Sheila's Blog at Care.com - Thoughts and Advice on Child Care, Tutoring, Senior Care, Pet Care, and Housekeeping

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January 2009

January 27, 2009

Hiring Safe Babysitters

Sheriffs recently arrested a babysitter in Sarasota, Florida on charges of lewd and lascivious conduct toward one of his young clients. We spotted the story in the office and I wanted to make sure I shared tips on sitter safety. When it comes to our kids, you can never be too careful! Here's what you need to know to make sure you hire a caregiver that's trustworthy and will protect your children.

Insist on an interview
This should go without saying, but you always want to meet potential babysitters before you hire them. If you can, don't set up the first meeting at your house and don't have your children present—get together at a neutral site like a café or bookstore, instead.

If you like them after one interview, then it's okay to bring your kids into the process. Have them talk with the potential sitters before they start work. It'll help your children get to know them and you can get great feedback from your kids—they're very perceptive.

Do your homework
Care.com Premium Members have access to free background checks when they research caregivers. But don't stop there—if you're looking at a sitter's profile, check their references, too. You'll want to know what other families and past employers have to say.

If the sitter doesn't list references, don't skip this step—ask them! Someone who is well qualified and safe will have nothing to hide. Check and make sure their references give glowing recommendations. Ask tough questions, too, to see if they suggest areas of improvement for your potential babysitter. If you still have doubts after talking to their old employers, keep looking until you find the right person.

Trust your instincts
You might still be worried after you've had face-to-face interviews and have checked all the references. Maybe you can't put your finger on it, but you're just not completely comfortable. If that's the case, then trust your own instincts. Wait to find a caregiver until you are totally, 100% comfortable with your decision.

Trust your children, too. If you find your children regularly get upset, angry, or afraid of being left with a babysitter, then listen to them. Most kids naturally miss Mom and Dad, at first, but if their emotions go beyond, you may want to consider finding another caregiver—one you and your children are comfortable with. If your kids are older, have regular conversations with them about how things are going with their caregivers. They'll appreciate knowing you're open and easy to talk to.

After you hire a sitter
The need to run safety checks doesn’t end as soon as your new babysitter starts. It's our responsibility as parents to keep making sure that our children are safe. You may want to return home unannounced or earlier than planned from time to time, so you can see the sitter interacting with your kids when they're not expecting you. Have your neighbors keep their eye out for anything out of the ordinary, too.

Your search for care isn't something to take lightly. When you're looking to hire a babysitter—or any caregiver—take the time to really get to know the person you're putting in charge of your children. Check their references and work history. And if something doesn't feel right, keep looking. Our children are depending on us to keep them safe.

Posted at 05:11 PM in Child Care | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBack (0)

January 26, 2009

The First Family Relocates: What You Need to Do When You Move

Seeing the Obama family move into the White House made me think about the difficulties families go through when they move to a new city. Malia and Sasha Obama are settling into a new school and their grandmother, Marian Robinson, came with the family to help the new president and first lady with child care. But most families aren't as lucky—14 percent of the U.S. population moves each year, and many of those families don't have relatives or caregivers near their new home. If you're new in town, where do you go for help?

If you're moving to a new area (or if you're just looking for new caregivers to help your family out), I've put together a collection of resources that will help make your transition as smooth as possible.

Arrange child care
If you're moving to a new place, making sure your children have the resources they need is second only to finding a roof over your heads. There are new babysitters to interview, or even a new nanny to hire. You'll also have to find a new school or day care. During your care search, try to get as much face time as possible with every person and place. Interview the caregivers and visit the schools. When you go, take a list of questions with you, so you know what to look for and can stay organized.

Keep your kids involved in your decisions. Bring them to meetings and school visits, if possible. Have your children meet your new caregiver before you hire her—kids can be very perceptive and you want to make sure they're comfortable with their new sitter or nanny.

See more:
Care Clips—How to Interview a Babysitter

Make your pets comfortable
Some pets (like birds, fish, and reptiles) handle moves easily, as long as you keep their tanks and cages the same. However, new environments can be stressful on your dogs and cats. I've heard stories of animals running away and trying to find their old homes because they're confused or scared. Sometimes, dogs and cats will bark or meow more (or even bite and scratch) because they're nervous.

