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Do you allow your daycare kids to use cloth diapers? For many parents, finding a daycare center that uses or will let them bring in cloth diapers is a challenge if they have kids who have not gone through toilet training.  As more and more business are becoming environmentally conscious and our economy becomes less stable, childcare business owners are beginning to see the benefits of cloth diapering.

There are a wide range of benefits that comes along with using cloth diapers rather than disposable plastic diapers. First and foremost, cloth diapers are more economical. Disposable diapers are expensive! Parents can save about 60 to 70 dollars per month using cloth diapers.

Disposable plastic diapers may not be as safe as people think. Disposable diapers contain the chemicals was the best thing for little bottoms which may cause diaper rash. Another thing to note is that with cloth diapers there is less chance of leakage. And laundering them is easy. Just throw them in the washer overnight and dry them the next morning.  Whether you’re a parent using cloth diapers at home or you’re a child care provider understand that there are diaper cleaning services you can use but you will have to evaluate the cost of the diaper service versus washing them yourself.

For those still using disposable diapers, don’t be afraid to try cloth diapers. It’s not as scary as you think!

Here are a few tips for getting started with cloth diapers:

• Explore your options: There are all types of cloth diapers on the market that will be a good fit for you in cost and lifestyle. While more expensive, there are even new high end cloth diapers that combine the diaper and cover in one.
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions: There are now cloth diaper coaches which can teach you the ins-and-outs of cloth diapering. ZanyZebraDesigns.com has a great cloth diapering 101 course which explains the main diapering systems.
• Wash diapers correctly. Remove as much solid and place them in a diaper pail. When ready to wash, rinse in cold, wash in hot, and then rinse in the warmest water possible. Then rinse again.  Dry cloth diapers on warm or hot setting in the dryer or they can be hung outside. Heloise recommends deodorizing diapers between washings. Use a presoak solution of a gallon of water, a few drops of laundry detergent and a tablespoon of bleach. Then put all the items and the solution into the washing machine and set the machine to the spin cycle.
• Recycle, reduce, and reuse: If you take good care of your diapers, you can resell them and recoup some of your cloth diaper costs. You can’t beat that!
• Wash cloth diapers every 2 or 3 days to avoid smells and excessive staining. And always remember that when washing cloth diapers in a washing machine, rinse them twice.

Your best bet to finding a daycare center that uses cloth diapers is to find a green daycare center. Green daycare centers are environmentally friendly. A green child care center or family care is one that is environmentally friendly. They take specific measures to ensure that the child care environment provides the best in health for children, offer locally-grown or organic food, and celebrate multiculturalism. Environmentally friendly childcare centers teach children to respect the earth and its precious resources.  Most likely the owners of a green daycare center also respect the earth and purposes to maintain a natural lifestyle.

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I always encourage trying however realizing that unless your child is really ready you may be doing loads of work for little reward. Potty training is supposed to be a positive transition in life something that is filled with personal reward and satisfaction. Never should it be frustrating or punishing for both parents and child.

When a child is ready to potty train you will know. A ready child can usually be fully trained within a 3 day, fully committed period (perhaps still with a naptime/bedtime diaper as the exception). During these 3 days be prepared to let your child wear ONLY underwear/panties and that he/she might get wet. Consistency is key and being ok with accidents for the first few weeks is also really important. Be prepared to be doing tons of laundry. This is ok. Be prepared to wash floors. That’s ok, it’s just pee and it does clean. The only way your child is going to learn and this to be an efficient training process is if they are allowed to have accidents. They learn this way. Your children (children in general) they DON’T like being wet, especially with pee. If they are not minding it then they are NOT ready.

Parents will say they have been potty training for that past 2 weeks/month/few months/year. That is not training, that means the child was not ready and constancy is not there. That’s playing not potty training. Again, it should not take more than a long weekend, of being at home completely dedicated to the cause.

