Month: February 2018

Categories
Wellbeing

Patients And Surgeons Reveal The Realities Of Plastic Surgery

“Ultimately for me, it’s a very small change—smoothes out my forehead lines—that makes a huge difference in my confidence,” says Maria Peterson, a full-time mom who also has a full-time profession outside the home. And Peterson isn’t the only one exploring the world of plastic surgery these days. From minor “tweakments” to major overhauls, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported that in 2016, there were 17.1 million procedures.
Let that soak in: 17.1 million. So if you have had plastic surgery, you’re not alone. And if you are considering it, well, there is a big family waiting to embrace you.

Despite its popularity, plastic surgery doesn’t come free of risks. In fact, there are quite a few categories that need special attention when it comes to pursuing surgical repairs, enhancements, and cosmetic treatments.

The Person Behind the Knife

Perhaps it seems obvious, but in order to better ensure a successful outcome with surgery, it is essential to choose a qualified surgeon. But, for one reason or another, not everyone does.

Joshua Zuckerman, MD, of Zuckerman Plastic Surgery, tells HealthWay, “Unfortunately there are non-plastic surgeons performing surgical procedures that should only be performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon.” For many, seeing an “MD” behind a name is enough to assume qualification. But the medical field is vast, and you might not want someone trained in family practice to be the person behind the proverbial (and actual) knife.

Unqualified doctors have also taken to social media to procure patients, and unfortunately, many have become quite come popular. Most accounts using plastic surgery-related hashtags are not qualified and thus, a dangerous choice. Beware!

Dimes and Dollars

No doubt, plastic surgery comes at a hefty price tag: anywhere from a couple hundred to thousands of dollars depending on the extent of the procedure. Since the majority of insurance companies do not (or do not fully) cover elective procedures, it makes sense that those seeking surgery would shop around a bit to find the best price.

It’s dangerous to skimp when it comes to plastic surgery, though. You have to ask yourself, “When I pay less, what am I getting less of?” People sometimes consider getting plastic surgery overseas due to significantly higher prices in the United States.

Zuckerman feels this is one of the biggest dangers of plastic surgery: “There are serious complications and deaths regularly from routine surgeries performed in the Caribbean and South America in locations such as the Dominican Republic or Colombia,” he says. When it comes to surgery, choose a board-certified surgeon in the U.S. to greatly reduce risk.

Breaking Habits

During the summer of 2017, Alicia Goveia decided to have a breast augmentation.
“It encouraged me to get into the best shape of my life prior to surgery and stop smoking! This was to ensure the best physical result and lessen any surgical risk,” she tells HealthyWay. “[My surgeon told me] smoking increases your risk by 800 percent.” And Goveia’s surgeon is absolutely correct.

When it comes to plastic surgery, smoking is a huge cause for concern. Smoking constricts blood vessels, which inhibits healing. It can also complicate anesthesia. Many plastic surgeons require complete cessation six weeks prior to surgery to avoid dangerous outcomes, as well as a timeframe after to ensure proper recovery.

Risk Assessment

It’s one thing to undergo surgery for an inflamed appendix or a worsening heart condition; it’s another to choose a surgical procedure that is considered elective. Franziska Huettner, MD, PhD, a board-certified plastic surgeon, highlights the following as some of the top dangers and risk of choosing plastic surgery:

  • Bleeding (hematoma)
  • Infection
  • Asymmetry
  • Wound healing complications
  • Paralysis (nerve damage)
  • Need for revision surgery
  • Pain
  • Scar formation
  • Skin depigmentation
  • Skin necrosis
  • Anesthetic/perioperative complications like blood clot formation, heart attack, stroke, and in very rare cases, fatal complications

As with all medical procedures, from life-saving to elective, there is a risk/benefit analysis that every doctor and patient must draft and evaluate before proceeding. Complications are rare, but they do happen, and it’s important to fully understand that you could experience one of these temporary or long-term dangers.

In the spring of 2017, Aimee Wood had a breast reduction surgery. Since then, she has had six follow up procedures due to complications. Her complications have not only been painful, but they have also forced her to take additional time off work. Wood says she doesn’t regret her surgery, but given the opportunity to re-do everything, she would have chosen a different surgeon who listened more. Now, she is with a new team and hopefully on the mend for good.

A Somewhat Mysterious Outcome

Plastic surgery has come a long way, but it has not been perfected. Not everyone has the results they hope for. Although plastic surgeons are quite skilled in their expertise, they cannot guarantee a specific outcome. And, as Huettner shared, some surgeries lead to subsequent revisions.

The goal should be to partner with a surgeon and together, mesh your vision with their skill. Huettner tells HealthyWay that patients will often show her celebrity photos. She takes that “goal,” and using Vectra 3-D imaging, can show them on a computer screen what that particular face or body part will look like on them.

“In most cases,” Huettner says, “the feature of the celebrity simply does not look right on the patient, so we collaborate, with the use of technology, [to find] what would look best on the patient’s unique anatomy.”

Under the Skin

Plastic surgery offers a physical change, but there is so much more to it than that. Often, the desire for surgery is related to an underlying issue—anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, eating disorders, and, sometimes, addiction.
“We cannot discuss plastic surgery without understanding the Euro-Western/mainstream cultural state of things for women (which both sexes perpetuate) wherein there exists much pressure for women to look eternally young,” says Natasha Sandy, a psychotherapist. “The biological reality of aging is being hidden, denied, and very aggressively combated, such as through plastic surgery.”

It’s a fine line in determining when plastic surgery is life-restoring versus life-taking. If a procedure is being used to mask an underlying emotional issue, it’s probably a good idea to delve into that before choosing surgery. “There is no greater joy for me than to help my female clients own their power, value, and worth for who they are, as they are,” says Sandy. “When this happens, women liberate themselves from the mental shackles of ‘beauty’ and shine as the true beautiful women they are, inside and out.”

Perks that Cannot Be Forgotten

So much of plastic surgery is discussed in terms of vanity. But truly, who are we to judge why someone does or does not choose a procedure? In addition to botox and other enhancements, there are countless lifesaving procedures done every year. Huettner names a few just to give us all a glimpse of how deep and wide the world of plastic surgery is:

  • reconstructive surgery after cancer resection, such as breast reconstruction after breast cancer surgery or facial and nasal reconstruction after skin cancer excision
  • reconstructive plastic surgery for facial trauma after domestic violence, personal attacks, or accidents
  • reconstruction after dog bite injuries
  • reconstruction of congenital deformities like cleft lip and palate formation or cranial deformities in children
  • body contouring surgery of the arms, legs, breast, abdomen, back and buttock after massive weight loss surgery
  • reconstruction of scar formation/contracture after a burn injury
  • significant improvement of neck and back pain through breast reduction plastic surgery

All of that IS plastic surgery. It is not only about reconstructing the body; it’s about restoring it, too.
Katherine Kramer benefited from a breast reduction after her last child was born. “My [breasts] were so heavy. They were awful while breastfeeding. It was like lifting sacks of flour,” she says. Kramer suffered back pain and was often embarrassed. Although she had a difficult recovery, Kramer says, “I would never turn back. I have suggested [breast reduction] to many and still would.”