Pets have needs, too! Try spending a few more minutes with them each day, give them treats, and let play time run long. They'll love the attention and the affection you show will help reduce stress. If no one's home during the day, it's a good idea to have a pet sitter stop by to take them for walks and introduce them to the neighborhood.

See more:
Traveling with Pets

Help with the move
One of the biggest stresses about moving is just that—moving. Packing, unpacking, cleaning, and decorating can be fun, but most of us can only deal with small doses. Try to do too much, and you'll easily become overwhelmed. If you can find extra help, the whole process goes much smoother, but paying a moving company can get expensive quickly.

There are cost-effective ways to cut stress when you're moving. First, set up a packing plan, so you map out in advance what will go into each box. Then you won't have to pull out your hair when searching for a child's favorite toy or a pile of necessities. Organize a "pack and play" party with neighborhood friends—the kids can play while the adults get elbow-deep into bubble wrap, tape, and cardboard. Set up a housecleaning appointment in advance of your move, too, so your new home will sparkle when you arrive.

See more:
Moving with Children

Don't forget those "left behind"
If you're part of the sandwich generation (the group of Americans that have young children and also care for their elderly parents), be sure to make arrangements for your loved ones' care before you go. Depending your parents' needs, that may be helping them find an assisted living facility, hiring a home-based senior care aide, or just making sure they have a regular ride booked for weekly grocery shopping trips.

See more:
The Care.com Guide to Senior Health Care Issues

If you one of the millions of Americans moving this year (just like the Obamas), you're no doubt under a lot of stress. I hope these tips will help smooth the transition as you settle into a new city, state, or neighborhood.

If you've recently moved, what are some of the things you did to make life easier? Tell us with a comment below!

Posted at 02:20 PM in Care Planning | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)

MOPS -- Helping to Make the Best Moms

Care.com recently announced a partnership with Mothers of Preschoolers. Better known as "MOPS," this is a worldwide organization for mothers from all backgrounds "who share a similar desire to be the very best moms they can be." Started in the early 1970s by a small group of friends, MOPS has since grown to include over 4,000 groups in the US and has a presence in 29 other countries. Each MOPS group is made of local moms who meet regularly to support each other, participate in community service programs, learn from each other, and develop life-long relationships.

We interviewed Shelly Radic, the Directory of Ministry Life for MOPS, so she could share more about this great organization with the Care.com community.

MOPS is about to celebrate its 36th anniversary after starting out as a single group of eight women—how has it grown so quickly?
"MOPS provides community to moms at a time when they want to form new relationships and explore new ideas surrounding the amazing new life stage of mothering young children. The MOPS experience is so impactful to moms that they invite friends and start new groups so other moms can share this experience. Moms sharing MOPS with other moms is the primary way MOPS has grown."

What does an organization like MOPS provide that gives mothers of preschoolers something they can't find anywhere else?
"MOPS provides an open, caring community to support a mom with what she needs to be a better mom in the early years of mothering as she lays the foundations for her family. Also, [it gives] the opportunity to learn and grow as a woman, mother, and leader. Moms often focus on the needs of their children, but MOPS provides a place where they can have their needs met."

Could you please share a couple thoughts on the positive effects of women joining together and forming the bonds as they do within a MOPS setting?
"We receive so many great stories. Many moms find us through referrals from friends, but some find MOPS online at www.MOPS.org.

Here’s what one mom said, 'One day as I was pulling my hair out with a two-year-old and very pregnant with number two, someone on an online message board said to try MOPS.org. I put in my ZIP code, found a group two miles from my house, sent them an e-mail, went to the next meeting, and got connected with this great group of moms.'

[We heard] another recent story from an alumni, sharing how even eight years after she graduated from MOPS, those women are still her closest friends and support system.

MOPS moms also find opportunities to serve together—making blankets for shelters or creating shoeboxes filled with gifts for disadvantaged children all over the world."

MOPS has gone international—where does it go next? What about parents of elementary-aged kids?
"Due to high volume of requests from graduating MOPS moms, we are working on groups for moms with elementary-aged children and plan to launch that later this year. Moms want to continue participating in a MOPS-type of community even after they graduate.

