee stores with drive throughs are still a weakness of mine), gas, car maintenance, professional memberships, and more.
Here's a helpful calculator to help you add up the pros and cons of one income versus two.
http://moneycentral.msn.com/personal-finance/calculators/Adding_a_second_income_calculator/home.aspx
It's a tough choice to make, and sometimes your situation makes the choice for you. But regardless of whether you work outside the home or not, you already have the best job in the world - being a parent.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Tax Time
As we get close to the end of the year, it's almost time to think about getting your taxes and receipts in order. Here's a link to an article that describes how parents can benefit from tax credits for the monty paid for childcare.
http://taxes.about.com/od/deductionscredits/qt/child_care.htm
http://taxes.about.com/od/deductionscredits/qt/child_care.htm
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Happy Holidays
We'd like to wish you, your family, and all your daycare children and families a very happy holiday season. All our best for the new year.
We are thankful for every childcare provider who's listed on our site. We hope our site helps both parents and providers in the search for childcare.
Enjoy this holiday season. We hope you are able to enjoy some time with your family.
Best wishes to you for a peacful and prosperous New Year.
Scott & Melissa
We are thankful for every childcare provider who's listed on our site. We hope our site helps both parents and providers in the search for childcare.
Enjoy this holiday season. We hope you are able to enjoy some time with your family.
Best wishes to you for a peacful and prosperous New Year.
Scott & Melissa
Monday, December 08, 2008
We're back
It's been forever since we posted. We hope to start posting again soon, so keep an eye out.
Thanks,
Scott & Melissa
Thanks,
Scott & Melissa
Getting Back Online
We've been so busy that we haven't had time to post on this blog. We hope to get back to posting to let you know what we're doing with the site and what's going on in the childcare community.
Thanks,
Scott & Melissa
Thanks,
Scott & Melissa
Monday, April 21, 2008
Finally Updating Our Blog
It's been a hectic time around here, leaving us less time to stay on top of this blog. In the last couple months we experienced the birth of our second child, we moved halfway across the country, and had a death in our immediate family. Things have been busy and challenging.
We hope to update this more frequently now with updates of what we are doing with Daycarematch, and what is going on in the childcare field. If you have any ideas for us, please send them to us.
Thanks!
Scott & Melissa
We hope to update this more frequently now with updates of what we are doing with Daycarematch, and what is going on in the childcare field. If you have any ideas for us, please send them to us.
Thanks!
Scott & Melissa
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