nanny – Urban Suburban Mommy

Back to school – the nanny can help!

Posted on August 18, 2017 by Urban Suburban Mommy Posted in Mommy Approved .

Some of us stay at home with our kids. Some of us choose daycare. But for those of us mamas that choose to employ a nanny, it’s a special dynamic.

The nanny isn’t a friend, the nanny is there because it’s a paid job.

The nanny isn’t family, but many times the nanny is much like family.

We trust the nanny alone with our kids.

The nanny does so much more than just monitoring the little charges while parents are out of the house. The nanny is kind, caring, and will often develop a bond with the children – and the parents too – which goes far beyond the employee/employer relationship.

The Windy City Nanny, Florence Ann Romano of Nanny Magic and author of Nanny and Me, is a seasoned pro. She was, after all, a nanny for the Kardashians among other. Florence offers these 5 tips for having the nanny help with getting the kids ready for going back to school.

Skill Sets

Prepare the kids for whatever skill sets they will be required to abide by in school. For example, if potty training is a skill children are required to have before entering the classroom, this is a great place for a nanny to be involved in the preparation.

Healthy eating

Nannies can assist children in getting children’s nutrition on track, which will ultimately help their attention and energy levels in school.

Picking out outfits

Kids love to be involved in back to school shopping! With the parents consent, nannies can plan a fun day with the kids for back to school shopping and school supplies. This gives them a chance to individualize their look, and also find control in a situation that can be a sometimes challenge or anxiety-inducing transition.

Homework preparation

The nanny can help prepare children for the upcoming curriculum in the classroom by developing fun, interactive games that will start stimulating their minds.

Last hoorah!

Have a final, summer day with the kids – pool, ice cream, playground, zoo – all things they will soon miss, but can enjoy one last time before the school year begins. Make it exciting and special. Also use the opportunity to get the kids pumped up for the memories to follow in the coming year.

The Windy City Nanny, Florence Ann Romano of Nanny Magic and author of Nanny and Me, is a dedicated philanthropist and former nanny who has always had a special place in her heart for children. Romano worked for over 15 years as a nanny, beginning as a ‘Mommy’s helper’ at the age of 11. She shares her experiences in Nanny and Me (Mascot Books, May 2015), her beautifully illustrated debut book for children making the transition from being cared for solely by their parents to having a nanny in their home.

WindyCityNanny.com

Florence Ann Romano – The Windy City Nanny

The economics of kids – Break the bank

Posted on May 16, 2016 by Urban Suburban Mommy Posted in The Struggle is Real .

Why is it that no one tells you how expensive child rearing is? I think the cold hard truth is purposely kept from the public so that we continue to have a kid – even more than one – without really thinking about the financial repercussions.

Wait for it – I am going to burst that bubble as a favor to all expectant, new parents or parents who forgot the first time (like me), how bloody expensive it is to “have” and “raise” children.

Here goes: You are not a young parent. You may have been able to have your child without any medical intervention, but the fact is, a lot of us ‘late maternal agers’ had to turn to fertility treatment and even IVF to conceive. $15,000 a go… I know it is common for couples to try at least 3 to 4 times or more. So let’s say before this kid is even on this earth you are already upwards of $15,000 to $60,000 in the hole (of course it is worth it, that’s just the price it costs).

Again before this kid makes an appearance on earth – there are so many things you need to invest in – like the latest and greatest car seats and strollers, bouncy chair, swings and clothes.

I definitely smartened up with the birth of my second. Be wise about what you spend your money on. Buy baby gear on Kijiji or second hand shops. Kids grow so quickly, and fancy expensive outfits don’t get the wear they’re worth from a baby – even from 2 or 3. Unless there was a major diaper explosion, most of the clothing from the first year looks new even after they’ve worn it. And the fancy stroller – some can push you into the thousands. Really. I’m going to say that maybe you got lucky with a fruitful baby shower but I promise, you probably will drop a thousand to several.

Now the kid has arrived. You buy a Breast pump – the good ones ain’t cheap. If breastfeeding isn’t working for you, you will have to buy formula. Formula ranges from $20 on the very low end (sometimes you catch a sale) to well over $40 per can of powder. Depending on your kid’s appetite, you will need to buy a can every 3 days to a week. So let’s say add another $150 to your monthly grocery bill for formula. If you choose the premix formula, triple that.

