Mummy Scoop

Five Things to Look For When Hiring a Nanny or Babysitter

By Lynn Perkins, CEO and co-founder of UrbanSitter.com

Finding and hiring the right babysitter can be unnerving for parents. While we’d all like to leave our kids in the kind and capable hands of Mary Poppins, the reality is that you’re not going to find a babysitter or nanny who “has it all.”

Take time to think about the skills, characteristics and “extras” that are most important to you, your spouse and your kids. Set up a formal interview with the caregiver, or try a “working interview,” where you can get tasks done at home while the babysitter or nanny watches your kids for the first time.

Here are a few things to look for when you decide on a new nanny or babysitter:

Protect Your Baby's Sensitive Skin from the Hot Summer Sun

Contributed by Tara Hilton, a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant who specializes in the care of infants.

You love your little one and want to him/her safe, so it only makes sense that you want to protect your baby from the summer sun.

Did you know that children who experience just one bad sunburn have a twofold risk of developing melanoma later in life? Protection from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation should begin early and continue throughout one’s lifetime.

Children under age two years have more sensitive skin that offers minimal protection against harmful ultraviolet radiation, allowing skin damage to occur within minutes of exposure to direct sunlight. Such damage can occur as early as a baby’s very first summer.

But don’t have to worry, you can take some simple steps to keep your baby safe.

Best Start for Breastfeeding Success

 

Contributed by Elina S. Arulraj, MSPT, IBCLC

Elina leads a weekly breastfeeding support group at the Yummy Mummy Store in NYC every Tuesday at 11:30.

 

Breastfeeding your baby is a different experience for every new or seasoned mom. What works for one mom and baby duo may not for another. For many moms, breastfeeding starts off without a hitch or very little difficulty so it is best not to psych yourself up beforehand!

The best advice I can give to all new mothers is to nest in with your new little one as soon as possible after birth. Do a lot of skin to skin with your baby on your chest which helps both of you to get back in sync with each other after a delivery or c-section.

Feed your baby frequently the first few days in the hospital and if it hurts get help as soon as you can to get the baby latched on deeply and avoid complications down the road.

Try to catch the baby when they demonstrate early hunger signs such as rooting, placing their fingers/hands in their mouth or making cooing sounds. Crying is a late feeding cue and it is always harder to latch a baby properly when they are too hungry or upset.

Take note of the time the baby starts feeding but try to pay attention to baby’s active sucking more than the clock!

 

What should I pack in my hospital bag?

Contributed by Fern Drillings, RN, MSN, certified childbirth educator and infant/child CPR instructor
To learn more about Fern and the classes she offers, visit: http://www.ferndrillings.com
The following are some suggestions for things that you might want with you in the hospital. Be sure to separate labor supplies from those things used after the baby is born. Try to be packed and ready to go at least 4 weeks before you are due, so there is no last-minute rush.

We are thrilled to announce our new blog series Mummy Scoop. Each week we will share a new blog post for new and expectant parents from one of Yummy Mummy's partners who has an expertise in some aspect of parenting from sleeping, to infant nutrition to what to look for in a childcare professional. Topics will range from what to pack in your hospital bag and pre and postnatal exercise tips, to setting up a safe nursery for baby to tips for protecting your little one from the sun. We can't wait for you to meet our experts! If you have a specific topic that you would like to see covered, please email us at info@yummymummystore.com