LilSugar

Lil Gift Guide: 5 Gorgeous Gifts Worthy of Your Indispensable Nanny

Natasha Dantzig — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:11:07 PST

Thank goodness for the modern Mary Poppins! A full-time nanny is an essential, treasured member of the family. She functions as mama's surrogate, tending to scraped knees and celebrating successes at school, so her gift will reflect her valued place within the family. Money may be standard holiday operating procedure for many families (one to two weeks of salary seems to be standard), but others try to bestow a gift on their caretaker. Keep reading for a selection of holiday goodies that will warm your nanny's heart.

Fun Activities For the Weekend Babysitter

Leta Shy — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 08:33:31 PDT

Every once in a while, moms need a break on the weekend. If your Saturdays are filled with endless errands, having a babysitter to take care of the lil ones while you cross things off your to-do list can be a life-saver. And it can be a great time for your tots, too! Check out how a day off for you can turn into a day of adventure for your kids!

Mommy Dearest: Do I Have to Play With Friend's Nanny?

LilSugar — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 06:35:51 PDT

Mommy Dearest –

I'm a SAHM, but plenty of my daughter's friends' have two working parents, which means that they are cared for by nannies and babysitters. Now that my daughter is in preschool, she is asking to play with specific friends, rather than the ones I set her up with, and that often means that it is the nanny and me hanging out while the girls play. While the nannies are certainly nice enough, I find us both to be uncomfortable with the situation. Should I just not schedule play dates with these kids, or is there another solution you might suggest to avoid the awkwardness of the situation.

– Playdate Problem Mommy

Keep reading to see Mommy Dearest's response.

Do You Allow Your Kids to Play at Unknown Homes?

Rebecca M Gruber — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 06:00:07 PST

As a working mom, I rely heavily on my children's nanny to arrange playdates with my lil ones' friends in and around the neighborhood. I frequently return home at the end of the day only to learn that my kids (and nanny) spent the afternoon at a classmate's home or that we hosted a slew of tots for an after school play session.

Sometimes, when I receive the daily report, my son informs me that they played at the home of a child I don't know. In most cases, the caretakers know each other from home, the playground, or mutual friends, and make the arrangements to introduce the kids. Having worked for us for almost five years, I trust my nanny's judgment and know she wouldn't take my kids to an unsafe environment, but it is a bit odd to know that my kids are visiting a place I've never been.

When I mentioned the unusual situation to a fellow working mom, she told me that she never allows her kids to play at homes where she doesn't know the parents. In those situations, she requires the new friends to come to her. Every parent has their own set of rules, but would you allow your kids to play in unfamiliar homes?

Ask Savvy: How Do I Become a Nanny?

Savvy Community — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 10:00:42 PST

This Ask Savvy question comes ShelleyHFan who wants to drop her current job to become a nanny. I reached out to Wendy Sachs, Editor-in-Chief of Care.com, a website that matches nannies up with families, to share her expertise in the field with us. For those interested in taking care of children, Care.com has a great babysitter pay calculator , which shows you the estimated pay for a nanny by zip code.

I hate my job and I have wracked my brain to figure out why I'm continually unhappy at most places. I think I've finally figured it out, much of my work has been in sales and/or customer service and I'm kind of an introvert (people confuse introversion with shyness but I know that it really refers energy output when dealing with people and for how long). Anyhow, I think sales jobs are hit or miss for me.

I was thinking that I really like kids and maybe I should try and look for a job as a nanny. I plan to get certified in CPR and First Aid. My issue is that I don't have much formal experience with kids. Most of my jobs have been sales/customer service and my resume is tailored to that. I've got a little over 10 first cousins on one side of the family and I'm the oldest of four so I'm not a stranger to kids and big families, but I never babysat anyone else's kids. I wanted some advice on how to write up a new resume or if I should at all? What should I write down in my email to this preschool/daycare center? Does anyone have any advice on how to apply for nanny jobs? What do you wear to nanny interviews? And what do I do about my resume? I also never finished my college degree do I need to mention or explain that?

To hear Wendy's response, read on.