Wood agrees: “I didn’t do it because I didn’t love my body. I had surgery because I was having chronic pain at 28 years old and couldn’t imagine what it would be in 10 years, even.” Like Peterson mentioned, plastic surgery has the potential to boost self-confidence.

“[Botox] is something I do three times a year. It’s worth every penny to me,” she says. Both minor and major procedures can be life-restoring in the fact that they allow a person to feel more like themselves. Often, it can change people from the outside in. Over and over, we hear about the importance of self-care, and for some, self-care can be found through a cosmetic procedure.

What’s coming next?

Plastic surgery is an ever-evolving field, and the future of plastics is exciting and innovative. Zuckerman believes that more and more procedures will become less invasive in the coming years, especially when it comes to fat removal and skin tightening, as well as longer-lasting injectable treatments for combatting aging and fat elimination. Low invasiveness is key because it most likely means a lower cost and shorter recovery time—something everyone can get excited about.

According to Zuckerman, “the use of 3D printing in craniofacial surgery to help with exact sizing for defect reconstruction (and for better complex preoperative surgical planning),” is on the horizon, too.
No matter the next phase, it’s a wonderful luxury to have access to plastic surgery. If it’s something on your mind, be sure to fully evaluate the risks before proceeding, and, as all our experts emphasized, find a board-certified surgeon. Zuckerman recommends searching the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and choosing someone who has before and after photos that are appealing.

Categories
Conscious Beauty Lifestyle

Jade Rolling: An Ancient Beauty Practice With A Star-Studded Following

You stay up to date with the latest creams and serums, hoping to keep your skin looking radiant throughout your thirties and beyond. You exfoliate, moisturize, and do everything else that’s supposed to lead to healthy, glowing skin, and you’ve probably developed a routine that works well for you.
However, there’s something you may be curious about adding into your regimen: jade rolling. This ancient beauty practice is said to have some pretty impressive health and beauty benefits, and it definitely has a high-profile following. Here’s what you need to know about jade rolling, the ancient beauty trend that is having a decidedly 21st-century comeback.

What is jade rolling?

Jade rolling is pretty simple: You use a small roller made of jade to massage your face and neck.
Some proponents of jade rolling follow a product-forward regimen that involves washing and exfoliating your face, then applying your favorite mask or moisturizer. Using the jade roller, you massage the mask or moisturizer into your skin for about two minutes.
Others opt for a cooling treatment they say can de-puff and de-bloat the face and recommend storing the roller in the fridge or freezer between use for optimal results.

Why jade?

According to the Gemological Institute of America, jade was used for thousands of years in ancient Central American, New Zealand, and Chinese weaponry, tools, and ornaments. Today, estheticians and manufacturers of jade rollers say the practice builds on the claims of Chinese medicine regarding jade’s ability to promote healing, draw toxins from the body, and relax the nervous system.
While these claims aren’t upheld by Western medicine, those who are passionate about jade rolling are adamant that rollers should be made of authentic jade.

The Who’s Who of Jade Rolling

Although jade rolling might be new to you, some of Hollywood’s most picture-perfect faces are making the most of the technique. Celebrity aesthetician Liz Kennedy told E! Online that she uses jade rolling to help models keep their skin looking cool and refreshed, which explains why Miranda Kerr, Behati Prinsloo, and Dree Hemingway all say that jade rolling is part of their regular beauty routine.
Alicia Keys is a jade rolling convert too. In 2016, Keys’ makeup artist, Dotti, told W, “I stick a jade roller in ice, so it’s basically freezing when I roll it over her skin. I really, really work into all those areas where I want blood and water and energy brought to the surface. It brings her skin to life, it practically makes her skin say, ‘Hi. I love you.’”

Other than “I love you” skin, what are the benefits of jade rolling?

According to Jayde Covenant, a spa manager and esthetician, massaging your face with a jade roller increases blood flow, which can give you that nice, healthy glow you’re after. Covenant told Well + Good senior editor Erin Hanafy that rolling also activates your lymphatic system, which helps drain fluid from your tissues, meaning it can detox and de-puff your face. After using a jade roller, your face may look tighter and less wrinkled, and who wouldn’t want that in exchange for just a few minutes of effort?
Lifestyle and wellness blogger Gena Min shares that jade rolling is more than just a beauty trend for her, saying that after complications related to Botox treatments, it has given her relief from headaches, sinus issues, and breakouts. Others claim that the smooth, cool jade can help with headaches when you use it on your forehead, eyelids, and temples.

Buying and Using a Jade Roller

So you’re ready to give jade rolling a try. The first step is to purchase a jade roller, which you’ll likely have to do online. When you’re shopping, remember that it’s important to get a roller that’s made with authentic jade if you’re after the benefits associated with the gemstone. Some of the cheaper rollers you’ll find might actually be glass that’s been colored to look like jade.
Authentic jade rollers typically cost between $25 and $90, depending on where you purchase them. Be sure to read the reviews to see what others have said about the roller you’re considering. If they’ve had a positive experience, chances are you will too!
When your roller arrives, you may want to pop it in the fridge or freezer before your first massage. While you don’t have to commit to fancy patterns, Min suggests this technique on her blog, Gena Min Wellness:

On clean skin, starting from the center of your forehead, use the large roller and roll slowly towards the ears. Repeat about 6 times over the same area. Use the small roller under the eyes and go from the corner of the eye to the ear. Same thing with cheeks. Start from the middle of your face and roll outwards. Roll from the chin area to your jaw and up to the ears. For the neck, start from the top and roll downwards towards the collar bone. You don’t need to apply any pressure. Just use the weight of the jade roller.

Keep in mind that you can incorporate your favorite cleansers, masks, and moisturizers into your personalized jade rolling ritual as well—we love Mario Badescu’s Vitamin C Serum followed up by Shiseido’s Firming Massage Mask.

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Categories
Wellbeing

Here's What You Need to Know About Silent Strokes

Early intervention is crucial to minimizing the long-term effects of a stroke. Knowing this, public education on symptoms of stroke became a priority in the States in the early 2000s. These efforts were largely beneficial, resulting in a quicker response to early stroke symptoms by the general population by motivating people to call emergency response services at the first presentation of stroke symptoms. This translates to more successful early interventions during strokes, according to a study published in Journal of Epidemiology.
Now, it seems that most people understand the telltale signs of a stroke, thanks to an easy to remember acronym used to encourage more widespread knowledge of symptoms, according to Jason Tarpley, MD, PhD, a stroke neurologist and director of the Stroke and Neurovascular Center at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.
“We often cite the acronym FAST,” he says, explaining that “F” stands for facial droop, “A” for arm weakness, “S” for speech difficulties, and “T” is for time to call 911.

