It is normal for babies to lose up to 7% of their birth weight in the first few days of life. They should return to this weight or surpass it by the second week mark…
Childcare is a common topic of conversation among parents with young children. Whether you are a stay at home parent or have a career, there will be times that you need someone to care for your child. I’ve had a variety of different childcare arrangements over the years, including having my own nanny, nanny sharing and sending our kids to daycare and day home.
This post is focused on the things you should know if you are hiring a nanny. There are links to a nanny contract, interview questions, ground rules and the ins and outs of employing a nanny. If you are exploring other childcare options such as a daycare or day home also check out this post.
Here are the things I wish I would have known before I hired a nanny for the first time.
Finding suitable childcare for my kids has monopolized a significant amount of time and energy over the years. Our childcare situation has been more complicated in some months compared to others, most notably when I returned to work full time when my babies were each three and seven months old and when my nanny went on a maternity leave of her own. As my family’s needs have changed, we have tried different childcare arrangements: nanny sharing, employing our own nanny, daycare and day home. The most recent dilemma occurred when our full time nanny left us to go to university this past fall.
I’ve learned a few things when it comes to finding the right childcare provider, including that some of the most valuable tips come from listening to the experiences of other parents. The list below, which outlines some important questions to ask before you make a decision about childcare, is based on the experiences of a multitude of parents.
These are the top five things I wish I would have known when I first started looking for childcare.
When my first child started eating solids I decided to experiment in making my own baby food. I have to admit that I thought it would be time consuming and a hassle, but once I started and got the hang of it, I found it easy and enjoyable.
There are many benefits to making your own baby food if you decide to try it out. You have control of what goes into your baby food (you can use the best possible ingredients!), it’s economical, and you can get creative introducing new tastes and foods you would otherwise not find in commercially bought baby food. Homemade baby food can also taste so much better than store bought brands (let’s admit we have all tried our baby’s food at one point or another and some of the store bought brands are hard to keep down).
Below are directions for making baby food in four easy steps.
Establishing healthy practices for your baby from the moment they are born is important so that you don’t have to try to change established habits later on (because that’s not fair to anyone, especially your baby). Here are a few of the most important healthy habits! Maximize skin on skin and cuddle time Babies and […]
It seems like wait lists for the best daycares and government accredited day homes continue to get longer, and that childcare is becoming more and more expensive. Believe it or not, it is less expensive to hire a live out nanny than to send two of your children to some of the most reputable daycares in Calgary (true story!).
For some parents, sharing a nanny with another family can be a great option, especially if each family has one child or if they only require part time care. I shared a nanny with…
This website has been years in the making, mostly because I have a full time job as a corporate and securities lawyer, or at least that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it. You can read about my story on the About page of this website but I think it is appropriate to properly introduce myself and calmmother.com.
The purpose of this website is to simplify the lives of mothers. We provide information about managing pregnancy, delivery and life as a mother in a practical and concise manner. This is not to say that being a mother can be made easy, just easier. We know you are busy and that there are methods conducive to helping you establish and maintain balance in your life, even with a newborn – we want to help you get there!
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Sleep is so important but the optimal amount is different for each family member.
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