Archive for the ‘Newborn Nanny Care’ Category

China’s “Octomom” spurs nanny hiring boom

Tuesday, January 24th, 2012

These Chinese octuplets, born with the help of in vitro fertilization and three different mothers, have raised ethical questions in a country known for its strict One Child policy for population control.

So you already know the challenges of hiring a nanny for your busy family.  Imagine all the background checks and job interviews you’d need to hire 11 perfect candidates!

In Guangzhou, China, an unidentified wealthy couple has just sent shockwaves throughout the country for engineering the birth of octuplets in a blatant defiance of the Chinese “One Child” policy. According to the Associated Press, the couple was discovered by the media after bringing their children to a local photo studio for a series of cutesy costumed poses.

From the AP report:

“… many Chinese were amazed to learn that a couple had spent nearly 1 million yuan ($160,000) and illegally enlisted two surrogate mothers to help have the four boys and four girls.

The incident has highlighted both the use of birth surrogates, a violation of Chinese law, and how wealthy Chinese do as they please, with scant regard for the rules that constrain others. The most-common reaction, though, has been simple disbelief.

… Chinese media are calling the mother babaotai muqin, or Octomom, a reference to the American woman who gave birth to octuplets using in vitro fertilization.”

The biological mother is believed to have given birth to two of her children, while two surrogate mothers gave birth to three children each.

The babies were born last October. The Guangzhou Daily, a government-run newspaper, reported that the mystery couple hired 11 nannies to handle the stress of being first-time parents with 8 newborns.  The paper also said that the couple and the babies are now “in hiding” to shield themselves from public resentment.

Hopefully, these babies won't be negatively impacted by the legal circumstances they obviously had nothing to do with.

The Chinese media’s “Octomom” reference, of course, is to tabloid darling Nadya Suleman, the single mom who notoriously had herself implanted with 12 embryos despite already having six children. It’s estimated that raising 14 kids at once costs $78,336, a figure that’s easy to understand once you’ve purchased your first case of diapers and baby formula.

Perhaps fueled by anger that her personal costs need to be subsidized by government assistance, Ms. Suleman recently had the dubious distinction of being voted near the top of America’s Most Hated List.  She recently told the TODAY Show that she feels like she is being scapegoated because she is an unemployed single mother.

“If I had a mate, that would have defused a lot of the animosity,” she told the NBC show.

Meanwhile, a recent survey of 1,200 mothers for TheBump.com and Forbes Woman concluded that 92 percent of working moms and 89 percent of stay-at-home moms feel overwhelmed by the stresses of everyday child care.

Sound like someone needs to search for a nanny ASAP.

And whether you need “only” one nanny or au pair to meet your family needs or 11 (!), check out our Safe Nanny Hiring Kit and our cost-effective monthly membership plans, which offer unlimited candidate searches and screenings!

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Posted in Child Safety, hiring a nanny, Nannies Around The World, Newborn Nanny Care | No Comments »

Dilemma: Cloth or Disposable

Saturday, October 8th, 2011

New parents have lots of decisions to make for their baby. One of those decisions is whether to use cloth or disposable diapers (this impacts themselves AND their nanny if they hire one). Until disposable diapers were invented and made affordable, cloth was the only realistic choice (thanks Mom!). Since disposable diapers are so convenient and easy to use, cloth diapers became almost extinct. However, both economic and environmental concerns have helped cloth diapers make a comeback. So let’s quickly explore the advantages and disadvantages of using cloth diapers.

One of the first considerations when deciding between cloth or disposable diapers is the cost. If you sit down and figure out how much you’ll spend on disposables for two years, cloth diapers are usually far less expensive. The initial cost of the diapers themselves is more, but just do the math… Even if you include the cost of washing them, cloth diapers are going to save you money in the long run.

The next issue to consider is the huge environmental impact of disposable diapers. With literally tons of used diapers filled with human waste clogging up landfills, cloth diapers are clearly far better for the environment. Besides that, the main fabric used in diapers is cotton, which is a renewable resource. A new crop of cotton can be planted every year, while the paper and plastic in disposables comes from trees and petroleum products. Even though trees are also a renewable resource, they obviously take longer than cotton to grow.