Where else will we go? Where MOPS has always gone—to the next generation of young moms. We are constantly researching and thinking and planning about how to provide the MOPS experience to each new generation of moms."

How can someone get involved with a MOPS group? Do they have to attend a church with a group?
"MOPS is for every mom, regardless of her religious affiliation or "mom status"—working, at home, working at home, single, married, teen, late life…honestly, there are so many types of moms the list could go on and on.

MOPS is for every mom that wants to be a better moms who make a better world.

How can dads help out with MOPS? Or a caregiver such as a babysitter or nanny?
"Dads, caregivers, friends, grandparents can help out with MOPS by encouraging moms to get involved in a local group. As you well know, moms need excellent caregivers if they want to attend groups like MOPS, so they can also consider volunteering to care for children during group meetings."

If you're interested in joining MOPS, you can visit their website and use the ZIP code locator to find a local group. Shelly also mentioned that moms are welcome to join even if there isn't a nearby group or if they can't attend meetings because of their schedules.

Are you in a MOPS group? If you're a mother, what does the support of close friends and other moms mean to you? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Posted at 02:19 PM in Parenting Blogs + Web Sites | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Meet the Mom Force -- Jessica L.

We're adding several new features to my blog this year and one of those I'm most excited about is our Care Story section. It's a regular feature where we share some of the great Care.com stories from our members, providers, and employees. If you've found a great caregiver through Care.com, we want to hear from you! Leave me a comment and we'll get in touch.

But first, I'd like you to meet Jessica L.—one of the great moms who make up the Care.com Mom Force. Jessica's a world traveler, proud mom, and has the distinction of once washing Oprah Winfrey's clothes! Read all about it in Jessica's Care Story.

About Jessica:
Jessica has been with Care.com for almost a year, working from home as a profile editor. She's part of the team of moms that reviews and safety-checks each caregiver profile before we post it, ensuring the search for care stays safe.

Before Care.com:
Jessica's worked in a variety of jobs, most recently as a receptionist in corporate America. She's also worked as a travel agent with a large company, "When I worked with them, it was insane," she said. "They'd send all of us to Miami for three or four days—all expenses paid!"

In her twenties, Jessica "lived out of a backpack and traveled the world." Her favorite place to visit was Whanganui, New Zealand. "The people there were so nice, very down to earth."

On working from home:
As the proud mother of an 18-month-old son, Jessica says she couldn't imagine having to leave him and loves working from home. There are unique challenges WAHM moms face, though. Jessica says, "The toughest thing about working from home is sometimes actually leaving the house…the biggest challenge can be just to get him and me dressed!"

Jessica's fun fact:
"I took a yacht across the Atlantic Ocean and washed Oprah Winfrey's underwear."

Here's the story…

"When I was about 22 years old, I worked on a private sailing yacht. We left from New York City, sailed across the Atlantic, and were supposed to pick up passengers in Sicily—we didn't know who, though. My job onboard was to work in the kitchen, behind the scenes, and help out with the housekeeping.

We got to Sicily and the next thing you know, there's Oprah Winfrey coming on board with ten of her closest friends. We're unpacking her clothes and saw all these designer dresses that if I ever burned while ironing them, I'd never be able to pay! Every morning, I made fresh baked goods for her meals, scrubbed her toilet, made her bed, and served her food."

Jessica's favorite book:
100 Years of Solitude. Jessica says it took her about 10 years to read (she didn't quite hit the century mark). When she traveled, she always had it in her backpack. She'd pick it up to read every now and then, but would lose it. It kept popping back up, though, and eventually, she finished. It was worth it.

Jessica's favorite movie:
The Woody Allen movie, Annie Hall. Jessica says she saw the movie as a kid. "I loved the scenes in NY and LA," she said. "I have family in both cities and I related to the characters. Since I grew up in the 70s, as weird as this sounds, it reminded me of my childhood."

Do you have a Care Story of your own you'd like to share? Leave a comment below and we'll be in touch. Special thanks goes out to Jessica for volunteering!

Posted at 02:18 PM in Care Stories | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

January 19, 2009

Firing Your Caregiver

Like every couple, Ron and I have different styles when it comes to child-rearing. Sometimes, we have small arguments over how to care for Adam. But no matter how angry we get, we never could "dismiss" each other from child care duties like you can with a nanny or a sitter.

