Germs And Daycare

Author: Jillian Smith

Germs are everywhere. And day care germs abound. They are too
small to see but we know they are there. Children can spread
germs without ever getting sick themselves. They can catch
colds, ear infections, diarrhea and worse. More severe illnesses
like chicken pox, impetigo and hepatitis are also spread by
germs. Toys are a vehicle for day care germs, so are unwashed
hands of a caregiver after diaper change or blowing a child's
runny nose. Runny noses don't always mean a child is sick, but
the child can also be carrying something right under your nose
so to speak, and you won't know it for several days until your
symptoms start showing. So how can you cut back on day care
germs and minimize your child's sick days Every child gets sick
eventually with the average cold, but chances of spreading it to
the other day care children and the sick child's family can be
greatly reduced by following a few simple rules.

Always keep up to date with your child's immunizations. Schools
will not enroll children in kindergarten without the
immunization records filled out by the family physician. The
same requirements must be met for daycare enrollment as well.
Keep copies of your child's immunization records and have them
ready to give to the daycare provider. You can request
information on the other children enrolled in the daycare
facility as well. All children enrolled in any daycare facility
your child is going to should be immunized.

You should always have a backup plan for days when your child is
sick and cannot attend daycare. Even if you suspect your child
is catching something, he should be kept at home. The other
daycare mothers will appreciate your compliance with this and
they should follow suit. But there are times when some parents
ignore the customary considerations surrounding children
attending public environments and send their children off to
daycare sick anyway.

At home, frequent hand washing can greatly reduce the chances of
passing the illness on the rest of the family. As a general
rule, washing your hands after coming in contact with your child
is a good idea. One never knows if they are contagious with
something and keeping your hands free of daycare germs, as well
as any surfaces that the child may come in contact with, is good
prevention. Door handles, eating utensils, toys, and plastic
items such as beginner baby books should all be kept sanitized.

Toddlers should be taught right from the start to cover their
mouth when they cough and proper toileting and cleanliness is a
must. Stepstools in front of bathroom sinks enable children to
wash their hands like big kids and colorful child-oriented soap
dispensers add to the fun.

Children build immunities by being sick and then getting well.
Daycare germs can speed up the process that would otherwise take
place in the first years of school, even babies start building
immunities by contact with other children. So a child who has
never been in daycare and hasn't been sick very much will be
thrown in a preschool that abounds with germs and his immunities
begin to build but at the expense of lost school days. So
whether parents like it or not, daycare germs do have their
place in a growing child's life.

About the author:
Visit the About
Animals website to learn about corgi training and corgi adoption.

The Hunt for Reliable Childcare

Author: David Dutch

Finding affordable, quality of child care facilities is a major
concern for many parents. More and more families need both
parents to work to be able to survive these days, especially in
the uncertain current economic climate.

This process certainly does not have to be difficult, but if you
want the process to go as quick and smoothly as possible and
ensure that your baby is going to be safe and protected wherever
you leave them, then there are a few tips you are going to want
to keep in mind to help you choose the right affordable child
care experience.

What is Available

You need to do your research as early as possible. Find out
about the child care facilities in your area. Make sure that
they are near enough for you without causing too much hassle
getting to and fro. Check out the traffic problems at the time
you would need to travel. Ask your family, friends and
neighbours where their children go for child care. Get as much
feedback as possible and draw up a short list of possibilities.
Some nurseries have a waiting list so you will need to be well
organized to find the right facilities available at the right
time.

Make Comparisons

You will need to compare the nurseries that you have on your
list. Take into consideration such factors as how large they
are, how many staff members they have working there, how old are
the majority of the children, the facilities they have, the
quality in child care and so on.

If you are putting your baby into a nursery, you want to make
sure that there are going to be other children around of a
similar age. Your baby will have fun in a nursery where he can
interact with other babies.

When you have gathered as much advice as possible from family
and friends about their child care experiences you can also turn
to the internet, your local council and other resources to read
reviews on the various nurseries.

The next step would be to physically go to these nurseries to
check them out and see the facilities for yourself. It is a good
opportunity to meet the staff. Do the children look happy and
stimulated? Are there plenty of colourful toys and games around
for them? How do the staff interact with the children? Do you
have a good feeling about this place? Occasionally it is fine to
go with your gut instinct.

Child minders

An alternative to nursery child care is to use child minders.
Child minders look after babies and children in their own homes.
On average they care for about 3-5 children. As well as being
registered with the local authority they have to be have a
police check and the local authority also inspect their homes on
a regular basis for safety. They are a great alternative and
your child will be just as safe and happy with them as in a
nursery. I have found child minders to be more flexible, when
the need arises, than nurseries, but that is just my personal
view. You can obtain a current list of registered child minders
from your local council.

Nannies or Au Pairs

Some parents are lucky enough to be able to afford a nanny or au
pair living with them in the family home. Nannies tend to be
more qualified and will cost you more and they care for your
child in your own home. Depending on your circumstances they
could live-in with you. Au pairs are usually foreign nationals
who want to study English and will live in your home and care
for your child. They live as part of your family for up to two
years so you need to be comfortable with having someone else
living in your home with you. They will be responsible for your
child care as well as doing some light housework and they
receive a small wage for personal use. Other expenses such as
their food and travel costs you would provide.

It is always advisable to carry out as much research as
possible, it will give you confidence before you proceed. After
all, you want the best child care experience for your child. So
that you are not worrying all day when you are at work you need
to feel comfortable with your decision. But whichever child care
you go for I am sure your baby or child will thrive and be very
happy.

About the author:
Finding child minders is a task that no parent undergoes lightly
David went through the exercise with his son so he could
continue his full time job it is that experience that is used to
offer advice to other parents in similar circumstances there is
a mass of other information on his web site
http://purelytots.co.uk