would like to share some tips to help you both through this new challenge.

1. �ʰ���貹�����پ��Dz�.�� A few days before start talking to your child about what is going to happen.�� If possible take a look at the new setting and talk to your little one about what is going to happen during the day.�� If you have hired a new nanny have the nanny come over to play first before she starts work.

2.��Communication.  Tell the new nanny or caregiver all about your child.�� Share routines and likes and dislikes.�� You can also tell the nanny about recent events that might help build a relationship.

3. Transition objects.  If possible let your little one keep something with them that will remind them of home.�� This can be comforting for your child.�� A transition object might be a blankie, favorite stuffed animal or a picture of mom or dad.

4. Play Games.  For a younger child playing games like peek-a-boo and hide-n-seek help with  separation anxiety.�� Kids learn that things continue to exist even if they are out of sight.�� It also helps teach children the idea of a reunion and that objects and parents do come back.

5. ���ڳٱ�������ٳ�.�� Finally be prepared that your child may react to the separation after the fact.�� This may come in regression in toilet training, temper tantrums, or low levels of frustration.�� Remain calm and talk to your child about their feelings and reassure them that everything is going to be OK.�� Let the nanny or caregiver know about these new feelings too.

TLC’s nannies have experience working with kids and come ready to help make the transition a smooth one. Give us a call today to speak with one of our placement specialists and help you find the perfect caregiver for your family.

The professionals at ��ë���˵���personally assist nannies, babysitters,�����Ի���families��������St. Louis, Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Charlotte, Miami, and Orlando to find the right childcare arrangement. Our mission is to provide a safe and personalized  approach for families and caregivers to connect with each other that is not an internet search. TLC has worked with families, nannies, sitters, newborn care providers, and tutors for over 35 years and looks forward to working with you! To find great nanny and babysitting jobs visit us at Website, contact us at tlc@tlcforkids.com or call 314-725-5660.

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You’ve finished your search and have finally hired the best-fit nanny for your family, but where do you go from here to ensure that you develop the best possible nanny relationship ongoing?

Honeymoon Period

In every new job, both the employer and employee will be trying to make the best possible impression. Venturing into new territory will mean that the nanny may try different approaches and end up keeping some, while changing others. Adjusting to the expectations of the job and forming a bond with the children and family will take time. Rome, the perfect romance, and a long-lasting nanny relationship aren’t built overnight (or in two weeks); be patient and realistic.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

You hired this professional for a reason. That being said, she’s human. She may do things differently than you do, or would do. That doesn’t make them wrong. People have diverse ways of handling children. It’s easy to pick up on these variances, especially in the beginning, but try to be respectful and give your new nanny the space she needs to blossom in your household. Carefully weigh what really matters. Certainly, something involving a safety concern or a personal boundary you’d communicate about, but if she gets your child dressed in another order than you do or has a varied teeth brushing routine, it may not be worth worrying about. In fact, many parents comment on how much they’ve gained from having another adult around, with years of childcare experience, who second handedly taught them a great deal, if they were open-minded and willing to see other methods through this lens. At the end of the day, if your children are well cared for and you trust her, then that speaks volumes.

The professionals at ��ë���˵���personally assist nannies, babysitters and families in St. Louis, Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Charlotte, Miami and Orlando to find the right childcare arrangement. Our mission is to provide a safe and personalized  approach for families and caregivers to connect with each other that is not an internet search. TLC has worked with families, nannies, sitters, newborn care providers, and tutors for over 35 years and looks forward to working with you! To find great nanny and babysitting jobs visit us at tlc@tlcforkids.com or Call 314-725-5660.

The post Best Practices to Establish the Perfect Nanny Relationship appeared first on TLC Family Care.

As modern families continue to grow, they have become more prone to hiring professional, experienced nannies to support the day-to-day management of their busy households. As a result, nanny roles have become much more complex and integral to the family dynamic than ever before. Nannies are expected to be more deeply involved in the physical and emotional development of the children, along with managing the basic needs of the kids.

Given the high demand, nannies have become more skilled in how to take care of varying types of children in multiple situations. Furthering their knowledge and continuing their education to include specializations and certifications, today’s modern nanny is  in the intricacies of childcare.

Children with Special Needs

Families who have children with special needs often face different challenges than other families, and as they grow together they develop effective ways to best support and nurture their kids. Families with differently abled children often develop a dynamic support system to ensure that all members of the family are well cared for, respected, challenged, and loved.

As a result of generally busy lifestyles, this amazing family support system is not always available to the families in need of support, so this is where exceptionally talented nannies come in and play a gigantic role.

A nanny for a child with special needs is typically more  and often has more experience than their peers.  Children with special needs can have varying communication abilities, dietary concerns, or behavioral differences, depending on the specific situation. No two kids are alike, so although personal experience is extremely helpful for nannies wishing to work with differently abled young ones, it is essential to approach each situation with an open mind and desire to identify what is best for that specific family and child.

