Looking For A Nanny

Down-to-earth celebrity moms

And then on the flip side, we see a group of amazing celebrity moms who we would love to hang out with on a playdate.

Check out some of our favorite down-to-earth celebrity moms.

Jennifer Garner

Jennifer Garner is probably the most down-to-earth celebrity mom out there. She gets stalked by the paparazzi so much, it seems like we are watching every step of the way as Violet and Seraphina grow up. But you never get the impression Jen is flaunting her daughters. She’s just going about her business, being a mom like all of us (albeit with a lot more cash) and making her family her No. 1 priority.

Jessica Alba

We’re sure there must be some not-so-down-to-earth stuff about Jessica Alba, but when you see her at the park with Honor and Haven, it’s all about family love. Though she always looks cute, Alba isn’t preoccupied with her appearance when she’s with her little ones. She’s just out there making sure her girls are having fun.

Nicole Richie

Nicole Richie transformed herself from party girl to one of our favorite celebrity moms. Not only does she take care of her own kids, Harlow and Sparrow, Richie and her hubby Joel Madden have also sponsored quite a few fundraising events for low-income moms and children. Their foundation, The Richie Madden Children’s Foundation, has been doing great work for kids in need since 2007.

Cindy Crawford

Supermodel and super mom Cindy Crawford is a mother of two who seems devoted, grounded and down-to-earth. You can get to know Crawford and find out more about how she juggles her career and her family  at SheKnows. Crawford joined the Mommalogues recently as a guest vlogger.

Keeping Infants Safe While They Sleep

When hiring a babysitter it is imperative the sitters are clear on properly preparing an infant to sleep.  There are many dangers that exist when an infant takes a nap or beds down for the night.  Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is a real and present danger.  Taking proper precautions can mitigate many of the risks and lower the chances for SIDS to become a factor in your child’s life.

• It is important to keep the infants sleeping position consistent.  When infants who routinely sleep on their backs for naps are placed on their tummy’s for night sleep this raises the risks for SIDS.  Infants less than one year old should be placed on their backs on a consistent basis.
• Keep infants in the crib alone.
• Avoid covering the babies head or face when sleeping.
• Having the infant sleep without blankets is the safest.

Avoid placing the following items into the crib with an infant.

• Bumpers
• Pillows
• Car Seats
• Quilts
• Comforters
• Toys
• Laundry
• Pets

More information regarding SIDS and other tips to avoid this devistating syndrome can be found at:

www.sidsillinois.org

Using the Internet to Find a Babysitter

In a pinch to find a babysitter?  Is your “always reliable” sitter no where to be found?  Don’t worry, there are plenty of resources available online to find your next babysitter.  In fact using the Internet to find a sitter will allow your family to have multiple sitters which will help you avoid the dreaded situation of not being able to find a sitter.

The initial thought by many parents is that using the Internet is not safe.  This is a misconception as using a babysitting service such as Sittercity can actually be safer than the typical word of mouth method many parent rely on.  Sittercity for example allows parents to conduct thorough background checks and due diligence.  Additionally, parents can read comments and feedback from other parents who have used the prospective sitter.  When finding a babysitter through traditional methods parents have to rely on what they are told from the referring parent.  Using Sittercity will allow you to view other parents experiences with the prospective sitter as well as viewing a background check.

The best way to guarantee yourself a sitter at all times is to use Sittercity and find two or three sitters that fit will with your children and family.  This method will insure you will never be stuck at home on date night.

The Babysitter Activity Kit

Want to be an outstanding babysitter? The babysitter all the neighborhood parents want to hire? The one all the children ask for? There are several ways to stand out to the parents of course, some of which we mentioned in the previous blog, be responsible, CPR/First Aid certified, mature, etc. But, lots of people will be those things and what it really may come down to is being the babysitter that kids love! So here’s a simple way to stand out: put together a Babysitting Activity Kit. Buy a big bag that you can keep stocked with kid-friendly activities and bring it along to all your babysitting jobs. Parents will greatly appreciate the added effort and kids will enjoy digging through and finding fun things to do. These suggestions are pretty basic, and you may say, “Most kids already have this stuff.” That may be true, but believe me, it will be exciting because it is your stuff, not theirs and that is cool to a kid!

Printable Summer Games

Moms, you could consider having these things on hand too. I have a cabinet in my kitchen devoted to craft things for my daughter. It’s great to be able to just give her some glue and paper or play dough and have her be happy playing at the kitchen table while I cook dinner or get laundry folded. Since your not packing them in a bag to have on the go, you could also purchase more items like glitter, paint and brushes, dot paints, beads and string, etc.

What to put in the bag (or cabinet):

Crayons, colored pencils, markers or a combination of all three.
Assorted papers including blank white, construction and colored tissue.
A couple coloring books
Child Scissors
A mini stapler
Glue
Bubbles (a good idea is to buy a huge thing of bubbles for about $3-$6 and a few of the very small ones to keep in the bag. You can refill them as needed and have light, small bottles for each child.)
Play-dough (Homemade play-dough is so much better than store bought—recipe follows. If you don’t want to make it beforehand, jut bring the recipe, it can be made with items most people will have on hand in their kitchen and the kids would love helping!)
Sidewalk Chalk

Simple Activities:

1. Crowns:

If kids are old enough to cut, let them do all of this. If not, you do the cutting and let them decorate.