Knowledge of this acronym is certainly important and it shouldn’t be disregarded; it encourages more people to act quickly when the most obvious symptoms of strokes arise. However, this memory tool shouldn’t be seen as providing a comprehensive outline of stroke symptoms. Unfortunately, not all strokes are easy to detect. Some may take place without symptoms or symptoms that are easy to brush off.

Stokes without symptoms are often called “silent strokes” because they typically go undetected unless seen on an MRI scan, according to Tarpley. In some cases, when these symptoms go ignored, it puts the person at risk for experiencing a second, more serious stroke. Because of this, it is important to understand silent strokes and how to move forward if you believe you’ve experienced this lesser-known health condition.

What is a silent stroke?

The most basic explanation of a stroke is that it occurs when there is a problem with the blood flow in the brain. More specifically, there are two types of strokes—ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. In the case of an ischemic stroke, a clot has formed in the brain which prevents blood flows to a specific part of the brain. Hemorrhagic strokes are drastically different, caused when a blood vessel is weak and ruptures, according to the American Stroke Association. Additionally, smaller strokes caused by a temporary clot are knowns as a transient ischemic attack or TIA.

Typically, strokes result in noticeable and dramatic symptoms because the part of the brain affected controls major functions in the body. Those suffering from strokes will often experience muscle weakness, sudden loss of vision or double vision, or difficulty speaking. Most people recognize drooping or muscle weakness on one side of the face as a telltale sign of a stroke.
However, it’s important to understand that not all symptoms of strokes are the same. How a person experiences a stroke can vary greatly depending on the portion of the brain affected or the severity of the clot. In some cases, an individual might not experience symptoms at all, and this is known as a silent stroke. In other cases, there may not be symptoms but they might be brushed off because they are so unremarkable.

“A silent stroke basically means that someone didn’t know they had it,” explains Tarpley. “They’re very subtle things, and sometimes, you may have a stroke you didn’t even know you had.”
According to Tarpley, our awareness of silent strokes can be attributed to amazing medical technology. Modern MRIs are able to pick up on small, symptomless strokes, making it possible to detect and diagnose silent strokes.

Risk Factors for Silent Strokes

The same people who are at a higher risk for experiencing a typically presenting stroke are also at risk for experiencing silent strokes, according to Tarpley. Cen Zhang, MD, the assistant professor of neurology and stroke neurologist at the Comprehensive StrokeCenter at NYU Langone Health, explained exactly what those risk factors entail.

“As people get older, there is a significant increase in risk for stroke,” she explains. “High blood pressure is another big risk for silent strokes and evident strokes as well. Metabolic syndrome, which includes risk factors for diabetes and heart disease, can also raise risk for silent stroke.”
Additionally, there is some research that indicates that lifestyle choices, such as heavy drinking, is associated with with increased risk for experiencing strokes, according to Zhang, who explained that the extent of the drinking is important to consider since moderate drinking is actually linked to a lower risk of stroke and cardiovascular problems. There is not significant research that indicates that one gender is at a higher risk for strokes than the other, according to Zhang.

Symptoms That Could Indicate a Silent Stroke

It’s difficult to point out obvious symptoms of a silent stroke. A true silent stroke has no symptoms and may go completely undetected until another medical event requires an MRI.

“Often a person might be coming in for something else, such as headaches, and they get an MRI. That’s when a doctor finds evidence of a previous silent stroke,” explains Zhang. “Most people think of stroke as having symptoms like facial numbness, trouble speaking, etc. … but a silent stroke doesn’t show any symptoms.”

In some cases, the term silent stroke might be used to describe a stroke with very subtle symptoms, according to Tarpley, who said that sometimes individuals will experience very subtle numbness or dizziness they brush off because it isn’t dramatic or alarming.

Those who suffer from multiple silent strokes might experience changes in cognitive function caused by the build up of damage in the brain. This could include difficulty with memory and changes in mood. Even so, these changes may go unnoticed until a stroke is picked up on a scan, according to Zhang. She encourages adults to avoid brushing off changes as a normal part of aging, saying there is a big difference between struggling to remember a phone number and having memory loss impact your ability to carry on with your life as you normally would.

“You get lost going to familiar places like a grocery store, or you forget your children’s names,” she says, explaining that it is the people closest to an individual who are the best at detecting truly significant changes in mood or cognition.
“Something that has been observed in research and in my own practice … if a person can remember that he or she is having a harder time remembering things, they have good insight. Usually when a family member or aide reports these changes, that’s typically more concerning to me.”

Lifestyle Choices for Silent Stroke Prevention

If we’re being perfectly honest, it is incredibly difficult to give a one-size-fit-all prescription for prevention of silent strokes. First and foremost, aging is one of the main risk factors for all strokes and there is nothing that can be done to turn back the clock.

Even so, this doesn’t mean that those who are at an increased risk for silent strokes can’t make important changes to their lifestyle. All aging individuals should monitor their blood pressure carefully, according to Zhang. And, patients with high blood pressure should make healthy lifestyle changes and follow their doctor’s medication suggestions in order to control their blood pressure and lower their risk for stroke.

“Newer studies are saying even lower is better, and reducing blood pressure to below 130 mmHG is shown to be most helpful,” she explains. “Watching cholesterol, diabetes and the risk factors that contribute to metabolic syndrome can also be helpful to prevent the build-up of silent strokes.”
Another difficulty in offering directions for prevention of strokes is that strokes can be caused by a myriad of underlying health issues. For instance, some strokes are caused by narrowing of the arteries which may require surgical correction, according to Tarpley. Other strokes are caused by abnormal heart rhythms and require a completely different course of action.

This means that each patient experiencing strokes, silent or otherwise, must work with their doctor to address the underlying cause of their stroke to prevent any future strokes. Those who have previously experienced a silent stroke should not brush off the severity of the diagnosis simply because the symptoms are not dramatic or devastating. Even silent strokes have a harmful effect on the brain.

Many neurologists are beginning to suspect that experiencing a silent stroke is a pre-phenomenon, according to Zhang, who explains that silent strokes are widely considered to be a risk factor for future, more devastating strokes. If a doctor indicates that you have experienced a silent stroke, this should be taken seriously, and they can provide further direction on the next steps you should take.
“If you have a silent stroke on your MRI, then you’re at risk of having the same type of stroke that could leave you devastated with weakness on one side of the body or the other,” says Tarpley. “So, starting with what it looks like on a brain MRI, you can start to figure out what caused it and start to figure out how to prevent future ones.”