Of course, when this is established and your child at home (after the 3 consistent days) is successful I will continue here being diligent. This is a partnership and I have found this is the best way of doing it. Most children are concrete learners (especially this age) they are pretty black and white right now so they need to understand the process and know that you are going to help them follow through.

Lastly, it’s OK if they are not ready yet. Again, this process is supposed to be a positive one. It’s exciting that we can go on the toilet and wear big boy/girl underwear. Negativity creates anxieties and regression and it’s never good during this process.

Pull-up opinion:

To me a pull-up is a diaper. It does the same job as a diaper and it (on a whole) hinders the process. They are fine for nap/night time/ and *maybe* long trips but not in replacement of underwear/panties.

Good luck, remember…they will not being going to High school in a Diaper, so this too shall pass.

Louise

My name is Louise Roberts, owner of Louise’s Day Home. I have been happily married to my high school sweetheart for almost 14 years.  I have 5 amazing kids. My mother has run a daycare for over 25 years.  So my passion for childcare has come quite honestly. In high school I did my work experience in a Daycare Centre achieving top scores and Honor’s while doing so. I did marry and have my first child young and started my Day home ASAP. I have been doing this ever since. Meanwhile, I ran and facilitated an early literacy preschool program in my community called the Magic Carpet Ride for 5 years. Through this opportunity I was able take and participate in variety workshops, courses and programs all preschool relevant.

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Summer Colds in Child Care

Summer colds occur frequently in preschoolers because of exposure to air conditioning, airplane travel and summer camp playmates.  In fact the viruses that can cause a summer cold are estimated to cause millions of summer colds each year.  Colleen Shamberger, RN, is a school nurse in Saratoga Springs, New York, and the mother of three children.  As a school nurse, Shamberger advises and counsels parents and school staff on childhood illnesses and the management and control of infections and communicable diseases.  In this interview, Shamberger discusses how to prevent and treat summer colds in daycare centers.

OwnADaycare: In young children, how do we recognize and treat a summer cold versus allergies?

Colleen Shamberger, RN: Children can get up to 12 colds a year and while they are more common in fall and winter, summer colds occur more frequently than you think. Some of the typical signs and symptoms of a cold are runny nose, stuffy nose, sore throat, fever and body aches.  Like a cold, allergy symptoms can also include a runny nose and stuffy nose; however the main difference with allergies is the itching of the eyes.

Children’s Advil has made it easy to learn more about summer colds and how to treat them at www.ChildrensAdvilSolutions.com.

OwnADaycare: What are the most effective ways to treat a child’s fever?

Colleen Shamberger, RN: First, you want to make sure you don’t over dress your child or cover him or her with heavy blankets. Overheating can actually increase fever.  You should also encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids as well to avoid dehydration.

If your child is extremely miserable with a fever and you want to provide some relief you have a couple of choices. One is children’s acetaminophen and one is children’s ibuprofen.  I personally think Children’s Advil, which contains the active ingredient ibuprofen, is often a more effective way to reduce a child’s fever.  It lasts 6 to 8 hours and has a faster time to relief.

OwnADaycare: What are the best ways child care providers can prevent summer colds and to reduce the spread of illness in daycare?

Colleen Shamberger, RN: There are a number of preventative measures child care providers can take to reduce the risk of summer colds and reduce the spread of illness in daycare.  Most importantly, make sure you and the children under your care wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water.  Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. You also want children to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. I also recommend you spend time outside as much as possible because an air conditioned environment can pose virus sharing risks and increase the likelihood of a child catching a cold.

OwnADaycare: What can you do for a child with a summer cold who can’t sleep at night?

Colleen Shamberger, RN: First, I recommend providing supportive care. Look to elevate the child’s head with an extra pillow and consider putting a humidifier in the child’s room.

For children between the ages of two and 11 who have a fever or aches and pains associated with a summer a cold, I would recommend Children’s Advil. Children’s Advil helps reduce fever and relieve the minor aches and pains associated with common cold and because it also lasts up to 8 hours it’s a great option at night for children. As always, if you have questions contact your doctor.

