Child Care

It is common to bump into an entrepreneur hunting for a childcare business plan since this market segment is growing and is highly lucrative. Find one here that focuses on your business strategy and mentions unique points to score above the competition. Let the plan aim to provide “high quality childcare” to the families with young children. The potential clients can have very high expectations in their definition of ‘high quality childcare.’ So in your child care business plan elaborate that the facility will provide a nurturing environment that encourages the growth of self-esteem It will provide the child an opportunity for an all-round development.

For childcare centers to thrive the plan must position your service uniquely to fight the competition. Let “extra features” form the core of your business strategy. Offer weekend workshops for the family. This allows parents to interact with children and teachers at the center. These workshops can also publicize your program to potential clients. Keep a teacher on-call duty to cater to the children who will be collected at a later hour. Medical emergencies, meetings and traffic inevitably delay many clients like doctors or lawyers. They will willingly pay the additional fee and remain loyal. Once a month make Saturday nights available to provide child care to client families. These extra benefits will win over the enrolled families.

There is a wide and expanding market for this service as nuclear families become the rule and an increasing number of women go to work. Still, your childcare business plan should clearly describe the target market in order to build upon the initial enrollments. Focus on expecting families, infants below twelve months and single parent households.

Alternatively, the bulletin boards at public schools, local shops and businesses are the best tools of advertising. The traditional word-of-mouth publicity helps bring continued business. Your website will also attract business, especially the families that relocate to your area. The mission of your childcare business plan should be to establish the center, go for a rapid expansion and an aggressive program promotion. Your profit margins will rise with an increase in the licensed capacity.

Since its inception, Growthink Business Plan Consultants has developed over 350 business plans. Growthink clients have collectively raised over $750 million in financing, launched numerous new product and service lines and gained competitive advantage and market share. Growthink has become the firm of choice for venture capital firms, angel investors, corporations and entrepreneurs in the know. For more information on this topic please visit http://www.growthink.com/businessplan/ or visit our venture capital placement site at Growthink Venture Capital.

Tags: business plans, business plan, business plan development, business plan consultants

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Having a baby at home is a wonderful experience. Looking after the baby and caring for its is an even more fulfilling experience. There are several important stages in an infant’s growth. But one of the most important aspects, and often misunderstood stage, is that of weaning.

What is weaning?

Weaning, which is often referred to as “mixed feeding”, proceeds in stages from liquids to solids, and from one method of feeding to another. Weaning is a gradual process, extending from the time when baby is solely breast fed, until he is feeding entirely on the adult diet.

Why is weaning so important?

From an average weight of 3 kilos at birth, baby’s weight increases almost to 5 kilos, at the end of 3 months. In fact, from birth to 1 year is the time of fastest growth for the baby. Milk alone cannot fully meet the baby’s needs and sustain this rapid rate of growth.

Weaning time

Weaning should be started at a suitable time. Mixed feeding may be introduced early into an infant’s diet (say from 2 months after birth) depending on the infant’s growth pattern. Also, it’s easier to get babies accustomed to new foods earlier than when they grow older. However, weaning should definitely start around 3 months.

Are conventional weaning foods suitable?

Many mothers in this country rely on rice or mashed fruits. While these contain nutritive elements, they do not supply all the needs of a growing baby in the correct proportion, so it is is wise to give the baby a specially prepared weaning food, mixed with fruits, vegetables, pulses for variety.

Choosing the correct weaning food

There are many scientifically prepared weaning foods, available on the market. While selecting one for your baby, look for one which has all the following elements:

• Protein to help the baby’s rapid growth. Protein from selected cereals are easily digested and completely assimilated.
• Carbohydrates to supply energy, which a growing baby needs in abundance.
• Phosphorus, calcium and vitamin D. These help to build sturdy bones and strong teeth and
• Iron, which promotes the formation of healthy and strong blood.

A pre-cooked cereal will be easy for baby to digest. It will also save your time. A certain amount of roughage will help the baby in its bowel habits. And a natural tasting weaning food will readily mix with all other kinds of food, like stewed fruits, vegetable puree, dal, soup, curds, etc.