Categories
Healthy Her Way Lifestyle

CrossFit Games Athlete Jessica Griffith

Imagine being a registered nurse working 12-hour shifts at a busy trauma center located in the Midwest. Now imagine training for more than 20 hours a week to be one of just 40 women in the world to qualify for the CrossFit Games. Combine the two and your head is probably spinning as you ask yourself Where am I going to find the time and energy to devote to my training after working all day? Welcome to the life of this week’s Healthy Her Way feature, Jessica Griffith.  
Although Jessica’s Instagram is a testament to her physical strength—which can make her seem intimidating at first glance—she’s anything but. Whether it’s her first interaction with you or she’s known you for years, Jessica approaches everyone the same way—with a genuine smile and a positive attitude. She’s the type of person you want to be best friends with immediately.
Jessica’s nursing career and CrossFit success didn’t arrive overnight, though. She’s spent nearly five years tirelessly chasing her goals while encouraging and advising others along the way as a Barbell Medicine Nutrition Consultant. Finding balance between these two worlds isn’t always easy, but Jessica is committed to her schedule and to always viewing the glass of life as half full.
Jessica’s determination and grit are undeniable, but one of her qualities that we admire most is her optimism. When she’s feeling overwhelmed, Jessica likes to reframe situations that seem large and cumbersome and break them down into smaller challenges so that she can take things one step at a time, remaining calm and collected under pressure.
Once Jessica sets her mind on something—whether it be a snatch goal, staying more hydrated throughout the day, or a finding a new way to help others—that’s it. She knows that making excuses will never help her grow into the best version of herself. To reinforce this positive mindset, Jessica makes a point of surrounding herself with people she admires who have similar goals. Jessica enjoys having a tribe of motivational people around her who can pick her up when she’s having an off day and who she can do the same for in return: something we should all aim for, regardless of our aspirations!

Photo by Ellery Photos

A Day in the Life

What does your daily routine look like?

My daily routine consists of a slow, peaceful morning with coffee, tea, eggs, Brussels sprouts, Kashi cereal, and blueberries. Yum! I usually answer some emails or follow up on any social interactions I’m having. If I have any errands, this is when I’ll get those done. I’ll head to the CrossFit gym around noon for a mobility session, watch the noon class work out, and then start my session at 1:00. My session lasts until 4:00, and then I hurry home because I’m usually starving. I’ll cook up whatever I have in my fridge. From there, ugh! My favorite part of the day!
I take an Epsom salt bath and unwind from the day’s training. Once I’ve got my muscles feeling like jelly, I’ll head back up to the gym for another mobility session or finish up any accessory work I have in my programming. Dinner time consists of a yummy steak or some salmon, some veggie–rice stir fry, and hanging out with my boyfriend and his roomates. Bedtime is usually no later than 10:30.  

What are your favorite ways to practice self-care?

I love challenging myself to drink enough water, sticking to my balanced diet day in and day out, making sure I’m getting enough sleep at night, and keeping my thoughts healthy and happy. I’ve found that mental health is just as important, if not more important, than physical health and well-being.  

How do you stay inspired?

I think I stay the most inspired by the people in my world. I’m constantly interacting and trying to surround myself with people who are better than me, chasing their dreams, and challenging themselves on a daily basis to be the best they can possibly be. I love running in such a crowd of people because on days where I don’t want to be running, they carry me through. On days they don’t want to be running, I get to carry them.

Photo by Ellery Photos

Disclaimer: Just so you know, if you order an item through one of our posts, we may get a small share of the sale.

Loving Lately…

What are the best products you’ve discovered recently?

OMG! The best products I’ve recently stumbled across are Young Living essential oils! Young Living is a company that manufactures over 700 chemical-free products. From lotions, soaps, detergents, toothpaste, etcetera—we don’t realize how often we use these chemical-infested products on a daily basis. Young Living allows you to put all those worries to rest. They also have a line of essential oils and they are amazing. There’s thousands of remedies you can create to fix literally any problem you would go see a doctor for—and I’m a nurse! I swear by this stuff!

What are your favorite apps?

My favorite apps are…Instagram. Lol!

Whose Instagram is on your radar?

If you pull up my search bar, my bestie, @brookewellss shows up as a top page I visit. For productivity, I always peruse @smashwerx. But for pure entertainment, I love really interesting accounts—like @baddiewinkle and @tattoo.mafia.

What are you reading, watching, or listening to?

As much as I hate to admit it, I don’t read that often. I’ve been watching all the 50 Shades movies this week—guilty!—and listening to Pandora’s Sleep Station. Talk about relaxing.

Photo by Ellery Photos

Jessica IRL

If your pet could talk, how would they describe you?

I grew up with too many pets—I’ll never have pets in my own house. I’m petted out. If I did have a pet, they would probably say, “I wonder why she only puts those covers on her body when she leaves the house. She never has anything on when she’s home.”

What is your bucket list travel destination?

Snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef!

What’s your coffee order?

Size doesn’t matter—usually smaller because I don’t like spending a fortune on coffee. But if someone else is buying, the biggest Skinny Vanilla Latte they’re willing to make!

What piece of advice has impacted you the most?

“Do not look up at the whole mountain ahead. Only focus on putting the right foot ahead of the left. Once that step is completed, focus on putting the left foot in front of the right foot. Once you’ve done those two small steps enough times, you can look out at the top of the mountain and see the masterpiece you’ve conquered. It’s only conquered if you focus on the small steps in the moment. Don’t get ahead of yourself and don’t harp on the steps you’ve already completed.” —Dr. Fortunato, my freshman year of college chemistry professor
I was in his office crying over the next four years of nursing school.

Photo by Ellery Photos

For more on Jessica, check out her Instagram and her CrossFit Games profile!

Categories
Fitness Advice x Motivation Sweat

Mastering The Minimalist Workout

Many of us have witnessed the rise of minimalist practices on our social media feeds and in our physical surroundings. With countless tips and tricks at our fingertips, life itself has become simplified in many ways, and who’s complaining? Given the rapid growth of the trend, there’s a new minimalist-inspired habit we can all feel excited about: minimalist workouts.
Gone are the days when gym goers were advised to spend two or more hours a day training to notice results. Unless you’re a competitive athlete, this chunk of time isn’t a prerequisite for reaching your health and wellness goals. As it turns out, less could very well be more. Read on for a few best practices that will help you embody simplicity during each sweat sesh.

What is minimalism?

Minimalism was introduced into mainstream thought by dynamic duo Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus thanks to their popular documentary, books, podcast, and website. According to Millburn and Nicodemus, “Minimalism is a tool that can assist you in finding freedom. Freedom from fear. Freedom from worry. Freedom from overwhelm. Freedom from guilt. …Freedom from the trappings of the consumer culture we’ve built our lives around.”
While many assume a minimalist lifestyle automatically entails having fewer material possessions and decreased commercial consumption, there’s much more to the concept. In truth, minimalism varies from person to person, but it always involves a common thread of consciously eliminating excesses to focus on what’s most important.

Bringing Minimalism Into the Gym

In terms of exercise, what’s most important is our health and wellness. Can we all agree? When striving toward our goals, remembering the notion of quality over quantity is essential. A kick-butt training regimen isn’t about mastering the latest and greatest equipment-dependent glute kickback. Rather, the foundation of a successful, sustainable regimen is a focus on what’s been proven successful—and the removal of unnecessary bells and whistles.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to exercise longer. You need to exercise smarter! If your training approach is centered on full-body workouts, high-intensity intervals, and compound movements, you’ll experience major benefits. As a personal trainer, this has been my go-to approach for clients with busy schedules.
Not everyone can dedicate themselves to lengthy gym workouts five to six times a week. Full-time work schedules and family responsibilities take priority, and when this is the case, exercising is all about maximizing effectiveness with what time you do have. Jump into the tried-and-true non-negotiables and get your hands dirty. Get in, get out, and get the results: That’s how minimalism translates into an exercise regimen.

