Tag Archives: child care

Nanny Cam for the Single Parent

Single parents have a unique responsibility in many instances of finding excellent childcare but for many, a tight budget makes it difficult to go with the top of the line. For this reason, we see the number of single parent households turning to the services of a younger babysitter or less experienced daycare provider. As you an imagine, the thought of turning your child’s care over to anyone is hard enough but when your options are limited due to financial strain, it puts tremendous stress on you. For this reason, we see a growing number of single parents using what … Continue reading →

Take Advantage of Flexible Spending Accounts

This is the time of year for open enrollment at many companies. It is a great time to consider setting up flexible spending accounts in order to save money. A flexible spending account allows you to save money for health care and dependent care expenses. This money is taken out of your pretax pay, and can lower the amount of taxes, which you pay. This can save you money. If you plan carefully you will be able to save a significant amount in taxes for those out-of-pocket expenses. The dependent care expenses can be used to pay childcare or adult … Continue reading →

Tag-Team Parenting

It used to be that the father would go to work from 9 to 5 while the mother stayed home with the children. Yet according to recent studies by Heymann and Presser “today’s families have more family members in the workforce, work longer hours, and are more likely to work outside of the traditional 9-to-5 weekday schedule.” Heather Boushey, an Economist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, reports that, “less than one-in-five families with children now have a full-time homemaker/caretaker.” Yet many parents do not want to use or can’t afford daycare for their children. What is the … Continue reading →

Mothers Should Have the Choice Of Daycare Or Job Protected Leave

Researchers have found that putting an infant in long-hour daycare can have a negative long-term effect upon the child’s behavior and increase their stress level. (See my blog on this topic). Author of Motherhood: How should we care for our children?, Anne Manne says, “No-one would say to an adult, ‘Look, if you’re stressed and miserable for a year or two, don’t worry. Long-term you’ll be fine.’” Yet for many children this is essentially the position that they are being placed in. Dr. Manne asks, “Don’t we have an obligation to consider their happiness and wellbeing in the here and … Continue reading →

Is Daycare Good For My Baby?

This question is one that many working mothers must ask themselves. Yet current research shows that daycare for infants and toddlers is not as good as being with a parent or other relative. Author of Motherhood: How should we care for our children?, Anne Manne, talks about the dilemma that many women face. If she gives up her job to have a child, “she incurs an opportunity cost — her forfeited income and possible career advancement.” If she places her child in daycare and returns to work then “it’s the baby, according to a growing body of research, who incurs … Continue reading →

Child Care Choices

There are many options for child care for your new baby. You will want to start thinking about this while you are still pregnant to give you time to find a good situation. Consider your priorities when you start looking for a child care provider. Do you want one on one care or a group of children? Do you want care near your home, near work or at home? Family members may offer to care for your baby at home. This is often a grandmother or aunt. Some will do this for very little money. Other family members, often grandparents, … Continue reading →

Your 2 Year Old and Your Workout

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There’s a magic age that your children go through that making working out at home not only difficult, but downright impossible. My daughter went through this phase at the age of 3. Some parents struggle through it when their child is 2. What makes it difficult is what you do, your child wants to do too. If you have large weight equipment in your house or apartment, you are flirting with smashed or pinched fingers. Solutions to this Quandary? Of course there are solutions to this quandary, you want to keep your kids safe, but you want the ability to … Continue reading →

Finding Quality Child Care

If you are planning to go back to work when your baby is born, you will need to find someone to care for the baby. A good rule of thumb is to start looking for a child care provider about six months before you will need one. Since most women are on maternity leave for less than six months, you will want to start looking while you are still pregnant. There are a variety of options in child care providers. These are discussed in the Child Care Choices blog. Regardless of the type of child care you want for your … Continue reading →