Five Ways to Communicate With Your Nanny

babysugar — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:00:00 PDT

The transfer of power from mom to nanny in the morning and from nanny back to mom in the evening is always hectic. With so much information that needs to be communicated, and so little time to do it, key details can easily fall through the cracks. While cell phones and text messaging can fill a caretaker in on small details, finding an effective means for relaying daily information makes the communication much easier for everyone. We looked at five popular methods for sharing information and want to know which works best for you?

BabySugar Diaries: Separate Diaper Bags For Mom and Nanny

babysugar — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 09:00:31 PDT

A woman's purse can be an extension of her personality. While some are neat and organized, others can be likened to a black hole where only its owner knows where to find things. So when a woman begins to use her diaper bag as her primary satchel, it begins to take on a personality of its own.

On the playground this weekend, a friend spent five minutes sifting through her diaper bag in search of a pack of wipes before throwing her hands up in disgust and announcing that she was off to buy a new bag - giving the current one to her nanny and getting a new one for her own use on weekends. I've also noticed other moms carrying designer diaper sacks on the weekend, while their caregivers tote along less pricey versions during the week. Ninety-three percent of LilSugar readers think parents should pay for a diaper bag, but should mama have a separate one for herself?

Mommy Dearest: Fast Food Playdate Dilemma

babysugar — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 09:00:55 PDT

Mommy Dearest –

Yesterday, while toiling away at work, I received a phone call from my son's nanny. It seems the friend he was playing with had been promised a lunch at McDonald's and had invited my kindergartner along. I try to avoid fast food restaurants at all costs, so our nanny called to ask if it was OK to go for lunch with the friend. In the background I could already hear my son discussing the cartoon characters he saw on the restaurant's windows and rather than subject his caretaker to a meltdown, I acquiesced.

I am not some food-crazed mom (I give my children plenty of chicken fingers at home, albeit not fried), but I really don't like my children eating all of that fried food and thinking that food comes with toys. Would it be inappropriate for me to ask his playmate's mom to not promise such "treats" on days our kids play together?

– McDonaldless Mommy

To see the response from Mommy Dearest,

read more. Dear McDonaldless Mommy – You are certainly entitled to your thoughts on fast food, and you are welcome to voice them to anyone you wish, but you may want to think twice before imparting them on your fellow moms. Each mom is entitled to her own opinion and you wouldn't want to cause a rift in your lil one's friendship over such a small thing. Perhaps you could consider limiting their playdates to non-meal times or suggest having everyone over to your home where you can have more say over the meal they eat. In the meantime, I would chalk this up to a rare "treat" and let your son know that it won't be an every day occurrence. – Mommy Dearest Have a question you need answered? Submit it to the Mommy Dearest Group in our Lil Community.

Parent or Nanny: Who Should Pay For . . .?

LilSugar — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:30:07 PDT

When it comes to the person tending to their tots, some parents have questions about who should foot the bill for certain things. A babysitter fills in for mom and dad, but does that mean they are entitled to having their expenses covered? A LilSugar reader inquired about forking over food for her nanny and lots of moms had opinions on the issue. Now, tell us what you think when it comes to these other babysitting expenses...

Mommy Dearest: Do I Need to Feed the Nanny?

babysugar — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:51:23 PDT

Mommy Dearest,

I am about to head back to work and just hired a nanny to care for my baby. We've worked out a contract that outlines everything from her pay and vacation days to her day-to-day responsibilities. My friends just told me that I need to provide her with lunch every day even though it is not outlined in her contract, and not something we discussed. I'm not provided with lunch at my place of work so I don't see why I should have to provide it to her. Is this normal?

– Lunching Mommy

To see the response from Mommy Dearest,

read more. Dear Lunching Mommy, Though you are not contracted to provide your caretaker with lunch, it is a nice thing to do for her. Rather than leaving an elaborate meal, ask her if there are food items she would like you to keep in the house to make things more comfortable for her. This woman is caring for your child and you want to make her feel as welcome as possible. She will likely only ask for a few items. -Mommy Dearest Have a question you need answered? Submit it to the Mommy Dearest Group in our Lil Community.