The professionals at ��ë���˵���personally assist nannies, babysitters and families in St. Louis, Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Charlotte, Miami and Orlando to find the right childcare arrangement. Our mission is to provide a safe and personalized  approach for families and caregivers to connect with each other that is not an internet search. TLC has worked with families, nannies, sitters, newborn care providers, and tutors for over 35 years and looks forward to working with you! To find great nanny and babysitting jobs visit us at tlc@tlcforkids.com or Call 314-725-5660.

The post Nannying For The Child With Special Needs appeared first on TLC Family Care.

Live-Out
The live-out caregiver typically comes to your home for a 9-10-hour day, 8 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m., five days a week. You and your live-out caregiver will arrange a set weekly schedule, with weekend care arranged separately. It is the responsibility of the nanny to provide her own transportation to and from your home. The beauty of this arrangement is that your nanny will have a life of her own when she leaves her job. This allows her to relax and rejuvenate before her morning return. The live-out nanny may cost a little more, but she is generally more independent and fulfilled with her personal life outside of the job. Live-out nannies consist of full-time, part-time, after-school and summer nannies!

Live-In
Live-in caregivers are generally on duty 10-12 hours, day five days a week, and an occasional evening. They eat meals with the family and share in the cooking and cleaning up duties. Be assured that nannies will expect most nights and weekends off unless previously arranged. Most live in nannies require a private living space, use of the family’s car, and specific hours on and off duty. You will also need to discuss visitors for the nanny and any quiet times or a curfew. Both you and your nanny may have to make concessions. It is your house and you have the right to set reasonable rules. Live in nannies can help out with emergency babysitting and depending on your personal preference can become a big part of the family. Keep in mind that your nanny does have a life beyond your job and she is not at your beck and call. While it may seem convenient and less expensive to hire a live in nanny it is harder to keep the relationship professional. It may be difficult to spending so much time together under one roof.

Shared Care
A less talked-about yet more economical alternative is shared care. This situation involves one nanny and two neighboring families. The nanny works in one home and might spend part of the day at the other home. The nanny cares for both families’ children in one home. Before you and your friend or neighbor decide to share a nanny, discuss and agree upon a philosophy for child care. You need to discuss exactly what each of you will want the caregiver to do on a day-to-day basis. And realize when hiring this nanny that she must be able to handle all types of personalities in order to please two families at once.

Family Assistant
A growing area of care is the nanny manager / family assistant. These are nannies caring typically for older children who still require care, but are in school full-time. Family assistants take on tasks helping around the house, errands, meeting with vendors, scheduling appointments, meal prep and more. They do not provide cleaning other than maintaining work areas, or in between regular visits of a cleaning person.

The professionals at ��ë���˵���personally assist nannies, babysitters and families in St. Louis, Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Charlotte, Miami and Orlando to find the right childcare arrangement. Our mission is to provide a safe and personalized  approach for families and caregivers to connect with each other that is not an internet search. TLC has worked with families, nannies, sitters, newborn care providers, and tutors for over 35 years and looks forward to working with you! To find great nanny and babysitting jobs visit us at tlc@tlcforkids.com or Call 314-725-5660.

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With a little bit of advanced planning, you can be sure to enjoy the best of both worlds so that the kids have a great time and you do too!

As so many Art Basel events occur in the evening, one strategy is to take advantage of Miami’s excellent kid-friendly attractions during the early part of the day. Attractions such as the ,  ,  , or an amphibious adventure with  will provide much needed entertainment for the kids that parents can share and enjoy with them!

Ok, so now the kiddos are entertained and worn out and its time for the parents (who have presumably conserved some energy) to go enjoy the Art Basel action. What now? Yes, we want to expose our children to wonderful art, but the massiveness of exhibitions such as Red Dot, Aqua, Context, Art Miami, and many others is capable of testing the endurance of the hardiest adults, let alone children.

That’s where ��ë���˵���can help. Perhaps you’d like to take an early evening stroll through an exhibition hall with your children and have an extra set of eyes, ears, and hands to ensure the kids don’t touch the art (with the big “do not touch” sign on it), break anything, or run around and get lost in the massive halls while you attempt to take a serious and thoughtful look at the abundant and diverse art. One of TLC’s fully vetted and loving caregivers will be glad to join you and look after the kids to allow you to focus a bit more on the artistic treasures. Alternatively (or immediately after) TLC will send a sitter to your hotel room so that you can go out and enjoy the exhibitions, fine restaurants, and nightlife. You’ll be assured that your children are having a great time at your hotel playing, reading, and doing other activities before they get safely tucked in for a good night’s rest.

It’s really the best of both worlds; you can enjoy Miami’s beaches and attractions with your children by day, and also to get in some “adult-time” at night. Art Basel and Children DO go together well when you add a little bit of TLC caregiving to the equation.

It’s easy to book a TLC Miami hotel babysitter. Simply visit  and fill out our short application. A TLC representative will contact you immediately to assign and confirm an experienced and fully qualified sitter who will have fun with your children and set your mind at ease.

