New York Nanny Center » child

Don’t Eat the Crayon!

Lindsay Bell — Wed, 21 May 2014 16:57:08 +0000

“Don’t eat the crayon!”

“That’s HOT! Don’t touch!”

“Henry, don’t share all your dinner with the dog!”

“Put the iPad DOWN!”

“No, you can’t have the knife!”

“Stop licking the floor”

“Please keep your diaper on!”

Welcome to Toddlerville! That pretty much sums up my recent conversations with my 19 month old. I should have seen it coming when we went to the doctor and they labeled their milestone sheet as “Mr. No.”—On the one hand the days are busier, crazier, messier, and keep you on your toes, but on the other hand seeing your kid “get it” and explore on their own and navigate their way (with supervision, of course) is pretty awesome. Having a baby is great and there are certainly amazing milestones they hit, but I wasn’t prepared for how fantastic it would be to hear your kid speaking to you (I didn’t say I could understand it all!), learn their animal sounds, sort their toys by color (rare, but it happened!), or run up to you with a huge smile and say, “Mama!” I can’t get enough of the hugs, funny faces, or dance parties.

What I notice the most about this age is Henry’s need for independence. He will walk into his bedroom, sit down on the floor, and read a book or zoom his cars. If an adult walks in there, he will get up and walk away! What a stinker! Luckily we live in a small condo in Chicago, so we can easily watch him on the monitor so he doesn’t end up climbing his bookshelf (also a favorite activity!). I love this side of him. I love watching as he tries to “read” a book aloud in his classic Henry gibberish. You can see the wheels inside his head turning and his desire to figure it all out on his own. It hit me the other day that I have a little boy, not a baby. Caring for an infant is challenging because they are completely dependent on you for almost all of their needs. Having a toddler brings its own challenges. You can’t reason with a child who isn’t old enough to get the dangers that surround them. How can I explain to Henry that a fireplace lighter is not a safe toy. Well, you can’t. I have to weather the tantrums that are sprouting up far more often lately, and try to redirect him. Somehow the blocks aren’t as fun as the knife I just used to cut his sandwich. Add in the fact that he can move and stack furniture to get on the counters! I’m half horrified and half proud that he figured that out!

Sure, I miss having a little baby to snuggle with, who naps frequently during the day, and that baby smell–I’ll get enough. However, my Henry is a pretty cool kid now and he wants to be my friend. What is better than that?

-Maureen is a Sitter2Mom, our Chicago City Coordinator, and mother of Henry!

Under the Weather?

Alison Gore — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 16:37:37 +0000

Dear Ask A Sitter,

You did an informative post last week on how to prevent our lil’ ones from catching the flu, but I’m wondering what kind of care LLD sitters can provide if my lil’ darling gets sick and I’m away.

Yours Truly,

Under The Weather

Dear Under The Weather,

One important thing LLD sitters do is routinely check your lil’ ones’ temperature. If he/she has a high fever for an extended period of time, our sitters know to notify the parents and take your child to the doctor as a high temperature can be dangerous and potentially lead to something more severe. For less severe illnesses, LLD sitters are happy to follow your instructions for TLC while you are away.

Tender: How do LLD sitters provide tenderness to a sick child?

If you can’t be at home, a trusted LLD sitter can take tender care of your sick lil’ one. Sick lil’ darlings like to be treated gently and affectionately. Sitters will sing a song while they try to fall asleep, read lots of books to them, and be extra sweet!

Loving: How do LLD sitters provide love to a sick child?

LLD sitters are great at keeping an upbeat and positive attitude which will help your lil’ sick one to feel better in no time! Sitters will rub their back, read them a story, or watch their favorite shows. A day or two of R&R will have your lil’ one up and running in no time.

Care: What kind of care will an LLD sitter provide for my sick lil’ one?