OwnADaycare: What are the different types of pediatric pain medications currently available?

Colleen Shamberger, RN: This year in particular it’s confusing for parents to know what pediatric medications to use because of the recent recalls of many of the over-the-counter products for children.  Children’s Advil is not part of the recall and is currently available nationwide.

OwnADaycare: What is difference between pediatric acetaminophen and pediatric ibuprofen?

Colleen Shamberger, RN: Pediatric ibuprofen, the active ingredient in Children’s Advil, reduces fever faster than pediatric acetaminophen, the active in Children’s Tylenol. Children’s Advil also lasts up to 8 hours.

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Some parents, especially mothers, often feel a sense of guilt when they have to leave their child in day care centers. Those parents have no choice but to support their family financially so they have to work rigorously out of necessity. As a result, they make the very hard decision to leave their child in day care centers, outside their home, away from them at the time of their work. Because of these inevitable circumstances, many parents, especially mothers, can’t help but to feel guilty for leaving their children in the hands of childcare providers. Here are some approaches parents can follow to avoid feeling guilty:

Always keep in mind that it’s for your own child’s sake. The first thing that you should realize as a parent is that bringing your child/children to daycare is the best decision for you as a working parent and for your baby who needs attention and care. Disregard the old belief that babies should be taken care of only by their mothers until they become toddlers. This maybe true but because of financial needs, you as a parent still have to work and earn income for your family. Thus, do not feel guilty if you have to leave you child to child care providers. Without a doubt, children need attention, love, and care by their parents but babies can still form relationships and attain those emotional needs even with other people who sincerely care for them. As long as the child care giver gives much attention and quality day care for your child, you can be assured that your child will be happy with the company of other children in day care centers where he could learn self-control, language skills and social skills.

Choose day care center wisely. Since you would be putting the care and security of your child in the hands of ‘strangers,’ it is important to choose carefully which day care center you will place your baby into. Make sure that the child care center you selected is highly reputable in giving child care and it has no any record of child abuses. Choosing the right day care center for your child is critical since this is where your child will learn communication skills, social skills through playing with other kids, and basic skills in math and English. Make sure that in day care your child has enjoyable and fun experiences.

Find some balance. You can make up for the time you leave your child in day care through slowing down the process of getting your child ready in the morning. While preparing for your breakfast, try to build much closer relationship with your child through talking to him, telling him short stories, and by just hugging and frequently kissing him while telling him how much you love him. Explain to him why you need to send him in day care and why you need to work. Tell him all the nice things he will learn and experience in day care. If he loves to sing, then sing with him. Also, tell him jokes as you both of you laugh together.

When it’s your time to drop your child off to the day care center, give him something that is special for him, like his comfort food or his favorite stuffed toy. It will not only make your child happy but it will also give him a sense of security while he is in the day care center.

See: How to start a childcare center

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Most people have this dream of opening a business that they really are passionate with but oftentimes, this does not happen. What discourages people from starting a business is their lack of money. A business usually means shelling out money and you must need a huge amount of capital in order to start a business.

If you really want to open a child care business, there are certain ways in which you can fund for the business. There are so many financial sources which you can ask help from so that you will be able to achieve your dream of taking care of children.

The best way to fund for you child care business is through your saving. If you have the money, then there should not be anything that will stop you from venturing in a child care business. If you do not have the right amount of funds, then you can ask for help in order to be able to start your business. You may choose to ask help from family, friends and even from the bank.

You family and friends are the best people whom you can run to if you need to have money for your business. These are the people whom you are close with which will make it easier for you to borrow money from. When borrowing money, make sure that you tell them that you will pay back whatever amount you borrowed or depending on your arrangements. Keep in mind that it is better to borrow from a single person rather than from many people. This will make paying them back easier and much more convenient.

