I think it’s fair to say that when it comes to babysitters, most kids would rather just have mom and dad stay at home.  That is unless you find that rare gem of a babysitter—the one your kids adore, beg to have them come, and can’t wait for you to leave. However, these gems can be hard to find.  With years of finding babysitters for my 7 kids, I’ve had my share of finding that modern day Mary Poppins.  To help with the search, here are a few key things kids are actually wanting (whether they know it or not) in that perfect babysitter:

1.  Fun:  Kids always want a fun babysitter!  Someone who has creative ideas and a lot of energy is sure to have kids smiling ear-to-ear while they’re doing something productive, yet fun, and that’s exactly what kids want. I won’t lie, as a parent I want that for my kids, too!

2.  Understands Boundaries: Most kids won’t just come out and say it, but they crave boundaries. Therefore, they want a babysitter who isn’t afraid to set boundaries and work within the routine already developed within a household.

3.  Compassionate: Of course kids want to feel like the person who is taking care of them actually likes them and is happy to spend the day with them. A kind and compassionate babysitter is key.

4.  Smart: Kids ask a ton of questions, and they seem to enjoy it when adults have answers to their questions – or at least pretend to have answers. Babysitters should be educated and able to keep up with your child’s questions and curious nature.

5.  Safe: Safety is so important, and kids know it, too – on some level. A babysitter should have good judgment and be a quick thinker. Kids want to feel safe whether at home or at the park, so a babysitter should be confident and focused.

Good Luck & Happy Parenting!

Sincerely,

Daddy Nickell

Parenting Expert and father of 7, Robert Nickell (aka Daddy Nickell) offers his “5 cents” worth of advice to expectant and new parents.  Daddy Nickell is the founder of Daddy & Co., delivery room duds and daddy gifts and apparel for every stage of fatherhood, and the Daily Daddy Blog.  He is also the creator and producer of “My Life as a Dad,” the groundbreaking new web series that showcases celebrity fathers offering their personal experiences and parenting tips.

The post What Kids Want in a Babysitter appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Finding the right person to care for your children while you work is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a parent.  It will give you tremendous peace of mind to know that your children are safe and happy while you’re away from them.  There are many factors that go into choosing what is right for your family, below is a list of tips to consider when looking at child care options and why you might want to choose go to with a nanny vs. daycare.

One-on-one care. Nannies provide consistency for your children by having the same person care for them day in and day out. Consistency builds a sense of security in young children.  In addition, the nanny’s only priority is your children, so they come to love your children and know their routine.

Routine. Rather than having your children adapt to a day care’s routine, a nanny will cater to your children’s routine. This will allow your children to develop and grow at their own rate, nap when is best for your family, and play in their own home while learning to respect your rules and property.

Activities. A nanny will take them to gymnastics or ballet, or participate in music and swimming lessons. They will engage in playgroups, take trips to the zoo and run around at parks. With a nanny your children are free to explore on their own terms.

It’s your choice.  Although it may be a painful, laborious process, you are ultimately in charge of who watches your children. You conduct the interviews, you set the rules, and you write the paycheck. This also allows you to really get to know your nanny on a professional and personal level.

Safety. You are able to keep an eye on things. Either with a nanny cam or your own two eyes, parents with nannies are more engaged and aware of what goes on during the day.

Cost. Believe it or not, nanny’s typically cost less than daycare, especially the more children you have with them.

Sick days. A sick child doesn’t cancel your day. If your children are sick you usually can’t drop them off at daycare. However with a nanny, depending on the illness, you are still able to go to work despite having a sick child. Staying at home with a nanny also protects your children from exposure to germs and illnesses floating around a daycare.

Nannies become your right hand person.  Over time they become an extension of your family and offer stability that isn’t found in a daycare environment.  Having the help of a loving nanny gives your child the best of both worlds, they get to stick to their routine, they are able to socialize though activities and they have a trusted adult they can bond with while you’re at work.

About Jennifer Chung & Kinsights:
Jennifer Chung is a parenting expert and co-founder of Kinsights.com: part parenting community, part online health record. Kinsights provides parents with a safe place to seek answers to their questions while also helping them track their child’s health information. Organize your child’s growth and developmental milestones, immunizations, medications, allergies, and more.  Connect with Kinsights at https://kinsights.com to learn more and sign-up! You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter (@kinsights).

The post Thinking About Hiring A Nanny? appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

A text comes in: “Would you guys want to go out with us this Saturday night?”

It’s from a new mom friend, and um, she’s asking you out. With your husband. You’re excited and horrified at the same time. You think: I don’t think she’s talking pizza with the kids. I would need to hire a sitter. 

This is how my addiction to date nights started. A friend invited us out, we started hiring sitters, and soon we were going out almost every weekend – with or without friends. Often, it’s just nice to be together, dressed up, in an energized place.

But there’s always the question of payment in the end. And I hate doing that awkward dance with a babysitter – “How much do I owe you?” “Whatever you want to pay me.”

You know the one. 

Here are some tips on what to pay your sitter – so you can enjoy dating again (even with mom friends) without breaking your budget:

1. Use a pay calculator. Search online for a babysitter calculator (Care.com has one) and type in  your zip code, number of kids and years of experience you’re looking for. This should give you a good sense of the hourly rate your neighbors are paying – and what the sitters are asking for.
2. Hire teens. The beauty of having kids of a certain age, who can’t read – but can basically put themselves to bed – is that you can hire a younger, less experienced sitter. Maturity is key, and she might need to shadow you for 30 or more minutes before you leave, but you’ll be paying $2-$5 less an hour.
3. Search for sitters in your pay range. Whether you’ve used a babysitter calc or you’ve asked friends what they pay, decide on the hourly rate that fits your budget. Then refine your online search by hourly rate. This will help you only view people you can afford.
4. Create a job post that states what you will pay hourly. Put the word out – either through email, a message board or a care-finding site, state what you are willing to pay per hour. Ideally, only people who agree to that rate will apply.

The best part of starting this search is that you will create an arsenal of sitters within your price range – and can contact whenever you decide to go out. Whether it’s once a year, once a month, or every single weekend! 

The post How Much to Pay a Babysitter? appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

DAYCARE

PROS: 
•Most affordable option
•Well supervised and many adults are present
•Your child will be able to socialize with other children
•More reliable, won’t call in sick
•Licensed and regulated
•Maintain privacy, you do not have to open your home
CONS:
•Teachers care for more than one child. Ratio can range from 1 to 3 or 1 to 4 depending on age.
•Very rigid pickup and drop-off times, so if you need care before and after work, you have to make other arrangements
•If your child is sick they are unable to attend so you will have to find other arrangements if you cannot take the day off work.
•Your child will be sick more often as they are exposed to more germs.
• Turnover is usually high in daycares

PROS:
•Your child gets to be at home where they are most comfortable and familiar
•Your child is not exposed to the many illnesses in a daycare
•One-on-one care is provided
•More convenient for the parents as they don’t have to go anywhere to drop off or pick up their child
•Your child can nap and eat on own their own schedule
•Flexible to your schedule
•More control over rules and values

CONS:
•Cost. Having a Nanny is the most expensive form of childcare.
•This care is unsupervised (unless you work from home) so fi nding a Nanny you trust is important.
•Your child isn’t around other kids as much so there is a lack in socialization.
•If your Nanny calls in sick you have to find a replacement or not go to work
•Extra costs and hassles to employing someone. Example: paid vacation, payroll taxes, benefits.
•High turnover may occur if you can not find the right fit

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