child care module for caregivers part 1

Child care is one of the most challenging jobs for caregivers. One can imagine that the reason that they are hired because certain parents need help raise their children apparently of some equally important reasons (like jobs, single parenthood, careers that are needed to sustain ones survival). Though there are certain parents who hired this caregivers simply because they just don’t see the greater importance of their kids for now (for me this is ironic, simple irresponsibility). Whatever is the reason caregiver’s are very essential for the growth and the development of this kids. The following are some of the caregiver's training as part of the caregiver’s module.

1. Diaper changing- experts said that there are 4000-5000 diaper change for the whole childhood of a particular kid. Caregiver's are taught how to change the baby, clean the genital and anal area, the use of barrier cream, the use of different diapers for particular needs, the different diaper fold techniques, and problems related to it.

2. Swaddling/Mummying- the baby’s thermoregulatory centers in the brain is not yet fully developed therefore conservation of heat is a must (to avoid such things like chilling). Mummying/swaddling will do the job. A caregiver must know the techniques on how to mummy the baby, and the different methods (like the healed and the non-healed umbilical cord method) for different needs.

3. Sponge bath/"topping and tailing"- The Procedure of doing this bathing in neonates, as well as those with fevers, and in cases that needs sponge bath. Even for babies who don’t like to be undressed, there are certain methods on which one can do to make the baby clean without the need to give the baby the full bath; after all the neonate or at the early stage of infancy we can expect that the baby is not that dirty (proper diaper change will do the job).

4. Umbilical cord care- the proper way of cleaning the umbilical cord, materials and things to be used. Umbilical cord heals at around 7-10 days (these can be possible with proper care). There are eight strokes in cleaning the cord, if a caregiver is well versed with these, then the cord heals at the soonest possible time.

5. Full bath- Bathing the baby in tubs, sinks, baby bath tubs, or basins; soaping and cleansing. Soaping has its timing; you cannot soap very young babies (they’re may be too delicate for that, but in essence there is just no need), and there are also areas which cannot be soaped at a particular time, or a particular condition. Not all babies like the water, so a caregiver must also know the ways and techniques on how to introduce bathing to the baby that eventually lead the baby to liking it.

Continued.....