Daycare center loans are available for those who cannot find funding sources for their business. There are daycare center loaning companies which provide mortgages for commercial use. This makes it sound so simple, when you have a property, you are good to go. Contrary to what you may think, this is a risky choice for your daycare center. This provides a high rate of foreclosure which will make the property owners think twice about having to let others borrow their property.

If you are one of those borrows who have experienced borrowing or have has dealt with loans before, then this may be a good choice. Banks usually give out loans to daycare centers on a fixed rate, usually 5 years and 20 amortization schedules. These loans to value op purchase usually hang at approximately 70%. The refinances go up to 60%. There are even some loans which require a 2 year tax return accompanied by a 1.4 debt coverage ratio. This debt coverage ratio shows the cash flow in the business. This conventional financing will have the least benefits that will only lead to over analyzing management of the business. And with business, over analyzing can lead to wrong decisions and so the business fails.

A better way of financing a daycare center is by the use of SBA loans. This is such a flexible banking loan since it ensures the loan for the bank. If you want to borrow money, you only have to pay as low as 15% on purchases which means 85% loan to value. With a conventional financing, usually is requires a 40% down payment. A 1.1 debt coverage ratio is allowed and makes it easier for your daycare center to comply with. This provides flexibility and ease in starting your day care business. A good thing about this is that it can be used for refinancing of current daycare center loans. If the SBA program is included, loan to values can get up to 85%.

There are even some loans which do not give Tenant Improvement Loans. This will only add to issues that might come up such as not being able to follow their business plan. Particularly when it comes to the design of the daycare center, it can push the owner to comply with whatever is there for them to use even if it means having a smaller space. This is what the banks do to be assured of the commercial real estate. What happens in that the capital will be greater in the value rather than the percentage. In order to be able to have the leased place for a certain amount, there is a certain percentage which you must already have upon claiming the loan. They usually require a 10-15% of the total amount of tenant costs to be paid there. This may sound so cheap but what if you would want to own the place? This 10-15% will translate to higher amount of money shelled out. This is a better choice since this has a lower monthly fee rather than leasing on the property.

There are other grants provided by the government when it comes to funding for your business. These grants are your best solution when it comes to this problem. If you have a grant, then you would not need to pay back the money that you used for your daycare business. Applying to most of these grants will get you a higher chance of getting the approval of these grants. There are so many guidelines which you can use when choosing the right grants. You may search online or read business books, these will really help. Do not get tired of applying grants because it may take long to get approved, but it is really rewarding.

It all depends on your needs that will allow you choose a perfect way of funding for your daycare. There may be certain deals that will work for you, but some which will not. Do not get blinded by the fact that all of these will be your easiest solution to start a daycare business. You should be able to weigh the pros of each so that you will prevent incurring losses rather than profiting from this. When you have chosen the way that you will fund your project, it will be easier to set out a plan on how to pay for it. As long as you do follow this, your business will be good.

See: How to start a childcare business

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A quality child care service is defined as the satisfaction that a child care provider gives its customers. Quality means how the service is performed and how it serves the expectations and standards of parents. A child care provider that has quality service means that the environment is healthy for your child to live in and the people are easy to get along with. A good child care service provider also offers a sincere helping hand for the parents and they are not just after the profit. These child care professionals should also treat the parents and the child with respect and knowledge that every child is unique and thus needs special attention.

From parents and experts in child care have experienced, many qualities of a god child care service provider may be listed. These are drawn from years of experience in the industry of caring for children and from the parents’ personal recounts of experiences especially to those who have reared one or more child.

To the first hand end-users of these services, the following qualities are possessed by a professional child care service provider:

Emphatic and attentive. If the child care service provider is caring and is able to show real sympathy abut your child, then he may also be attentive of your child’s needs and may be able to meet your expectations. The provider also heeds the child’s communication abilities and reacts with them with care. The provider should also be able to react on verbal or non-verbal clues of the child and attend to your child all the time and not wasting time at sharing gossips with colleagues.

