It’s been said that kids don’t come with an instruction manual. However, it’s a really good idea to write one when it comes to leaving your children in the care of a babysitter or relative. These days, so many kids suffer from food allergies, plus, many dangers present themselves in modern homes, and you are well advised to put together a checklist for the benefit of any person who is required to take charge of your children when you’re not home.
Archive for February, 2006
How To Establish Good Sleeping Habits For Your Baby
The importance of adequate sleep is severely underestimated, until it becomes an issue. Mother and baby need plenty of rest and one of the best ways to keep everyone happy is to ensure that you establish good sleeping habits for your baby.
Even before your little darling is born, you’ll be bombarded with advice from other moms, well-meaning relatives and even people who happen to notice your ‘bump’. Best strategy is to politely listen and adapt whichever methods you think will work for you. If in doubt, ask a health professional.
How Old Should My Babysitter Be?
Kids minding kids is never a good idea. It doesn’t make sense to put a child in charge of a child so that should be your basic guideline for the age of the babysitter that you select.
There are laws that govern the minimum age for babysitters. For instance, in New Hampshire, babysitter age guidelines were set in a Bill that took effect on January 1, 2007. It states that ‘It is acceptable for children ages 11 to 14 to baby-sit, with the expectation that the parent, guardian, or caretaker will be returning to supervise the children later that same day.’ It also states: ‘It is acceptable for children ages 15 and older to baby-sit for more than 24 hours.’
How Much Should I Pay My Babysitter?
If ever there were a time you should not cut costs, it’s when paying a babysitter. Not that you shouldn’t receive value for money, but when you’re considering the value you place on your children’s lives, you need to be sure that your babysitter is worth what she charges.
Obviously rates vary, starting from a few dollars per hour for a teenage sitter who basically minds the kids for a short time while you attend to errands, through to more significant figures for highly trained professionals with years of experience who may be called upon to stay with the children for an entire weekend.
How Does Swaddling Help A Baby Sleep?
Have you ever noticed when babies sleep, they often startle themselves awake, as though they’ve been watching a 3D movie in their dreams. This is called the startle reflex and it’s responsible for making a baby feel like he’s been abandoned. Even though it’s absolutely not the case, the baby isn’t to know this, and once the reflex awakens him, he’s likely to cry for his mother.
Swaddling is an ancient technique employed by many civilizations, not just for practical reasons such as to carry a baby but to provide soothing and a sense of protection. In modern times, studies have shown that there are other benefits to it, that may or may not have been acknowledge in days gone by.
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