Often times you know when your little one is is sick before the thermometer reads 101 degrees.  When she can’t talk yet you know why she is crying.  And when you are hiring a nanny you will know which one is a good fit.  Always follow your gut. 

Today an email came through my inbox that reminded me of this.  A mom registered with a competitors website looking for a nanny.  Here is part of her story.

“I had a weird feeling about her from the start but, i couldn’t put my finger on it so i figured i was just a nervouse mother and hired her. she was with us about a month. long story short, i got off early from work one day and came home unannounced. from the moment i approached the front door i could hear my baby SCREAMING. i walked in a called “hello?” but all i could hear was wailing. i walked upstairs and must have surprised the babysitter becasue she was in another room and said “oh!” and scrambled into my baby’s room. i saw her open the door. the room was pitch black and he was sitting in the middle of the floor crying so hard he was sobbing. she scooped him up and started chatting with me like nothing happened. i asked her why he was crying and she said “oh we were playing peek a boo.” i was shocked.

 PLEASE check ppl out. PLEASE listen to your gut. you are the mother and your gut is never wrong!”

Trust yourself.

The Dragon is an important symbol for the Chinese so it is considered a great honor to be born in the year of the Dragon.  Dragons are full of strength and energy.  We are powerful, wise and wealthy, or we hope to  be wealthy.

It’s not to late to celebrate the Chinese New Year today.  It is tradition for the children in China to receive a red envelope with money inside after dinner on the New Year.  Kids place the envelope under their pillow before bedtime to keep bad dreams away.  It’s also supposed to mean a fruitful year to come.

You can also make paper lanterns to decorate the house.  Here is a link to make Chinese paper lanterns.

Happy New Year!!

As a new mom she wanted to spend as much time as possible with her new baby.  Even when the infant was sleeping she found herself watching her sleep, not wanting to leave her side.  Then she was inspired to take pictures of her daughter sleeping with unique backgrounds.  You need to watch the interview to see the fun ideas she had.  All it took was some blankets, scarves and other household items and looks like the baby is riding an elephant, or riding the blue waves. 

I love these pics and I think nannies and parents can do this.  Nannies, what a great gift for a parents birthday, Mothers Day or Fathers Day.  Or moms and dads what a great gift to give your nanny.  Such a unique idea for the person who cares for your baby when you are gone.

Jordan Liu a 19 year old male was arrested November 22^nd on sexual assault charges.  He is accused of molesting two young Glendale California boys.  Liu was the family’s once-a-month babysitter for almost eight months.   The family hired him using  sittercity.com.  Sittercity.com does an instant background check and cross references the applicants name with state run sex offender’s registry.  

While using a web based childcare matching service or Craigslist may be quick it is not the safest option for families.   Traditional brick and mortar agencies still provide the best option for families.  If you prefer to conduct the search on your own please be aware of the screening promised by the website.

Instant background checks do not cover all jurisdictions.  Employers also need to go back to every state and country where the nanny has previously lived and check those records too. 

Findthebestnanny.com is the only web based nanny agency that doesn’t subscribe to instant background checks.  When employers register with us they understand that we do not screen  any of our candidates.  How could an agency properly interview, screen, and run background checks on hundreds of candidates instantly?

Instead we give the parents the tools and education needed to do the search themselves.  And, if in the end parents decide that they would like to hire a traditional agency to conduct their search they can use Findthebestnanny.com’s parent company TLC For Kids, Inc.

 don’t wear power suits, make speeches or drive a fancy car. I’ve never made a “big” sale or been elected to an office, and I don’t “do lunch,” have a corner office, or a beeper. I spend my days wiping noses and drying tears. Giving hugs, and making meals. A good day is one without a temper tantrums, bumps or bruises or potty accidents. People may not think what I do is very important and they may whisper behind my back; ‘what a waste of a good mind’- but I know better! I make a difference because I am changing the world one child at a time. Everyday I’m getting the chance to touch the future. I’m proud to say: “I’m a Nanny!!”

Make this  holiday season less stressful by hiring a babysitter from Findthebestnanny.com.   Book your sitter, grab some friends or your hubby and get shopping.  Checking off the to do list can be more fun without kids in tow. 

Visit Findthebestnanny.com and search for sitters in your area.    Read their profiles and choose the ones you want to talk to about babysitting.   Next, follow our exclusive Safety First Program for parents.

When searching for holiday babysitters make sure you check the babysitters future schedule.  Will she be around for New Years Eve?  Or maybe be available to help during spring break?  You want to find a babysitter that you can call on a regular basis. 

Findthebestnanny.com recommends that you have about three to five babysitters checked and ready to go for your babysitting needs.

Happy December Shopping!!!

I can certainly see the benefits of having grandparents care for your little ones.  It would be hard to find a more loving and attentive nanny than Grandma!   In today’s economy Grandma and Grandpa are also a more affordable option than daycare. 

But I also worry about the cons.  I know Grandparents want to help but can they afford to not be working at this time?  Also, does taking care of babies everyday what they really want to do in their “golden years?”  And does being the main caregiver and disciplinarian put a strain on the relationship?

Tell me what you think about granny nanny?

Have a great night everyone and be safe.
Findthebestnanny.com

One thing you can do is make your job description and family lifestyle categories detailed!! Be precise about your days, hours, and salary. Let the nannies know what are looking for and how you run your home. If you prefer an action filled day describe what you would like your children to be doing. If you are hiring a nanny so your child can relax in their home environment say it.
Being specific about these things (and others like your personality) on your application for a nanny will help filter out candidates that aren’t a good match for you.

Parents often say to me they want to see a lot of candidates. I like to explain that seeing candidates that are a good match saves time and is easier on everyone than seeing a lot of candidates.

Which would you prefer?