Daycare Wellness: How to Keep Your Child Healthy

Working moms and dads know that daycare is often the best option for their childcare while they’re on the job. Not only do daycare facilities provide your kids with an opportunity to socialize, it helps encourage your children to be more independent, striking out on their own away from their parents. Unfortunately, the benefits also come with some nasty side effects, namely illness. As most parents are aware, kids pick up all manner of illnesses no matter where they are. When you add more kids to the mix, the likelihood that they’ll be picking up colds, flu and other problems increases tenfold. What can you, as a parent, do to help your child avoid getting sick?

The Daycare Dilemma: Illness to Go?

According to TLC’s How Stuff Works blog, early exposure to other children and illnesses may not necessarily be a bad thing. In recent years, there is a theory going around called the “hygiene hypothesis” that puts forward the thought that with all the antibacterial cleansers and washes that children are being exposed also kills off good bacteria that little bodies need to work and develop their immune systems.

Studies have also found that children who are exposed to other children from an early age are less likely to catch certain illnesses, as well as have a lessened chance of developing asthma. While nobody is suggesting that you allow your child to get sick or dirty on purpose, the idea of a more relaxed approach is certainly compelling considering the arguments.

1) Teach your children how to wash their hands.

Though it may seem like a relatively easy task, very few people actually wash their hands correctly to beat infectious material or germs. Teach your children that washing their hands before they eat and after they go to the bathroom is a must. Show them how to use soap and warm water, and explain that they should sing the song “Happy Birthday” to themselves to know how long they should wash for. Taking these simple steps can prevent the spread of sickness, and keep your child more protected than others.

2) Keep your childcare provider in the loop about illnesses and allergies.

If your child suffers from any particular allergies or is coming down with a cold, it’s important that your child care facility knows about it. Allergies are an important factor if the daycare provider gives out snacks, so be specific about what your kid can and cannot eat. Additionally, if you notice that your little one is getting a bit snotty or is coming down with a case of pink eye, let your child care provider know. They can sometimes help with the situation by keeping  him or her away from other children, and thus preventing the spread of illness.

3) Accidents can happen… and can also be prevented.

Kids are clumsy, and it’s only natural that they will occasionally come home with scrapes, cuts and bruises from their daily activities. Teach your children how to play safely on playground equipment and with other children. If you feel that your child’s accident might be a case of negligence on the part of your child care facility, speak to a personal injury attorney with regards to a case. It’s also important you stay local. For example, a child’s accident in Raleigh, NC may have local ordinances that you’re not aware of. It’s always best to check to see if you have a case.  

4) Check out the license.

When you’re seeking a daycare facility, be sure to check the licenses and any other criteria they may have. You may also want to ask them for references so you can talk to other parents who use the facility and get their opinions on the positive and negatives. In one case, according to one Raleigh, NC personal injury lawyer, an 11 -year-old boy was abused by a supervisor who was supposed to be caring for him. You can also take it one step further and do a background check on the employees who will be working with your child. A good facility will be able to provide these on request.

 

Keeping your kid healthy and happy is a parent’s number one priority when they’re growing. If you’re planning on using a child care facility, check out their policies on health and wellness thoroughly. After all, they will be spending quite a lot of time with your little one, and you want to make sure it’s the best possible placement for them.

 

Writer Melanie Fleury has four kids of her own and is always concerned about their health and safety. She was inspired to write this article after reading a blog post on the website of Raleigh, NC personal injury lawyer Auger & Auger. She hopes that parents who read this will exercise due diligence before sending their kids to daycare.

Categories: care facility, Child, child care, Children, daycare, Healthy, injury lawyer, nc personal, personal injury, raleigh nc, Wellness

Could Child Care Help Kids at Risk of Emotional Problems?

Depression doesn’t only affect your wellness, it also increases your child’s risk of emotional problems. Previous research has shown that kids whose mothers have symptoms of depression are at a higher risk of mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression later on in life. However, according to a new Canadian study, published this month in The Journal of American Medical Association, sending your child off to nursery may help to guard their wellbeing against your emotional health problems.

 

Of the children of women with symptoms of depression, those who went to nursery – or day care – were emotionally better off than children who were in their mother’s care. Day care children had fewer emotional problems, and were less likely to show social withdrawal and separation anxiety symptoms. The results didn’t change with the age that children began going to daycare, as the benefits shown were similar in preschool children who started attending day care and those who started younger.

