July 2020 - Page 2 of 2 - Mamas Like Me

How to Choose a Daycare for Your Child: 5 Must-Haves

It is essential to know how to choose a daycare that you can trust with your child. This guide shows how to a choose a daycare for your child.

If you’re agonizing about leaving your child in daycare, with someone else taking care of them all day, you’re not alone. Many have felt guilty about it but you shouldn’t.

As a matter of fact, it can be good for your kid according to a study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. Those who attended center-based childcare have better coping with emotional and peer-related problems. They’re also less likely to develop low prosocial behaviors.

What you should think about carefully is how to choose a daycare. Choosing a daycare center is one of the most important decisions that you have to make as a parent. The time spent at the daycare center is going to have a big and lasting effect on your child’s brain development.

To help you with your decision, here are some things that a high-quality daycare must definitely have.

1. How to Choose a Daycare: Start With Research

An excellent daycare center should have built up a solid reputation. However, you wouldn’t know about it if you don’t do your research.

A good starting point is to ask for recommendations from friends and family. You can also ask your pediatrician or other parents.

2. License (Yes!) Accreditation (Up to You)

When choosing child care for your little boy or girl, the facility should be licensed. This is non-negotiable! Each state will have basic legal requirements for the operation of a daycare.

With regard to accreditation, it’s entirely up to you. You have to consider availability and convenience. For example, only about 7000 programs are accredited by the NAEYC and that’s less than 10% of all child care centers.

While accreditation is nice to have, don’t get too hung up on it. You can still find a great toddlers child care program with the features that are important to you.

3. Qualified and Engaged Teachers

While you’re away, your kid’s well-being is in the hands of the caregivers. You have all the right to ask about their certification and training so you know that you can put your trust in them.

Teachers should have degrees related to early childhood development. They should also know how to administer life-saving maneuvers such as CPR in case of emergencies.

You should also observe how they interact with the children and how the children respond to them.

4. Age-Appropriate Curriculum

What are they teaching the kids? Ask about the goals for the activities and the reasoning behind their schedule. Are they tailoring the curriculum to the age and developmental stage of each child?

Perhaps more importantly, is their teaching philosophy in tune with yours? Your goal for the care and education of your little one should align with what the daycare can provide.

5. A Safe and Healthy Environment

This is another feature that you shouldn’t budge on. A great daycare center is set up with safety in mind at all times. Ask about childproofing, food and toy safety practices, and their SOP for emergency response.

Finding the Right Daycare Center

Hopefully, this article about how to choose a daycare can help you find a safe and nurturing environment for your child. Take all this into consideration but also have your own criteria for what you think is best.

For more parenting tips, feel free to browse our site.

5 Gifts For The On-The-Go Parents To Be

One of the hardest things about becoming a parent is feeling constrained — especially when you’re used to traveling or not being much of a homebody and feel the need to always on-the-go. For second time parents, things may become a bit easier as the first baby was practice and maneuvering through the trickiest situations has become a breeze. Still, the new challenge of baby number two is being able to become a pro at being on the go with two kids instead of one. For the parents to be, especially the ones that love to travel, here are a few gift ideas to make life easier for parents and comfortable for baby.

Birthing Classes

For many mothers-to-be, thinking about their approaching to giving birth triggers different feelings such as fear, anxiety and stress. The common reasons for this include misconceptions about giving birth and delivery and many other unknowns. How it will all go, if the baby is going to be alright etc etc. Many different scary thoughts goes in the minds. So it’s highly suggestible to visit some birthing classes. See this review of some the best childbirth classes and choose before giving birth.

