Baby, Pregnancy, and Parenting at Babies Online » daycare

Dropping Off at Daycare or Preschool

admin — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:22:49 +0000

by Elizabeth Pantley author of The No-Cry Discipline Solution (McGraw-Hill 2007)

Does your child dawdle, complain or fuss when you drop her off at daycare or preschool? Some children have a difficult time adjusting to changes. They like things to flow in a predictable way. Anything that upsets their current activity is cause for alarm. These children require a bit more thought to help them maneuver the changes they encounter in their day.

Create very specific routines.
Consistency can help your child be more comfortable. Very specific means that you do and say the exact same things every time you drop her off and pick her up. For example, park in the same area, enter through the same door, approach the cubby, hang the coat, check the job chart and comment on the day’s assignment, give two hugs and two kisses and say, “See ya later alligator!”

Let your child know when you will arrive each day.
It’s comforting for a child to know that you will be there at a certain time. Tie in your arrival with a specific activity, such as after snack time, and let your child know when to expect you.

Schedule an adjustment period.
When you drop off your child, and again when you pick her up, allow a five-minute adjustment period. (The time is worth it, as you’ll save at least fifteen minutes of fussing!) When you arrive at the center allow your child to play or show you something for five minutes. When it’s time to leave, use a fun indicator, such as a tickle on the neck, or hold up your key ring and have it tell your child (in a funny voice) that the car is waiting and ready to go.

Have a fun routine for the drive home.
Leave a snack bag on your child’s seat with different contents every day, such as graham crackers, dry cereal, pretzels, or fruit. Play a certain game in the parking lot as you walk to the car, such as counting all the red cars you see, or counting your steps. Mention something that your child can look forward to at home, such as reading the new library books, or Grandpa coming over for dinner.

Don’t cater to the complaints.
If you try to hard to convince her that everything is okay you may just make her nervous. Instead, stay light-hearted and have confidence that everything will be fine. Most children stop crying within five minutes of a parent’s departure. Ask your daycare provider if this is true for your child. If you’d like, call the center when you get to work or arrive at home, so they can reassure you that your child has finished crying and is playing happily.

Don’t get mad.
Your anger will just make your child fuss and cry even more, and it won’t solve a thing. It’s also a very unpleasant way to start the day (for both of you.)
Excerpted with permission by McGraw-Hill Publishing from The No-Cry Discipline Solution (McGraw-Hill 2007) by Elizabeth Pantley http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth

About the author:
Elizabeth Pantley is the author of several books, including Gentle Baby Care : No-cry, No-fuss, No-worry — Essential Tips for Raising Your Baby, The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night, Kid Cooperation (with an introduction by William Sears, MD), Perfect Parenting, as well as her latest The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers and is also president of Better Beginnings, Inc. She is a popular speaker on family issues, and her newsletter, Parent Tips, is seen in schools nationwide. She appears as a regular radio show guest, and has been quoted in Parents, Parenting, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, American Baby, Working Mother, and Woman’s Day magazines. Visit Elizabeth’s web site http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth.

When Not To Begin Potty Training

admin — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:09:04 +0000

by Danna Henderson

Potty training can be a stressful experience for you and your child. It’s best to start potty training when your child has an established daily routine and is not dealing with any additional stress. Potty training should be the only major change in your child’s life.

If your child is showing signs of potty training readiness, ask yourself if any of the following situations exist:

New baby – Although the thought of double diaper duty may be overwhelming, your child needs time to adapt to the new baby before you begin potty training.

Divorce or Separation – Divorce or separation is always stressful for children. Your child may be living in two different homes or under two separate sets of rules. When things calm down, share your potty training plan so that you are both aware of the other person’s plan and can work together for the benefit of your child.

New daycare/babysitter – If your child has recently switched day cares or baby-sitters, wait a couple of weeks/months (depending on how your child adapts) before you start potty training.

New bedroom or bed – Small changes, like a new bedroom or bed, can have a big impact on your child. Wait until your child has adapted to his new bed before you begin potty training.

Danna Henderson
ZIP Baby
101 Convention Center Drive, Ste 700
Las Vegas, NV 89109
www.zipbaby.com

About The Author
Danna Henderson started ZIP Baby in order to provide parents with comprehensive potty training information as well as a large variety of potty training products. For more information about potty training, visit the ZIP Baby Potty Training Store.

