The reason you hire a Stapleton Nanny is “to protect, love, play with, and teach the children in her care, and then to share her insights with you.” (www.nanny.com) During this process your child will grow. As your child grows, the Stapleton Nanny’s responsibilities must change to adapt to the child’s development. You certainly do not want a nanny that is stuck in the pre-school years of training when your child is in the third grade.

This is the time when children start to become engaged with their surroundings. It is also the time to break the bottle habit and start to potty train. Since you are not there, these responsibilities become the duties of your Stapleton Nanny. In this age group the child “is more cooperative, is able to understand and follow simple instructions and imitate simple tasks, s/he shows understanding of the terms "before" and "after" or "first" and "next" or past and present tense, bowel movements are regular and predictable and s/he understands, and can also say (or gesture for): potty, go, pee, poop (or the family's equivalent) and the body parts involved.” (www.nanny.com)

With bottle breaking you must, firstly, accept the fact that the earlier this starts the easier and faster it will be over. The age of 1, is a good place to start. Children will let you know, on their own, when the bottle is not enough and they are still hungry. This is the perfect time to have the nanny start introducing formula in a cup. Keep in mind - and in your nanny’s mind, that “developing teeth need the new kind of exercise that solids provide.” (www.nanny.com) Each week less milk will go in the bottle and more milk in the cup. The following are NEVERS that your Stapleton Nanny needs to follow:

1. “Use the bottle as a pacifier: he learns to need it to fall asleep, so you set yourself up for problems later,
2. Falling asleep with milk on the teeth is what causes tooth decay in babies,
3. Milk entering the throat from this prone (flat) position is a common cause of ear infections (Baby and Child Care, Benjamin Spock, MD, page 178).” (www.nanny.com)

Potty training may be done in three different ways – “letting children train themselves, training the caregiver to remind and require the child to sit on the potty at scheduled times and awareness of bodily sensations.” (www.nanny.com) You and your Stapleton Nanny should sit down together and decide which course to take.

This is when children realize who they are with relation to the world around them. It’s referred to as “reapproachment”. This is the time when a Stapleton Nanny should focus on developing the child’s self-esteem through warm physical contact, communicating respectfull skills, creating situations where the child will succeed and the communication of approval at the end of the tasks.

Conquering fears and modifying temperament traits also falls under this age group. Your Stapleton Nanny should know how to deal with these different situations. By creating an atmosphere of security, the child will respond more readily.

Positive guidance is essential to all human beings. “The idea of “guidance” is that caregivers use misbehaviors as teaching/learning opportunities.” (www.nanny.com) Children who receive this at a very young age are able to learn from their mistakes – at a very young age, versus having to learn as an adult, which is much more painful. Even when scolding the child, negativity must be avoided. A Stapleton Nanny should know how to show displeasure WITHOUT humiliating or demeaning the child.

Play time is essential in a child’s upbringing, in this age group. Towards the older years, it is through play “that children learn to resolve problems, focus, interaction with others, communication and – about winning and losing. The Stapleton Nanny will:

• “Throw away the flashcards and work books. Play is what promotes school readiness.
• Provide plenty of opportunities and room for unstructured play, with siblings, peers and caregivers.
• Allow children to get dirty and make a mess.
• Don’t orchestrate free play.
• Encourage and model cooperation.
• Give the child simple, clear directions.
• Encourage imagination through story-telling, exposure to art and music.
• Keep art supplies easily available Create a corner for dress up clothes, unbreakable small kitchen items, etc.
• Play rhyming games and other simple word games in the car, in the evening, or during routine household activities.
• Read, read, read, and then read some more.” (www.nanny.com)

This is the age group where we see children discovering the art of manipulation and lies. Here, children will continue to test boundaries but in more sophisticated ways. It is imperative that your Stapleton Nanny lay down the law, in a gentle manner, and send the very clear message “that it is best to tell the truth and, that lying will only get them punished.”

What is a Nanny?

A nanny, by definition from the International Nanny Association, is considered a “child care specialist.” While some nannies do not have professional training, there is a basic set of requirements all nannies must meet. First off, they must be 18 years of age or older, carry a high school diploma, and their health must be in good condition.

What Are the Roles or Responsibilities for a Nanny?

A nanny is there to take care of the needs of your children. They must meet the child’s physical and emotional needs and at the same time ensure whatever discipline techniques laid out by the parents are enforced. Nannies act a medium between the children and the parents or the children and the family doctor, teachers or friends as well. Many of the nannies out there enjoy the time spent with the children, building a good bond.

Usually most nannies will also help with the housework like laundry, light cleaning, meal preparation or other chores. They can also run errands for the parents, but this should not get to a point where the parents expect the nanny to do favors for them.

What is the Typical Cost of a Nanny?

Depending on the past experience and amount of hours a nanny requires, the costs usually range around $150 and up per week. If you use day care for your children, it may be a wise investment to hire a nanny as they will have a more structure done on one contact as well as it may save you some money. If you search for a nanny through an agency, you may have to pay a flat fee, which will provide you access to their network of nannies, or you can talk to a nanny one on one and determine a rate of pay.

What are the Benefits of Having a Nanny?

The most obvious benefit to hiring a nanny would be the level of convenience and the personalized care for your children. Instead of ending up in a crowded daycare center with a ton of other kids, your child will end up with one on one interaction with his/her nanny. This focus adds to a safer environment as the nanny will be able to watch your child all hours, and since the nanny works from your home you won’t have to pick the child up. It also does not change your children’s routines.

Having a nanny around your child for an 8 hour day also helps them keep an eye on the child’s conditions. Also, consistently using a nanny builds a healthy relationship with them as they’re around your house all day.

What is a Nanny Share?

What Exactly is a Nanny Share?

A nanny share can be defined as a childcare situation in which a nanny is hired to care for more than one child at a time. These children generally belong to multiple families so the nanny’s time is spread across the board. For example: the nanny may care for one child several days a week then care for multiple children the other days of the week. The care is usually central to one family’s home.

Why Share a Nanny?

Sharing a nanny among several close-knit families can be an affordable alternative to daycare. Even if the nanny charges a little more to care for the number of children, the hourly rate will usually work out to be cheaper then if you hired a nanny to care for one child in your home. A nanny share also provides a home feel child care setting, and allows your child to have more social time with one or two other children.

How do You Find a Nanny Share?

The best way to find a nanny share is to ask your friends or neighbors if they have used this process for their children. Personal recommendations and word of mouth are a great source for a nanny share. If you don’t find any luck iny our social circle, seek a anny share online or on craigslist.

Start Your Own Nanny Share Gradually –

Once you have found several other parents who feel like committing to sharing a nanny and a nanny who would be fine with a sharing situation, have everyone meet together for a few hours to get to know one another. Let your children be around the other children to see how they react. Ask any questions on your mind to the nanny and be sure to pick a place where the nanny can watch the children.