Compact Stroller

From running errands, getting around the airport for travel, or meeting with friends for lunch, having a convenient stroller is a game-changer. The best strollers are lightweight, compact, have room for storage, and easy to fold and unfold such as Ergobaby strollers. When choosing a stroller, make sure that it’s also comfortable for baby. Some of the things to look for is the size of the canopy, mesh panels to provide ventilation on warmer days, a comfy seat pad that provides enough padding and can be removed to wash, and you’ll even want to pay attention to the design of the wheels to make sure it rides smoothly. Ultimately, using a lightweight stroller is not only best for your baby, who will feel safe and comfortable, but sleek and modern strollers are usually easier to take with you on your travels than the bulkier models.

Portable Bottle Warmer

Anything portable is any new mom’s best friend. Whether mom is planning on breastfeeding or using the formula, she’ll need to warm up both. Bottle warmers such as The Baby’s Brew allows you to travel anywhere from 8 to 12 hours once it’s fully charged. This bottle warmer can even save a trip to the kitchen for parents who make bottles using formula. Keeping a formula station in the nursery can make it convenient for those late midnight feedings.

Seatbelt Cover

Since busy parents tend to spend a lot more time on the road, using an eZtotZ seat belt buckle cover prevents accidental unbuckling from happening, especially if you have an older sibling riding in the backseat. It’s best to also use one for your toddler and older kids that are using a car seat or booster seat as they tend to unbuckle themselves at times while being curious or playing around.

Shopping Cart Hammock

A lot of new moms get intimidated at the thought of making a trip to the grocery store with their babies. Trying to figure out how to lug the car seat back and forth while dealing with the groceries seems overwhelming. A Binxy Baby shopping cart hammock will allow mom to leave the car seat in the car, while baby lays comfortably in the baby hammock that easily attaches to the shopping cart. Not only does this create more space for groceries, but it also gives moms a break from carrying a bulky car seat in and out of the car.

When shopping for parents on the go, always remember convenience. If it’s convenient, it will make for the best gift as they think about you and how grateful they are in the moment where your gift made life easier.

Secure Your Child’s Financial Future With These Simple Ideas

Watching your children grow into happy, healthy, responsible adults is one of the many privileges that us parents get to enjoy. We can set them up to make good decisions regarding their physical health, teach them the importance of relationships, patience, working hard, and how to always prioritize their mental health.

Have you ever thought about how you can prepare your child for the financial responsibilities of adulthood? It’s easy to overlook. After all, when they’re older, your child will get a job and start a financial journey of their own. But there are ways that parents like you and me can give them a helping hand and hit the ground running.

Want to know more? Read on for how you can secure your child’s financial future with these simple ideas.

A junior ISA

Giving your child a hand with their future plans is easy with a junior ISA – this site can help you build a pot of money for your child – it’s a tax-efficient way for you to save your money and allow it to grow each year. This money can only be accessed when your child turns 18, giving you plenty of time to create a good nest egg for your child to make the most of.

Start saving before they’re born!

If you’re currently expecting your child, then there’s no better time to start saving. The sooner the better! You don’t have to worry about putting aside vast amounts each month, especially if you’re on a tight budget. Between now and when your child turns 18, you could slowly build a strong amount that will give them a much needed financial head start.

Life insurance

Taking out life insurance for you and your partner is a simple yet effective way to support your children in case something should happen to you. Depending on your policy, your mortgage may be covered as well as funeral expenses. If you suddenly fall ill then your family won’t be plunged into a financial black hole that’s incredibly difficult to get out of. Especially while the family is grieving.

Normalize money and teach your kids about it!

Some aspects of money can be incredibly complicated. However, it’s important to teach your child the basics of money so they have a brighter financial future. Teaching them about saving, the importance of making a budget, avoiding debt and good money management are all financial building blocks your child needs to make informed choices as adults.

Write a will

Death is a difficult subject for any family, but leaving instructions for the family you’ve left behind is essential. Writing a will and leaving your children as the benefactors can help secure their futures and ensure that all your assets, property, and money goes exactly where you want it to. You’ll find lots of free will writing facilities online or reach out to a lawyer for more advice.

Final thoughts…

Teaching your kids about money and preparing them for financial responsibility is an essential part of parenting. Start as soon as possible!

