Babysitters

Nanny arrested for slapping baby

Monica Beyer — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 11:00:00 -0800

A New York mother saw the unthinkable on the nanny cam she had installed in her home — her nanny was observed slapping her 5-month-old baby. When you hire a caregiver for your child, you trust them with your heart and soul — how can you help make sure this doesn’t happen to your children?

Mannies: Would you hire a manny?

Lisa Steinke — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 08:00:00 -0700

There's a new trend where more and more moms are hiring mannies — not nannies — to care for their children. Some nanny placement agencies have seen as much as a 10 percent increase in male nanny applicants in the past year. The only difference between the words nanny and manny is gender. But is that the only difference for you? When it comes to your family, may the best woman — or man — win? Read on for reasons why mannies are becoming more the norm for many families and why you might want to consider hiring one.

Parting ways with your sitter

Monica Beyer — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 09:00:00 -0700

When it's time to move on from a happy childcare situation due to a move, a change in job status or something similar, it can be hard for you, your child and her care provider to move on. Here's how to cope, and how to make mementos for you both to look back on.

5 Signs of a bad babysitter

Michelle Maffei — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:00:00 -0700

You search the earth high and low to find the perfect caregiver for your baby, but can you spot red flags that your childcare provider may a bad choice? Short of setting up a nanny cam, there are signals you can look for without having to toss your sitter's privacy out the window. From watching signals from your youngster to clues directly from your babysitter, discover five signs of a bad babysitter.

Hire a nanny with her own kids in tow?

Michelle Maffei — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:00:00 -0700

You're looking for someone to care for your little one, but would you hire a nanny with her own kids in tow? A seasoned sitter comes with a host of strengths, but it's important not to ignore the challenges that accompany child care providers who are also parents. From the benefits such as "real life experience" to the disadvantages such as leaving you without a babysitter when her own kids are sick, sort through the pros and cons of hiring a daycare provider who will care for her own kids while looking after your youngster.

Common fears about daycare

Tracee M. Herbaugh — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:30:00 -0800

Many moms have to work to support their families. But that doesn't make leaving a newborn baby in daycare any easier. The heartache caused by leaving a new baby in a stranger's care is a scary experience for a new mother. Here are some of the fears many moms experience when leaving their babies and ways to ease the anxiety when the time comes.

Keeping your babysitter happy

Jen Klein — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 07:07:00 -0700

If you've found a good sitter that your kids like and who is dependable, you've got a good thing going. Sometimes finding the good sitter is the easy thing - it's keeping the sitter that can be a challenge. Especially when you are hoping to build a long-term relationship, a healthy base relationship is essential.

Choosing a teenage babysitter

Michelle Ehrich — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 18:10:00 -0700

For generations, teenagers have been the first line of babysitters . Here are some tips on how you can find a great teen babysitter to care for your child!

How to find a good childcare program for your child

Mary Fetzer — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:22:00 -0700

Finding quality care for your child during those vital, formative years is one of the biggest challenges you'll face as a parent. "90% of a child's brain develops before kindergarten," explains Deborah McNelis, brain development specialist and founder of Brain Insights. "It's important to find a care giver who provides the loving, fun, interactive care their precious child's brain needs!" But finding ideal childcare isn't easy, so use these tips and start your search as soon as possible.

How to find the perfect babysitter

Julie Kraut — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 10:05:00 -0800

You want your special night out sans kiddies to be romantic, fun, and above all relaxing. There’s no way you’re going to be able to relax if you have any doubts about the person taking care of your children though! Follow these steps to find the perfect sitter for your little ones so you can have the perfect night without them.

Work at home moms and child care

Laura Willard — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 09:00:00 -0800

As a work at home mom, or “WAHM,” I find myself trying to juggle work obligations, keep up a home and, most importantly, care for my kids. It’s not easy, and while I’m grateful for the opportunity to be their full time caretaker, sometimes I think that going to an office would be a welcome break. An obvious solution is part time child care, but is it worth it? Keep reading to find out whether childcare is a good option for a work at home mom.

Choosing a caregiver for your special needs child

Abbi Perets — Tue, 25 May 2010 10:30:00 -0700

Choosing a babysitter is a tricky task for any parent. When your child has special needs, however, the issues become even more complicated. Here's what you need to know.

What your babysitter wants you to know

Abbi Perets — Fri, 14 May 2010 22:30:00 -0700

When you hire a babysitter or a nanny, you probably spend some time asking questions about experience and telling your sitter what you need and expect. But do you take the time to let your nanny tell you what she thinks is important? Here's what she wishes you knew -- straight from the source.

4 Tips for stopping separation anxiety

Sarah W. Caron — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:10:00 -0700

With the school year underway now, most young kids are getting used to school and getting over any jitters. But for some kids, separation anxiety is a very real and scary thing. What can you as a parent do if your child is suffering from it? And what if it's you with the anxiety, not your child?