Last-minute requests are welcome, but we advise that you book in advance to be certain of getting the coverage you want. This is one of the busiest times of year for our on-call sitters. Use the link above or call TLC at 305.256.5905. We’d be happy to tell you more about our awesome sitters and get you set up with coverage to make your visit run smoothly.

Enjoy the art!

The post Tips on how to enjoy Art Basel when traveling with children. appeared first on TLC Family Care.

Parents start to wonder what to do with their kids while they are at Art Basel or enjoying the Miami Nightlife.

TLC for Kids Miami has the answer! TLC For Kids has vetted, loving and experienced babysitters who can come to your hotel to entertain and safeguard your children so you can tour Art Basal.

It’s easy to reserve a TLC Miami hotel babysitter. Visit our website to complete the Hotel Reservation form.�� A TLC representative will contact you immediately to assign and confirm an experienced sitter.�� TLC sitters will make sure your child is having fun while you are away!

TLC For Kids, Inc.��has been St. Louis’ premier nanny and babysitting agency  for over 25 years. We also provide caregivers in Miami, South Florida and Atlanta.�� TLC For Kids’ dedicated staff is ready to assist you in finding nannies, tutors, newborn care specialists, sitters and more. Reach us at info@tlcforkids.com or 314-725-5660.

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This post originally appeared June 2011, but the information is still valuable. Reference checking can be a daunting task, but don’t delay in this important step in finding and hiring your nanny.��

As the Placement Counselor for TLC for Kids in St. Louis, I often take for granted the things I do everyday.�� For example, this morning I was talking to a client who was ready to call references on a nanny she was interested in hiring.�� She said that she had her questions ready – but just wasn’t sure how to go about it.�� She didn’t know how to start the conversation and needed some tips.�� It dawned on me that this is definitely a topic that St. Louis parents  are interested in learning a little more about.

When taking a childcare reference on a potential nanny:

• Introduce yourself and explain why you are calling.�� Let the person know you are a parent and the ages of your children.�� Explain that you promise to keep confidential all of the responses and that the feedback of their former nanny/babysitter is extremely important to you.
• When you ask the various childcare related questions, pay attention to the person’s voice inflection and pace of their  answer.�� If the person answering the questions is hesitant or seems unsure of any of the answers, this is a definite red flag.�� Many people are hesitant to talk negatively and this is when you must push a little and assure the reference that you are considering bringing their former nanny into your home.�� You are counting on their honesty!
• If the reference seems unsure of information or answers to the questions, something isn’t adding up.�� This could indicate a false reference, which is something that is of course unacceptable.
  When in doubt, trust your gut instincts and make sure that you are 100% comfortable with the applicant you choose.�� References are a great way to get a feel for the integrity and character, not to mention the experience level of a childcare provider.

At TLC for Kids, we love it when a parent gushes and is super excited to talk to us about their former nanny…usually, that means her other references are also stellar and she is a great find!

Good luck and if you have any comments or suggestions please let us know!

Jessica Friedman
TLC for Kids, Inc.

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As a member of INA you have been invited to take part in the  Cleveland Clinic survey because the Cleveland Clinic is interested to learn about your experiences and training with regards to food allergies.��The survey consists of 46 questions, and should take between 5-10 minutes of your time. Because the data generated by this survey may be generalized and disseminated, it is considered human subjects research. Your participation is voluntary, and consent will be implied based on your participation.

The only risk to your participation is a small risk to the confidentiality of your data.�� Safeguards are in place to protect your data.�� The Cleveland Clinic is not collecting any information which will identify you.�� The data will be stored in a password protected computer at the Cleveland Clinic.�� Results from this survey will be presented in the aggregate, as group data.
With this survey, The Cleveland Clinic hope to: (1) identify nannies knowledge of food allergies, including general knowledge, recognition, and treatment of food allergies; (2) identify prevalence of food allergy in homes where children are under the care of nannies:and (3) identify gaps in knowledge and training requirements for food allergy at various nanny training institutions/conferences.

While taking this survey it is important to distinguish the difference between true food allergy vs. food intolerance. True food allergy includes life threatening reactions due to an immune response to proteins in foods.�� This can lead to the immediate onset of allergy symptoms including itching, hives, swelling, vomiting, coughing, wheezing, or low blood pressure causing lightheadedness.�� This is a syndrome called anaphylaxis. Food intolerance is not life threatening and often includes symptoms of stomach upset, bloating, gas, fatigue, hyperactivity (i.e. lactose intolerance). Gluten sensitivity or celiac disease is NOT a food allergy.��  Please be reassured that all of your responses will remain confidential and anonymous.

This survey should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete.

Feel free to contact Dr. Justin Greiwe at 216-212-5879 or atgreiwej@ccf.org with  any questions or concerns.

This research has been approved by the Cleveland Clinic Institutional Review Board.

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