Having a baby for the first time is a wonderful experience, but it can be stressful. That is why some new parents want to hire a newborn care specialist Los Angeles to make the process easier at first.
But what should you look for in your newborn care specialist? We asked the experts and this is what they said.
First, the specialist should be skilled in how to establish a schedule for the baby that includes feeding and sleeping times. She should be able to show you how to fit baby’s schedule into your family schedule so that everything runs smoothly. For the new baby to be healthy and happy, it is essential that she is well fed and gets plenty of sleep, so your specialist should be comfortable setting this up for you.
Second, a newborn care specialist should be able to handle common minor baby issues, such as diaper rash, colic, soothing methods, reflux problems, and swaddling. They also should know a lot about breastfeeding and formula. Ask detailed questions about these matters when you interview your specialist.
Third, your specialist should be good at educating you about caring for your new baby as well as neonatal issues. It is very important that she be a good, patient educator with you. She also should have knowledge of useful resources in your city and give you referrals and insights about problems that arise.
Fourth, you should check to see how long you can have the specialist stay with you. Most newborn specialists can stay with you up to the first three months of baby’s life. But some new parents use the service just until the baby is sleeping through the night.
Fifth, you should check if the specialist is certified or non-certified. If she is certified, this means she has been approved and certified by the Newborn Care Specialist Association. This organization requires several criteria to be met for the person to be certified, including passing a test, completing reading requirements, professionals references, knowing CPR and first aid, completion of breastfeeding classes, and completing an internship.
It is not required for your specialist to be certified, but it gives some new parents peace of mind.
Now that you know more about what to look for when you bring in a newborn care specialist, you should be more comfortable that your baby is going to get the care that she needs.
Guest writerAnne Harris is an HR specialist working for londongoverness.com. She recruits nannies, governesses and other childcare professionals, ensuring top-notch services for parents worldwide. In her free time she likes reading about education, and children’s welfare, as well as visiting sports events.
(Stereo)typically, you might
get two completely opposing responses: “Why not?”, or “No
way”.
A mother asked this question on a forum- because her search to find her son a part-time “manny” position during the summer break was quite futile. She got a lot of emails, and while the discussion is really interesting, it came down to some common responses:
Yes, I have an older active
boy, and a male caregiver would be a perfect fit
No,
I have daughters, and I’m terrified of sexual predator
This is sexism at play. Women (and men) openly wonder why a man would want to deal with kids at all. It’s all rooted in a stereotype: men don’t belong near children and they don’t know how to handle them.
So, what are we teaching our kids?
“It’s a shame really,
because how are we supposed to nurture our boys into being good fathers when
the world is telling them they shouldn’t be near children?” one mom asked.
By the way, do you know that women show greater distrust towards male nurses or male beauticians, and also female pilots, mechanics, surgeons or bus drivers?
What Male Nannies can offer
According to some theories of child development, children 3 to 6 years old go through a phase where they identify with people who they perceive share their gender. This would explain a rising demand for male nannies for preschool aged boys.
Kids need role models of all genders, both boys and girls. There are often families where kids don’t have all these role models in the home and a nanny can provide another role model, of another gender.
In some cases a male nanny will be more physically inclined in their play than a female nanny and may be better suited to children who prefer robust, physical games.
People who have hired male nannies report how their kids loved spending time with them as much as with their female nannies. It’s not gender-related, since the men who choose to nanny are, of course, also nurturing and caring.
Double-check
Safety is of utmost importance, no one wants to risk anything with either female or male caregivers. Instead, opt for agencies, such as this British governess agency, they go the extra mile to check their candidates.
You can stop expecting
something terrible to happen- do the research and background check for ANY
person that will come near your children.
It’s important to stay open-minded.
Not all people fall into categories. Confirmation bias is strong, I know, but
try to see the bigger picture.
If your child prefers or needs male energy, there are knowledgeable, qualified male caregivers out there who won’t turn your house and kids into a mess. Kids might as well enjoy them!
Qualities and qualifications
Anyway, what does a nanny do? A wide variety of tasks, including, but not limited to preparing meals, cleaning the house, carpooling, entertaining children, and of course, caring for infants and teaching them basic skills.
They have to love working
with children of all ages, show integrity, be loving and caring, nurturing,
warm and cheerful. But also alert and assertive. Attuned to their own emotions,
and naturally open.
If you happen to have all
these qualities as a person, and also have some qualifications and references,
it really shouldn’t matter if they are a male or a female.
Nannies should just be good
at what they do and kids have to love them. It’s that simple.
The bias is so strong that “mannies” have to prove themselves a lot more. And oftentimes, they are paid less.
They may be a minority, but a lot of them have a tutoring background or have a college qualification. As the owner of the Manny agency said: “They know how to have fun, and how to discipline when needed.”
He adds: “It feels
strange writing the ways in which a male nanny can help a household, I didn’t
even bother to add that a male can clean or that they know their way around a
kitchen because it just seems insulting to everyone involved and should be a
given”
Raise awareness
It’s important to discuss
this issue of “cultural uneasiness” and raise awareness. We cannot
act out of fear. We have to make informed decisions.
Men have the equal right to belong in childcare, it’s not exclusively a woman’s job. If men are fixed to macho jobs, we may conclude that women should be fixed to “feminine” jobs. And that is not something we want either!
As this brilliant article concludes: “For my part, I know I can’t control what my son thinks, but I can change what he sees, and I want him to see a world in which, yes, women and men can both hold high-paying executive jobs. But they can both teach preschool and babysit him, too. [Male babysitters] are awesome.”
Opt for a person who meets your child’s needs and fits your lifestyle, not for gender.
Don’t question whether a man is capable of loving and caring for an infant/ child, especially those that choose this to be their calling.
This is almost 2020. The reason this myth is still alive is not because it’s true, but because only a few people dare to question it.
I feel frustrated if someone says I work as a babysitter or au pair. I used to, when I was a teenager. But now I have 2 university degrees, over 15 years experience in my industry, and a focused and specific knowledge about the care, education and development of young children. Surely it’s obvious that a job a teenager can do is not the same thing an educated professional does?
But it’s not obvious to many, causing confusion amongst both parents and carers. In-home private childcare is still a largely emergent market in Australia. Though countries like England have had nannies as well as babysitters for long enough to develop a clear sense of the different care they provide, in Australia we are still learning about how to best utilise all the options available for private childcare.
As with any industry, not knowing exactly what you want from an employee can lead to dissatisfaction all round. Parents can end up feeling unsure about what they can ask of their carers or what their responsibilities as employees are, and carers may feel conflicted about their role and what is expected from them.
If you want to hire someone to care for your children or want to work in the private childcare industry, arming yourself with the knowledge to find the right fit between family and carer should be your first step.
I’ve worked in lots of homes with lots of babies. Different families have different styles, both in the way they run their home and in the way they approach parenting. I’ve used these stints amongst varied parenting and household styles to experiment with and explore which of the thousands of possible baby accessories are most commonly used and which are the most necessary and useful. It’s not the same list.
#1 Thing you think you need but don’t: Change Table.
Plenty of seasoned parents will tell you they’re an unnecessary expense. It’s not just me. You can change a baby on the floor, on the bed, on top of a chest of drawers. As time goes on you’ll find yourself changing them in the backseat of the car, on the kitchen table, and as they get older while they try to run away. All you need for these changes is, at best, a change mat with raised edges, and at least, a soft but firm surface.
NannySavvy 