Chances are, if this is your first baby, you may have not heard of a night nurse.  I’m here to give you the 411 on what a night nurse is and why hiring one before your baby arrives can save you!

Who could use a night nurse? I think there are two kinds of families who need a night nurse: First time parents who have limited experience with babies and families who already have children and really need some extra sleep to survive the long days with the kids. I guess this pretty ...

Posted on April 13, 2012 at 6:30 AM by Sarah Davis

Of course we all want to have a relationship with our nanny that is both personal and professional. It’s a fine line and it’s in your hands to get the relationship off on the right foot. An ideal nanny will ask us about our weekend but refrain from asking details of our night out. How can we establish this relationship and not get in too deep?

When hiring a nanny…

Make sure you share the same values about children as your nanny. Talk about expectations, value...

Posted on February 10, 2012 at 7:00 AM by Sarah Davis

It is indeed the “most happiest time of the year”. The trees are trimmed, the children are snuggled in their beds, and you are awake contemplating what to get your nanny for the holidays. There are so many different kinds of nanny-family situations that this can be a difficult task to navigate. Do you give her money or does that seem too cold? Do you give her a present? But what would be appropriate? Below are some points to keep in mind:

Consider how long your nanny ha...

Posted on December 21, 2011 at 8:00 AM by Karla Issa

Having a Nanny is wonderful — but it can also be confusing, overwhelming, and downright scary at times. Here are some straightforward tips for for parents looking for a great nanny.

Q: What advice do you give parents looking to hire a nanny?

A: The first piece of advice I have is to first time Moms who’ve chosen to return to their careers. You must own your choices and tune into your emotions during this transition. If you are deeply conflicted about leaving your childr...

Posted on September 05, 2011 at 10:00 AM by Ingrid Kellaghan

“I need a babysitter now!” Does that sound familiar to you?  If you dream about date nights or simply a solo trip to the grocery store, the info  below will help you  make the best decision about occasional or part-time childcare for your family.

Know Who You Are Working With

Ensuring the safety of your kiddos is of utmost importance, so babysitters should be screened just as you would a nanny or daycare provider.  Even if they are only responsible f...

Posted on July 17, 2011 at 6:31 PM by Kayme Pumphrey

The 411 on Nanny Shares- Will it work for your family?

Special Three Part Series from Sarah Davis, Olive.You.Nanny

(Missed Part 1 and Part 2? Check them out!) 

Part 3 of 3: Getting (and keeping!) Organized

You may think that having two different families sharing one nanny can get confusing. Well, you’re right! But don’t worry, with proper foresight, planning and organization, there’s nothing to sweat. Here are a few points to help

Baby logs
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Posted on June 23, 2011 at 7:42 PM by Sarah Davis

The 411 on Nanny Shares- Will it work for your family?

Special Three Part Series from Sarah Davis, Olive.You.Nanny

(Check out Part 1 on finding a partner family in case you missed it!)

Part 2 of 3: Managing the Relationships

Woohoo! You’ve found a great family to share with. Now, your nanny will have FOUR bosses?? How do you manage this?

It can already be intimidating to have a husband and wife combo to work for…then, add in another set of parents and...

Posted on June 23, 2011 at 6:00 AM by Sarah Davis

The 411 on Nanny Shares- Will it work for your family?

Special Three Part Series from Sarah Davis, Olive.You.Nanny

Part 1 of 3:  First things first…How do you find a family to nanny share with?

No question, it is a pretty intimidating process to search for a nanny.  But, finding a family to nanny share with can also be tricky.  There are a lot of things to keep in mind as you look for both the perfect family and nanny to share your child with. Where do you...

Posted on June 22, 2011 at 8:05 AM by Sarah Davis

Have you heard of an au pair? Do you know how the au pair program works?  Personally, I knew next to nothing about au pairs. Luckily, I had a chance to chat with Karen Hurley from Cultural Care Au Pair at our January Expectant Parents Childcare 101 event. 

Karen explained that au pairs are caring and committed, adventurous and educated young people from abroad. More and more Chicago area families are turning to international childcare to find balance in their busy lives....

Posted on March 24, 2011 at 8:11 PM by Jay Annadurai

Childcare 101: The real scoop on childcare centers

Maternity leave almost over. New work clothes (for my slightly larger size!) hanging in the closet. To-do list of back to work tasks ready to go. Childcare for my 2 month old- wait, WHAT!?

To be honest, looking for childcare for my son was almost enough to make me completely re-consider this whole going back to work thing. Thankfully, with great advice from friends and a few terrific recommendations from the NPN Discussion Board, I...

Posted on March 08, 2011 at 7:21 PM by Jay Annadurai