Diaper Rash

Diaper Rash. There are a few different causes that I am aware of, and there are some very effective ways of treating these rashes. I am not a doctor however, and when in doubt always check with your pediatrician. The following information is from my experience working with children.

The rashes are ususally big red blochy areas on the buttocks and surrounding areas. (if the rash has small red dots seek medical assistance right away, it could be a yeast infection, impetigo or worse).

One cause of diaper rash is food alergy. Highly acidic foods that are notorious for causing rashes are strawberries, tomatoes, oranges and juices. Not all children will have a reaction to these foods, but if there is a reaction, diet is a good place look first.

Another cause is teething. Some children develop symptoms such as rash in the diaper area, runny nose and fussiness. Again not all children will display all or any of these symptoms.

The best care for a diaper rash is to keep the area as clean and dry as possible. Here are some suggestions.

1. Change the child as often as possible. We change every hour to hour and a half (or when needed).


2. After changing, let the area "air: out (fan or keep diaper off for a minute).


3. Apply an ointment which forms a barrier between the child's skin and wetness (Creamy Desitin works best in my opinion (some do not like the smell and if you use the regular, instead of creamy, it will not glide on as easily -- that can really be traumatic to a child with a rash!). Some others: A&D ointment, or Boardeaux's Butt Paste is great; it forms a barrier and smells like cinnamon. Some even use a powder over the paste. I have found this works well, (but is not necessary if you use the cream).


4. Another very helpful treatment (and I like using this for children who have chronic rashes), is filling a sanitary spray bottle with warm water and apple cider vingegar or white vinegar (one teaspoon per 16oz.) and spraying the affected area; wiping with a clean cloth or paper towel (instead of wipes).


5. If it is suspected that the diet may be the cause, temporarily change the child's diet to "trusted" (foods the child has a history of not being alergic to), and bland foods with low acidity). Gradually reintroduce new foods one at a time and look for reactions.

I will keep adding to this post as I find more information. Please feel free to add comments and your experiences.

Valentine Project Slideshow!

Our friends are using pink crepe strips, tempura paint and paper plates to construct a valentine treat holder.

Water Table Activities...

In The Housekeeping Area...

The Letter "O"

Our friends are glueing pasta to the letter "O"

This is a great fine motor activity, and builds vocabulary and social skills as they work together.

A Peek at Lunch (and More) Today

Today we had Teriaki Chicken, Sprouted Wheat Bread, Broccoli and Bananas. Yum.

We're taking a look at our "Global Village" this week. Today we studied Africa; the animals and objects.


Earlier this week we made an covered a bowl with an African tribal print. Today we used gold ink with rubber African stamps that depicted the native animals of Africa, African clothing, housing and tools.


We also played Mancala, a traditional african marble game, discussed what kinds of animals live in Africa and learned the Swahili words for "hello" (Jambo) and "How are you?" (Habari gani?)


We sang "The Color Song" (each child stands up if they are wearing the color we sing), and "All our Friends" song.


We are working toward identfying the letter "N" by sight and sound (at the beginning of words), and the number 12. 12 assorted houshold items were arranged for our friends to practice counting out. We went on a "Circle Hunt" in the Preschool room. Many were very sucessful in finding circles and the ones that were not were trying very hard in their effort to keep up!


We also continued with our "Kangaroo" jumping game. Our friends threw a bean bag and counted how many hops it took to get to it. They put a twist on the game by stuffing a puppet in their shirts (kangaroo baby) ;)

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Colds and Children

We spend alot of time outside during the day. It has been very cold lately and I can imagine that some are concerned about children being outdoors at this time of the year. Children should be bringing jackets and layered clothing. Also mittens/gloves, hats are great. Here are some facts about colds:

Upper Respiratory Infection (URI or Common Cold) What is an upper respiratory infection (URI)?
An upper respiratory infection (URI), also known as the common cold, is one of the most common illnesses, leading to more doctor visits and absences from school and work than any other illness every year. It is estimated that during a one-year period, people in the US will suffer one billion colds. Caused by a virus that inflames the membranes in the lining of the nose and throat, colds can be the result of more than 200 different viruses. However, among all of the cold viruses, the rhinoviruses and the coronaviruses cause the majority of colds.

Facts about an URI or cold:
Most children will develop at least six to ten colds a year. This number increases for children who attend daycare.
Colds do not happen as much after the age of 6.
Adolescents get colds about two to four times a year

When is the "cold" season?
Children are most likely to have colds during fall and winter, starting in late August or early September until March or April. The increased incidence of colds during the cold season may be attributed to the fact that more children are indoors and close to each other. In addition, many cold viruses thrive in low humidity, making the nasal passages drier and more vulnerable to infection.

The most important way to prevent the spread of colds is washing hands. We also have a great toy sanitizing system and have been very fortunate when it comes to children being ill; We get the occasional cold but luckily not much else.

Click here for back up ideas when your child is too ill for care at Aimee's Playhouse.

New!

I took some time off from posting, in case anyone noticed, to prepare for our new house. It's amazing how hard it is to get back into a routine in a different environment; now I can understand why children can take a while to adjust when atttending a new child care.

It has been amazing, and challenging at the same time. For the parents and families that made the transition from the old house to the new, we are grateful to have you and so excited to continue this new chapter of care at the first home we can truly call our own!

Ice Skating.

In keeping with our arctic theme, we used paper plates and masking tape to create "ice skates" to glide across the [carpet] frozen ice. It was a big hit; no one wanted to take them off and a couple of children wore them through lunch and rest time. ;)

Ice Painting

Today we painted with powdered tempura and long frozen ice "sticks."

We are studying blue this week and the arctic. Some of the other things we are learning about are the animals that live in the artic, what they do and how thier bodies are specially equippped to survive the ice and snow.
We are exploring the letter "M" with stories and rhymes and working with the concept of pairs. one of the activities we did today was using recognizable household and daily objects like kitchenware and shoes with socks to mix-up and sort out into pairs.

Autumn at the Playhouse...

Red Collage

Fall Dump Truck Fun!

Hooray for Fall!

October Fun!!

Shaving Cream, orange food coloring and friends!

Making A "Me" Puppet!

Exploring Shapes and Chalk.

Sand Box!