Unfortunately, there do come times when you have to make a caregiver change. If you're worried about firing a sitter or a nanny, I've put together some tips to smooth over the transition. Firing someone is never easy—especially if you use relatives as caregivers!

Firing Your Spouse
All right, so you can't actually hand your partner a pink slip. So you have to do your best to work out your differences and give your kids a united front when it comes to child care.

Moms and dads argue about how to raise their kids—it's inevitable. We come from different backgrounds and habits and won't always on the same page while raising our children. No matter the differences, it's important to communicate when it comes to your child care responsibilities. If you're having trouble finding a middle ground, take time to talk. Both parents should try to compromise while putting together the household rules and support the other when it's time to enforce them. Remember, you're a team!

Get your caregivers involved in the conversation, too. Just because you're not around when your kids are with their nanny or sitter doesn't mean they can behave differently. Check out this Care.com article for more information about consistent child care.

Firing Your Family
Using relatives and close friends as caregivers can be a great experience. It helps your kids feel connected, you have trusting relationships already in place, and relatives are often flexible with their hours and salary ("free" works!). Sometimes problems come up, though, and you have to let them go.

Maybe they have different opinions on discipline. It could even be for heath reasons (kids tend to gain weight under a grandparent's care, for instance). Or perhaps an aunt or uncle just isn't handling the responsibility as well as you'd like.

Again, communication is key. Talk to your family member and explain why you're not fully satisfied with their work as a sitter while emphasizing how grateful you are for their time, effort, and sacrifice. If you've already talked with them several times about the same issue, it's time to move on. Let them down gently, but try to keep them involved in family activities, if at all possible.

Firing a Babysitter or a Nanny
Research shows that children can suffer long-term health effects when their caregiver relationships are stressful. If a babysitter or a nanny isn't working out, don't hesitate to make a change—your kids could be at risk.

If you've employed the caregiver for a short time, it's best to severe connections swiftly. Let your kids know you'll be making a change and tell the nanny that you have to let her go immediately. If at all possible, have that conversation away from your house and without your kids present.

Cutting ties with a long-term caregiver can be a more difficult and emotional process. But if significant, unresolved problems reoccur, you need to let her go. However, you might want to begin phasing in a new nanny or sitter before completely ending things with your current one. A short transition period can make things easier on your kids—they'll get to know their new caregiver while still having the security of their old one—but it all depends on the reasons for the firing. However you choose to handle the situation, make sure to keep your children's best interest in mind. They're the ones directly affected by your decision, and it's up to you to protect them.

We've put together a great article on transitioning to a new caregiver. You'll find it useful if you have to fire a nanny, make a switch to or from day care, or are adding a new babysitter to your list of regulars.

If you do have to make a caregiver change, I don't envy you. These situations are always difficult. But, no matter what, we have to do what's best for our kids. If you've had to fire a caregiver in the past, how did you handle it? Leave a comment to let me know and share your advice with others.

Posted at 05:06 PM in Child Care | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)

Sheila's Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Over the holidays our boys were thrilled to enjoy some fresh-baked goods hot out of the oven. One of my New Year’s resolutions is to start baking again regularly and share recipes with others on my blog.

What are your favorites? If you have a great recipe that's easy to make (think: "kid-friendly"), we want to know! Leave us a comment.

In the meantime, my boys loved this banana bread recipe. My friend Moe found it on CooksIllustrated.com, but I added some of my own "Sheila modifications"

Yummy Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
(Makes one 9-inch loaf or great muffins, too.)

Some quick prep:
1.    Heat oven to 350 degrees and adjust rack to lower/middle position.
2.    Melt 6 tablespoons of unsalted butter
3.    Use 4 bananas in this recipe (I like to freeze bananas that are overripe and then defrost them in the microwave for 2 minutes when I need them).
4.    Grease 9-inch loaf or muffin pan with unsalted butter and sprinkle flour on the bottom to keep batter from sticking.

Mix dry ingredients in a bowl
•    2 cups all-purpose flour
•    12 tablespoons sugar
•    ¾ teaspoon baking soda
•    ½ teaspoon salt
•    Heaping ½ cup of bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate chips
•    OPTIONAL (which I don’t use because of allergies in my family) 1 ¼ cups toasted walnuts, chopped course (or about 1 cup when chopped).