Another advantage of cloth diapers is that they are reusable. Soiled diapers get rinsed and washed so they can be used over and over again until the child is potty trained. They can even be passed on from one child to the next or given to friends or family who are starting a new family (some people find that to be gross, but they ARE clean after all).

One disadvantage of the old-fashioned cloth diapers is that they require using pins and plastic pants. However, for parents who want to spend a little more money, there are new designs of cloth diapers that fasten with snaps or Velcro. The waterproof fabric on the outside is colorful and stylish, with removable liners that can be washed separately.

Of course the biggest disadvantage of cloth diapers is dealing with the mess. The poop needs to be flushed down the toilet and the diapers need to be rinsed, which can be difficult for squeamish parents. Then there’s the added chore associated with extra loads of laundry. This consumes more time and energy for the caregivers. However, as you might have guessed some entrepreneurs saw this as an opportunity and will provide you with a cloth diaper service taking the yuck with them on their truck (of course, that all but eliminates the cost advantage of cloth diapers).

Another disadvantage of cloth diapers is the problem of leaks. Depending on the type of diapers used and how often they are changed, leaking can be a concern. Frequently changing the baby’s clothes also adds to the mountain of laundry that’s already piling up. Parents who use cloth diapers need to experiment with different sizes and liners to find the right solution for their baby.

The ultimate disadvantage of cloth diapers is that disposables are just so darn convenient, most people are willing to forego the extra expense and environmental impact. Dealing with diapers is about the least pleasant part of having a baby and disposables certainly make it much easier. One thing conscientious parents who decide to use cloth diapers need to keep in mind is that they can always have some disposables on hand to use when needed. Most people who use cloth usually have disposables for traveling or to use overnight.

In the end, like most things it comes down to the parents taking a decision.  The good news is that there is no right or wrong answer as long as you keep the baby clean, comfortable, and dry.

Posted in Newborn Nanny Care | No Comments »

Should a family use a nanny cam?

Friday, February 25th, 2011

Most of us by now have read the news about a nanny being charged criminally after being viewed on a nanny cam. First, I feel the concern of families that are scared to death after reading about this. I hope that families find it comforting that this is a very rare occurrence. Most nannies are loving, caring people treating their charges with love and respect and do their jobs well every day.

We feel that by following proper nanny screening steps and really doing your homework in the vetting process that families will find a great nanny. Unfortunately this type of media article creates a lot of understandable anxiety. A nanny cam can help reduce this anxiety and we encourage families to use one whenever they feel the need. Just be sure to follow the appropriate laws of your state.

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Hiring and screening nannies for newborns and infants

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

Every parent has great concern and anxiety over screening nannies for their newborn or infant. Having owned a brick and mortar nanny agency for many years I was able to see the qualities that help parents feel comfortable making this big decision.

It’s particularly important to follow safe nanny hiring steps for this age group. This can be time consuming, so for some families where money isn’t the main issue using a nanny referral service can be well worth the extra money. Good nanny agencies are experts at nanny screening and understand very well the parent’s anxiety and can help make you feel more comfortable.

For those that want to use an online nanny referral service here are the steps that have been used for years and work very well.

  1. Only interview candidates with prior experience with infants and newborns.
  2. Do a careful phone interview first. Have the nanny’s complete resume or nanny job application (available in our Hiring Pro Toolkit) on hand prior to the interview, if possible.
  3. In the phone interview use a good interview form (available in our Hiring Pro Toolkit) and take notes.
  4. Look at her resume/application (available in our Hiring Pro Toolkit) for prior jobs with this age group and ask her questions about why she liked working with those children. Listen for genuine enthusiasm and care for her charges. Can you feel her warmth?
  5. If the phone interview is satisfactory set up an in-person interview. My preference is with the child present so that you can see her reaction to your baby and the baby’s reaction to her.
  6. Ask her numerous questions about those nanny jobs with very young children.
  7. Check references using a reference check form  (available in our Hiring Pro Toolkit).
  8. Reference checking is the “secret weapon” in the nanny hiring process. It’s usually mom-to-mom and very personal. That mom will empathize with you and try to help you with information about the nanny.
  9. Did the reference checking confirm your feelings about the nanny or did the references raise issues?
  10. It sounds trite, but trust your instincts.
  11. If it’s all positive and you want to hire her do a nanny background check for your peace of mind.
  12. Use a family and nanny hiring agreement to put in writing all the points. Our Hiring Pro Toolkit has a free International Nanny Association agreement included.