Potty Training At Daycare and Preschool

admin — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:42:04 +0000

by Danna Henderson

With 61% of children between the ages of birth and 6 years in daycare, it’s important that parents work closely with their child’s care professional while potty training. When you child is ready for potty training, the right potty training guidance and supplies can make all the difference.

Be Sure Your Child Is Ready – Before you begin potty training, make sure your child is ready. Your child should show the following signs of potty training readiness:

Expresses an interest in the potty
Tries to imitate family members
Stays dry for two hours
Express the need to go potty or indicates that he or she just has
Able to pull pants up and down
Irritated when diapers are wet
Expresses interest in cotton underwear
Has predictable bowel movements on a regular basis
Diaper stays dry overnight

Introduce Potty Training
If your child is in daycare, he or she will probably notice that there are other children around who wear cotton underwear and use the potty. This kind of light peer pressure can motivate your child to want to use the potty as well. Start introducing the idea by watching a potty training book or video together. Be sure and tell your child’s daycare provider that you are beginning the potty training process. You child’s daycare provider can help by watching for signs of potty training readiness and answering questions from your child.

Discuss the Plan
When you begin potty training your child, discuss your plan with your child’s daycare worker. This person has probably potty trained many children and may have useful tips and tricks that he or she has found useful. Make sure your potty training methods are similar.

Set Potty Training Rules
Work together to set some basic potty training guidelines. For example, agree that neither of you will punish your child for accidents or that you’ll give stickers as rewards for using the potty. The potty training process will be easier for your child if both you and the child care worker are providing the same potty training guidance.

Progress Reports
Speak with the child care provider often to exchange progress reports. Both of you need to be aware of any successes or potential problems. If the daycare worker tells you that your child used the potty earlier that day, be sure and tell your child that that you heard about his or her success and that you are proud of him or her.

Danna Henderson
ZIP Baby
101 Convention Center Drive, Ste 700
Las Vegas, NV 89109
www.zipbaby.com

The Financial Impact of Your New Baby

admin — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 19:38:59 +0000

While they are cute and cuddly, they are much more expensive than a new puppy. Your new baby is going to cost you a lot of money with very little monetary return, even though the return of love will be huge. Have you thought about all the costs you are going to have when it comes to your baby, outside of the nursery, diapers and clothing?

1. Health insurance
You should definitely get your health insurance in place before you get pregnancy so that you can make the most of your coverage. You will also want to make sure your coverage includes your prenatal, delivery, postnatal and new and well baby care. Know all the details of your plan. Research the deductible or co-payment that you will have to make at each visit and make sure you have your obstetrician or midwife listed as your primary caregiver, and interview pediatricians so that you’ll know who to list as your baby’s caregiver.

If you plan on delivering at home by a midwife, you will save the hospital costs, but you may have to rent some additional equipment in case an emergency arises. A home birth is normally not covered by insurance plans either.

Don’t forget to add your baby to your insurance policy after he born, or go to your state health department to see if you qualify for health insurance for your child. This plan will help you pay for all of the baby’s delivery and post-natal expenses as well as the numerous well-checks and immunizations required in the first year.

2. Get a will – or update your old one
If you already have a will update it to include your child and the name a guardian for your child and a trustee for her inheritance if something were to happen to you. If you don’t do this the court will name one for you and then divide up your assets according to state law. If you do not have a will create one as soon as you can in order to protect your baby’s rights.

3. Family leave
When you have a baby you will need to take time off from your job. If you are covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act you will receive up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave with continued health coverage. Also, the Federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act “prohibits an employer with at least 15 employees from reassigning you, forcing you to take leave, or refusing to hire you back because you are pregnant.”

For more information on this Act contact the US Department of Labor or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 800-669-4000. You can also contact your state’s labor department for information specific to your area.

4. Child care
Are you or your husband going to be able to stay home with your baby everyday? While this is ideal, it is sometimes not a possibility. The cost of child care is very high, around $150 per week, plus more including taxes if you have a sitter or nanny come to your home.

Look into job-sharing, reducing work hours or working from home for part of the week. Many times you will find that with the cost of child care, it makes more sense to just stay home with your baby, than to spend all your money letting someone else raise them during the day.

5. Taxes
Although your expenses will increase with the arrival of a new baby, your tax burden will decrease. Currently families get $1000 a year in a tax credit per child which helps their total tax amount in the long run. There are different exemptions and special circumstances that can get you more as well.