Of course there are diapers and wipes. Again diapers range but on average you are looking at about $40 for a jumbo pack of diapers. Newborns go through diapers a lot quicker than infants and toddlers, but as they get larger, there are less in a box so it all costs a fortune. Add another $40-$100 a month to your bill. Double that if you’re going organic. If you’re going cloth, the initial investment is a few hundred – but that spike in your hydro bill from the hot water sterilizations keeps the price tags pretty equivalent.

Let’s do some incidentals now: creams, shampoos, pacifiers, a fancy shmancy video monitor so that you can watch your little precious sleep. Your baby bill keeps rising.

Once your baby starts solids you’ll need to buy cereals, bibs, spoons, freezable containers, baby food (if you are not making your own – which can also add up).

But then there is my favorite instant road to bankruptcy: daycare.

Whether you choose to employ a nanny which can run you anywhere between $1,500-$2,500 a month or daycare $1,000-$1,800 a month, you may be working for nothing.

I remember the first year I received a tax slip from my son’s daycare it was $22,000. I kept thinking to myself I could have sent my son to Harvard.

The good news is, after the first couple years, your monthly spend on your children lessens. But the cost of diapers and formula are replaced with after-school sports, weekend outings, birthday parties and the latest and greatest toys they absolutely cannot live without.

I am seeing a dim light at the end of the tunnel as my youngest son is about to turn one. For example, rather than paying $30 a can for formula, I can pay $4 for 3 bags of homo milk. That equates to big savings.

I promise you, the purpose of this post is not to be Negative Nelly, but in turn to empower parents to plan before they have kids. Put away a cushion. You can easily go bankrupt without properly planning. I have been there done it. Twice. I am afraid.

Of course, my two little blessings are worth the stress of debt. But as my lesson and advice to you, you will be a happier parent with a little savings tucked away for child rearing.

Budget. Buy second hand. Save as much as you can. (time for me to listen to my own advice…). If you don’t have a mat leave with at least a small monthly cheque – like me – you will have to save even more, because trying to work at full capacity to bring home the bacon, and still have time to raise a wee one is nearly impossible. Raising two? That’s a full time job in itself.

Not only is parenting hard, it’s bloody expensive! But there’s no doubt about it, it’s absolutely a blessing and rewarding, and the only thing I’d change if I did it again would be to save a little more before.

10 Questions with a Nanny Agency

Posted on February 25, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in 10 Questions With .

As working parents, finding the right childcare is one of the hardest things to do. I myself struggled with the thought of hiring a nanny for my children. I just didn’t feel comfortable handing off my kids to a complete stranger.

But, as mompreneur with no mat leave, I had little choice. I absolutely wouldn’t leave my 2 week old at a daycare centre. In fact, I think most daycares will not take care of a child, unless he or she is at least 6 to 8 weeks old. Hiring a nanny was the best thing that I could have done for my family…in fact, now she is part of the family.

Urban Suburban Mommy spoke to Rebecca Barlow, founder of Bella Bambino Nannies to ask the questions you know you want to know considering a nanny for hire.

1. What is the first thing you say to a family who is overwhelmed by trying to find a nanny?

The first thing I always do when speaking with a new client is to let them know that I totally understand what they are going through. I am a mother of 4 children myself ages 13 (twins) 5 and 3. I have had to hire several nannies in the past, and still employ a full time nanny.

I live in the same world as my clientele – I am a busy working mom who struggles to balance career and family. I know how hard it is to find and hire a nanny that resonates with you, and who you feel totally comfortable with! Most of the time I wind up being friends with my clients because we totally bond over our similarities. I also relate to my clients who are single moms as I was widowed only 8 weeks after my 3rd son’s birth and was a single mom of 3 for awhile. That experience gave me a whole new appreciation for single parents. My clients with special needs children also feel very comfortable working with me as my 5 year old son is autistic, so I have that experience in my life as well.

2. Why should families consider using an agency vs. trying to find a nanny on their own?

Using Craigslist or an online nanny finding service is dangerous and super difficult! Its literally like searching for a needle in a haystack. The background checks are not thorough and you have no idea who you are meeting. It is so scary to me, I cannot stress enough how important it is to pay a fee to a reputable service to screen and background check candidates for you. These are your children, they are the most important things in your life and this is not the time to try to save a few dollars. When you use a reputable service, you know every nanny has been rigorously screened, background checked and referenced before you even speak to them.