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How to Use an Online Nanny Referral Service

Wednesday, January 12th, 2011

by, Steve Lampert

Back in 2001 when we started eNannySource.com it was unusual to use an online nanny referral service, now the internet is used for almost everything, but there is still apprehension about hiring a nanny online.

A Brick and mortar nanny agency vets nannies thoroughly before referring a nanny candidate to your family, but what about an online nanny referral service? Safety is first in mind amongst families hiring a nanny, especially when a newborn or preschool age child is involved.

eNannySource.com provides the tools of a nanny agency in an online nanny referral service. Our Hiring Pro Toolkit contains everything necessary to pre-screen a nanny. Nanny interview questions, nanny salary guidelines, a complete nanny agency nanny application and the INA Family & Nanny employment agreement. All of these tools are provided free of charge to paid members. All that remains to be done is a nanny background check and this is included at no charge in our Platinum membership.

It’s safe and economical to hire a nanny online so long as you follow all the steps for safe nanny hiring.

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The Nanny Background Check. The Nanny Doctor shows how in this video.

Thursday, November 4th, 2010

Nanny Background Checks. The Nanny Doctor shows how in this video.

The Nanny Doctor, Dr. Lindsay Heller, goes through the process of doing a nanny background check in this video. Nanny background checking is a very important part of nanny screening. The nanny background check should be done at the end of the nanny screening process, after the references have been carefully called, her nanny application has been scrutinized for accuracy and she has been interviewed by the family.

When doing a nanny background check it’s important that it does a thorough database check of the U.S., verifies that the SSN belongs to the correct person and has checked for where she has lived. Once you know where the nanny has lived you should then do a county record check. When all of these steps have been followed you can be assured that you’ve done what is considered the “Gold Standard” of background checks.

Posted in hiring a nanny, Nanny Background Check, Nanny Safety, Newborn Nanny Care | No Comments »

How do I pick nannies to interview?

Thursday, September 23rd, 2010

Dr. Lindsay Heller, The Nanny Doctor

Selecting nanny candidates to interview can be a tricky task that requires some skill! Fortunately enannysource.com provides you with what you need to know in to focus your nanny search and select only the cream of the crop to interview!  The most important step is making sure that you have a clear idea of what you want and what you need in a nanny.  After you have determined exactly what you are looking for, it is time to see who fits the bill! Here are some tips for determining who is in and who is out.

 1)    Make a list of qualities you can’t live without in a nanny! This is different for every family so it is important that you determine what your list is. Do you want someone with multiples experience? Someone who has been a live-in nanny? Someone who has a degree in child development? Someone that has nanny newborn experience?

2)    Make a list of qualities that are absolute deal breakers! Does your nanny need to know how to swim? Do they need to be comfortable around dogs? Does she need to have cared for newborns?

3)    Start the nanny screening process early. Don’t wait for the in-person interview to ask all of the questions. Start screening candidates via e-mail, then over the phone, or Skype and then in in-person. Only a select few of the potential nanny candidates should make it to the in-person interview.

4)    Select only candidates who put their best foot forward! Individuals with strong portfolios, including their resume, cover letter and letters of reference are usually pretty together people themselves. This also goes for e-mail correspondence. If they are great at communicating via e-mail and professional, that will carry through to their day to day nanny work with your family!

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Posted in hiring a nanny, Newborn Nanny Care | 1 Comment »

Do we need a live-in nanny?

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

By Dr. Lindsay Heller  The Nanny Doctor

By now you may be well into your search for the perfect nanny.  You have made a list of your needs and perhaps you have even consulted with other families with live-in or live-out nannies.

Many families enter their nanny search knowing already what type of nanny they need.  However, with so many great child care options available to families these days, it’s harder to make a choice. A quick survey of families in your area may reveal that live-out nannies are more common than live-in nannies.  However, if your family needs a live-in nanny, then there are a few important things you need to consider.