Affection is regarded to child by the child care professional. Other physical gestures of love may also evident like those that parents extend to their child. In this way children will have a sense of belongingness and not feel being lost. A positive feeling while with the care of the child care professionals is important for the child not to feel bored or miss his or her parents.

Respect for the parents and the child on care. Most adults are not too fond of children and do not even care to pay deeper attention on their attitudes and the way they behave. Tendency is that children are neglected and accidents may happen. Unfortunately, people who work at providers are like these. They are unmindful of the welfare of the children they are caring for.

A child care professional must be able to interact with your child with respect and that includes giving him the chance to express himself. Patience is always a virtue for a care giver. The caregiver must also value the child’s pint of views, feeling, and attitude toward others.

Mindful of the security of the children. A professional caregiver lives on to the responsibility of making sure of the child’s safety. He or she must make sure that the environment where the child is in is hazard-free. Cleanliness of rooms must always be maintained and any choking hazards like toys that are age-inappropriate should be eliminated from the playground.

See: How to start a childcare business

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Having a baby at house is a magnificent experience. Looking following the infant and caring for it is still more satisfying experience. When scheming how much to nourish a baby, on standard a baby needs two and a half ounces of method for each strike of his weight. A baby does not differentiate night from daylight. If it’s your first, your infant is going to make a big dissimilarity in your existence. Of course babies cannot appreciate what you are saying since they don’t have a clutch of the English verbal communication but they do appreciate sounds and tone, and if you talk silently and make happy noise the baby know this.

If both parents are operational and you need to equilibrium the mind of your child flanked by day care centers there are a lot of things you can do to achieve this, even if you are solitary parent many day care centres will labour with you to assist out. If both parents labour a day job perhaps you can organize to have one of the parents working also at night or a spread out shift, say preliminary at noon and functioning to 8 or 9. And more often than not the most excellent time to do this is in the summer when both parents might be off labour.

As you appear at the kid care alternative of day care center, day care at an important person else’s house or a devoted child care member of staff in your house, there are two other issues you have to take into thought: it may be best to think only state approved day care provider; and your pal or co-worker’s careful choice might not be the most excellent one for your relations.

In a childcare center you will require at least one authorized trained being that should oversee everything, this is very important if something should happen during operational hours. How can a parent be sure they have made the right choice? A parent desires the most excellent promising care for their child. Today youngster care centers are very expensive, sometimes parents wonder if it is cost effective for both parents to work, because it is so costly many think that the day care centers are money magnets.

The most imperative parts of providing daycare for your child and that’s your child’s dietary requirements. Without doubt the daycare center is not going to allow the child go hungry and the food the child is specified to eat will undoubtedly be first-rate food. Trying to uncover good quality daycare is very rigid.

When the child care inference came about many parents were very content about this because it put more cash in their pockets. Many rules have changed since 2001, this was approximately when all the tax cuts were occurrence and in fact greater than before the tax deduction for the number for kids. Children who are below the age 12 the parents are entitled to be given a tax break for them and this is a life saver for many. If you didn’t know about this tax benefit there are many accountants or expert tax planners that can assist with this, and demonstrate you how you can assert this deduction on your duty.

See: How to start a childcare center

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A licensed childcare business is generally a legally hassle-free enterprise. It is likewise important to secure a permit if you intend to care for the children of more than a single family.

Many people think that getting a license is not important particularly because it consumes time and can be stressful. They also feel that a childcare license is actually not necessary. But if you plan to take care of many children, your business should be licensed since you will be taking in greater responsibility. More than just giving you some sort of security, getting a license will give you many benefits and advantages compared to unlicensed daycare centers. These advantages will also bring you financial benefits above all. Securing a childcare license can help you earn more income.