Everything You Need To Know About The Instant Pot

Want to whip up a quick, delicious meal after a long hard day at the office? Maybe you are on limited time and need something quick before you head out the door. The microwave might seem like the most convenient option. There is no denying that it will get the job done, but it’ll likely suck out all the food and flavor. Plus, it is not the healthiest option out there. This is where the instant pot comes in handy. Not only can these devices whip up a good, healthy meal, but they can do it faster than you’d imagine. That being said, instant pots come available in a variety of designs and styles, and using one might seem like a straightforward process, but that isn’t always the case. Whether you are entirely new to instant pots or just looking to enhance your skills with your new device, here are some things that you need to know.

Might Take Longer Than Imagined

There is no denying that an instant pot is quick. It can whip up an entire, delectable meal in just a matter of minutes. However, it is not as fast as you might be thinking. It’s nothing like a microwave. It’s not like throwing a burrito in the microwave, heating for 5 minutes, and being done. There is no way that you can whip up a poached chicken breast in 8 minutes. You can’t make steel-cut oatmeal in 3 minutes either like some sites might have you believe. However, this doesn’t mean that the device isn’t fast. The thing with the instant pot is that the cooking process doesn’t start until the pressure builds inside. On top of this, it doesn’t end until all the pressure is released. That being said, you should set aside at least anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes just for the pressure to build and 30 minutes for it to release. A more accurate time for those oats might be more like 23 to 28 minutes as opposed to 5.

The Saute Feature

Everything you should know about how the instant pot tapioca pudding is different can be found out this website, but it really is the saute feature that sets the device apart. The saute feature is one that will allow you to caramelize onions or toast spices without pulling another pan. It is also a feature that you can take advantage of when you are done cooking soups and sauces to let them simmer for a bit. This is something that is a real pain with the slow cooker.

Not Just A Pressure Cooker

The instant pot is not just a pressure cooker like you might believe. It offers a number of unique features in one device. It acts like a slow cooker, a rice cooker, and it can make yogurt as well. Whether you are looking for a device that can do one of these things or you are looking to eliminate a device from your pantry that can do one of these things, it is the instant pot that can do them all. While the instant pots are rather large and take up a lot of counter space, you have to remember just everything they are capable of.

The Customized Kindergarten Program For The Little Ones

The kindergarten programs are good for children for giving them the opportunity of practising and learning the social, problem solving, emotional as well as study skills. Everything they will get is based on schooling. It also gives the development of the system that lead to the achievement of the important goals. The kindergarten programs have all the necessary structures of teaching a child everything from the scratch. Painting, storytelling, knowledge about folk tales, poems, and rhymes, along with basic counting and mathematical activities, there are multiple ways in which any kindergarten program allows a child to grow.

Benefits Of The Kindergarten Program

• Kindergarten programs lead to the promotion of the learning of the child. They have a well-structured setting with a group of children and teachers. They give the opportunity for sharing, following instructions and beginning with the foundation level of schooling.

• They go beyond the known levels of examination, assessment, and evaluation. With the right structure of pedagogy and learning methods, the children learn all the basics of communication and it helps them to develop into a fully formed and well-knowledgeable individual.

• Kindergarten programs promote the development of cognitive skills and learning languages. The child builds enough knowledge in the language in which environment. There are also teachers who help in the development of language skills by making use of thought-provoking questions.

• The kindergarten programs will boost the literacy skills and numeracy thus enabling young children to grow.

• The kindergarten is responsible for the promotion of emotional and social development by building trustworthy relationships. There are high-quality early childhood programs that will strengthen the relationship between the parents, children, and teacher. Games are the ways through which children get to know their spirit and to which way they are inclined.

• The real-time environment gives a good opportunity for learning many new things in life. The kindergarten program teaches children to take care of themselves and others.

• There are high-quality early childhood programs that will give the successful participation in the classroom. Overall, children build good hand-eye coordination along with the balance due to the high-quality kindergarten programs.