1. Do you have enough space?
 If you plan to hire a live-in nanny, you will need to provide a dedicated bedroom.  If your live-in nanny will be caring for an infant, she may sleep in the nursery with the baby on occasion, but she will still need her own bedroom as well.

2. Are you prepared to feed an extra mouth?
 Since your nanny will be living with you, then you will be required to provide meals and snacks.  Consider the expense of extra groceries when preparing a budget.

3. Do you have an extra vehicle?
Not every nanny owns a car.  If you expect your live-in nanny to drive the kids to school or run the occasional errand, then you may need to provide her with a car.  Or perhaps you can lend her your own car.  Either way, you    need to make sure your nanny has a valid driver’s license and is covered by your auto insurance.

4. What about vacations?
Like all bosses, you need to consider time off for your employee.  Be sure to work in a minimum of one week’s paid vacation and all major holidays off with pay into your plans.

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To use a nanny cam or not to use a nanny cam…that is the question!

Monday, August 9th, 2010

By, Dr. Lindsay Heller  The Nanny Doctor

So, you are thinking about using a nanny cam…you probably have a lot of questions and concerns. Let’s talk about how to handle and manage these fears. This is a delicate and sensitive issue. There are not only legal issues to consider but also how it may impact the relationship you have with your nanny.

If you are thinking about using a nanny cam, you probably have a lot of fears related to leaving your child with a nanny. Some of these fears are natural, while others may be common but irrational. You may have heard about nannies abusing children in the news and now that you have your own little one, you are deathly afraid. First of all, you need to know that nannies rarely abuse children. Secondly, you need to know that it is natural to be a little afraid and cautious, however, your fear shouldn’t paralyze you, it should lead you to make good choices about who cares for your child and listening to your gut. Knowledge builds confidence, so please vet your nanny carefully using the eNannySource Nanny Success Kit and Nanny Background Check before hiring a nanny and using a nanny cam.

First Things First
When it comes to using a nanny cam, I recommend that you let the nanny know in the interview that you are planning to use one. Now, for some this may seem contradictory, however, it is not! I’d rather that an incident is completely prevented rather than “caught” and being up front about your use of a nanny cam can raise awareness for the nanny and help to prevent any issues.

Trust
In addition to the laws, you may want to think about how this may affect your relationship with your nanny. Trust is very important in this unique relationship and needs to be nurtured. If you are to go with a nanny cam, you should discuss this with your interview candidates prior to hiring (in the interview) and once hired, have the nanny sign a document stating that they are aware of the “hidden camera.” This way you are hiring someone who you know is comfortable with this practice.  A nanny who finds out after some time working for your family that there is a nanny cam may feel insulted and any trust you may have built will be ruined. 

Is it legal?
The short answer is it is legal to use a hidden camera in all 50 states, however it is illegal to record someone’s speech in 15 states without their consent. California Video recording of “confidential communications” is prohibited without consent.

The laws of 13 states expressly prohibit the unauthorized installation or use of cameras in private places. In some states, installation or use of any device for photographing, observing or overhearing events or sounds in a private place without the permission of the people photographed or observed is against the law. A private place is one where a person may reasonably expect to be safe from unauthorized surveillance.

Consider that studies and polls show that many care providers are not necessarily against video taping of child-provider interaction, it’s just that they want to know about it. It seems to be a matter of trust and feeling of deception. Some parents handle the situation by telling a potential care provider upfront that a nanny cam will be used so that they can feel comfortable and confident about their child’s care. It’s then up to the nanny to accept or decline the position with a family who uses a nanny cam. 

A final note
If you feel so concerned about someone caring for your children, you shuld listen to that gut instinct and not hire them to care for your children. If you think you are feeling a little anxious as a new parent and need the nanny cam toget through 

By, Dr. Lindsay Heller  The Nanny Doctor

So, you are thinking about using a nanny cam…you probably have a lot of questions and concerns. Let’s talk about how to handle and manage these fears. This is a delicate and sensitive issue. There are not only legal issues to consider but also how it may impact the relationship you have with your nanny.