Introducing your baby to a solid food

When about 3 months old, it is essential to start your baby on a semi-solid food by mixing a teaspoonful of it, with his regular bottle feed. Since the bottle is familiar to the baby, he will not notice the difference. Gradually, increase the quantity so that, at about the end of the 6th month, your baby is having his solid food thrice daily, in a variety of forms - mixed with honey, juices, soups, mashed fruits and vegetable puree.

Above all, be patient and give your baby time to like his solid food. With a little understanding, your baby will grow into a healthy, happy child.

Tags: weaning, breast-feeding, baby food, child care

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If you nurse for any length of time, sooner or later, you’re going to get bitten. Biting occurs from many reasons. Learning why a baby bites and learning to recognise when a baby is likely to bite can save a nursing mother quite a bit of pain.

The most likely time for biting to occur is during the first year, usually around the time when a child is teething. Just about all teething toddlers will experience a degree of discomfort when teething begins and for some it can be quite a painful process. Just about all babies try to alleviate the discomfort by chewing down on something; your nipple is no exception. The first instinct of many nursing mothers is to pull the child away, however you’ll ease the pain on your nipple if you pull your child close to you and gently insert your finder into the corner of your baby’s mouth to release the suction. Say ‘No’ to your baby in a firm but calm voice and then - if not too painful - continue feeding. If your child bites again, repeat the procedure but suspend feeding for several minutes. Just saying ‘no’ is usually enough to stop most babies from biting again. Between feeds, give your child a carrot or teething ring to chew down on. Patting your nipple dry and applying modified lanolin will help sooth your sore nipple.

Some babies let their mothers know they’ve had enough milk by biting. This is more noticeable when mothers are breastfeeding multiple babies. The problem usually arises because a mother is holding on to both for the same length of time. One child may finish sooner than the other and wants to be released and so, bites. Mothers tend to hold on to both babies because they lack a free arm to detach one of the babies. Mothers that are breastfeeding more than one child should experiment nursing in different positions, leaving one hand free, to be able to break suction and avoid being bitten.

Babies learn about their world through play. Some will take this play to your breast. If your baby is biting you because of play then you should do as above; first release your child and then tell them ‘no’ and explain that they’ve hurt you. You should judge how severe you should admonish your child; don’t be too severe as your baby may not want to suck your nipple again but is important that you teach your child that your breasts are not to be played with.

There’s a little more psychology involved when older children bite; they’re usually trying to tell you something. It may be as simple as your child telling you that they want to be weaned. Oftentimes the reasons are more complex. Children can bite you if they are upset or feel hurt in some way. If an older child is biting you for the first time, ask yourself what has changed in your child’s life to make him feel upset. Often the introduction of a new sibling can make a child feel rejected. Jealously is a powerful emotion. Previously a child had its mother’s undivided attention but now finds that they have to share. If your child can talk, try to coax out the problem. Children don’t often give a truthful answer to a direct question so you’re better off guessing what the problem is and asking them if that is the reason why they’re biting. So, don’t ask: Why are you biting? Instead ask: Are you angry with me? A child will usually stop biting after their fear or concern has been aired.

Your child may bite simply to get your attention. Babies want eye contact when they are at the breast and will get upset if they notice mother’s attention is elsewhere. They may feel especially resentful if mother is talking to others; many babies instinctively know that breastfeeding is their special time spent with mother. Biting can usually be eliminated if mother gives her full attention to her child during breastfeeding. Looking at her child also allows a mother to recognise when her child may be about to bite her, thus giving her time to take avoiding action.

Some children also bite if they slip or feel they are about to. Always make sure your baby feels comfortable and secure. Some children also bite when they fall asleep at the breast. If you find this is happening, simply finish feeding before your child falls asleep.

Just about every nursing mother will be bitten at some stage. But most children don’t bite very much and quickly learn to stop; mother’s wouldn’t breastfeed if biting was more than an occasional occurrence. Learning to recognise when your little darling is about to bite and knowing how to deal with a bite are skills that every breastfeeding mother can quickly master.

Tags: Breastfeeding, parenting, child care, mother, baby, women’s issues, health, maternity, nursing, todd

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