Use blender and mix in following:
•    4 very ripe, soft, darkly speckled, large bananas, mashed well (better if overripe and previously frozen)
•    ¼ cup of vanilla yogurt (I use the Vanilla Bean flavored Wallaby Yogurt, from Whole Foods)
•    2 large eggs, beaten lightly
•    6 tablespoons of unsalted butter that was previously melted and cooled
•    ¾ teaspoon of vanilla extract

Fold banana mixture into dry ingredients by blending on light speed until batter looks thick and chunky. Scrape batter into greased loaf pan.

Bake until loaf is golden brown. Test by inserting a toothpick into the center of the loaf until it comes out clean. Depending on your oven, you'll have to bake for about 40-55 minutes. Cool in pan for 5 minutes. Serve warm right away. If you're enjoying it later, heat slices in the microwave for 20 seconds before serving.

Enjoy!

(And don't forget to leave a comment with your own great recipes, too.)

Posted at 04:05 PM in Recipes | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

"Mr. Mom" - the PTA's New President

Charles "Chuck" Saylors is about to become the first dad ever to lead the National Parent Teacher Association (commonly known as the PTA). When Chuck becomes PTA president in June, it will be the biggest step yet in the trend of fathers getting more involved in improving their kids' education.

The PTA has always been dominated by moms. Founded in the late 1800s as the "National Congress of Mothers," women have always made up the organization's leadership and majority. But now, dads are catching up. Men make up 10 percent of the PTA's membership and their numbers increased each of the last five years. Dads are pitching in, donating their time, and starting to become active volunteers—and Chuck couldn't be happier.

He sat down with us to talk about the PTA, how parents can get involved, and some of his goals for the future.

You've been involved in the PTA ever since your oldest son, Matthew (now 24), was in elementary school. How'd you get started?
"The first PTA event we went to was a fall carnival…They had a hot dog dinner and my wife and I went into the cafeteria to have dinner. We walked into the serving line and there was just one lady behind the counter.

'She's just doing everything by herself,' I told my wife.

Without missing a beat, she said, 'Well, do you want to eat dinner now or wait until you finish helping her?'

That's how I got started—helping serve hot dogs. That year, I ended up doing some work in the school as a volunteer leader and then served as president of the school's PTA."

What has it been like being a "dad in a mom's world," so to speak?
"Nobody's ever accused me of being the odd man out. It's been a longtime goal of the organization to get more men involved. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

The organization started out 112 years ago as the National Congress of Mothers. Not until the last couple decades have we started focusing on trying to get more men involved. The women have always been there. Now we're looking at 10 percent of our membership that are men. To me, that's a tremendous opportunity for growth."

How will you try to get more men involved in the PTA and children's education?
"One of the challenges we face is the perception that men don't have time to participate…What I'm asking men—or any parent—to do is give us three hours during the entire school year. Go to the school and volunteer. Help a child with their reading skills, their math skills. Tutor. Help a child do something constructive…

If a parent gives us three hours of their time, I'm a firm believer they're going to come back for more. They'll see the positive of what they're doing. They're helping the child with their skills so they'll be a better person, a better adult, in the future… All in less time than it takes to see a movie."

You're a professional in the business world, serving as Vice President for Construction Management for a large contractor. How do you make time in your own life to volunteer?
"I am married to a saint—absolutely, beyond the shadow of a doubt. My family is very supportive and I am extremely lucky to have that. I am also extremely lucky to work for a company that sees my service in this area as a good thing."

Tell us about some of the other goals you have as PTA president.
"I want to give families encouragement to see that this can be a family activity. It's not just something that Mom does, or something that Dad does. It's something that the grandparents can get involved in, the aunts and uncles can get involved in, the neighbors can get involved in. It's more than just one or two parents...

Today Dad works, Mom works—often more than one job each. The level of ability to volunteer has diminished from 20 years ago, but the level of need has increased. With the potential of serious budget cuts across the states, I don't see that need decreasing. In fact, it will become greater. We need to do whatever we can to get parents in the door… Their efforts are greatly appreciated and greatly needed."

