The Home Etiquette With A Babysitter/Nanny

         

 


          So many people are confused about how to treat a babysitter/nanny when they are in their home. And let me tell you, I completely understand. It can get incredibly awkward if the baby or kids are asleep, and you want to go out for a date night, or whatever, but you're not quite ready yet, and the babysitter/nanny is just sitting there not knowing what to do because its not their house, and its just plain AWKWARD.

          Well there is no easy way to get around this except time. Once you get to know your babysitter/nanny you will no longer have to talk about mundane topics like the weather, or popular movies at the theater. This to shall pass. But there are a few things you should know during this process.

          The first thing I would like to tell you is to please have food in the refrigerator or freezer for the sitter. If not leave money so they can order in, or order something for them before you leave. Also, if you want to be an awesome family, ask them about a few of their favorite foods beforehand, and have it stocked when the sitter arrives. I have honestly come into a home at 5pm and I'm expected to stay until all hours, and there is literally no food, except maybe boxes of takeout from restaurants (and I'm not going to eat your leftovers!). This sucks for me because I'm starving, I cant leave the house, and food can be really expensive to order in. So stocking up is a VERY nice thing to do for your sitter.

          Another wonderful thing to put you above other families would be offering to call a cab, and paying for it, if you live in the city, and the sitters opportunity to drive in not possible due to parking regulations. I have also dealt with this issue while living in the city, and I can honestly say walking a few blocks in the rain or dark, and waiting in the rain or dark for public transportation is miserable. I have had multiple families offer to have a cap pick me up, on their dime, and I was incredibly appreciative. Now I understand that your night just got $20 more expensive, but its worth it to have your sitter want to come back again.

          Your home devices are not the same as everyone else. There are so many cable providers out there today, and each one needs an undergraduate degree to work, especially if you have the really pretty control that can make the dog bark, the garage open, and all that :) So the simplest route would be to write down how the remote works for the sitter, with step by step directions if necessary. Because it can get really frustrating reading old magazines because you cant figure out how to work the Cable. Also, if you have WiFi leave your password for the sitter, because undoubtedly if the sitter is there late, they will more than likely bring their computer to cruise the net, catch up on social networking, you know the stuff you pay big bucks for! But honestly, I always forget to ask what the password is, then text them as they are walking out the door. This step just simplifies life a little.

A lot of this stuff pertains more towards the regular babysitter who is older, responsible, and not the 14 year old you hired last minute. I understand that paying babysitters/nannies is expensive, but so are children, and this is just another cost of having them.

Hope the insight helps!
~Kate

The Diaper Bag, AKA Your New Everyday Purse!

     Ahh the joys of the Diaper bag. This is the most important accessory in your life from the moment your child comes home from the hospital, until potty training has been completed at least! So the most important thing I can say about the Diaper bag is.... Make sure you love it! You will maybe try to continue to carry a purse, but you will slowly phase it out because its one more thing you will have to keep track of, and trust me, there will already be a lot.
     I have to say there are some really cute Diaper bags out there. You have so many choices to choose, from waterproof, to paisley print, and so much more. Now you can definitely have more than one, but in the long run, you will more than likely choose one that you absolutely love and fits your every need. My sister literally put tons of stuff in my nephews Diaper bag. She had multiple changes of clothes, formula containers, wipes, diapers, pacifiers, etc. A lot of people would laugh at the huge bag she carried around, but she always made use of it. Now I'm not saying you need multiple changes of clothes, but one is always good, especially if your child is prone to spitting up, or in the process of potty training. The Diaper bag will feel like the black hole where everything goes, and can no longer be found, along with the stray McDonald's toy that makes annoying noises!
     Just remember, when leaving the house with a baby the most important accessories you absolutely need is a diaper and wipes. Everything else comes in second! These days every gas station, convenience store, etc. has everything you need, but its so much quicker to have it on hand. The family I was a nanny for the longest, who I fell in love with, had a mini van, and even though I am not a fan of mini vans, there are great little hidden compartments in them where you can stuff emergency supplies like diapers, wipes, clothes, bottles, etc. Trust me, these hidden compartments come in handy!
     Back to the diaper bag. There are literally thousands of diaper bags for every woman or mans needs. My new favorite is the diaper clutch, which holds diapers wipes and anything else you may be able to get inside there. So cute! I recently came across a site which has the Top 10 Diaper bags at http://pregnant.thebump.com/baby-products/diaper-bags/slideshows/the-bump-top-10-diaper-bags.aspx and you should definitely check them out. Also, my all time favorite brand which comes with tons of choices of bags, and styles, is Petunia Pickle Bottom found here, http://www.petunia.com/bags which is shown in my picture above!

