Convenient location

Amuma Childcare Services - Cebu is located on the 2nd floor of the Pacific Square Building at F. Cabahug St., Mabolo, Cebu City.

It's right across ICON Bar and Kima Glass; the same building with RCBC and Yakiniku Japanese Restaurant.

Reasonable rates

• Hourly rate: 99 pesos for a minimum of 5 hours; 175 pesos for 4 hours and below 
• Daily rate: 750 pesos for up to 8 hours
• Weekly rate: 2, 500 for up to 8 hours a day, 5 days a week
• Monthly rate: 6,000 pesos for up to 9 hours a day, 5 days a week, 20 days in a month

It must also be noted that electronic devices and picture-taking are strictly not allowed in the facility for safety reasons. 

We also asked if we can access the CCTV footage to monitor our child, but it's also not allowed, which we understand. 

They provide photos of your child from time to time, though, through Facebook Messenger. :-)

Competent and patient childcare assistants

What I like most about Amuma is that they have stringent qualifications for their childcare assistants (CCAs or yayas).

They hire TESDA-certified caregivers, or yayas who have worked for at least 5 years with a certificate of recommendation from their previous employer.

All their CCAs have also undergone comprehensive health, security, and psychological checks, as well as first-aid trainings—pretty impressive, if I say so myself.

My daughter is quite clingy, and it was the first time in a long time that she's been separated from me.

My husband and I were also super anxious when we left our daughter at Amuma, but their CCAs were very competent in handling our clingy girl. 

For children spending longer hours in the facility, Amuma has several activities to engage kids, such as reading, games, handcrafts, and more.

Since we were only there for a couple of hours and is only a trial period (it was also a Sunday), there weren't a lot of kids.

At the end of the two-hour trial, our daughter was crying. She is still exclusively breastfed and rarely drinks formula milk from a bottle. 

She was sleepy by then and she usually throws a tantrum when overtired; when she's at this point, breastfeeding is the best way to comfort her. 

It was a good thing the CCAs were very patient, even when our daughter refused her milk and refused to be held. We arrived a few minutes after her meltdown, thank goodness.

Upon pickup, the CCAs gave us a "report" about our daughter's behavior, her activities, what she ate/drank, etc. 

One more thing is that only the parents or registered guardians are allowed to pick up your child. Otherwise, you need to prepare an authorization letter and IDs for your substitute guardian.

Reliable operating hours

Amuma is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

However, from reading the comments and reviews, if you plan to drop off your kid at night, it's best to inform the office at least a few hours ahead so that they can prepare accordingly.

I agree that it makes business sense to only operate at night when there are actually kids to take care of, and as a responsible adult, I do believe that setting appointments is a good courtesy to make :-)

Our verdict

So far, our experience with Amuma was better than expected. We thought our daughter would cry the whole time!

We are definitely going back, but maybe only during the weekends and only for a few hours, until our little girl is ready to be left there for a longer duration—or until she finally weans (lol).

If you plan to check out Amuma, you can schedule a facility tour. 

Just email them at amumachildcare@gmail.com with the subject "Facility Tour Request." 

They have tour schedules from Monday to Saturday. Just be sure to book a schedule at least a day before.

For more information, please message them through their official Facebook page (you can also click on the photo below):

DISCLAIMER: 

I am not an employee of Amuma Childcare. I'm just a happy parent who is sharing my experience with them. 

For your questions, please contact them through their Facebook page provided above :-)

Children's embarrassment and online harassment

What’s That Smell?

No Crumbs Left Behind

It’s understandable to feel a little guilty about taking time to go out for coffee or do some meditating when you’re the parent of a young child.

After all, your instincts are to be there when your little one needs you, and that’s a big responsibility.

But if you’re a disabled parent, it’s especially important to rest and renew yourself so you’re better able to provide the level of care you want and your child's needs.

Self-care isn’t a manifestation of personal selfishness; rather, it’s an essential part of being an effective, nurturing parent.

Fresh air

If you’re a disabled individual with mobility restrictions, getting outside for some fresh air and sunshine between feedings may be difficult.

Without some respite, spending so much time inside can be frustrating and will eventually take a toll on your mood and mental outlook.

