LilSugar

Babysitters: How Young Is Too Young?

babysugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:30:35 -0700

Got a gal coming over from the Babysitter's Club? Many young middle-school and high-school ladies enjoy watching over wee ones for a lil extra spending cash and moms typically like to hire them because their working rate is usually much lower than their older counterparts. While many of them take classes in first aid and CPR, some parents are still weary of their maturity and life experience and feel that a higher rate may be worth it in the end. Professional nannies can charge up to $10 more than an eighth grader, a difference of $40 for one night out on the town. But if the babes are snoozing and it's all about television time, experience and age may be negligible.

What is the lowest age limit for your babysitter?

Eight Things Your Sitter Should Know

babysugar — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 06:00:15 -0700

It's about time mom and pop went out for dinner without their little one. Mum's already done the legwork in finding a sitter, so now what? Keeping a selected caregiver informed will help mommy feel comfortable leaving her tot in someone else's care allowing her to let her hair down a lil easier. Here are a few pieces of information a sitter should know before the happy couple jaunts off on a date night.

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Nanny Saves Toddler During Mumbai Siege

LilSugar — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:00:09 -0800

We all live with the hope that our caregivers would give life or limb for our child in the event of an emergency, but rarely does a situation come to the point where the person needs to do so. One of the most miraculous stories to come out of the massacre in Mumbai last week was the heroism of Sandra Samuel, the nanny who risked her own life by whisking two-year-old Moshe Holtzberg to safety in the immediate aftermath of the attacks. After spending the night of the bombings hidden in a storage closet, Samuel heard the toddler calling for her. When she found him, he was standing between his unconscious parents, with serious bruises on his back. After safely arriving at the Israeli consulate, she and the toddler were transported to Jerusalem, where they are living with Moshe's family's community. Samuel says she intends to stay with her charge as long as she is needed.

Who Drives the Sitter Home?

babysugar — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 07:00:13 -0700

Every time my husband and I go out, we argue about who will drive the sitter home.

Being a woman, I feel vulnerable driving around late at night on my lonesome.

My hubby argues that it's an uncomfortable ride - older man and younger woman with not much to talk about so we usually take turns.

Who drives your sitter home?
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Tending to Baby: Mommies Lose It When Nannies Cruise

babysugar — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:00:00 -0700

Whether you've got your mama or a full–time nanny, every parent needs a helping hand every now and then.

For some mothers, especially those with time consuming careers, nannies or caretakers offer much more than assistance.

And when that help disappears, it sometimes sends a mum into shock and hysteria. I know of one single mother who relies so heavily on her daughter's caretaker that she has panic attacks when the employee leaves.

To read about Kate Moss's experience, read more.

Supermodel Kate Moss is said to be experiencing anxiety since her pregnant assistant left to give birth. London's Daily Mail reports:

Friends of Supermodel Kate Moss fear her life could spiral out of control after the resignation of her personal assistant left the troubled supermodel devastated.

How heavily do you rely on help?

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Are You Asking Your Caretaker to Get the H1N1 Vaccine?

babysugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:00:15 -0800

It has been the worry for many a mother this Fall - H1N1. Schools have been closed for it and a state of emergency has been declared by the president. While many moms are choosing not to inject their wee ones with the vaccine, others are standing in clinic lines for hours hoping for their share of the shot. Since children and pregnant women are considered part of the highest risk group, it is natural that child caretakers should also try to guard themselves against the illness. Many mamas who aren't necessarily fired up about getting an H1N1 vaccine for their child may request their nanny get one. So tell us, are you asking your childcare provider to get the vaccine when it's available?

Mom-Me Time: Pick Up a Copy of The Help

babysugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:30:49 -0800

If mama's got a few minutes to herself and is looking for something that will take her mind to another world, she needs not look further than this gold and purple hardback book. The Help ($12) is a quick read that will steal her attention and her affection and leave her wanting more. Kathryn Stockett's first novel, the book about the relationships between mothers and the women that help them (nannies in particular) will have mommy laughing out loud, tearing up in the eyes, dog-earring pages with special passages and thinking about how she relates to some of the closest people in her life.

Just pages into the lengthy text and I was hooked. Unlike any book I've read in recent times, the characters in these pages immediately come to life and fully color the imagination. You can picture their hair, dream up their clothes and hear their voices like they're sitting on the bus right next to you. While they may be fictional muses, I wish I could meet them, thank them, reprimand them and have a tall glass of sweetened iced tea with them. Though the book is set back in the early '60s, some of the conversations and lessons are timeless. For the rest of my review, read more.