Cut a piece of construction paper into 2 or 3 strips. Embellish one side to look like a crown. Staple the pieces together to make one strip long enough to circle the child’s head. Let the child decorate it with crayons, markers or by gluing tissue paper on. When dry, fit to the child’s head and have fun pretending to be princes or princesses! Don’t forget to make one for yourself too!

2. Tissue Paper Collage

Cut or have child cut a piece of construction paper into a nice shape. A butterfly, flower, heart, or just leave paper rectangular. Have the child help tear pieces of tissue paper and glue them onto the construction paper to make a collage. You can also get different things from around the house to add to the collage such as, dry rice or beans, pasta, cheerios or other cereal.

**Another idea is to do an outdoor collage. Take the kids out in the yard or for a walk and collect things they can glue to paper to make a collage or picture. Leaves, flowers, grass, sand, small pebbles or sticks.**

3. Paper Towel Butterfly

Take a paper towel and wet it, but ring it out so it is not completely saturated. Have the kids press dots with markers onto the towels. Because they are wet, the color will spread out and look nice. Let the paper towels dry then take a strip of tissue paper and glue or staple it around the center (like the body of the butterfly). Then the kids have a beautiful butterfly creation!

4. Masks

Cut construction paper into the shape of an animal. Have kids draw the faces and decorate. Cut out the eyes and staple a strip of paper around the back to hold it on. Let kids run around like animals!

5. Tissue Paper Flowers

Layer several pieces of tissue paper together then

fold or have children fold like a fan (fold one way, then the other, back the other way, etc.) Once it is in a strip fold in half and twist the folded end, or hold together with a paper clip or pipe cleaner. Pull the layers apart to form a beautiful flower.

Play Dough Recipe:

1 c. flour
1/2 c. salt
1 c. water
1 tbsp. oil
2 tsp. cream of tartar
Food coloring by drops

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a pan and stir. Cook over low heat, stirring until a ball forms.

2. Add food coloring and mix thoroughly until desired color.

3. Cool and store in covered container. Play dough can be temperamental, but if it is a good batch it will keep in an airtight container for several months.

Have fun, be creative and the kids and parents will love you!!

Printable Summer Games

Perspective From A Former Nanny And Now Mother

I worked as a nanny for 11 years and before that as a babysitter for about the same length of time.  I have now been a mom for 2 1/2 years.  It’s a unique perspective to have been on the employee side and now to be on the hiring side.  As a nanny or babysitter (or potential one)  I will be honest, the kids are the easy part.  It is easy to fall in love with the kids.  The parents are the hard part. A nanny wants parents that are easy to communicate with, that show them respect as a professional in their field and appreciate the role they play in their children’s lives.  I think most nanny’s will tell you one thing they absolutely hate is being called a babysitter!  So what is the difference between a nanny and a babysitter?  This is something every parent should understand before they begin the hiring process.

DEFINITIONS

Babysitter: A person you hire to occasionally mind your children when you are away.  This person is there only to ensure your children are safe and entertained in your absence.

Nanny: A person who nurtures, educates, clothes,feeds, disciplines and loves your child on a daily basis.  A nanny’s role is vital in assisting you in raising your child(ren).

In hiring either a nanny or babysitter of course you want someone responsible and mature.  A person that will know how to handle an emergency, should there be one and a person who will make responsible decisions while in your home or with your children to ensure safety. What else is important?

3 Qualities of a GREAT babysitter:

1. Lots of energy
2. Plans fun activities to do with your kids
3. CPR/First Aid Certification

3 more qualities of a GREAT nanny:

1. Experience in child care (whether it is as a nanny, teacher, parent, babysitter or daycare worker–experience with children is a must!)
2. An understanding of child development, different learning styles and an understanding of how to include education in everyday fun activities.
3. An open communicator.  You want someone who is comfortable giving you feedback about your children and working with you to educate and nurture them in a way that is best for them.

So on the other side, what is a babysitter or nanny looking for in an employer?  In one word, I would say, thoughtfulness.

3 Things that make a GREAT babysitting experience:

1. Money for take out or a meal already prepared for kids and sitter.
2. A cool activity to do or movie to watch (especially if it’s a late night job) with the kids.
3. A blanket and some snacks.  I remember as a babysitter, the kids go to bed and you sit to watch tv and it is always cold!  Leave a blanket and some snacks where she doesn’t have to search for them.

3 things that make a GREAT nanny experience:

1. Appreciation and occasional praise or thanks for all that your nanny does.
2. An occasional, unexpected hour or 2 off.  This is especially important for the nannies out there that regularly work over 40 hours per week!
3. Paid vacations, sick days and some kind of contribution to medical insurance (which you can likely offer tax free–more in a future blog).

Hiring a nanny or babysitter is complex for many reasons.  In future blogs I will touch on some of these topics from both points of view and hopefully give you all perspective on the others feelings and needs.  As a parent you are sometimes blinded by your vision of what you need, your fears of hiring someone to care for your children, your guilt about leaving them, or even your busy schedule.  As a nanny you are sometimes blinded by your education and experience, making it difficult to empathize with the parents.  I hope this blog will give both sides of the story and make it easier for each to understand the needs of the other…making for better communication and better sitter or nanny/family relationships…which make for happy, healthy kids!