Flus and fevers dehydrate, so LLD sitters know that extra fluids are a necessity. Water is always good, but once your child gets bored with that, our sitters try ice pops, fruits, gatorade, or 100% fruit juices to maintain steady hydration. Warm broths and crackers are also an LLD go-to for keeping upset tummies full and happy. Our sitters keep their hands clean and wash regularly to avoid spreading germs. LLD sitters will keep you updated throughout the day with how your lil’ one is doing and keep them positive!

Last but not least, LLD sitters will ask about any medications your child is taking, how often they should take them, and what dosages should be administered. Let them know what over-the-counter medicines your child can take (aspirin, tylenol, cough drops etc.) and if there are any medicinal or food allergies to be aware of. Keep a list of doctors and emergency contacts on the fridge (or somewhere else central) in case of emergency.

Hope your lil’ darling feels better soon!

Renee Pena

Ask A Sitter Expert

Renee is a lifelong learner of parent’s education,creativity, special needs and early childhood. She is addicted to Pinterest, organizing, and the color purple. She is honored to be a guest blog for LLD as their go to sitter expert via #AskaLLDSitter. Renee is currently working on an upcoming blog on education, you may follow her launch and tips on Reneepedia. You can also chat with her via twitter at @enrichingkids.

Keeping it Healthy in the New Year

Alison Gore — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 16:33:52 +0000

New York is on high alert for the flu this winter and colds are spreading like wildfire, so LLD put together a list of things to keep in mind when caring for lil’ darlings that are beneficial to both our sitters and our families during this time of year.

Sitters, if you are too sick to work with kids, please let Lindsay know! It is cold & flu season so there are a lot of sick sitters, parents & kids. Just give us a heads up of your condition so we can accommodate everyone as quickly and easily as possible. Parents, are you sick and need a sitter? Please let Lindsay know! We can find a sitter to take the kids to school, after-school activities, cook dinner, etc. while you rest and recover!
Getting your flu & pertussis shots is important, especially when working or living with kids! Pertussis shots are even more important for sitters working with newborns and infants. Simply contact local pharmacies and ask if they have certain shots available. You can also ask for price information with regard to which shots are covered by health insurance, no insurance, etc.

Be sure to wash your lil’ darlings’ hands after playing in public places to lower the risk of getting sick

Practice good hygiene. ALWAYS wash your hands! Sitters, As soon as you get into a family’s home, you should wash your hands. The subway & cabs can be gross and are full of germs. Stress the importance of covering your mouth to the kids you look after, and show them how to do it (into your sleeve- NOT your hands!). Never underestimate the power of praise- shower the kids with admiration and “thank-you’s” every time they follow your instructions and cover their mouths. Have a non-toxic hand sanitizer on-hand (spray, gel etc.) for both you and the kids- not only for use with lots of sneezing and coughing, but for general use because we all know kiddies can be stubborn about washing their hands!

It’s important to get lots of sleep to keep your immune system strong

Take care of yourself! Allot time for plenty of rest and make sure you take your vitamins and get vital nutrients. Your body needs the good stuff for your immune system to stay strong and fight! Take some Emergen-C or Airbourne if you feel yourself coming down with something, and always drink plenty of fluids.
Sitters, especially during flu season, remember NEVER to give medicine to a child without being specifically instructed to do so by the parents. A child can insist they are allowed or supposed to receive medicine- but that’s not enough. Your number one priority is the child’s safety so be sure to contact parents before getting involved with administering the children’s medicine. It never hurts to ask the parents upon arrival if the children are sick and if they have any particular instructions regarding their care.
Another thing to be aware of during winter weather is road safety! When hailing for a cab, beware of ice, puddles, bikers, and anything else that could be hazardous to you and the children. ALWAYS buckle the kids up- ask the driver not to drive until everybody is buckled. Kids will be wearing lots of warm accessories like gloves, hates, scarves, etc- so try and keep track of everything when you’re moving from place to place.

Flu season is a tough time of year, but we hope these tips will help keep families and sitters as healthy as possible and hopefully remain flu and cold free!

-Photo credit: Caroline Jackson Photography