More reasons why Shea should drop out of college and come back home to babysit Zoey.

So.

Today Zoey and I visited her pediatrician...again...for more advice regarding the Raging Diaper Rash From Hell, that has been going strong for 2 1/2 weeks now. Last week we were told to change her diaper frequently, alternate the yeast infection cream with the $15 home-brew I was telling you about in an earlier post, and to keep in mind that as soon as she gets potty trained, these diaper rashes will go away.

Frequent diaper changes? Check.
Alternating ointments? Check.
STRONG encouragement of big-girl-potty use? Check.

And then...she goes to daycare. Which I'm thinking is where it all falls apart.

First, let me say this. I've been thinking hard in the past few days about the POSITIVE aspects of daycare. For instance, when I clean my house the night before Zoey goes to daycare, it stays clean all the next day! Because nobody is home! That's nice. And I DO like a lot of the teachers that are at her school. I love that she goes to preschool with so many of her friends. She seems to love the preschool portion of her day, which is full of fun times with friends, fun art projects, and playing with the fun toys in her classroom.

What her day does NOT consist of, from what I can gather, are regular meals and frequent diaper changes. And that's a problem.

Now, I know that these daycare employees are saints (with the exception of E.R.L.) and are trying to manage at least seven kids at a time, coordinating all of their meals, potty times, naps, etc. Not a job I'd sign up for any day. And I SO do not want to be one of "those" parents who nags her daughter's poor caregivers with unrealistic expectations, and wants her daughter to be the center of attention all throughout the day.

However. I feel like I've been pretty clear about Zoey's Raging Rash, and the fact that it needs a little TLC if we ever hope for it to heal. (And we do.) But yesterday, I dropped Zoey off at 6:45 a.m. and checked in with the less-ditzy teacher about the diaper cream regimen. No problem, I was told. Thankfully, Zoey was picked up at noon by my friend and taken to her house. I arrived to pick Zoey up and found her wearing a different pair of pants. Turns out her jeans had gotten dirty. On closer inspection, however, I found that "dirty" really meant "wet". And if my nose is serving me correctly, I'd say it's from her diaper soaking through to her pants. Also in her bag was a note saying she'd had her prescription cream put on at 10:30 a.m.

So, I'm wondering, was 10:30 her first diaper change? Am I dropping her off at 6:45 and nobody is checking her diaper for almost four hours?

And don't get me started on breakfast. Let's just say that the box of cereal and package of granola bars I sent in last week for her to have at breakfast time are still camping out, untouched, in her cubby.

If my child were not the type to get a Raging Rash at the drop of a hat, or the type who would walk up to an adult and ask for food when she's hungry, I would write these things off as just being part of a daycare experience. But I'd really like to see my family get off the weekly cycle of visiting the pediatrician, I'd love to see my daughter's poor, painful tushy heal up, and I NEED TO KNOW that she isn't just flying completely under the radar when she's at daycare.

That's what it all boils down to. Zoey has a very mellow personality. And she is, after all, not even two. It would be very easy to overlook her if you have your hands full with six other kids, or you're a cranky old lady who doesn't really like kids anyway. I am concerned that she arrives on the daycare scene each morning and isn't paid much attention to until, say, her pants are soaked and her bottom is raw. I do NOT need her to be the center of the universe in her small class of seven. But I DO need to know that somebody is watching out for her.