For every employer having great employees is good, having great, happy employee is even better.
If you have a nanny…you are an employer. Keeping your nanny happy often translates quite simply into
Bisphenol A (BPA) has been in the news a lot these days. But is it really a health risk? According to leading scientists we should be worried.
Leave it to Robeez to come up with yet another winner for your wee ones feet. The Weekend Collection comes in a kaleidoscope of colors with a new shape that is sure to please those of you with a passion for baby fashion.
During the time changes that happen twice a year – children’s sleeping patterns often get thrown off – here are some tips to help with the springtime changes when the clocks go forward by one hour. This article is written based on a baby or child who goes to bed at 7pm and wakes at 7am.
APPROACH 1) – Cold turkey
On the route to discovering better balance in your life, one of the key indicators of your success will be your ability to become more self-content.
One way to develop a strong sense of self-contentment is to give yourself the gift of self-appreciation. Offer yourself the same respect and kindness you give to others you care deeply for.
Life Before Birth: Physical Development and Characteristics of Your Unborn Baby
BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre
Whether you are a first time mom with questions about feeding your baby or a seasoned veteran, read on to learn more about organic baby food and the benefits for your baby and the environment.
Head nutritionist for Sweetpea Baby Food, well-known author and mom, Dr. Joey Shulman has compiled the Top 10 Reasons to Feed Your Baby Organic.
1. Reduces your infant’s exposure to harmful herbicides and pesticides
2. Protects your child’s developing immune system
3. Improves the quality of your baby’s nutrition
4. Provides your baby with better tasting food
5. Helps protect your baby against the onset of future illness
6. Reduces the amount of harmful residue found in the meat your baby eats
7. Decreases soil erosion, thereby enhancing the nutrients in your baby’s food
8. Organic certification is strictly monitored to ensure your baby is receiving the highest standard of food
9. Protection of future waters through use of natural ingredients in the soil
10. Protects the environment for the next generation
Reprinted with permission from Sweetpea Baby Food www.sweetpeababyfood.com
This is the big decision that causes more stress on a family than a new car or even having a child in the first place! Here are a few tips on how to hire a great nanny.
START EARLY . The number one cause for stress and panic when hiring a nanny is an imminently approaching deadline and no great candidates in sight. Starting to interview two or three months ahead is a good idea. Keep in mind September is the busiest month for nanny turnover.
Explore ALL of your options. Craigslist, community posting boards, word of mouth, Facebook, school newsletters, or use a reputable established nanny agency.
Be honest with YOURSELF about what your priorities are. HONESTLY are you looking for one on one play time, educational stimulation, outdoor activities and planned daily outings, or light housekeeping including all of the children’s laundry done. Keep in mind I too would like an ECE graduate, with 10 years nanny experience who will lesson plan, teach piano, do my laundry, wash my floors and do meal prep every night of the week…for $10.00 an hour…but I probably won’t find her. Choose your priorities, write them down in order of importance and then evaluate candidates accordingly. Be hopeful as well as realistic.
Open your mind. What points CAN you be flexible on, or what can you offer that you may not have considered before. Being; flexible with hours or days, willing to pay a nanny as an employee, able to offer a car for her personal use etc. are all great job perks a nanny would appreciate. Have you thought about a nanny share? Longer hours but less days? A bonus for loyalty or completing the contract. The more flexible you are the more nannies may be interested in what you have to offer.
CHECK, CHECK, CHECK. References (plural) get written ones and then verify them verbally, check for a criminal record, check his/her driving record, and check that all certifications are current and real. (First Aid, CPR, Food Safe, etc) Treat your reference checks as if they too are interviews!!
Put it in writing ! Write up a legally binding work agreement. Treat this as you would expect ANY job to be treated. Be specific about holiday time, holiday pay, exact responsibilities, overtime rates, and any added benefits or bonuses. There should be no questions about job description and therefore less chance of ugly surprises down the road. (“Oh I thought that vacuuming was light housekeeping….??)
Schedule time to communicate. Provide on the job orientation where the nanny has an ease in period when you provide clear on the job guidance over the course of a few days. At the very outset schedule a performance review date where you both agree to sit down and discuss how the experience is going. (Three weeks into a contract is a good time for this) Also, be sure to budget at least 15 minutes every day of paid time when you and the nanny communicate about the children’s well being, and voice any questions or concerns either one of you are having. Communication and clarification are more likely to happen if no one is running out the door at break neck speed.
Make a “high level” choice. Choosing a nanny out of a pool of one after one interview is NOT a high level choice. Choosing a nanny out of a pool of four candidates after a four first interviews and two second interviews is.
Plan for your interviews. Have a list of well thought out questions ready and make sure you ask them all. Open ended questions are an important part of all interviews. Make some of the questions specific to the applicants past work history (be sure to read her resume ahead of time) Take notes and wait for the applicant to answer hard questions. Do not rush this part of the process. If you feel you need a second interview or a trial day ask for those.
When in doubt go with your gut. We are all born with instincts, especially where our children are concerned. If everything is checking out and you still don’t feel quite right or aren’t quite sure…move on. This is the benefit of not being in a hurry (go back to step number one)
Your children’s safety and well being is worth working at. Like any important undertaking… planning ahead, doing your homework and following through will make the search less stressful and ultimately more successful. Good luck finding your families’ perfect nanny!!
By Leanne Hume
Leanne Hume has been an on call and placement nanny, a teacher, is a mum and is also the nanny recruiter for Nannies on Call, http://www.nanniesoncall.com/
You’ve decided to breastfeed your baby, congratulations! Now comes all the questions. How long does breast milk last in the freezer or on the counter? What kinds of containers can I use to freeze or store breast milk? We answer those nagging questions on safely storing breast milk.
Expressing and storing milk:
Hygiene
Containers
Labeling
Storage
To store or freeze breast milk at home:
| 6 hours | 72 hours | 1 month | 2 months | 6 months | 6-12 months | |
| Room Temperature |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
| Refrigerator (0-4C) |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
| Freezer compartment in fridge |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
| Freezer with separate door as part of fridge |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Deep freeze (-20C) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
To Use:
DO NOT!!
Shipping Milk
Storage of Breast Milk
Developed by C&W Lactation Services
Approved by: BC Women’s Family Education Advisory Committee, October 1991
Revised: June 2005
Find out what our Fit Mommy 2008 winner is up to at the gym! Mixx Co Fitness has Jennifer working on stabilization exercises to help improve her core strength.