Services By Kindergarten Program

There are special kindergarten programs for 4 years old where children attend the schools around 15 hours each week. The schooling will also come along with a long daycare centre. Early start kindergarten also conducts 15 hours of the low cost of kindergarten per week. There are some three-year-old kindergarten programs that will build good overall upbringing for the children. Supported by community groups, councils, and long daycare program for kindergarten will give plenty of additional programs as well.

These kindergartens are under government supervision that ensures better learning. The professional kindergarten programs are good because they offer the specialized integrated programs for ensuring that the child gets ready for the schooling. The programs are specially designed for the three to five-year-old ones. The personal development of the child will give them the development of good basic knowledge and overall health development.

Children become interactive and culturally rich with a diverse range of qualities in them. The kindergarten programs lead to the development of the cognitive skills in the children that you will not find elsewhere. Moreover, these are centres are totally regulated to maintain the norms sticking to the government. There is a real-time monitoring system for the overall development of the child that makes them successful enough in achieving their objectives. The kindergarten programs are licensed and verified to ensure that at any cost it will not ruin the prospect of the child. When you hire the best kindergarten programs for the children, always try to ensure that they are licensed, they have the right medical and emergency facility for the children.

How to Help Your Child Manage Their Asthma

Discovering that your child has asthma can be somewhat overwhelming, especially when you don’t know how to handle the issue. Will you be able to cope when your child is struggling to breathe and gasping for air?

However, if you know what to do, you can teach your child how to manage their condition, and significantly reduce the amount of stress for both of you, that such a situation can sometimes cause. The following are some important things that you can pass on to your child so that they can cope with their asthma.

How to recognize triggers – asthma is triggered in different ways for different people, so both you and your child must make an effort to find out what it is that triggers his/her asthma. These could include animal hair and dander, air pollution, pollen, dust, cold weather, infections, or exercise. Familiarizing yourself with these triggers will help you to avoid them in the future and prevent asthma flare-ups.

What to do in the event of a flare-up – it’s not only about asthma attacks though. Children frequently have flare-ups where their air passages become inflamed or narrowed, and they don’t feel it. Although breathing might feel normal, inflammation can still be caused by those everyday triggers. Knowing that this is a risk to your child means that you can help him/her recognize when their airway isn’t functioning as it should be.

Establish daily breathing tests – daily breathing tests can often help to prevent flare-ups. With the help of a device called a “peak flow meter”, you can measure your child’s breathing ability. If the peak flow drops, it means that inflammation is increasing. A peak flow meter can even detect a small amount of inflammation, even if your child doesn’t feel ill, which will give you time to treat a flare-up even before it occurs.

How to use their medication – there are various forms of asthma treatment, such as pills, as well as devices like nebulizers, inhalers, and as above, peak flow meters. Your doctor will tell you which option/s is best for your child, and it is essential that your child learns how to use them correctly in order to maximize their efficiency.

Nebulizers work well with small children, but by about the age of 2 or 3, an inhaler should be easy for them to use on their own. However, if your child is this young, it is recommended to connect an inhaler spacer to the device. This eliminates the need for eye-hand coordination and will allow your child to use his/her inhaler quite easily.

Whether oral or inhaled asthma treatment is prescribed for your child, you can help him/her remember to take it every day, by making it a part of their daily routine, like before or after meals or when brushing their teeth.

Help your child to establish a plan of action – as soon as you have figured out how your child reacts when they have an attack or a flare-up, help him/her to recognize the difference between a flare-up and an attack, as well as what to do if and when they happen. Your child should establish his/her own plan of action so that they can handle their own treatment or medication. As soon as your child has established their own plan of action, he/she will become more adept at handling the condition.

Even though asthma can make life difficult for both child and parent, with a little bit of effort and know-how, it is very possible to control asthmatic conditions and live a basically normal life, like everyone else.