Re: Daycare -- while in casts/braces?

[Guest guest]

My baby with bilateral club feet is a month old now. She is not going to day

care but having experienced at least the casting part of it, I must say that a

baby is casts is not really that different to take care of than a baby not in

casts so I don't think it should be considered " special needs " . I think I would

mention it to the center before I chose one, though. You might learn a lot from

their response and they need to be educated. The general public is not very

aware of what clubfeet are. Good luck to you!

Carol

Daycare -- while in casts/braces?

Has anyone had their child in daycare while he/she was still in the

casts or brace? What was your experience?

I'm still pregnant, but already know that our little man, Declan, has

bilateral clubfeet. Unfortunately I have to go back to work and put

Declan in daycare 8 weeks after he is born. I imagine he will still

be in casts at that time.

We're on waiting lists for a few centers, but have yet to be

" accepted " anywhere. I also haven't mentioned Declan's clubfeet to

any of the prospective centers. Do you think I need to tell them

about the casts/brace BEFORE he is accepted? I'm a bit nervous that

they may consider this " special needs " or extra work and not accept

him into the program.

I'd appreciate any advice you may have. Also, we're in No. Virginia

(McLean/Tysons area) so if you have any suggestions for specific

daycare centers that have experience with clubfoot babies I'd be

interested in that as well.

Thanks!

W.

[Guest guest]

My daughter was in daycare starting at 11 weeks, but by this time she had the

shoes/bar. It as never a problem - the main " teachers " were educated as to what

to do/not do with the DBB, and as she has gotten older and not had to wear the

DBB 23/7, the teachers were then shown how to put the shoes on and take them

off. If any daycare tells you this is a " special needs " situation, look for

another daycare. It really is no big deal. About the only thing my daughter

couldn't do was go into an exersaucer, but I was actually happy with that.

However, for the numerous diaper changes the daycare workers will need to attend

to, I would strongly advise you to find pants for your son that completely

unsnap in the leg area. It makes for much easier diaper changes once in the

DBB, and less risk of putting the DBB on incorrectly after a diaper change.

Also takes much less time!

Good luck!

Addison, 7/3/04, bcf, DBB 14/7

Daycare -- while in casts/braces?

Has anyone had their child in daycare while he/she was still in the

casts or brace? What was your experience?

I'm still pregnant, but already know that our little man, Declan, has

bilateral clubfeet. Unfortunately I have to go back to work and put

Declan in daycare 8 weeks after he is born. I imagine he will still

be in casts at that time.

We're on waiting lists for a few centers, but have yet to be

" accepted " anywhere. I also haven't mentioned Declan's clubfeet to

any of the prospective centers. Do you think I need to tell them

about the casts/brace BEFORE he is accepted? I'm a bit nervous that

they may consider this " special needs " or extra work and not accept

him into the program.

I'd appreciate any advice you may have. Also, we're in No. Virginia

(McLean/Tysons area) so if you have any suggestions for specific

daycare centers that have experience with clubfoot babies I'd be

interested in that as well.

Thanks!

W.

[Guest guest]

Hi .

I just moved from No. Va. I actually worked in Tysons corner. We are now in

Charlotte, NC. My daughter has bilateral clubfeet (bcf). I had her in a

private daycare starting when she was 12 weeks. Her daycare provider was

awesome. She is actually looking for another baby if you are interested. She

is located in Springfield, which may be too far for you. My opinion is any

place you interview will be happy to have your baby. I haven't heard anyone

with their child w/clubfoot been denied in daycare. You would want to certainly

discuss the 'very limited' special needs your baby will have. The needs during

the casts won't be any different than any other newborn baby, just heavier!

When it comes time for use of the foot abduction brace (FAB), you want to

discuss with them how important the FAB use is and to make sure they follow your

exact intructions.

My next question........Which doctor do you plan to use? Please stay away

from Dr. Hanway. He is not a specialist in clubfoot, so please steer away from

him. The best in that area is Dr. Herzenberg in Baltimore. In fact, he is the

best on the whole East coast. It is worth the trip to Baltimore. Once the

casts are finished you don't have to go to Baltimore every week. So the trips

get easier.

