Guest post by Candi Wingate, Founder of and Care4Hire.com and Nannies4Hire.com

Tips for Hiring a Babysitter



Choosing who will care for your child when you are away is one of the most important decisions we make as parents, and peace of mind that your child is safe and happy is top priority. Long gone are the days when finding a babysitter was dependent on word of mouth. Today, services like Care4Hire.com provide a massive database for everyone to find their perfect child care match with just the click of a mouse. With such a vast array of qualified candidates at your fingertips, here are a few tips to help make the process easier.

Make a list of your requirements.
Before you start the interview process, it’s a good idea to figure out what you’re looking for in a babysitter. Think about the hours you require, the amount of experience you’re looking for, the type of childcare philosophy, and whether any household duties will be involved.

Do your homework.
Your child’s safety is top priority. Conduct background checks and thoroughly check references.

Ask the right questions.
These could include things like the number of years she has had as a childcare provider, what type of training has she had, what ages has she dealt with, and what her ideas are on childrearing.

Include your child.
It is best to conduct initial interviews without your child present. There is no need to confuse your son or daughter by introducing him or her to multiple caregivers who they will likely never see again. Introduce your best candidate to your child and observe how they interact together. Does the babysitter actively engage him or her? Is she keeping your child entertained?

Be clear about discipline.
The babysitter must be able to relate with your family and administer discipline to your children in a manner that is appropriate and consistent with your family’s boundaries. You and your babysitter should discuss, prior to hiring, the discipline style that your family would like the babysitter to use.

Explain boundaries.
The babysitter should be capable of handling small “crises” on his/her own. You and your babysitter should come to an agreement about what issues may warrant a call to you and what issues the babysitter is authorized to handle on his/her own. Your babysitter should be able to act comfortably within the boundaries you have provided.

Finding the right babysitter for your child is a critical decision. Take your time and be picky in your choice. Ideally, this babysitter will be in your child’s life for as long as possible so they can form a long lasting relationship and truly enjoy their time together.

Candi Wingate is an expert in the child care industry with over 20 years experience. She is the founder of Nannies4Hire.com and Care4Hire.com, and author of 100 Tips for Nannies & Families and mother of two.

By Czari Anulao

Wear Clean Underwear by Alexis Martin Neely


Do you have a plan if an accident or death happens to you or your spouse? Who will take care of the children? Do you have a list of contacts in case of an emergency?  It's not very easy to think of the worst possibilities that can strike at any time. Fortunately, the plan and legal documentation you created earlier will provide direction and help put your mind at ease. Or do you have a plan and legal documentation?

Wear Clean Underwear by Neely is an easy guide to help parents choose guardians, trustees and health care directives, and preparation for legal documentation (will and estate).  Each story in the book provides you with two scenarios: what happens when you do not have a plan and when you have a plan. Neely prepares you for the unthinkable.

Recently, my sibling and I had the difficult experience of preparing legal documents for my mother (in case if she should pass on). It was a struggle to ask my mother questions on what should be done in her absence. This experience definitely made me aware of what my children may have to go through in the future. I would rather be the one to prepare the documents instead of my children. Wear Clean Underwear puts things into perspective. You definitely want to be prepared for your family. The earlier the better.

By Anna Vandiver, Itsabelly Carolina





Considerations When Hiring A Caregiver

Hiring a nanny or mother's helper can be a daunting task for even the most experienced parent. There are so many factors to consider - experience, technique, interests, requirements, offerings...just to name a few!  Having been a nanny for several families over the years, here are a couple of things to consider when looking for that special someone to help care for your pride and joy.

Do they have experience with a child or children of similar needs to yours?  Don't just ask who they have worked for and for how long, ask about the families and their family dynamics. Consider how those families compared to yours - in what ways were they similar and/or different?  This will allow you to not only get a feel for the candidate's experience, it will also allow you the opportunity to get a feel for how the nanny felt about the families he/she cared for.  Consider the tone and expressions which your prospective candidate uses when talking about his/her experiences.  Is she happy, sad, or frustrated?

Many experienced nannies have a true passion for caregiving.  What does this mean to you?  Will you welcome someone who is passionate about the development and enrichment of your child/children?  Or, do find it intimidating?  Newer parents may feel threatened or intimidated by a caregiver who shows more interest or experience regarding their child's development and well-being than they do.  More than likely it's not because parents aren't interested, rather that they are new to the task.  In searching for a caregiver, consider your feelings and needs regarding their experience and educational background.  The hope would be that everyone learns something from your relationship and your little one has someone who not only cares about their well-being but also their developmental needs.

Consider how comfortable you would feel about a caregiver taking your little one out and about - whether to the neighborhood park (within walking distance) or to the store or to visit you during the workday for a lunch date (by car).  It's important that you and your child's caregiver have a comfort level that meets both of your needs and interests.  It may be important to him/her to have the flexibility of getting out of the house on occasion, beyond the backyard; however, it may be just as important to you that they remain close to home and do not venture past the backyard.  Both can be perfectly acceptable, just make sure that you establish your boundaries and levels of comfort before making a commitment with a caregiver.

There are hundreds of questions that you will ask yourself and a prospective nanny/caregiver.  No list of questions is too large. Ask for advice and tips from family and friends who have been in the same boat.  Agencies and directories can also be very helpful.  In the end, it's the comfort level of you, your caregiver, and your little one that matters most.

Itsabelly is featured on Dr. Greene this week. We are providing valuable tips with a new article every day. Go to Dr. Greene and read the articles on Car seat safety, Baby Carriers, Potty Training 101, Finding a Great Babysitter or Nanny, and Diaper Bag Essentials.

