Child Care is often at the forefront of many parents' minds. Because there are occasions when everyone needs to leave the home, and it is important to have a support network in place that can be called upon to assist if the need arises. Often, the people who are called for child minding are family members, which works great in general. However, family are not always available to help; and so it is important to have a network available outside of that. This is where hired childcare professionals, or baby sitters can step in to assist. (If you have a very young child then check out http://www.babyaids.com for more resources to help you)
There are certain things that should be considered when choosing a baby sitter. First and foremost, the baby sitter should be credible -- meaning that he or she should have a good record with past employers. Second is that certain character traits and characteristics should be present in the baby sitter. For example, they should have at least a general knowledge of how to run a household. And being sensible about it, common sense is a good asset here! Ask yourself the question, 'Do I want this person in charge of MY child?'. If the answer is anything other then a definite YES. Move on. You can always get another babysitter.
And of course he or she should be patient when it comes to dealing with kids because that is really the bulk of his or her work.
Most parents prefer to be hands-on with their kids. Raising kids is a difficult job, but still parents want to do it themselves because they feel like it is the only way to make sure that they can properly train their children to grow up in the way that ideally they would want them to be. And also, children are fun! Why should the babysitter get all the joy, fun and abundance that looking after children can bring?
However some parents have no choice because both of them have to work to fend for the family so either they leave their kids with other family members, friendly neighbors or else hire babysitters to help out. This is not neccessarily an ideal solution. But sometimes it is the only option.
A baby sitter is often a stranger (at least at first), so careful thought should be given by the family about this decision from the time they say yes to the idea, to the actual choosing of the baby sitter.
It is also advisable to ask around people who have past experiences with baby sitters and child care so that you can have an idea how to set your criteria and how to actually find and eventually hire someone that will suit you. Mothers groups and baby clinics can also be a good source of advice in this area.
After the initial research you are now ready to do interviews for possible prospects. During the interview, you should not only concentrate on the resume or the answers but you should more importantly, watch out for the body language because this will tell you a lot about the person. How comfortable they feel with you, but also with your child. Ask routine questions but also come up with questions that will make you get to know more about the morals or the personality of the one applying. You don't want to come home to an impromptu party they decided to organise at you house! ;)
Finally, after choosing a baby sitter, make sure that you do some advance preparations like giving the babysitter a tour of the places in the house where he or she will be working, machines he or she will be operating, list of numbers to call in case of emergencies and talk to him or her about any special instructions you might want to give. Also, set down the family policies with him or her on specific behaviour, acceptable punishments for naughty behaviour etc. These are simple things, but making it clear at the beginning will mean that you don't have any future problems.
Hiring a baby sitter allows parents to have a greater focus on their jobs. But during the first days of the baby sitters tenure at your home, one of the parents should watch how the baby sitter is during active duty even for just a few hours. This is a sort of transition time and it is also a way of still being involved with your kids despite the fact that you already have a baby sitter. There are many good babysitters around and hopefully you will find the right one for your family and child care needs. Finding good childcare will not only free up your time and give you more flexibility, it will also add a very valuable team member to your family in the form of a baby sitter. So it is worth persisting and finding that special someone to take care of the people you LOVE.
Kamis, 29 Desember 2011
How To Hire A Nanny
Hiring a nanny is one of the best solutions. People may consider daycare instead of nanny. So which choice is better than another? Why would you choose to hire a nanny instead of using a daycare? Here are some questions you should ask yourself as well as what you should look for when choosing a nanny for your children.
In some parents’ eyes, daycares are less favorable than a nanny. Some parents feel the personal attention a nanny can give to their children is a valuable service many daycares are not capable of providing due to the number of children in their care. Another reason that families choose nannies is for the convenience of having the childcare available outside of standard daycare operating hours. A nanny will become an integral part of the family so choosing wisely is an important step to selecting the best nanny for your children.
What should you consider then?