The PTA needs your help! If you'd like to get involved with your local or state chapter of the PTA, visit their volunteer website. You'll find ways to join, give back, and help kids in your community. Remember, just three hours of your time can make a world of difference. We hope you'll pitch in!

Posted at 04:03 PM in Tutoring | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

January 12, 2009

Getting Involved with the Inaguration

January 20th, 2009 will be a historic day for the United States. Just one day after celebrating the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., we'll inaugurate the first African-American president in our nation's history. Whether you voted for Barack Obama or not, it's a proud moment.

It's also an event that can be difficult to explain to our kids, especially young ones. They understand we'll have a new president, but they might not comprehend the full significance of this past election. And, if you don't live along the Washington D.C. parade route, it's not the easiest event to be a part of—tickets to the inauguration are going for more than $20,000 each!

Ron and I are trying to find ways to have our youngest, Adam, feel like he's a part of the process (even though he won't be voting for another decade). Many schools have mock elections, but why stop there? Our friends at JackCards.com—a great way to send personalized greeting cards—have come up with an awesome way to keep kids involved. They've designed cards specifically for President-Elect Obama's inauguration. You can order them online and they'll come ready to ship with an address and stamp included. Your family can write a note of encouragement, congratulation, or give suggestions to our new president while staying connected to the political process.

There are other fun ways to celebrate the moment, too. Since the kids will be in school during the inauguration, why not send in a batch of red, white, and blue cupcakes and encourage the teacher to let them watch the address? If you're the crafty type, try putting together this Popsicle stick White House—your kids will have fun pretending to be the new Mr. or Madam President! There's also a nationwide classroom initiative where students are folding origami "Dream Stars," writing their names and hopes on them, and sending them in to the new First Family. It's sponsored by the Legacy Project and you can read more about it here.

I hope you're finding creative ways to keep your young ones involved in this historic event, too. What are some of your ideas? Let everyone know…and we'll see you on January 20th!

Just so you know, JackCards.com is also running a contest where they'll pick one school in each state that will receive a batch of cards to send to President-Elect Obama. You can even nominate your own school. Check it out!

Posted at 12:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

January 07, 2009

Firearms, Emergencies, and Babysitter Safety

I was scanning the headlines when this one jumped out—"4-year-old Shoots Babysitter." I was shocked to read that a toddler, angry at his babysitter, stormed into a back bedroom, grabbed a 20-gauge shotgun, loaded it, and shot the sitter. Thankfully, Nathan Beavers (the 17-year-old babysitter), suffered only pellet wounds to the arm and chest, but it could easily have been worse.

The child had never handled a gun before, but he'd seen his parents load and shoot them, and figured out how to do it for himself. (The boy's father said he's taken the guns out of the house to avoid further tragedy.)

It sounds like the babysitter didn't know there were weapons around. So when the child threatened to get a gun, Nathan assumed he was talking about a toy. As parents, we have to make our caregivers aware of any potentially dangerous items we have in the house to make sure that everyone—sitters and kids—have the safest environment possible.

It's not just guns, either. Some medicines, cleaning products, paints and garage chemicals, tools, or even sports equipment (for those martial arts enthusiasts) can be just as deadly if used the wrong way. When you're going through the safety talk with a new caregiver, make sure you have all your bases covered.

Be open with the caregiver
If you have potentially dangerous objects in your house, you need to let your caregivers know. Point out firearms, paints and chemicals, and hazardous cleaning supplies along with emergency contact information, such as your doctor and poison control. Just like you're looking for a sitter to keep your kids safe, the caregivers look to you to keep the home environment as secure as possible.

Lock 'em up and throw away the key
Just pointing dangerous objects out isn't enough—they have to be locked away securely. Firearms should always be stored unloaded in a locked cabinet with ammunition locked up separately. You should also properly store chemicals, medication, and cleaning products, especially if you have younger children. One cabinet lock can provide a world of peace.

Don't assume that hiding anything you want to keep away from your kids is a foolproof strategy. Remember when you were a kid? Most youngsters are full of curiosity and love to poke around the house. They'll find what you've hidden and the fact that you hid it will be all the more fascinating. Keep it all locked up!