If you are thinking about using a nanny cam, you probably have a lot of fears related to leaving your child with a nanny. Some of these fears are natural, while others may be common but irrational. You may have heard about nannies abusing children in the news and now that you have your own little one, you are deathly afraid. First of all, you need to know that nannies rarely abuse children. Secondly, you need to know that it is natural to be a little afraid and cautious, however, your fear shouldn’t paralyze you, it should lead you to make good choices about who cares for your child and listening to your gut. Knowledge builds confidence, so please vet your nanny carefully using the eNannySource Nanny Success Kit and Nanny Background Check before hiring a nanny and using a nanny cam.

First Things First
When it comes to using a nanny cam, I recommend that you let the nanny know in the interview that you are planning to use one. Now, for some this may seem contradictory, however, it is not! I’d rather that an incident is completely prevented rather than “caught” and being up front about your use of a nanny cam can raise awareness for the nanny and help to prevent any issues.

Trust
In addition to the laws, you may want to think about how this may affect your relationship with your nanny. Trust is very important in this unique relationship and needs to be nurtured. If you are to go with a nanny cam, you should discuss this with your interview candidates prior to hiring (in the interview) and once hired, have the nanny sign a document stating that they are aware of the “hidden camera.” This way you are hiring someone who you know is comfortable with this practice.  A nanny who finds out after some time working for your family that there is a nanny cam may feel insulted and any trust you may have built will be ruined. 

Is it legal?
The short answer is it is legal to use a hidden camera in all 50 states, however it is illegal to record someone’s speech in 15 states without their consent. California Video recording of “confidential communications” is prohibited without consent.

The laws of 13 states expressly prohibit the unauthorized installation or use of cameras in private places. In some states, installation or use of any device for photographing, observing or overhearing events or sounds in a private place without the permission of the people photographed or observed is against the law. A private place is one where a person may reasonably expect to be safe from unauthorized surveillance.

Consider that studies and polls show that many care providers are not necessarily against video taping of child-provider interaction, it’s just that they want to know about it. It seems to be a matter of trust and feeling of deception. Some parents handle the situation by telling a potential care provider upfront that a nanny cam will be used so that they can feel comfortable and confident about their child’s care. It’s then up to the nanny to accept or decline the position with a family who uses a nanny cam. 

A final note
If you feel so concerned about someone caring for your children, you shuld listen to that gut instinct and not hire them to care for your children. If you think you are feeling a little anxious as a new parent and need the nanny cam toget through

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Posted in hiring a nanny, Nanny Background Check, Newborn Nanny Care | 2 Comments »

We have a new baby coming and our nanny is a little bit rusty with newborns, how can we make sure she’s ready for the new baby?

Monday, July 12th, 2010

by, Dr. Lindsay Heller, The Nanny Doctor

It’s so great to have a nanny whom you trust and who has already been a part of your family for sometime when a new baby arrives, but your nanny hasn’t worked with newborns for some time. For more information on newborn nanny care click on the link. Maintaining the same nanny for your family for as long as possible is a great gift to your children. It will help them to build and maintain solid relationships throughout there lives. That said, it is completely worth doing everything possible to keep your nanny even when your needs change.

The first thing you will want to do is to think about what resources are available to new moms in your community. These resources can often be utilized for nannies as well. For example, your local hospital may have a baby care class that your nanny can attend as a way of “freshening up” her skills. Additionally, this may be a great time to update both your Infant/CPR first aid certification as well as have your nanny get recertified.

In addition to some classes, make sure you have a conversation with your nanny about how you expect a new baby to change your lives and more importantly to your nanny, how it will change her job description. Here’s some good tips on training your nanny for newborn care. Make sure you discuss nanny pay changes, any new responsibilities, and schedule changes. Encourage her to discuss any concerns or questions she may have about this transition. Be honest. If there are some questions you can’t answer yet because you are unsure of how a new baby may change your life, be honest and say that.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to express to your nanny how much she means to you and your family. If you are willing to do what it takes to keep your nanny with a new baby on the way, make sure she knows how much you value her!

Posted in Newborn Nanny Care | 1 Comment »