Give it a go!

Ready to try the minimalistic fitness approach for yourself? Test out our no-frills, superset-centric* routine next week…and knock out a few more to-do’s in your newfound free time.

Monday

  • 4 × 12 Squat Superset with 4 × 10 Burpees
  • 4 × 12 Overhead Presses Superset with 4 × 60-second Plank
  • 20 minutes of Cycling

Wednesday

  • 4 × 12 Deadlift Superset with 4 × 10 Pull-Ups (assisted if necessary)
  • 4 × 12 Push-Ups Superset with 4 × 15 Ball Slams
  • 15 minutes of Sprint Intervals

Friday

  • 4 × 24 Weighted Lunges Superset with 4 × 12 GHD Sit-Ups
  • 4 × 12 Hip Thrusts with by 4 × 12 Kettlebell Swings
  • 5-minute row + 15 minutes of Rowing Intervals

Saturday

*New to supersets?

Supersets involve alternating two distinct exercises without resting in between, which can increase the intensity of your workouts without making them more complicated. For example, Monday you’ll start with 12 squats followed by 10 burpees, repeating the superset four times before moving on to your overhead press–plank supersets.

Categories
Lifestyle

Hair Stylists Explain The Most Common Hair Care Mistakes

Even for a fairy tale, the story of Rapunzel is implausible—and not just because of the protagonist’s overactive follicles. Anyone who’s sunk years into brushing yards and yards of their spun-gold hair would never let some prince yank, pull, and climb on it. A woman like Rapunzel doesn’t just care for her hair. She coddles it.
We can identify, but we also have much more than a comb to work with. There are shampoos, conditioners, products, blow dryers, and the influence of the “no-poo” lobby to contend with. It’s hard to know what to choose. That’s a problem, because the particulars of how you treat your hair make all the difference—even if you don’t have Rapunzel-level locks.
Many people don’t know exactly how to treat their hair to keep it healthy, hairstylists say. In fact, lots of popular products and practices actually do more damage than good. We talked to experienced stylists and got the inside scoop on some of the most common hair-care mistakes—and how to give your ‘do the fairy-tale ending it deserves.

1. You’re combing your hair wrong.

It really is possible to comb your hair incorrectly—and doing so can lead to some serious damage. When it comes to detangling your hair, moisture matters.

You don’t want to pull a comb through your hair right after you step out of the shower, says salon-owner and stylist Christy Stewart.
“Your hair is most fragile when wet,” Stewart tells HealthyWay.
Excessive brushing or combing can stretch wet hair and lead to breakage, she explains. The type of brush you’re using can cause problems, too. Brushes or combs with small, fine teeth cause more friction and pulling on the follicles and are not great to use.

“Use a wide-tooth comb or a wet brush that is made specifically for brushing wet hair,” Stewart says.
Many stylists even recommend using the “bottom’s up” method for brushing hair. It may feel weird at first, but “start at your ends and work your way toward the roots. Never start at the root!” warns Stewart. “You’ll just end up hurting yourself.”  

2. You’re washing your hair wrong.

You probably grew up with the iconic phrase “lather, rinse, and repeat.” Now there’s a whole new camp telling you not to wash your hair. Like, at all. Who can you really trust when it comes to cleaning your luscious locks?

First of all, your cleansing routine should be based on your hair type. Thin hair is more delicate and more prone to breakage, whereas thick or curly hair is stronger. Is your scalp exceptionally oily or dry? Taking note of your hair type helps you know exactly how to handle and clean your hair.
Regardless of your hair type, it’s always a good idea to start by thoroughly rinsing your hair with warm water. The temperature helps open up the hair cuticles, making it easier to remove any dirt and absorb the oils from your conditioner. If you have hair past your shoulders, it’s also a good idea to apply a light layer of conditioner to the ends first. Those are the oldest and driest points, and conditioning first helps protect the most fragile bits of hair during the cleaning process.

But should you even use shampoo at all? The “no-poo” sect was born from the idea that the more you clean and remove natural oils from your body, the more your body produces, and you’re forever stuck in a greasy loop.
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While it is true that shampoo removes your scalp’s natural oils, it’s completely okay to use it two to three times a week, reports NPR. People with curly hair can possibly go even longer without shampooing, but again, it’s different person to person. However, you should only ever be applying shampoo to your scalp—never down to the ends of your hair.
The way you lather up matters, too. Never apply shampoo in a circular motion. This can cause serious tangles and break your hair. Instead, move your fingers vertically across your scalp. And don’t think you need to follow the “rinse and repeat” adage. Unless your hair is exceptionally dirty (in this case, the shampoo might not lather at all), there’s no reason for round number two of ‘poo.

Finally, when you’re ready to condition, squeeze some of the water from your hair and then apply the product from the middle of your hair down to your roots (your scalp doesn’t need the extra oil). Leave conditioner in for as long as you can, and then rinse your hair until all of the product is removed. Then, if you can stand it, finish off your shower with a cold water rinse. This will seal the cuticle as well as the outer layer of the hair, giving it the most shine.
Also take note of the ingredients of the products you use.
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“Avoid products with sulfates, as they strip hair of its good stuff [natural oils], and sodium chloride because it can be very drying,” says stylist Kashmir Asvaraksh.
Look for paraben- and sulfate-free products instead—those will clean and condition your hair without the harshness.  

3. You’re towel-drying your hair wrong.

Nothing is sacred anymore. Even towel drying your hair after a shower can cause breakage and damage! While it may sound insignificant, the way you dry your hair really does affect the way it looks.

Vigorously towel drying after a shower causes a lot of friction, which leads to breakage—especially if you use a circular motion. Dry too roughly and you can damage hair cuticles, the protective outermost layer of each hair. That leads to frizzy, damaged-looking hair, and no one wants that.
The best way to dry your hair with a towel is to press or blot the towel onto the wet hair—no rubbing! Alternately, you could “swap that bath towel for a microfiber towel or old T-shirt instead,” Stewart says. “The high thread count will be much more gentle on those cuticles.”

4. You’re blow-drying your hair all wrong.

If you prefer to use a blow dryer, make sure you don’t go too crazy and dry your hair out with excessive heat. While thin hair is most susceptible to heat damage, even thick or curly hair shouldn’t be subjected to the high heat of a blow dryer for an extended amount of time. If you absolutely must blow dry, though, use a continuous motion and a flat nozzle attachment—that will direct the the warm air and help hair dry quicker and more evenly.

To properly blow dry, start by sectioning off parts of your hair. These smaller sections will allow your hair to dry faster with less heat, which is always a good thing. Decide on the look you’re going for beforehand, and then use the blow dryer to help achieve that look. Hold your brush vertically, and the blow dryer horizontally. This will give your hair more volume and won’t leave it stick-straight.