3. How do you match families with the right nanny?

Having been in this industry for 15 years I have great intuition when matching families and nannies. I really get to know my clients before contacting nannies for them. Normally, after an initial conversation with a client, I will think of 2 or 3 candidates who I think will be a great fit. My staff and I then put together a comprehensive job description which we share with select candidates. Once a candidate has expressed interest, we forward their resume and highlights to the family. We arrange all interviews between the candidate and family as well as coordinate trial days and work contracts. By the time you hire a nanny from us, you’ve trialed with the candidate and you are 100% sure this is a great fit. (We are so confident in our matchmaking abilities, we even guarantee the placement for an entire year!)

4. What are the benefits of a nanny vs. a babysitter or daycare?

Hiring an in home nanny is far superior to daycare as it almost totally eliminates the risk of baby coming home with the “illness du jour” from daycare. It is also so much more convenient to have someone who not only loves and adores your child, but who also can help with managing your household and running errands, organizing, etc.

5. Nannies can be costly. Why are they worth the spend?

100%! When you find the right nanny, life is so much more manageable! You can focus your attention on work or other pursuits knowing your child/children are in amazing hands. Its the best feeling, like gaining a new family member.

6. How do you screen nannies?

Our screening process is highly stringent. We meet each candidate in person for 1 to 2 hours and ask a plethora of questions pertaining to the candidate’s childcare knowledge. No one comes in to fill out an application, they complete their paper work prior to meeting us so our face to face is all about getting to know the nanny on a deeper level.

We check and verify all references as well as run a full criminal background check in every state of residence for 10+ years. California candidates are also enrolled in Trustline, which is a fingerprint registry with the state of CA. We also verify social security number and run driving records.

7. What are the most important questions to ask a nanny?

Ask the nanny what they like about being a nanny.
Ask them how they would structure an entire day with your child.
Ask what types of age-appropriate activities they would plan for your child or children.
Ask about the Denny’s education level and whether they are CPR trained.
Ask about their last position and why they left.
Ask if you can contact their last employer for a reference.

A lot of these things will have been already asked to the candidate if you’re utilizing a good agency, but it’s always a great idea for the parents to ask these questions as well, so that you can gauge the nanny candidate’s response.

Another great thing to do is interview the nanny with your children present and see if she pays any attention to them. When I started my company I often had my newborn twins with me when I was interviewing potential nanny candidate for my clients. Any nanny who ignored my infants was immediately put in the do not call again file. Good nannies will pay attention to the children and you will see how much they love children by the way they interact with your child.

8. How do you advise negotiating salaries with a nanny?

If you’re working with a great agency you will already know what the going rate is in your area and what you should be offering, salarywise. You never want to pay below market because your nanny will always be looking out for the next best thing. The best advice would be to ask the agency you’re working with what the going rate is in your area and stick within that range. This will ensure you find and keep the best nanny possible. You will also want to be consistent with the number of hours you offer each week, as professional nannies always need their pay to be consistent.

9. Are there red flags that a family should be aware of with a potential nanny?

Trust your intuition. If something doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t right. If the nanny is not making eye contact or seems extremely nervous, she may be hiding something. If the nanny does not pay attention to your children during the interview there’s a good chance they are simply looking for a job and not someone who is truly in this for the love of children. Talk to your nanny agency if you have any concerns regarding the candidate. Ask for the agencies advice on how to approach things that may make you feel uncomfortable.

10. What are the benefits of a live-in vs. live-out nanny?

A live out nanny will work a set schedule for example Monday through Friday 9 AM to 5 PM. A live-in will be a bit more flexible, but still will require time off. The benefits of a live in nanny are obviously you have a little more flexibility with the hours and having someone in your home more often to help you should things come up. Live in nannies will typically work for about $2 less per hour than what a live out nanny would work for, so there is a little bit of a financial benefit as well.

Bella Bambino Nannies bellabambinonannies.com founder Rebecca Barlow

Bella Bambino Nannies was founded in 2002 by Rebecca Barlow. As a former nanny and working mother of 4, Rebecca understands the challenges parents face when seeking in home childcare for precious little ones.