Daycare Provider Wanted

When Rebecca was a baby, I planned to go back to work. I placed an ad in the newspaper in an effort to hire a babysitter and even interviewed several candidates. I fantasized about the ad I wanted to place in the Help Wanted section of the newspaper.

CHILD CARE PROVIDER WANTED: Nursing experience or nursing degree preferred. Emergency Medical Professional, CPR instructor or equivalent considered. Lightening quick reflexes and good instincts a must. Able to administer medication, mix formula, take vital signs and hold a 20 pound baby for 8 hours a day. Willing to perform simple household tasks such as removing vomit stains and odor from the rug and couch. Pay commensurate with experience.

Rebecca was so sick that I finally gave up on the idea of returning to work and took a sabbatical from outside employment. I know this is little inspiration for those of you who are thinking about returning to work after having a baby with reflux!

The good news is there are many, many babies with mild to severe reflux who are thriving in day care every day. Gastroesophageal Reflux is very common so it is likely that an experienced family day care provider or a day care center will be familiar with the condition.

Day Care Success Stories:

• A day care provider contacted me for information about gastroesophageal reflux and home care. She just found out that she is going to have a baby with reflux under her care and wanted to be prepared.
• Little Jacob cried all day, every day at the family day care. The day care provider, Sarah tried every way she knew to comfort him. She wanted to quit because it was exhausting to care for Jacob. But she was worried about what would happen to him if he was left with someone else. Finally, she called Jacobs mom and said, “Jacob is sick, you need to take him to the doctor today.” The doctor prescribed medication and a special formula and within a month, he had gained a tremendous amount of weight and stopped crying.
• The day care provider became a part of the Smith family. She knew what all of the grunts and burps meant and could read Annie’s cues as well as her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Smith knew they could count on the day care provider to tell them when Annie was struggling with her reflux and if she had a good day or a bad day. The day care provider even went to an appointment with the specialist so she could share her observations and make sure she understood the home care instructions.