Everyone needs some of the healthful vitamin D your body gets naturally from sunlight, and there’s nothing quite as invigorating as a lungful of clean air after a long day of changing diapers and preparing bottles.

So spend an hour or so out on the deck each day or take a quick stroll just to clear your head when your little one is napping in their stroller. You need it, and your child will benefit as well.

De-stress your environment

Decluttering and organizing your environment will help alleviate some of the stress that hits you now and then.

Your bedroom is one place that should be as soothing as possible, so make sure it’s a restful, clean and quiet space where it’s easy to aim for the 7 to 9 hours of sleep your body needs.

Install blackout curtains if light is a problem, and keep all screens (TV and computer) turned off while you’re sleeping.

It’s also a good idea to maintain a temperature below 72 degrees to keep your body temperature down, which will facilitate good sleep.

Proper nutrition

Diet also has a lot to do with how you feel and your ability to maintain a positive perspective through the late-night feedings or random temper tantrums.

Take the time to prepare healthy, nutritional meals rather than relying on fast food for the sake of convenience.

Make a point of including vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and protein in each meal, and whip up a protein shake for those between-meal occasions when you need to get something in your stomach.

Doing you

Self-care is a very broad term; it means a lot of things and not just good food, exercise, and sleep.

As a disabled parent, your days are taken up with caring for another, which means you need to find ways to care for your soul.

Arrange with your partner or a family member so that you can get a few hours during the week or weekend to enjoy doing something that’s meaningful to you.

That could mean watching a favorite old movie, reading a book, playing a video game, or spending time writing in a journal (a highly therapeutic habit). In the long run, setting aside time just for you will make you a better mom or dad.

Talk with friends

When you’re spending so much time with a little one, it can be easy to lose perspective.

Some parents begin to feel depressed, or worry that they’re not doing a good job.

Sometimes you just need to talk with someone who cares about you, who knows you and always seems to have the right words at the right moment.

Talk, text, or FaceTime with a good friend or relative each week. Share your frustrations and funny parent stories.

Before you know it, you’ll be laughing or having a good cry - both are good because you’ll be venting emotionally and getting it off your chest.

A disabled parent can benefit greatly from a loving, supportive voice reminding you what a good person and parent you are.

Parenting is already a physically and emotionally taxing role, particularly when caring for a little one.

As a disabled parent, it’s even more important for you stay mindful of your need for self-care and your child’s need for a rested, strengthened, and well-adjusted parent.

And don’t underestimate the value of maintaining a restful and orderly living environment.

There are so many great things about living in a small home — the ease of maintenance, the cozy feel, the cheap utilities. However, small spaces have one big downside:

It’s hard to find places to store all your stuff! If you’re sick of living in a home that feels cramped and cluttered, you need to try these small-space organizing tips.

I haven't been able to spend time writing on this blog as much as I wanted to for the past weeks (or months!), all for one reason: we don't have a yaya or househelp anymore.

Why Yayas or House Helpers Are Common in the Philippines

In the Philippines, it's common practice to hire a stay-in yaya (or nanny) who also doubles as a househelper, as there are rarely daycare centers for very young children here.

Most daycare centers only cater pre-school-aged children, so while your baby is still too young for school, they are usually left in the care of a family member.

But in the case of small families like us whose grandparents and relatives live in the province, we're left to our own devices here in the city.

In Cebu, there's a new 24-7 daycare center that accepts babies as young as 6 months old: Amuma Childcare Services.

It's actually the first that I've heard of in the Philippines, and their services (childcare, feeding, educational playtime, nap times, etc.) are quite really attractive.

However, we find their rates honestly expensive in relation to our monthly budget, so it's out of the question for us. It is, of course, a good option for other working parents.

The Decision Not to Have a Yaya—for Now

As a work-at-home mom, I was reliant on our previous yaya to tend to the household chores and entertaining our baby while I worked. But then again, after more than a year of staying with us, she had other plans.

It has been more than a month since she left. And while it was very difficult for us at the beginning, my husband and I have somehow adjusted to our new lifestyle sans Yaya.

Here are some of the pros and cons of not having a yaya or househelp:

Pros of Not Having a Yaya or Househelp