Welcome to the group. If you have anymore questions, please feel free to

email me directly. I know all the doctors in that area, so ask away!! Also, if

you are interested, there is a clubfoot support group that meets the last

Saturday of every month in Fairfax.

Good luck with the remainder of your pregnancy. When are you due?

kelly_warde wrote:

Has anyone had their child in daycare while he/she was still in the

casts or brace? What was your experience?

I'm still pregnant, but already know that our little man, Declan, has

bilateral clubfeet. Unfortunately I have to go back to work and put

Declan in daycare 8 weeks after he is born. I imagine he will still

be in casts at that time.

We're on waiting lists for a few centers, but have yet to be

" accepted " anywhere. I also haven't mentioned Declan's clubfeet to

any of the prospective centers. Do you think I need to tell them

about the casts/brace BEFORE he is accepted? I'm a bit nervous that

they may consider this " special needs " or extra work and not accept

him into the program.

I'd appreciate any advice you may have. Also, we're in No. Virginia

(McLean/Tysons area) so if you have any suggestions for specific

daycare centers that have experience with clubfoot babies I'd be

interested in that as well.

Thanks!

W.

[Guest guest]

I just wanted to second what Holly said. My son LOVES daycare, and

we love his daycare. He probably gets better care from daycare than

he would from us simply because they love what they do and I'm not

cut out to be a stay-at-home mom, even if we could live on my

husband's social worker salary alone.

Our provider is a former teacher, and she and her husband take

excellent care of our son. They love our son as though they were

part of our family. And when we see them outside or walking around

the lake near our house, they ALWAYS come over and pick up

Aleksander, play with him, and Aleksander always has a huge smile for

them.

Additionally, both of my parents worked while I was growing up and

both my brother and I have turned out just fine. Putting a child in

daycare is a personal choice, and there are plenty of studies

supporting either choice you make. It all depends on what you decide

is best for your family.

Good luck!

> > > >

> > > > Has anyone had their child in daycare while he/she was still

in the

> > > > casts or brace? What was your experience?

> > > >

> > > > I'm still pregnant, but already know that our little man,

Declan,

> > >has

> > > > bilateral clubfeet. Unfortunately I have to go back to work

and

> > >put

> > > > Declan in daycare 8 weeks after he is born. I imagine he will

> > >still

> > > > be in casts at that time.

> > > >

> > > > We're on waiting lists for a few centers, but have yet to be

> > > > " accepted " anywhere. I also haven't mentioned Declan's

clubfeet to

> > > > any of the prospective centers. Do you think I need to tell

them

> > > > about the casts/brace BEFORE he is accepted? I'm a bit

nervous

> > >that

> > > > they may consider this " special needs " or extra work and not

accept

> > > > him into the program.

> > > >

> > > > I'd appreciate any advice you may have. Also, we're in No.

> > >Virginia

> > > > (McLean/Tysons area) so if you have any suggestions for

specific

> > > > daycare centers that have experience with clubfoot babies I'd

be

> > > > interested in that as well.

> > > >

> > > > Thanks!

> > > > W.

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

My daughter was out of casts and was in the shoes before

she started daycare. When we found out at our 20 week ultra sound

that our daughter had club foot I immediately talked to the director

of our daycare about it. She spent time learning about it and

understanding how the treatment would work and made the decision

that they could care for our daughter. The staff have also been

great in learning about club foot and taking their time to learn

from my husband and myself on how to to put her braces on and off.

I try to send her in easy to change clothing, but the reality is

that her socks have gotten dirty when she has had blow outs! So the

staff have learned through watching us and written materials how to

take her braces off and put them back on correctly. I have to admit

the first month I was on pins and needles about it, but the truth is

they are very caring and do a great job. They always ask if they

did it correctly and make sure we check as soon has we pick her up

to ensure they are on correctly. It has been a positive experience

for us and it helps me feel comfortable leaving her. It was a tough

decision for us having me go back to work, however, we are lucky

that I am able to work part-time so my children are only in daycare

part-time. I know that Kolby requires a little more special

attention in regards to her braces than our older non club foot

child, and she is doing great in all areas including daycare just

like our older child. I also think it is important that we have

been able to educate so many others about club foot along the way.