1. Do you want a live-in nanny, day time nanny, full-time, part-time or on call? What is your budget? Will you want the nanny to clean the house, cook meals or transport your children to after school activities or play dates? What other responsibilities are you looking for in a nanny?
2. Will you allow smoking or visitors in your home during the care period? Do you care if the nanny speaks your native language or any other language? Au pairs are commonly younger women from foreign countries; is it important to you to have a caregiver from your locality?
3. What is the rate? Before you start looking for a nanny you should find out what the local rates are and determine if you can afford the care you are looking for. Perhaps making arrangements with another family to share a nanny will better suit your budget. If you choose to share a nanny you will also need to make a clear agreement with the other parents as to the responsibilities you both require.
Nannies can be found through agencies, personal references and by posting an ad in the newspaper. Wherever you go to find a nanny you will want to ask them for references (make certain that you are able to contact the references), a driver's license or other ID, criminal check and child care experience or education depending on your personal requirements. Asking for a nanny with First Aid or CPR is also common.
It is better for you to ask the agency about their background and work experience. Arrange to meet the candidates in person and don't commit to a hiring until you've had the chance to interview them.
In some parents’ eyes, daycares are less favorable than a nanny. Some parents feel the personal attention a nanny can give to their children is a valuable service many daycares are not capable of providing due to the number of children in their care. Another reason that families choose nannies is for the convenience of having the childcare available outside of standard daycare operating hours. A nanny will become an integral part of the family so choosing wisely is an important step to selecting the best nanny for your children.
What should you consider then?
1. Do you want a live-in nanny, day time nanny, full-time, part-time or on call? What is your budget? Will you want the nanny to clean the house, cook meals or transport your children to after school activities or play dates? What other responsibilities are you looking for in a nanny?
2. Will you allow smoking or visitors in your home during the care period? Do you care if the nanny speaks your native language or any other language? Au pairs are commonly younger women from foreign countries; is it important to you to have a caregiver from your locality?
3. What is the rate? Before you start looking for a nanny you should find out what the local rates are and determine if you can afford the care you are looking for. Perhaps making arrangements with another family to share a nanny will better suit your budget. If you choose to share a nanny you will also need to make a clear agreement with the other parents as to the responsibilities you both require.
Nannies can be found through agencies, personal references and by posting an ad in the newspaper. Wherever you go to find a nanny you will want to ask them for references (make certain that you are able to contact the references), a driver's license or other ID, criminal check and child care experience or education depending on your personal requirements. Asking for a nanny with First Aid or CPR is also common.
It is better for you to ask the agency about their background and work experience. Arrange to meet the candidates in person and don't commit to a hiring until you've had the chance to interview them.
Baby Sleep At Naptime
If you baby is not napping well during her first few months of life, you may want to try to cut back on the time she is awake by 15 minute increments. If she is getting overstimulated, then she will fight sleep and be difficult to get to nap. The way to prevent this is to watch her “sleepy” cues to make sure that you put her down when she is beginning to get sleepy.
Some parents believe that letting their child cry will harm him or her. Fifteen or twenty minutes of crying will not harm your child physically or mentally. Babies will learn to self-soothe and fall asleep by themselves, but only if you let her. It is very important that babies learn to fall asleep by themselves so that they can self-soothe if they awake in the middle of the night. Otherwise, you may have a child that will not sleep through the night for years.
Regular sleep patterns are intermeshed with regular eating patterns, so let us look at the stages of a baby’s life:
Newborn: Your newborn will sleep anywhere from 16 to 20 hours a day, including the naps that he takes between feedings. When your baby has been fed, let him stay awake for a short while and then put him down before he becomes overstimulated.
Two months: At two months and older, your child should be allowed to try to self-soothe during their naptimes and bedtime. Crying is normal when you put your baby down, but it is okay. If he cries for longer than 10-15 minutes, then go in and check on him. Don’t get him up, but pat his bottom or lightly rub his back until he calms down.