Guest Post by Jen Aliano, Co-Owner, Founder of Natural Baby Pros

Natural Baby Pros Provides You with Information Necessary for a Naturally Healthy Pregnancy, Birth, Baby and Mother

NaturalBabyPros.com is a website, resource and directory built to educate about the natural and alternative options in creating healthy, natural babies and moms.  It was created with the purpose of educating women and couples on the many natural health care options available to women for preconception through postpartum and baby care, and to help connect them with the best therapies and professionals for them and their families.  Think of it as a place where like-minded families and practitioners can find each other, collaborate, and share information about fertility, pregnancy, birth, postpartum and baby care and services.

Natural Baby Pros also has something special to offer locally in San Diego.  Your Natural Baby, San Diego, offers events such as birth story gatherings, pregnancy and birth fairs, workshops, seminars, and local support, provides one-on-one connections, and builds personal relationships between families and practitioners here in San Diego, and will eventually reach across the country.

Our deepest desire is to create opportunities for families to meet other families and practitioners in a non-judgmental, educative and supportive environment, whether online or in the community.  We want to build a strong referral network between professionals and each individual profession in an effort to provide the best, well-rounded resource available for fertility, pregnancy, birth, postpartum and baby care.  At NaturalBabyPros.com, we offer a place that provides the resources and support for families and practitioners to understand ALL of the options available to them for a healthy preconception through postpartum and baby.
To us, informed choice = empowerment, no matter what that choice may be.  It is time for the benefits of natural, holistic perspectives on conception, pregnancy, birth and parenting to be become a viable option for more families, and we would like to provide the place and resource for that to become reality.
So who is this website and local community for?
It is for the soon-to-be and new parent who is seeking the information to make an informed choice and receive the support they most desperately need in that 2.5 year span when they are so vulnerable and unsure.
Our second audience is the practitioner. We are here for you. Not only to support your business, practice, and profession in getting you clientele, but also as a platform to gain credibility and positive exposure in the mainstream arena.

What will you Find on NaturalBabyPros.com?

Not only does the website host a wealth of information in the form of articles and blogs, we also have a forum in which you can ‘Ask The Experts’ in multiple natural health fields, a directory so that you can find professionals in your area, coupons and savings, and even a weekly featured product giveaway with a new product to win every week!
More About Natural Baby Pros. for the Practitioner and Baby Business

Practitioners, Businesses, and Professionals, NaturalBabyPros.com provides you with an opportunity to share your knowledge with families and moms who are hungry to learn more about how to integrate natural modalities into their conception, pregnancy, and delivery journey.  We provide a space for you to share your knowledge, expertise, and benefits with potential clients and to support your specific profession and service.   If you are local here in San Diego, then you have the additional opportunity of sharing in our events and reaching out to families on a more personal level.

Additionally, Natural Baby Pros and Your Natural Baby have the goal of helping natural health professionals and practitioners to increase their business and improve their marketing strategies.  We provide business building tips in our professional newsletters, and will soon include podcasts and webinars with practice building tips and information specifically for holistic minded preconception through postpartum and baby health care professionals and services.

NaturalBabyPros.com is a place where we are not the experts; you are.  We want to provide you the platform on which you can communicate with other experts in multiple fields, as well as with mothers and families.  We see this as a mutually supportive relationship where we provide the place and people, and you provide the information and feedback.  Become a part of this amazing network today, and help spread the word about the benefits of what you do, for mothers, babies, and families across the country.  Help build the growing realization that optimal care consists of natural care, especially for mothers and babies, by being a part of this online community and resource!  Register Now!

Hope to see you soon at NaturalBabyPros.com.

By Ashley Harkrader, Itsabelly NCSC

Itsabelly comes to the Queen City…. Charlotte, NC.
Charlotte is the home of NASCAR, the second largest banking industry in the United States, the energy city capital of the US, and nicknamed the crown town… the Queen City.  I have decided make Itsabelly my new home because of my passion to help educate moms/dads on what is best for their baby(s). In joining the Itsabelly Team I know that I would be surrounded by other moms who share the same mind sets and values as my family. My family consists of my husband, Chapman and my baby girl, Ava Rilyn.

Some of my services for Itsabelly will include baby gear consultation/baby registry, childcare sourcing, and teaching parents or parents to be on how to go green with their little ones. With my educational studies and communication background, I am ready to join you on your wonderful journey of parenthood. I am so excited to be a part of the Itsabelly family and hopefully yours.

Itsabelly Carolina will also serve northern South Carolina (York County), the metropolitan areas of Charlotte, NC (surrounding), and Iredell County. I look forward to helping you start and build your family in the Carolinas with Itsabelly Carolina.

Contact me at ashley@itsa-belly.com or reach her by phone at 803-374-6377.

By Athena Serapio, Itsabelly San Jose

Itsabelly is finally in San Jose, CA!  Melissa's home town now has a baby planner, Athena Serapio, to service the Silicon Valley.

The excitement of planning for your new baby shouldn't be clouded by the worry over finding a trustworthy, reliable caregiver! Whether you're in search of a full-time nanny who understands a newborn's needs or part-time babysitter who can balance the needs of multiple children, Sittercity.com makes it safe and simple to find a child care provider you can trust.

As America's first and largest online sitter source, Sittercity.com features a million caregiver profiles nationwide as well as several simple tools to help you choose the PERFECT match for your perfect new arrival.

• Four-step screening process
• Advanced sitter search options
• Filtered search results with your best sitter matches at the top
• Quick and easy post-a-job function
• Articles and checklists to guide you through the hiring process

• Background checks
• Ratings and reviews from other parents
• References
• Photos
• Availability calendar
• Distance from you