A boar-bristle brush is best to use while drying hair. Unlike its ceramic counterpart, the boar-bristle brush doesn’t conduct heat, which can flatten natural volume, quite as easily. Boar bristles will also smooth down the hair’s cuticles with ease. As for the type of hair dryer to use—it all comes down to your hair type.
Ionic dryers are better for thick or frizzy hair because they break up water droplets faster, cutting down drying time. However, these dryers aren’t great if your hair is oily or if you’re going for volume.
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Ceramic or infrared dryers are great for people with thinner, dry hair, but can also be beneficial for almost everyone. The weight of your locks also comes into play, especially if you have a ton of hair and have to hold the darn hairdo up for a long time. If you’re ready to splurge on a nice dryer, take some time and find the one the fits the majority of your hair needs—not just the most expensive or popular one.

4. You’re using heated tools disastrously wrong.

In addition to practicing good blow-drying habits, you should definitely be careful when using heated tools to style your hair. First and foremost, you have to use heat-protectant products if you are using a blow dryer or other heated styling tools.

“You can use heating elements regularly if, and only if, you use a heat protectant and a sufficient amount of it,” says Asvaraksh. “The heat protectant needs to be applied all over the hair” to be effective for keeping hair healthy while drying and styling, she says.

“To get the best results, look for products that fit your hair type. These heat-resistant products will prolong your blowout and limit heat damage,” says salon owner and stylist Eliut Rivera. For natural hair, you want to keep the temperature of any heated tool under 400 degrees. People with color treated, fine, or processed hair should stick to lower temperatures.
Rivera shares the cardinal rule of using heated tools on our hair: “The more heat applied, the more damage is being done,” the stylist says.
We would add a sliver of wisdom from Rapunzel’s world of myth. She never used heated tools, remember, and look how well that worked out for her.

Categories
Favorite Finds Motherhood

9 Children's Books That Celebrate Diversity

When my daughter was 3, I took her to her first Yom Kippur service. This is the holiest day of the year in Judaism: the day when we ask forgiveness of those we’ve harmed and repent for our sins. Our synagogue has two young female rabbis—not a common occurrence—and my hitherto non-practicing Jewish daughter sat utterly fixated, staring at these two women with nothing but awe in her eyes. She turned to me and said, “One day I want to be a Rabbi.”
It was a clear example of You can only become what you can see. Cue: the importance of diversity in children’s books.  
In describing the need for representation in children’s books, non-profit organization We Need Diverse Books quotes a 1990 article from professor and author Rudine Bishop Sims: “When children cannot find themselves reflected in the books they read, or when the images they see are distorted, negative, or laughable, they learn a powerful lesson about how they are devalued in the society of which they are a part.” 
But the lack of representation in media isn’t just an issue for people of color—it’s an issue for all of us. 
On the occasion of the unveiling of her portrait at the National Portrait Gallery, Michelle Obama wrote, “This is all a little bit overwhelming, especially when I think about all of the young people who will visit the National Portrait Gallery and see this, including so many young girls and young girls of color who don’t often see their images displayed in beautiful and iconic ways.”
For children of color, seeing people who look like them represented in media like books, movies, or art, can actually affect them in a positive way. It’s proof that there’s space for them, both on the page and in the world. For white children, experiencing diverse media can help prevent a distorted view of their world. All kids, regardless of background, need to know that there are all kinds of people in the world—that we all have hopes and dreams and struggles, and that some struggles, like those involving race or gender or sexuality, are particular to some.
In honor of Black History Month, here are some wonderful books to add into your kids’ collection and to share with friends:

1. A is for Activist

by Innosanto Nagara

Dubbed Howard Zinn’s The People’s History of the United States for kids, this gorgeous board book moves through the alphabet teaching kids about key tenets of activism—justice and peace—and vital freedom fighters who’ve forged the path, like Malcolm X.

2. Counting on Community

(also!) by Innosanto Nagara

This book is all about the value of community and being able to count on those around you. Kids of various colors and backgrounds come together to plant seeds and reap the harvest.

3. The Snowy Day

by Ezra Jack Keats

The joy of this beautiful board book is that it is simply about a boy named Peter exploring the snow—and that boy happens to be black. Unlike so many books about kids of color in general—and African American kids in particular—this is not a book about race. Keats has a whole collection based on Peter and his friends including Whistles for Willie, A Letter to Amy, and Peter’s Chair.

4. Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History

by Vashti Harrison

From abolitionist Sojourner Truth to chemist Alice Ball and poet–writer Maya Angelou, you and your kids will learn about African American women who’ve changed the world in extraordinary ways.

5. We’re Different, We’re the Same 

by Bobbi Kates and Joe Mathieu

Sesame Street has you covered! This lovely book explores all the ways we can be different—race, gender, sexuality—and all the ways we share the same hopes and dreams.

6. Let’s Stop at the Market

by Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson

Why don’t we own a car? Why do we get off the bus in the not-so-nice part of town? CJ asks his grandma these and other questions as they travel to and from church. This books explores the beautiful bond between CJ and his grandmother, the ways in which we are different, and the beauty we can find anywhere.

7. Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match/Marisol McDonald No Combina

by Monica Brown and Sara Palacios

This charming bilingual book explores the funny ways our cultures intersect under our skins. Marisol loves peanut butter burritos and has nut-brown skin and red hair. To her, these are totally natural combinations.

8. Full, Full, Full of Love

by Trish Cooke and Paul Howard

Focused on the sweet relationship between Jay Jay and his Grannie, this book welcomes the reader into a boisterous Sunday night dinner and the love among family.

9. We Shall Overcome: The Story of a Song

by Debbie Levy and Vanessa Brantley Newton

How much power does one song hold? A lot! This book traces the history of the iconic song that became the anthem of the Civil Rights Movement and pays tribute to the music that helped change the course of American life.
Looking for more? Check out We Need Diverse Books, which is working to transform the publishing industry in hopes of promoting literature that reflects and honors the lives of all kids.

Categories
Healthy Pregnancy Motherhood

Here's Why You Might Want to Hire A Doula for Your Next Birth

For Sakinah Irizarry, the best part of being a doula is being in a room just as a family becomes a family.
“The moment a new baby arrives, a family becomes complete,” says Irizarry, a Saugerties, New York doula. “I enjoy doing what I can to help the birthing mother or the birthing partners reach that moment of becoming.”
Helping birthing moms and their partners is the very core of what doulas do. Defined by DONA International (the leading doula-certifying organization) as “a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and shortly after childbirth to help her achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible,” doulas have been holding moms’ hands and helping them through labor for centuries.
But it’s only in recent years that the number of these “helpers” has exploded in response to the growing call from moms to have someone on their side in the birthing room.
Should you have a doula ready for your text when you’re about to give birth? We’ll let you decide that for yourself…but here’s a little information that can help you make the choice.

What do doulas do?