Hope you realize how cute, and necessary a diaper bag can be! 

Enjoy!
Katie

Top 4 Questions to Ask a Potential Nanny/Babysitter

        As a nanny/babysitter I have gone on many interviews over the years. There are some parents that have asked very detailed questions about my life, and others who hand me their child and walk out the door. A nanny/babysitting job is very different from any 9-5 jobs out there today. A nanny is in charge of your child's every need, and can shape their character for the future. Because of this fact, it is important to find a nanny/babysitter who has the same views of child rearing as you. So I decided to help out the Mom's and Dad's with a few important questions for your potential nanny/babysitter:

        The easiest question to start with is: Tell me a little about yourself? Here, you can learn about the person without getting nosy, and the potential nanny/babysitter can choose to share as much, or as little as they wish. This question can also show you what type of personality the potential has. If they share a good amount about the family background, and education, they will be more outgoing individuals. If they share very little about themselves, and need prodding from you, then they are more shy individuals. Either way, there is a personality that will fit your needs.

The second question is: What experience do you have with children? This is an important question for obvious reasons. You want to know the depth of experience the potential nanny/babysitter has, as well as the age group they are more knowledgeable with. As a parent you know or will eventually understand that there is a big difference between caring for infants, than caring for toddlers. It is important to ask about their experiences with the past families, and the relationship the nanny/babysitter had with the parents. In my past childcare experiences I always made an effort to talk with the parents and get to understand and know their personalities and backgrounds. It is important to know who you work for, and to know more about the person whose house you will be in for hours at a time, not including the fact that the potential nanny/babysitter is caring for your child.

The third question is: Will you adhere to the schedule and rules I have implemented? This is a very important question to ask because you don't want to hire someone who has completely different beliefs in child rearing than you, and you come to learn they are not adhering to your wishes. Many parents understand the need for scheduling, especially for infants and toddlers, so this is a very important topic that must be discussed.

The fourth questions is: What questions do you have for me? This is a necessary question because as a nanny/babysitter (more so for nannies) the interview is a two way street. You as a parent may be interviewing for a nanny/babysitter, but the nanny/babysitter will be interviewing you as well to judge the compatibility of themselves in your family. Because the nanny because so much apart of the family, and more often than not spends more time in the families home than their own, they have to make sure their personalities will be compatible, as well as the nanny just liking the person. I have had numerous phone interviews where I knew at the end I would not be doing a face to face interview, even though I was given the opportunity.


I hope this helps in the hiring process.

~Katie

The Gift of Sound Machines!

I have been a nanny/babysitter for years now and if there is one thing I understand it is the need for naps! In the summer time this is hard to handle, especially if you have older kids. When I used to care for kids when I was living in Texas, summers were a big deal. The older kids were out of school and needed to stay busy, while the younger kids/babies needed their morning and afternoon naps. Now having a pool is a wonderful thing, but the noise from the kids playing in the pool is not so great during nap time. So I can honestly recommend, as well as doctors and other parents, the use of sound machines.

Sounds machines are the most amazing invention with a house full of children. You turn it on during nap time, or before bed, and the children immediately feel drowsy with the soothing sound. Plus you can make all the noise you want without waking the baby! What more can you ask for! Go ahead and try and see the positive results...

You can literally buy sound machines anywhere. Another idea is if you have cable connected for some reason in the babies room, go to the music channels and find a soothing classical, or jazz channel. This is what my nephew grew up on, and he loves classical music now.

Enjoy!
Katie