JBJ

Sooo.... I got a job at a nearby daycare, and gave my two weeks after 2.5 days. I started in the infant room. Ohio's ratio for infants to teachers is 5:1, so there are ten babies and 2 teachers. There is also a learning curve. It does get better after a couple weeks, but it is an exhausting job. It's all women so it can get catty, and if you don't come down with anything less than pneumonia and pinkeye within the first week, AND spread it to everyone you know, you are an invincible god. 

BUT,here are some interesting facts I have learned during my three weeks of childcare that you may or may not know:

-there are only five things a baby could ever want: milk/food, diaper change, sleep, being held, play/stimulation. 

-all humans are in the female form in the womb until about the 9th week of gestation when the gender contained in the DNA kicks in, making it officially male or female. If testosterone is present, it will become a male. If not, it will stay and develop as a female.

-a human fetus's heart is actually first grown outside its body. Different layers later develop, enveloping the heart inside.

-polydactyly: when a baby is born with more than five digits on each finger/foot. When the digit grows on the outside pinky, it is called ulnar polydactyly. When it is on the outside of the hand (nearest the pinky), it can be easier to remove because it may not have as many, if any, bones, tendons, tissue, etc.,  requiring only a simple surgery. If it is just a ball of tissue (it may or may not have a nail growing on it), it may be as simple a procedure as having a doctor tie it off and wait for it to die or fall off. If the extra digit is growing off the thumb and is composed of bone, tendons, and other tissues, major reconstructive surgery may be done. Because it is dangerous for infant to be under heavy anesthesia, it is common to wait until the child is 1-2 years old to perform the operation, after he/she has learned to grasp and master essential developmental hand functions.

-a study was done in which crushed ice served in restaurants was surveyed as to its cleanliness. In over 70% of the restaurants inspected, the ice was dirtier than toilet water.

 

Also,

-breast milk and formula expires after one hour. Breast milk can be refrigerated for up to 5 days, and frozen anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months. Formula can be mixed up to 24 hours in advance, kept in the fridge, and after being warmed, also expires after an hour. Test bottles/milk on your wrist after warming them (either in a bottle warmer, or tub/bowl of hot water) so as not to burn the baby.

-wash your hands before and after you do anything. And make sure you are lotion-ing up, otherwise you will have dry cracked hands.

-if you shake a baby really hard, it will stop crying. Most of the time. 

After I told them I wanted to quit, the director moved me to a "floater" position, meaning I go to every class and watch the kids while their teacher goes on break. From this I have learned the importance of washing your hands, time-outs aka"taking a break", and the fact that I do not want to work this (comparable to a) female-construction worker job forever, and that I need more education and to strive for something better. No more Craigslist and low hanging fruit for me.