After years of practice, nannies become experts at child care. Not only do they learn the basics of what kids are going to be willing (or not) to eat, but also the nuances of how to establish positive behavioral patterns, like manners and routines. For some parents, trying to set up house rules or manage whining can be maddening.
Luckily, long-time nannies have years of wisdom to lend parents advice for how to get through some of the early years. Here are our top 10 things parents can learn from expert nannies:
- How to Swaddle and Massage a New Baby
Kammna Bhojwani-Dhawan, mother and director of Momaboard.com, says that her nanny was a godsend when it came to learning how to take care of her first baby. My nanny was certified in child care, she says, and although she didn’t have any children of her own, she was much more skilled at the care of my newborn than I. Though like all mothers Bhojwani-Dhawan was a quick study, she comments that her nanny was key when it came to things like swaddling and massaging.
- Understand That Crying Is Okay
Nannies find that new parents sometimes freak out by hearing babies cry much of the time. They try to remind families that this is normal behavior. Crying is how babies communicate. Nannies recommend that new moms trust their gut when learning what different cries mean to figure out what their infants need at any given time.
- You Don’t Need to Buy All of the Baby Products
New parents also have a tendency to rush out and get all of the right baby products listed in books or on websites. Nannies try to tell parents to relax and just stick to the basics. Most of the products on the market can be hugely expensive and a waste of money. They also suggest networking with friends, family and neighbors to share old items like cribs and strollers.
- How to Find the Right Foods
Bhojwani-Dhawan says she struggled at first when trying to transition her infant from liquids to solid foods. My nanny had been trained in the Philippines and had a much better idea of semi-solid meals packed with health benefits. I would give him plain rice with avocado while she would whip up a delicious soft pilau made with vegetables and chicken broth. It was both delicious and nutritious!
- Don’t Give Up on Baby’s First Rejections
When shifting between food stages, parents have to test out a bunch of different flavors and textures to see what kids like. The trouble nannies find, however, is that just because kids sometimes reject a certain food early on, it doesn’t mean that they wont like it later in life. For instance, maybe sweet potato mash didn’t go over so well at first. Nannies say don’t give up. Reintroduce sweet potatoes in a different form when kids get a bit older, to see if their tastes change.
- How to Pace Mealtimes
Dinnertime, especially for busy parents, can be chaotic. But nannies caution not to let the frenzy of the evening rush the supper meal. They tell parents to be sure to give children plenty of time to sit at the table, chew thoroughly, and digest their meals before cleaning up and moving onto the next thing.
- The Art of Establishing a Routine
Setting up routines with children is often a goal for parents, but one thats hard to achieve. Parents may be exhausted when they get home and routines can seem like a drag for kids.Mother of two, Kim Gallina Viscio, highly recommends establishing some of the basic habits she learned from her nanny. Routines are not monotonous for kids, she says. Rather, they provide stability and an awesome foundation for kids to build upon.
- Keep Open Lines of Communication
A key part to making routines work is ensuring parents and kids have open lines of communication. Nannies often find that parents and kids talk past each other or don’t take the time to hear one another. The dilemma is that a simple conversation ends up turning into a shouting match. Learning how to listen to children’s needs and respond both verbally and through effective body language is essential to keeping a calm household.
- Maintain Self-Respect
Seeing parents jump at every request from their children is a big stickler for nannies. Though its of course important to properly care for kids, nannies advise parents to distinguish between demands and needs. Establishing basic guidelines for whats an acceptable request and how to ask politely is important to teach early on. Nannies recommend parents try to set a good example for their children for how they want them to behave.
- Raise the Bar and Keep It There
Likewise, nannies find that parents sometimes get too slack with children, which leads to poor behavior. Gallina Viscio comments with exasperation, my daughter is capable of pulling up her own underpants and pants – she just chooses not to when I’m around! Making sure kids maintain the same level of performance for both nannies and parents is important for developing proper behavior with all adult figures.
Want more parenting tips? Check out 5 Things to Look for in a Parenting Class.
Tiffany Smith is the director of content and publicity at William Woods University. She has written for All You, Time for Kids and the Boston Globe. And, as a former babysitter, she knows a lot about fun games to play with kids. Getting them to eat their veggies — that’s a different story! Follow her on Twitter at @tiffanyiswrite.