 

According to study researcher Catherine M. Herba, assistant professor of psychology at Universite du Qubec Montral, ‘There might be a number of mechanisms that explain why children of depressed mothers are at higher risks for emotional problems. It could be genetic predisposition to mental health problems, or it could be that mother’s depressive symptoms affect the interaction between her and her child.’ The researchers noted that, in group child care settings, children have more opportunities for social interactions with other kids, and are less exposed to their mother’s depression.

 

For the study, the researchers examined 1,759 children, aged between five months and five years, and their mothers. Each child’s emotional problems – such as being nervous, fearful or less happy than other kids – were assessed, and the mothers answered questionnaires about their children and their own tendency toward depressive symptoms over time. The results of the study revealed that the increased risk of emotional problems in children of depressed mothers fell if they received child-care services. The authors concluded, ‘Given that most of today’s children experience child care during the preschool years, child care could potentially serve as a public health intervention strategy for high-risk children.’

Categories: child care, Emotional Problems, Research

Caring for Your Child with Angelman"s Syndrome

Angelman Syndrome is a unique disorder with unique needs regarding home health care.  No matter how old your child may be, they are very important to you and their care is top priority. When you want someone to help care for your child you want to ensure you have a professional who can handle not only the personal care but deal with the medical challenges as well. Understanding the disorder clearly, your home health care professional can help the day-to-day care of the individual while aiding those with more severe symptoms.

 

As you know Angelman Syndrome is a genetic disorder, named after the uncanny happy smiling facial expression, is unique in particular because it is not degenerative. Individuals who suffer from Angelman Syndrome can grow stronger and have more control over time.  Someone without proper training may see their outbursts of laughter and the general affectionate nature, especially in younger children and not think clearly about the severe difficulties they can have.

 

Some of the Angelman Syndrome symptoms that home health care can be helpful are:

 

• Delayed motor skills and a delay in general development in children

• Learning deficits

• Speech difficulties

• Hyperactivity

• Shaking and tremors, uncontrolled movements

• Difficulty with walking

• An extremely youthful appearance even in adulthood

• Epilepsy with a variety of types of seizures

• Difficulty with steady sleep patterns

• A happy disposition with frequent outbursts of laughter

 

Your health care professional should know that the severity of each case varies strongly, as does the degree of self-care. In more severe cases even walking and sign language is not possible. This is why pulling out your Dickies scrubs and trying to take on the challenge of caring for your own child is not ideal. Having a professional come in is a better option for families raising a child with this disability.

 

Steady sleep patterns are very important because lack of sleep has a profound effect on the symptoms. However, as these individuals get older, there can be improvement in the ability to sleep unaided, as well as a reduction in the hyperactivity.

 

Having in-home health care for your child can be useful in assisting with dressing, personal care, treatment as well as helping the AS patient improve their skills. Most adults with AS can use utensils such as a fork and knife, but other assistance in meal preparation and medication monitoring is important. However, one of the difficulties that may arise with adults with AS because of their limited mobility is obesity. This can cause other problems that can add to their challenges.

 

There is no cure for AS. Treatment for Angelman Syndrome with anticonvulsant medication can vary depending on the different type of seizures that someone with AS can have. Because individuals with AS don’t generally sleep more than four or five hours, some families use Melatonin to help them get better restful sleep. Digestive complications may require a separate medication, such as mild laxatives. Other aids and treatments for individual symptoms will be based on the patient’s severity and abilities.

 

Because Angelman Syndrome can vary so greatly from patient to patient, having home health care to assist families is a great benefit. A home health care professional can see to the monitoring of medication, diet, aid in the development of independent skills, and be available to help during the seizures and other more serious symptoms to ensure the health and safety of someone dealing with AS.

 

Caring for your child with AS can be challenging, no matter how old your child is. You want to be sure that the professional understands your child’s specific needs as they show themselves. The health care professional needs to be sensitive to some of the unique characteristics, such as the extremely affectionate nature that although strongest in younger children, can follow them into adulthood. Like all parents, no matter how old your child gets you want the very best for them, and providing for their needs can be challenging. Home health care can offer assistance.

Categories: angelman's syndrome, child care, health concerns