If your childcare business is licensed, your cash flow will be increased significantly because you can now charge higher fees and bring in more clients, you can get income provided by food programs, and you can have a better chance in getting grants.

Higher rates and more clients. Anticipating what your clients need when putting up a business as a childcare service is important so you can be prepared about their standard and you can prove that you are capable of meeting their requirements. Obtaining a business license is one way to impress your clients. Most parents who are scouting which child care service provider to entrust their child to look for quality. If you are a parent, you want to find only the best childcare provider so you can be comfortable that your child is well taken cared of while you are away. Most parents trust a childcare service that is licensed. Quality service means extra cost for parents who are willing to pay even more for quality. A licensed childcare service business is regularly subjected to inspection and monitoring making parents feel confident that the provider is giving only the best childcare service to their child. Monitoring is important in making childcare providers excel in the services they render.

Additional money from food programs. Food programs provide education to childcare providers on what nutritious snack or meal to serve to the children enrolled in the center. Childcare providers are required to submit a monthly menu of the food served in the daycare center for monitoring. This may add extra effort and work for you if you are a childcare provider but this will actually earn you additional income since a fraction of the snack or meal’s cost is reimbursed to you. Food programs only give reimbursement, although not a big amount but helpful to defray your budget for food, to licensed childcare providers. By acquiring a license for your business, you can get benefits from these kinds of programs plus you can obtain additional income.

Better chance in getting grants. A childcare provider that is licensed can apply for as many daycare grants as it wants. Grants are provided from local to federal governments not to mention many private organizations. Grant sources require the grant applicant to specify where the money will be used while others allow the daycare center to use the money to whatever purpose that pertains to the business.

It maybe nerve-racking to obtain a business license for your daycare center but you will surely reap the benefits of earning additional money and be glad that you did!

See: How to start a childcare business

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Childcare center business is turning out to be a very profitable one. A lot of people are starting up this kind of business and those who had started are thinking of expansion or upgrading their facilities. However, capital outlay to start or expand a daycare center business is not easy to come by. It is necessary therefore to look for other sources of money to start or expand your daycare business. One source of funding is through grants. There are many organizations nowadays that can give grants for the daycare center business. All you need is the resourcefulness to find them. You may take any of the following steps in obtaining funding for your daycare business:

• Your local bank can provide the funds you need for your daycare center.

• Venture capital – It is private equity capital provided to early-stage but high potential growth companies in the hope of generating a return on investment. It is cash given in exchange for shares in the invested business.

• Gifts or loans from family or friends – Your family may support your business venture by giving you cash gifts or loans which you can use either by starting or expanding your daycare business operation.

• Obtaining counsel from small business associations – Business associations normally encourage other people to embark into business by providing them invaluable advice on the common problems encountered by start-up business. They also provide references for grants and loans.

• Getting advice from incubator organizations – They are organizations that design programs to accelerate the development of business start-up through support from their business contacts. They can easily refer your daycare business to member organizations that can provide funding.

On-line listing can help you find grants from foundations and other organizations. There are certain organizations that for a nominal fee will include you in their roster of grant seekers. They make the list available to organizations who give grants to businesses that need the infusion of additional capitalization, especially for expansion.

If you have found a potential grant funding, you have to contact the organization in order to request for their funding guidelines and an application form. By asking for a copy of the annual report of the organization, you will be able to have an idea what they are usually looking for when they give grants.

Look for organizations that provide grants to daycare center and find out if your plan of operations will fit in their criteria. You must know their eligibility requirements, the deadline for filing the application, and whether your location and the population you serve falls under their requirements.

Make sure that you have filled up the application form completely and correctly and that you have submitted all the supporting documentations that grant provider may require. Proposals for funding are often times rejected outright if they are incomplete so you must review the same thoroughly before submission.

You might get a rejection or two before you finally get your grant. Just don’t give up. Keep on submitting your proposals until you finally find an organization that can you give grant money for you start or expand your daycare business.

See: How to start a daycare center

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