Talk to your children
If you have off-limit items, make sure your children know that they (and their friends) are never allowed to handle them without adult supervision. Your caregivers should be aware of any house rules, too, so they can enforce them the same way you would.

In the case of the 4-year-old, he likely didn't understand the full consequences of his actions. Our kids see violence on TV, at the movies, and in video games on a daily basis. If they're young, they may not understand the connection between what they've seen on the screen and what happens in the real world. Caution your little ones, without frightening them, about what could happen if they used one of your locked-up items without supervision.

Just in case…
You should always have an emergency checklist on hand for anyone looking after your kids. The Care.com editorial team has put together a Checklist for a Child Care Medical Emergency—print it out and make sure you've filled in all the information, including:

Full names of your children (not nicknames)
A list of contacts, including close friends and relatives if you can't be reached
Contact information for family doctors
Directions on how to deal with specific medical conditions (if your child has asthma or epilepsy, for example)

I don't mean to scare you by putting together emergency lists and suggesting precautions to safeguard our homes. Rather, I hope that if we all took a little extra time to work with our caregivers, then we'd be able to keep our kids safe and secure, free from harm and care. It will give us all a little more peace of mind.

If you have any other sitter safety ideas, share them here in the comments. Let's all help keep each other safe!

Posted at 06:54 PM in Child Care | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBack (0)

January 06, 2009

What You Need to Know About Babysitter Co-ops

In today's tough economic times, we're all looking for ways to save money. Child care is a difficult place to cut back, though. No one wants to compromise on quality of care for our little ones. How do you trim the budget but also keep great care options for your kids?

Many families have joined a babysitter co-op as a way to save on child care—it's a trend that's growing quickly. A co-op is a group of parents who take turns watching each other's kids for free. Instead of paying a babysitter, participants earn points by watching another family's kids and then cash in those points when they need a sitter.

Advantages to a babysitter cooperative
As a mother, I'd have peace of mind using a co-op. For one, you have other moms taking care of your kids—moms you know and trust. You also know you're not imposing. Because co-op members work off a points system, you're not asking anyone to do you a favor. They'll be back to use your services soon enough!

It's also a great way for your kids to socialize. They'll get to know other families in your neighborhood, which builds community. But there are also great benefits for parents—you can have a chance for a regular date night! Use the money you save on sitters to treat yourselves to a nice meal, or just spend a couple quiet hours on your couch, watching a movie and enjoying each other's company. You can also use the free time to run errands or take care of business around the house.

What do I need to know before choosing (or starting) a co-op?

Find the right fit

Babysitter co-ops can be as small as three families or as large as 30. But most range in size from 10-20 households. That way, the kids get used to playing together and all the parents know each other. If a co-op is too small, you may have trouble finding a sitter when you need one. But if it's too large, you lose the community feel.
Who's in charge?

Some co-ops use a secretary to keep track of the point system. Other co-ops use an honor system, where each parent keeps track of their own points. Many of those groups use point cards or fake currency to keep track—they'll "pay" the sitter at the end of the day with co-op points.
It's also important to know what the point system is. Many co-ops keep it simple and charge parents one point, per child, per hour. Others charge more on the weekends, round up to the next full hour, or break it down to 15-minute increments. Make sure you know what the "currency" is before you sign up.

What are the rules?

When starting a co-op, parents should put together a list of rules for its members. This list can be informal, but it's important to set up in advance to avoid conflict. In addition to establishing a point system, the co-op also has to adopt an acceptance policy. How will you add new families? Will the co-op be open or closed to new members? Parents should also agree on basic sitter policies including plans for disciplining children and keeping emergency contacts on-hand for every member.

Other ways to save
Perhaps a babysitter co-op isn't the answer for your family. That's okay—there are other great ways to cut costs, but not the care. If you have relatives nearby, try using grandparents, aunts, and uncles as babysitters. Or you could even hire a babysitter to share with another family, cutting the cost in half.

If you do decide to join a co-op, make sure you also have a backup babysitter. If your co-op isn't large or you need a sitter for a popular night (like New Year's Eve or Valentine's Day), you'll want to make sure you have other options available, just in case.

What about you? Would you join a co-op or are you already in one? Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Posted at 01:44 PM in Care Planning | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

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