Centered around the lives of three caretakers, the hired "help" who tend to high society's children may occasionally be called "mama" as they often forge a closer bond with the child than his own mother. And while some women may have their best friends to rely on, the housekeeper frequently knows and cares more than her "best" friends -the phrase "dirty laundry" having a double meaning when it comes to life behind closed doors. In the end, it is a story about women taking extraordinary measures to right some wrongs, even if it means risking it all. Of all the lessons to be learned from this rich novel, the golden rule speaks loudest - "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Maybe that's why she wrapped it in a glowing cover.

Before this goes to the theaters, which it surely will, buy it, read it and gift it to everyone you know. It will not disappoint.

Share your favorite books, products, toys and trends with other parents. Join our Product Reviews group over in the LilSugar community!

Interview Tips For Hiring a Caretaker

LilSugar — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:30:18 -0700

Once a family has decided that hiring a nanny is the right childcare choice for their lifestyle, parents must set out to find the ideal caretaker to fit their needs and parenting style. While some mamas count on agencies, friends and relatives to provide them with leads, others visit the local playground to speak with other nannies about friends looking for jobs, or take to the web in search of the ideal candidate.

With a list of names in hand, it is time to start interviewing them to see just how well the candidate meshes with your family. To see my checklist of must-ask questions that should help narrow down the process, read more.

How long have you been a nanny?
Why did you choose this profession?
What do you like least about your job?
Why did you/or do you want to leave your last/current job?
How old were the children you last cared for?
What philosophies/rules have you witnessed in previous jobs that you would replicate?
Do you have any formal childcare training?
Are you willing to follow our lead, even if you disagree?
Do you like to stay at home or do you like to play at other's homes?
How would you describe a typical day with a child the same age is mine?
How do you discipline children?
Are you willing to do light housework/cleaning while my child is sleeping?
Do you cook? Will you be willing to cook for my child?
Are you trained in CPR and first aid and are your certifications up-to-date? If not, are you willing to take the class on your own time?
Do you smoke?
What would you do if my child were sick or had an accident?
Do you have children of your own? If so, what are your backup care plans should he get sick?
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Do you have school or professional plans beyond being a nanny?
Where do you live and how will you get to work?
(If nanny will be transporting your child in a car) How is your driving record? Is your car maintenance up-to-date?
How flexible is your schedule? Would you be available nights and weekends? Could you accompany us on family vacations?

In addition to these questions, parents should be prepared to ask specific questions about any concerns they have regarding their child's own needs, as well as their own. Parents also usually have a gut reaction to the person sitting before them, and can feel if she is going to fit in with them.

If you have any additional must ask questions, tell us in the comments below!

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Don't Rock the Babysitter's Boat

babysugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:00:35 -0800

If there's one person mommy does not want to tick off, it's her child's caretaker. When disgruntled babysitters complain of working too late or having to clean up the mess the children make, many moms grin and bear it while other moms speak their minds. Mamas and papas may not be pleased with their current caring situation but they are often soft-spoken on the matter so that the children are not the recipients of the babysitter's frustrations. Working mothers feel they have more to lose as they face the fear of losing their hired help and worry about the predicament of finding a last minute replacement.

How do you deal with a sassy caretaker? Join our A Place to Vent group over in our LilSugar Community and share your stress with fellow moms who understand your plight.

Hospital Stay: Did You Stay or Did You Go?

babysugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:29:53 -0700

Aside from the groans of labor and the sterile aroma, registering at the hospital to deliver a baby can feel a bit like checking into a hotel for a getaway, especially second time mothers. Moms-to-be who are bursting at the seams are typically beyond ready to welcome their wee one to the world and rest up after the tough task of pushing or surgery. From the second mama arrives, the nurses and doctors will be catering to her every need. Crushed ice, fresh bandages, new sheets, emptied garbage cans, and timely meals may be enough to make a mother never want to bid the maternity ward adieu. Add a nursery with a bevy of skilled caretakers to the mix and the place may look like baby utopia. Still, some mothers can't wait to zip up their bags and buckle the new family in for an early departure back to the comforts of their own home.

Were you begging to go home early or did you take advantage of every last minute of hospital hospitality?