Our daycare providers had never heard of it and so many other

parents had not either. With Kolby in the braces people obviously

ask and I take the time to educate them about club foot and Dr.

Ponseti. I figure the more people that know how truly wonderful he

is they can pass it on to others so more children can be treated

with his method.

I wish you the best of luck and recommend that you spend time with

your daycare provider and educating them about clubfoot and what the

treatment will entail.

Kolby 8/15/05, RCF

10/16/02

> > > >

> > > > Has anyone had their child in daycare while he/she was

still in the

> > > > casts or brace? What was your experience?

> > > >

> > > > I'm still pregnant, but already know that our little man,

Declan,

> > >has

> > > > bilateral clubfeet. Unfortunately I have to go back to

work and

> > >put

> > > > Declan in daycare 8 weeks after he is born. I imagine he

will

> > >still

> > > > be in casts at that time.

> > > >

> > > > We're on waiting lists for a few centers, but have yet to

be

> > > > " accepted " anywhere. I also haven't mentioned Declan's

clubfeet to

> > > > any of the prospective centers. Do you think I need to

tell them

> > > > about the casts/brace BEFORE he is accepted? I'm a bit

nervous

> > >that

> > > > they may consider this " special needs " or extra work and

not accept

> > > > him into the program.

> > > >

> > > > I'd appreciate any advice you may have. Also, we're in No.

> > >Virginia

> > > > (McLean/Tysons area) so if you have any suggestions for

specific

> > > > daycare centers that have experience with clubfoot babies

I'd be

> > > > interested in that as well.

> > > >

> > > > Thanks!

> > > > W.

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

As a former licensed, accredited family child care provider I can

reassure you that high quality child care is a wonderful experience

for children and definitely nothing to feel guilty about (especially

high quality family child care, of course I am somewhat

prejudiced). The main benefit of this type of childcare is that

your child/ren are able to have consistency with one or two people

taking care of them every day.

This is not to be confused with nanny care. Nannies are generally

unlicensed and unregulated and, in our area, have little or no

training specifically involving infant/toddler/early childhood

issues. I am a huge believer that if you care for other people's

children, you have an obligation to have as much training as

possible.

I have taken special needs courses (around 25 hours if memory serves

correctly) and, in my opinion, this type of training would be very

helpful for a provider taking care of a child involved in clubfoot

treatment, especially if your child is that provider's first

exposure to clubfoot.

Whether you choose family based care or a child care center, it is

very important that you choose licensed care and are aware of

exactly what is required to maintain that license. Check records of

complaints, ask for references, and try to speak with the

home's/center's inspector.

The children should be well bonded with the provider(s) and there

should be alot of affection between the children and the children

and the provider.

I hope some of this helps. Good luck!---

P.S. By the way, I am no longer in childcare because I started

feeling " burnt out " . Between my own three children and my business

of 11 years, I was involved in caring for children under the age of

3 for 19 years. I am still involved in protecting children, without

the " hands on " day to day involvement.

> > > > >

> > > > > Has anyone had their child in daycare while he/she was

still

> in the

> > > > > casts or brace? What was your experience?

> > > > >

> > > > > I'm still pregnant, but already know that our little man,

> Declan,

> > > >has

> > > > > bilateral clubfeet. Unfortunately I have to go back to

work

> and

> > > >put

> > > > > Declan in daycare 8 weeks after he is born. I imagine he

will

> > > >still

> > > > > be in casts at that time.

> > > > >

> > > > > We're on waiting lists for a few centers, but have yet to

be

> > > > > " accepted " anywhere. I also haven't mentioned Declan's

> clubfeet to

> > > > > any of the prospective centers. Do you think I need to

tell

> them

> > > > > about the casts/brace BEFORE he is accepted? I'm a bit

> nervous

> > > >that

> > > > > they may consider this " special needs " or extra work and

not

> accept

> > > > > him into the program.

> > > > >

> > > > > I'd appreciate any advice you may have. Also, we're in No.

> > > >Virginia

> > > > > (McLean/Tysons area) so if you have any suggestions for

> specific

> > > > > daycare centers that have experience with clubfoot babies

I'd

> be

> > > > > interested in that as well.

> > > > >

> > > > > Thanks!

> > > > > W.

> > > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>