Motherhood Incorporated

If you have someone care for your children in your home on a regular basis, you should be paying them a rate of at least minimum wage, and this is a requirement if they work for you more than 20 hours per week.

If you have a child care professional work for you full-time and that lives in your home, you absolutely must know the laws that govern these types of arrangements. There are limits to the number of hours and days you can require this person to work. For example, you cannot ask them to sleep in the same room as your child, as this may seem as if you’re requiring them to work a 24-hour shift, which is illegal. You must also be familiar with requirements for making sure that this person has legal status to work in the U.S.

Obesity is becoming a problem even for children these days, because of the lack of proper nutrition and regular exercise. A diet high in fast food and a schedule that revolves around the TV and video games only encourages a child to be out of shape.

Make exercise a family activity. Plan things to do as a family that you’ll all enjoy, such as biking or playing at the park.

If the family has a dog, encourage the children to walk him or her.

Limit your fast food and takeout meals, and foods like pizza and pasta. Make salads a part of dinner every night. Cut down on frying and investigate spice blends and other ingredients that will make healthy food flavorful and something your children will look forward to.

If your child needs medication or is under a doctor’s care for any reason, always follow their instructions carefully. Do not trust what you read on the internet, what your friends tell you, or even your own mother’s advice over your doctor’s. Remember, your doctor has gone through years and years of medical training and has had experience treating patients on top of that, so if you do want a second opinion, get it from another doctor, not anyone else.

Be sure you’re always taking proper precautions for any activity your child participates in. Make sure they have a helmet on when they go biking, skating, or skateboarding

This type of care is provided in a facility other than a private home; they are private businesses, not just someone taking care of children “on the side.”.

Centers may specialize in a certain age group or offer care for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children. Fees will vary; some receive government funding in order to offer a sliding-fee scale or scholarships for low-income families.

Centers that care for more than three children for more than three hours a day must also be licensed by the State Department of Human Services. They must follow certain health and safety standards in their facility, as well as requirement for staffing and educational programs

Keep medicines and cleaning products in containers with safety caps and locked away from children. To children, pills look like candy, cleaning and automotive products look like juice. Don’t assume that they know these thing are off-limits. Other items such as matches, flame starters (for candles), knives, razors, batteries, and anything else harmful should be kept out of sight or locked in a drawer.

If your home has peeling paint anywhere, fix this immediately. Children put anything and everything in their mouths, and paint chips are often eaten by ones crawling around on the floors. In older home especially this needs to be taken care of, as the pain may contain lead.

In some areas, it’s illegal to smoke in a car when there’s a child present, and for good reason. Secondhand smoke is being proven to be almost as harmful as the actual smoking itself. If you smoke, quit. If you choose not to, then take it outside, and refuse to light up in your child’s presence.

Always check bath water temperature with your wrist or elbow before putting your baby in to bathe. Don’t use your hand, which isn’t as sensitive to the water.

Infants and babies should never be left alone, especially near the bathtub, swimming pool, or any body of water, and anywhere they might fall from, such as a highchair or other furniture.

Children and babies especially are more sensitive to the elements than adults. If you’re a bit chilly, your baby is probably very cold. If the sun is a bit bright, your baby could actually get a sunburn. Always cover them with a blanket or sun bonnet or other protective items.

Protect your children from strangers. Explain what a “stranger” is, and make sure they understand this includes anyone they could meet online.

Of course you should tailor this list to your self and your baby – if you have prescription medicines for baby, of course you should pack that – but here is a general guideline of the essentials you’ll want to pack: 

• A day’s supply of diapers
• A case of wet wipes
• Plastic bags for disposing of soiled diapers and wipes
• Diaper rash ointment
• Baby powder and baby lotion
• Hand sanitizer for you, for after changing
• Extra pacifiers
• A tube of teething gel and teething rings, if your baby is teething
• Sunscreen
• A few small toys and/or books
• If they’re old enough, a Ziploc-style bag of non-messy snacks, such as Cheerios, and a juice box
• Formula
• Bottles
• A change of clothing for the baby
• Nursing pad for you
• An extra blanket
• A bib
• A disposable camera, in case you want to catch a moment

 Be sure to clean out the diaper bag immediately after coming home, and be sure to double-check it before going out again.  Never assume you have enough supplies in there. You can also use your diaper bag to store a few essentials for you, such as a snack, a book or magazine, and a clean shirt. If you keep any valuables in your diaper bag such as your wallet, cell phone, extra set of keys, or some spare change, be sure to keep your eye on it as closely as you would your own purse.  Never leave it unattended.

Double up on appointments whenever you can. When you’re taking your kids to the doctor or even to get a haircut, try to double-up. Get the haircuts done at the same time, but by different stylists at the same salon – this way you’re out of there in half an hour, rather than the two hours it takes to get each child done one after another. Schedule back-to-back appointments with the doctor and dentist.

Stagger wake-up times. Get the younger ones up first, since they need more individualized attention and help getting dressed and brushing their teeth and hair. Let the older ones get up a little later, and this way when everyone gets to the breakfast table, they will all be ready to eat.

Make sure your children are clear on routines, chores, schedule, and the like. They should know that, for example, they can watch one half-hour show after school to relax a bit, but the TV goes off at 4:00 and it’s time for homework. Their particular chores need to be done on a certain day or certain hour in the evening, on church night they’re expected to start getting ready at 6:30, and so on. Don’t leave it up to chance or assume that they know these things. Write out a calendar for each child with a list of their day’s activities.