Unlike a doctor or midwife, whose focus is on delivering the baby, a doula’s primary concern is the person giving birth. She (or he) is in the birthing room to act as a laboring mom’s support system, advocating on her behalf by engaging the medical staff, guiding her through natural pain relief and relaxation techniques, stepping in to massage or help her get more comfortable, and answering questions posed by both mom and her partner if one is present.
Essentially, a doula is an extra set of hands in the room, but one who comes in with experience and knowledge of the entire birthing process as well as information provided by a mom about what she hopes to have happen during the birth.
“Some folks shy away from hiring a doula because they feel the role of supporting the laboring mom belongs to the birthing partner,” Irizarry says. “I think that having a doula frees the birthing partner to fully be present to support mom, physically and emotionally.”
Doulas typically meet with expecting parents weeks or even months before the delivery will take place to talk over what a mom wants to happen during during the birth. Trained and certified doulas can help an expecting parent or couple craft a birth plan, putting together a mom’s wish list to execute on her behalf.
The goal isn’t for a doula to tell a mom how to birth but to help a mom feel empowered and advocated for in the birthing room. In fact, one of the DONA requirements that doulas have to sign off on is a promise to “make every effort to foster maximum self-determination on the part of his/her clients.”
When the text arrives that baby’s on their way, the doula springs into action to do what they can to ensure mom has a safe and positive birth.

What the Science Says

Given the growing number of doulas in America, it’s no wonder the scientific community has started to take notice and is giving these professionals their due respect.
There’s a growing body of evidence that having a doula on hand to help a mom and her partner in the delivery room is correlated with healthier outcomes for both mom and baby.
One study by Lamaze International found that doula-assisted moms were four times less likely to have a low birth weight baby, two times less likely to experience a birth complication, and significantly more likely to initiate breastfeeding.
While the positives could be ascribed to the fact that a mom who can afford to hire a doula is also more likely to be able to afford better prenatal care, the researchers dug deeper, positing that “communication with and encouragement from a doula throughout the pregnancy may have increased the mother’s self-efficacy regarding her ability to impact her own pregnancy outcomes.”
Other studies on doula assistance during birth have linked their presence to a reduction in preterm and C-section births and a reduction in racial and income-based disparities in birth outcomes.

What Your Doctor Says

With statistics and studies to back them up, why aren’t doulas lining the halls of every modern maternity ward?
Unfortunately, the traditional medical community may be playing gatekeeper—preventing doulas from becoming regular participants in the birthing experience. Studies found that some doctors resist having an extra person in the delivery room, and when hospital rules limit attendants in the delivery room, many women find themselves forced to choose between family members and a doula.
If you want a doula in the room, do your research. If you’ll be delivering at a hospital or birthing center, ask how many people are allowed in the room. Talk to your doctor or midwife about what they allow. Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself. If you think a doula’s the right choice for you, make the case!

By the Numbers

Of course, when it comes down to it, deciding whether or not to have a doula may not just be about what they can do for you in the delivery room. It may come down to cost.
Depending on where you live, a doula can cost anywhere from $500 to $3,000. Doulas fees cover their actual services, but they also help offset the cost of being on call. After all, most women don’t know exactly when they will go into labor when they contract their doula.
Some insurance companies do cover the cost (or part of the cost) of having a doula present at a birth. DONA also offers a guide to getting third party reimbursement.
If your insurance company refuses and you’re not sure you can swing the price, you don’t have to give up on the dream of having an advocate in the delivery room.
You may find someone in your community who has the chops to be your right hand during labor. And becoming as knowledgeable as you can about birth will help you be an empowered advocate for yourself.
“Take a birthing class,” Irizarry suggests. “Ask moms, your doctor, hospitals, your local library. Many birthing classes are cheap, or free.”
If you can bring a few friends to the class, all the better—they’ll be more informed and better able to coach you in the delivery room.
“Labor is grueling, but so is labor support,” Irizarry says. “Having two people as support means they can relieve each other and that mom is never alone.”

Find Your Friend

The easiest way to find a doula who’s up to the task is to ask other moms for recommendations. That said, it’s always wise to check up on their credentials, too.
DONA International offers a find-a-doula service on its site and the International Childbirth Educators Association will let you search its membership rolls to see if a practitioner has been certified. The Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association also offers a search for certified doulas in your area.

Categories
In the Kitchen Nosh

4 Tricks For Flavoring Your Coffee And Tea (Without The Added Sugar)

Sugar and flavored creamers may take your coffee or tea up a notch, and there’s no denying the appeal of a sweet addition to your favorite hot beverage. But while a single cup of coffee or tea with creamer or plain old sugar doesn’t sound that bad, when you multiply the contents of your go-to sweeter by the number of coffees you consume each day, week, or month, the amount of sugar (and—if you use nondairy creamer—additives) really begins to add up. Beyond that, few of people know exactly what nondairy creamer is or how much sugar it contains.
Want to give up the cream(er) and sugar, but need to keep it sweet? These tips will have you adding plenty of flavor while keeping your hot beverages healthy, meaning you’ll be drinking unsweetened and creamer-free coffee and tea in no time!

The Ugly Truth About Nondairy Creamer

Many popular nondairy creamer brands hide behind the guise that their particular product is made from soy, almond, or rice milk and therefore has something to offer nutritionally. What they aren’t being transparent about is that most of these creamers are full of hydrogenated vegetable oil, corn syrup, and carrageenan (a food stabilizer that has been linked to inflammation and gastrointestinal issues). If you’re a fan of nondairy creamers because you have a lactose allergy or follow a vegan diet, you’ll also want to read labels to make sure your creamer of choice doesn’t contain sodium caseinate, which is actually a milk protein.
Sugar content can also be surprisingly high in creamers. Some brands contain up to 7 grams of sugar per serving! The good news? There are plenty of ways to sweeten your coffee or tea without having to rely on nondairy creamers.

4 Sugar-Free Ideas for Sweetening Your Coffee or Tea

1. Add cinnamon to your coffee grounds.

You’d be surprised by how much sweetness the incorporation of cinnamon into your grounds actually adds to your coffee. Instead of trying to stir a small amount of cinnamon into brewed coffee (which will just result in a frustrating clump of cinnamon floating on top of the coffee), try adding ⅛ teaspoon of cinnamon per cup to your coffee grounds before turning on your coffee maker. The result? A smooth cup of coffee with a sweet hint of cinnamon.

2. Make your own creamer with coconut milk and vanilla.

If French vanilla creamer is your jam, try making your own coffee or tea creamer with a small amount of creamy coconut milk and a drop of vanilla. Use a tablespoon of coconut milk (from a can for a super-rich texture) and a drop of your best vanilla per cup of coffee or tea. For real luxury, heat a can of coconut milk over very low heat with half a vanilla bean for 10 minutes, making sure to scrape out the tiny vanilla seeds. Remove from the heat and allow the vanilla bean to steep for an hour before removing it from the coconut milk. DIY vanilla coconut milk creamer can be covered and refrigerated for up to a week.

