100 Tips for Nannies and Families

You are expecting your second child.  There has been a lot of hubbub in your household related to the impending miracle of birth:  painting and decorating a new baby’s room; shopping for furniture, clothing, and supplies; and a variety of baby showers and excited visitors.  It’s easy to see how your first-born child may feel [...]

The first article in this series dealt with the emotions that a mother typically experiences when sending her children back to school each autumn.Â
This article will address how parents can best respond to their emotions and how those emotions affect the emotions of their children at this pivotal juncture each year.
Your goal, in terms of [...]

According to The New York Times “Parents cite different reasons for hiring baby sitters and nannies to speak a second language with their children. Some struggled to pick up foreign languages and want to make life easier for their children. Some believe it makes them smarter. And naturally, this being the melting pot that is [...]

You’re hot and sticky.  The house is a mess.  The kids are wildly running around the house and yard.  Disorganization and chaos reign.  But wait!  It’s . . . back to school time!  Normalcy in your world is about to be restored.  Are you relieved?  If you’re like most mothers, you’re feeling a host of [...]

You, the nanny; are at the grocery store with your two charges, Johnny and Janie.  Johnny sees a snack that he feels that he just has to have.  You disagree.  He wails for all the store to hear.  Later, at the mall, Janie repeats the scenario over a brightly colored necklace.Â
What could be done to [...]

Let’s break down some popular myths about nannies. In January of 2010, we asked the families who use nannies through Nannies4hire.com to complete a survey about how the economic downturn was affecting their
families. We are using the data gathered to answer some of the myths about nannies.
Myth #1. Nannies are for the wealthy - false
The [...]

Although it can be tempting to immediately hire the first nanny you come across who meets all the qualifications you’re looking for, it is definitely a smart decision to do a background check.  Though in many cases, you won’t find anything that should deter you from hiring a nanny candidate, it’s always better to err [...]

Many families with school-aged children have full-time summer nannies and part-time school-year nannies.  Summer nannies, typically college students, usually work from May or June through August or September.  When children return to school each autumn, the part-time school-year nannies return to work.  For many families, the same two nannies return to their homes each season, [...]

The kids spent their summer staying up late and then sleeping late the next morning.  After all, why not?  They don’t have school to go to, so sleeping late/staying up late is no problem, right?  Oh, but doesn’t that make transitioning back to the school-year rhythm so much fun?  This and other adaptations are necessary [...]

First, let’s define the terms.
A nanny is a committed childcare provider, employed by a family to provide supervision and a nurturing environment for the family’s children, without direct parental supervision. A nanny may live in or out of a family’s primary residence.  The well-being, education, and development of the children on a day-to-day basis is [...]