Some things that are key in a daycare are the staff ratios.  Every state is different so I can't tell you what they should be, but you can check your local Health Department to get that information.  Them check the day care to see if they have met that regulation.

Also, look to see if every age group has a different room.  Infants should not be sharing a room with toddlers, and so on.

Check the outdoor space too, and see how often your child will be going outside.  Ask to see what equipment your child will be using.  Ask if the toddler equipment is shared with the older kids.

If you still need to ease your mind you could ask what training the care providers have that will be watching your child.  Ask if they know CPR and First Aid, not everyone has done this, but there may be someone in the room that has.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. Name of Product: Majestic Curved Top and Flat Top Cribs, Essex Cribs, Brighton/Sussex Cribs and Captiva Cribs

Units: About 24,000

Importer: Munire Furniture Inc., of Piscataway, N.J.

Hazard: The cribs fail to meet the federal safety standards for cribs. The four support brackets on the mattress support spring are too long. The brackets prevent the spring from lowering to the full 26 inch minimum height in its lowest position, allowing children inside to crawl over the railing, posing a fall hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The cribs are wooden. The recalled cribs include: Majestic Curved Top cribs with model number 9500; Majestic Flat Top cribs with model number 9000; Essex cribs with model number 7100; Brighton/Sussex cribs with model number 9100 and Captiva cribs with model number 5100. Only cribs with manufacture dates between November 1, 2005 and November 1, 2007 are included in the recall. The crib model number is printed on the white label on the bottom inside of the right side rail. The crib manufacture date is printed on either the white label near the model number or on the white label located on the bottom of the headboard. Cribs with a green sticker on the mattress frame are not included in the recall.

Sold at: Specialty juvenile product stores nationwide from November 2005 through November 2007 for between $400 and $600.

Manufactured in: Indonesia

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled cribs and contact Munire Furniture to receive replacement spring brackets.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Munire Furniture Inc. at (866) 586-9639 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET or visit the firm’s Web site at www.munirefurniture.com

Majestic Flat Top Crib
Model # 9000

Brighton/Sussex
Model # 9100

The best way to feed your baby is to use a baby food grinder, this way you know what they are getting.  You can steam veggies and put them in the grinder, along with meat and fruits.  It is a lot cheaper as well.

I don't think any one brand is better than the other as far as jar food goes.  I just think it is good to  give your baby a variety of foods.  I gave Alex veggies before fruit so that he would like them more.  The doctor warned me that once he had the sweet tasting fruit that would be all he wanted.

I gave Alex Veggies for about two weeks before giving him any fruit, and the doctor was right.  He ending up liking both of them!

This is something that does not need to forced with flash cards. One of the biggest ways to help your toddler/baby learn is just to play with them. Giving them a little encouragement when it looks like they are stuck and about to give up on a task.

Also reading to your baby/toddler will help them so much. I know that I say this often, but that is because it is so important. If all you do is make reading a story part of a bedtime routine, that will help your child develop a love for reading.

Liking to read will be important as your baby grows, because it will be less of something that is forced and more fun. This will help them in school as well as in life.

When you have a young toddler it is really important that they spend time outdoors.  This will help them will there ability to run, jump, and basically use their gross motor skills.

It has been shown that kids that learn to master their gross motor skills as a toddler to preschooler have better balance and do well other sport activities as they get older.

It doesn't have to be an hour all at once, but try to have some outdoor activities as much as possible.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Cinderella 12-Volt Electric Ride-On Vehicles

Units: About 64,000

Manufacturer: Dumar International USA, of Franklin, Mass.

Hazard: The wires under the hood of the car and/or in the battery compartment under the seat can short circuit, posing a fire and burn hazard to children riding in the car.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm and CPSC are aware of 40 incidents of the toy car’s wires overheating. In several incidents, smoke was seen coming out from underneath the seat area where the battery is located. In one incident, flames shot from under the hood while a 4-year-old girl was riding the vehicle. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The electric ride-on toy resembles the Pontiac Solstice. It is light blue and has Cinderella graphics on the front and sides. The wheels, steering wheel and two seats are pink. The white dashboard may contain an optional radio. “Pontiac Solstice” is printed on the back of the car. “Walt Disney’s Cinderella Special Edition” is printed on the license plate. It is designed for children 4 to 7 years old.

Sold at: Wal-Mart stores nationwide from August 2005 through February 2006 for about $200.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled toy cars away from children and contact Dumar International for a free retrofit kit, including a new battery.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Dumar International at (866) 424-0500 between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.dumarusa.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Spiderman® Water Bottles

Units: About 6,600

Manufacturer: Fast Forward LLC, of New York, N.Y.

Hazard: Screws under the bottle’s lid can come loose and fall into the cup, posing a choking hazard to children.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received three reports of screws coming loose under the water bottle’s lid. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The recalled plastic water bottles have a Spiderman® picture on the cup and a Spiderman® figure on the screw-on lid. The water bottle is red, white, blue, and black and measures nine inches high.

Sold exclusively at: Sears stores nationwide from July 2007 through August 2007 for about $10.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled water bottles away from children and contact Fast Forward LLC for instructions on returning the water bottles for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact company toll-free at (877) 244-4433 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

There was an old saying that the baby's shoes should be firm when learning to walk.  That is not the case, in fact the earlier the stage of walking the thinner, more flexible the shoe should be.

When you are at the store take out the shoe and bend it and see how flexible they are.  If it is hard for you to bend then you probable should leave it at the store.  Also try to stick to natural materials to allow your baby's feet to breath.

When at all possible it is also a good idea to let your baby walk barefoot.  This helps make strong ankles  and builds the arches in the feet.

Cloth diapers have really come along way, now you can get them in all-in-one styles and even flushable diaper liners.

Some reasons to use cloth diapers would: MUCH cheaper, better for the environment, and never having to worry about running out. The most important part is that there will be much less toxins getting to your baby if using cloth!

There are many different styles to choose from, but one that I have seen a lot is the All in One.These diapers are washable and made with 100 percent cotton flannel.  They are reinforced with an absorbent middle layer and an outer waterproof barrier for leak-proof protection. The built-in absorbent layer folds in front for boys and in the middle for girls. An adjustable Velcro waistband and the soft elastic at the legs fits closely to help prevent leaks.

I didn't use them with Alex, but I am just now learning about them and would use them if I had another child.  I will be doing more research about them and keep everyone informed on why cloth is worth giving a shot!

I would say anywhere from 7:30 to 9:00 is ok. Really the only thing that matters is that your toddler is getting the amount of rest that he/she needs, and that he/she is stay on a routine.

Keeping the bed time the same every night will help your toddler stay in a routine. I wouldn't do 7:30 one night and then 8:30 the next.

If your toddler is going to bed at random times, but still waking up about the same time in the mornings, that can make for one grouchy child. If yours in anything like Alex, who needs about 11 hours of rest a night, he wakes up about the same time every morning no matter when he goes to sleep.

I would say just to try to develop a good routine that works for your toddler!