3. Discover the a-peel of orange slices.

Thinly sliced orange adds a complex flavor to coffee, espresso, and tea (particularly black teas). Rinse the uncut orange under very hot water for a minute to remove bacteria and pesticide residue before using. Add the orange slice to your mug and pour hot coffee or tea over it for best flavor.

4. Cocoa brings a ton of chocolatey flavor.

Get all the rich flavor of a mocha or hot chocolate without the sugar by adding cocoa to your next cup of coffee. In a mug, make a slurry using up to a tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder whisked into a small amount of water, dairy, or nondairy milk. Pour the hot coffee into your mug and whisk vigorously with a fork, adding extra milk if desired.
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Categories
Motherhood

Daycare Violations: Navigating The Worrying World Of Childcare Providers

Ask any working parent in the United States and they’ll tell you that childcare is a huge expense for their family. Most Americans report that they spend 10 percent of more of their income on childcare, while roughly one third of American families are spending 20 percent of their income on care for their child while they work, according to a Care.com survey. Daycare costs so much, you can actually attend an in-state college for a year for less than you spend on a year of daycare for your children, according to NPR.
The cost of daycare is a real problem in the United States. For my family, it meant I took an overnight job after my daughter’s first birthday and would come home and parent on little to no sleep several times a week. For some families, it is the reason that mothers decide not to return to work after a child is born. Unfortunately, it is often one of the reasons that children end up with subpar, or even dangerous, care providers.
“When my daughter was a baby, we had no money,” shares Amy Shearn, mom and freelance writer. “But there was a lady down the block who watched kids for cheap. I didn’t love it because she’d sometimes have three or four kids there, and they seemed to mostly eat cookies and watch TV … we did it anyway for a few hours a week because it was the only way I could get any work done without paying more than I was making.”
Amy Shearn isn’t alone. Many parents face problems with their childcare options because of cost, location, and a lack of information. When childcare is subpar, it is ultimately the children that suffer the most.

The Laws that Make Childcare Safe

In order to become a licensed childcare facility, service providers have to comply with a specific set of guidelines and pass inspections. In the United States, these guidelines vary from state to state.
In Missouri, for instance, licensing laws are different based on the type of care center. In-home daycares don’t have to be licensed, according to Robin Phillips, the chief executive officer of Child Care Aware of Missouri, but if they want to become licensed they will have to comply with laws in place pertaining to environmental safety, teacher-to-child ratio, background checks, and more.
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And some child care providers are completely exempt, such as religious providers of childcare, preschool programs that offer less than four hours of care each day, and anyone who is caring less than four non-related children in their home, according to the The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

The Surprising Number of Daycare Violations

Daycare violations among licensed facilities are incredibly common, unfortunately. One 2013 news story detailed an alarming 144 number of violations in the St. Louis area alone. These violations were sometimes minor, but many were downright scary. One center, for instance, was facing a violation after a child was found walking down a street in the area. Another was reported when a child was kneed by a staff member. Many of the childcare violations were because the center didn’t have the correct number of staff members for the number of children in each class.
More recently, in December 2017, an Arizona daycare faced a $300 fine after three employees were charged with child abuse. The investigation happened after the three employees covered up a incident where a child was struck with a broom.
A Houston area daycare was investigated in December as well when a child was found walking near the highway by police, according to KHUO. The child was said to have walked away while outside during recess, according to the story, and the child’s absence went unnoticed by the staff.


Unfortunately, the list goes on and on. Enough searching reveals stories of children abused or losing their lives while under the watch of their care providers. It’s enough to make the very idea of dropping your child off at a daycare center scary.

The Good News About Child Care Violations

There really is good news. Childcare violations are typically published for the public online in a state database. This means that parents can do their research on a childcare provider themselves, using the information they find online to make informed decisions about the childcare provider they chose. This information is provided by the start department responsible for child care licenses in each state, like the Department of Health and Senior Services in Missouri.
“It helps parents understand if they were cited for any reason,” Phillips explains. “There’s an array of things that are minor violations, and there are obviously some things that are more serious, and those things are tracked, and they’re public information.”
It’s important to understand that unlicensed providers won’t appear on this database. When care providers are unlicensed, they don’t get visited by the department of child care regulations, according to Phillips.
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In addition searching the databases available online, Phillips recommends that parents take the time to visit childcare providers they’re considering multiple times. Instead of relying on word-of-mouth alone, guardians should make both planned and random visits, paying attention the number of teachers in the room at any given time, how many kids are there, and what is going on in the daycare during any point of the day. For families who are uncertain of what type of questions to ask or what to look for in a center, Child Care Aware, which is available in several states, provides resources to parents to help guide them as the select a provider for the children in their care.

Why Unsafe Childcare is Commonplace

Unfortunately, in the United States, unsafe or low quality childcare options appear to commonplace. There are certainly excellent child care options in the State, but there are three big limitations that prevent parents and other family members from finding quality care for the child in their their care.
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First, and perhaps the most obvious, is cost. Like Shearn, many parents are trying to find a childcare provider they can afford and finding the costs of daycare astronomical. In 2016, the average cost of daycare style childcares was $211 each week, according to a survey by Care.com. The costs go up from there: Nannies cost over twice that much, and simply hiring an after-school sitter for 15 hours a week puts most parents back $232 a week.
And for parents who qualify for assistance, the subsidies still aren’t enough, according to Phillips. Those making minimum wage are still struggling to pay for their reduced-rate childcare. Even if a family can afford childcare, the issue of availability is a problem in certain areas of the country.
“There are challenges in more rural areas. This is a national issues, not just in Missouri,” explains Phillips. “There’s scarcity in what’s available, the supply, compared to … the number of working families with children under six that are in need of that service.”
 
Lastly, not all states have laws and regulations that are helpful to parents looking for care and the licensing regulations vary greatly from state to state. This may make information on daycare difficult to come by, especially if parents don’t know about resources like Child Care Aware or their state simply doesn’t have this kind of resource.

The Bigger Picture

Many of the limitations mentioned above may appear to be individual, based on the circumstances of a specific family, like their income or where they live. The truth is the problems families face when looking for care for children is unquestionably linked to a bigger country-wide problem.

It’s easy to look at the extreme examples mentioned above—children wandering off or being abused in centers—and begin to believe that safety is the only matter at stake when selecting care for a child. There is a lot more at stake. Based on the availability of childcare and the limited resources that help parents pay for childcare, it doesn’t appear that the country as a whole is taking this seriously. It’s important to understand how pivotal the early years are for children, and the the conversation surrounding childcare have to go beyond “Are children safe?” and move to questions about what kind of effort is being put into their enrichment as a human being.
“When they don’t have access to those environments or the families struggles to pay for that, it usually falls on the backs of the child and their future,” says Phillips, adding that our country as a whole doesn’t place a high enough value on the earliest years of a child’s life.
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“By the time a child is five, the research out there will tell you that that child’s brain is 90 percent developed of an adult,” says Phillips, who strongly believes that children need access to so much more than safe care. A low stress environment that focuses on individual learning is what all children need to thrive as young children and as they grow into adolescents and adults.