3-6 months: At around 3-6 months, your baby will stop taking one of his naps. Usually it is the third nap or late afternoon nap that they do not need as much. He may be a little fussy and may want to take a little nap, but you need to try to keep him up if you want him to go to bed at a decent time and sleep soundly through the night.
16+ months: When your child is between 16-20 months, they usually quit taking the morning nap in favor of a longer nap in the afternoons. Babies this age usually sleep between 10-12 hours a night and take a 2-3 hour afternoon nap.
Ground Rules about Naps:
1. You decide when the nap starts and ends, not the baby.
2. When your baby is older than 4 months old, she will wake up crying if she hasn’t slept enough. She might have a dirty diaper, be in a position that is not comfortable, or cold/hot. Fix the problem and encourage her to go back to sleep. Babies that have enough rest wake up happy, talking, and in a good mood!
Some parents believe that letting their child cry will harm him or her. Fifteen or twenty minutes of crying will not harm your child physically or mentally. Babies will learn to self-soothe and fall asleep by themselves, but only if you let her. It is very important that babies learn to fall asleep by themselves so that they can self-soothe if they awake in the middle of the night. Otherwise, you may have a child that will not sleep through the night for years.
Regular sleep patterns are intermeshed with regular eating patterns, so let us look at the stages of a baby’s life:
Newborn: Your newborn will sleep anywhere from 16 to 20 hours a day, including the naps that he takes between feedings. When your baby has been fed, let him stay awake for a short while and then put him down before he becomes overstimulated.
Two months: At two months and older, your child should be allowed to try to self-soothe during their naptimes and bedtime. Crying is normal when you put your baby down, but it is okay. If he cries for longer than 10-15 minutes, then go in and check on him. Don’t get him up, but pat his bottom or lightly rub his back until he calms down.
3-6 months: At around 3-6 months, your baby will stop taking one of his naps. Usually it is the third nap or late afternoon nap that they do not need as much. He may be a little fussy and may want to take a little nap, but you need to try to keep him up if you want him to go to bed at a decent time and sleep soundly through the night.
16+ months: When your child is between 16-20 months, they usually quit taking the morning nap in favor of a longer nap in the afternoons. Babies this age usually sleep between 10-12 hours a night and take a 2-3 hour afternoon nap.
Ground Rules about Naps:
1. You decide when the nap starts and ends, not the baby.
2. When your baby is older than 4 months old, she will wake up crying if she hasn’t slept enough. She might have a dirty diaper, be in a position that is not comfortable, or cold/hot. Fix the problem and encourage her to go back to sleep. Babies that have enough rest wake up happy, talking, and in a good mood!
baby shower decorations
As the host of a baby shower, the decorations will likely be one of your biggest tasks!
Just because you’re the host, it doesn’t mean you need to spend hundred of dollars to have a fabulously decorated location for your loved one’s baby shower.
Think in themes! Using a theme can make decorating SO much easier than if you just have a vague idea of boy or girl for decorations. Here are some simple ways you can save money on decorations.
Using the baby’s nursery theme, you can incorporate your gifts for the new mom into the decorations. If the baby is going to have a Noah’s Ark, farm, or jungle themed room, you can get some stuffed animals to decorate with! Use them as centerpieces and to decorate side tables, as needed.
For a star themed room, you can cut out large stars, spray paint them silver and gold and hang them from the ceiling. Use star confetti on the tables and try to find some wire garland, too. I’ve seen these types of garland all year round. Stars are also easy to find on candles, tablecloths, napkins, etc.
Many people love to give diaper cakes as baby shower gifts. They not only serve as gifts, but make great centerpieces!
For the baby showers I have hosted, I always like to have a menu on display so the guests know what they are eating! It probably comes from being a picky eater, but I have always gotten wonderful comments on this. It is VERY simple to do, too! Just get a nice picture frame (you can even get one engraved for a baby gift!) and on your computer, type up the list of foods you will be serving. Use a font that coordinates with the theme, center it on the page and print it out! I like to order the item the same way nice restaurants do with appetizers first, salads and breads next, main courses after that, followed by desserts and beverages.
It really is a very nice touch that doesn’t take much work at all, but you will get lots of compliments on it! I don’t even mind if you take all the credit yourself!
If you want to have something outside the baby shower location to announce it, you can get a banner or yard sign that can also be given to the mother as a gift. Always be thinking of dual purpose baby shower decorations that can be given as gifts! This is a great way to save money!
Flowers are wonderful additions to any baby shower décor. If you live near a supermarket that has a floral department, you can save lots of money by just picking up some bundles and doing your own floral arrangements. Most stores have a floral artist that works there, so ask for a few tips. Don’t be afraid to try this! No one will likely know that you didn’t get an arrangement custom made for the baby shower if you don’t tell them.
When you’re there, ask if they have any discarded petals you can have. Most florists take a few petals off roses before arranging them and will give them to you for FREE if you ask. Just call around to local shops and see. You’ll never know unless you ask!
If you just don’t think you can handle doing your own floral arrangements or you won’t have the time, ordering online can also be a huge money saver. You can often get dozens of roses for so much less online than locally because online florists can buy in bulk and pass the savings on to you.
Have fun decorating for your next baby shower! Remember to use decorations that also can be used as gifts to save money!
Just because you’re the host, it doesn’t mean you need to spend hundred of dollars to have a fabulously decorated location for your loved one’s baby shower.
Think in themes! Using a theme can make decorating SO much easier than if you just have a vague idea of boy or girl for decorations. Here are some simple ways you can save money on decorations.
Using the baby’s nursery theme, you can incorporate your gifts for the new mom into the decorations. If the baby is going to have a Noah’s Ark, farm, or jungle themed room, you can get some stuffed animals to decorate with! Use them as centerpieces and to decorate side tables, as needed.
For a star themed room, you can cut out large stars, spray paint them silver and gold and hang them from the ceiling. Use star confetti on the tables and try to find some wire garland, too. I’ve seen these types of garland all year round. Stars are also easy to find on candles, tablecloths, napkins, etc.
Many people love to give diaper cakes as baby shower gifts. They not only serve as gifts, but make great centerpieces!
For the baby showers I have hosted, I always like to have a menu on display so the guests know what they are eating! It probably comes from being a picky eater, but I have always gotten wonderful comments on this. It is VERY simple to do, too! Just get a nice picture frame (you can even get one engraved for a baby gift!) and on your computer, type up the list of foods you will be serving. Use a font that coordinates with the theme, center it on the page and print it out! I like to order the item the same way nice restaurants do with appetizers first, salads and breads next, main courses after that, followed by desserts and beverages.
It really is a very nice touch that doesn’t take much work at all, but you will get lots of compliments on it! I don’t even mind if you take all the credit yourself!
If you want to have something outside the baby shower location to announce it, you can get a banner or yard sign that can also be given to the mother as a gift. Always be thinking of dual purpose baby shower decorations that can be given as gifts! This is a great way to save money!
Flowers are wonderful additions to any baby shower décor. If you live near a supermarket that has a floral department, you can save lots of money by just picking up some bundles and doing your own floral arrangements. Most stores have a floral artist that works there, so ask for a few tips. Don’t be afraid to try this! No one will likely know that you didn’t get an arrangement custom made for the baby shower if you don’t tell them.
When you’re there, ask if they have any discarded petals you can have. Most florists take a few petals off roses before arranging them and will give them to you for FREE if you ask. Just call around to local shops and see. You’ll never know unless you ask!
If you just don’t think you can handle doing your own floral arrangements or you won’t have the time, ordering online can also be a huge money saver. You can often get dozens of roses for so much less online than locally because online florists can buy in bulk and pass the savings on to you.
Have fun decorating for your next baby shower! Remember to use decorations that also can be used as gifts to save money!
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