Allowing your children to get adequate amounts of rest is essential. How much sleep they need varies by age with infants needing more sleep, about 14–17 hours, and teens needing less, between 8–10 hours. If they are not getting enough sleep, kids may experience struggle in different ways including having trouble paying attention, being hyperactive, struggling with schoolwork, being cranky, having behavior problems, and more. One of the easiest ways to set your child up for success includes helping them get good sleep. Following a bedtime routine aids in helping to make sure your child gets the recommended amount of sleep per day.
The best way to get your kids to sleep ensuring they are getting enough rest is by having consistent bedtime routines that are carried out each night. This helps your child follow a set of predictable routines, preparing them for bed. It has even been studied and shown that having these bedtime routines will help your children go to sleep earlier, take less time falling asleep, and sleep longer.
Not only can these routines help with sleep, but they can help with memory, attention, and other cognitive skills as well as create some bonding time between parents and children which can help improve mood, stress, and behavior.
Bedtime routines generally include three to four activities such as having a snack, brushing their teeth, reading a book, and snuggling. It is important to complete these routines in the same order, so children start to catch on to the routine and know what is expected next. The routine should last about a half hour to an hour. Delaying bedtime can make it hard to complete the routine when you're short on time. Although you are in charge, it's okay to listen to your child and talk about certain changes in the routine, such as a part that is not working anymore. By keeping the room dark and cool, you can help promote sleep.
Some things to watch out for with their routine include letting your children use screens too close to bedtime, starting the routine when they are already sleepy, letting them run around before bed, and giving sugary snacks.
Stay consistent, make it age appropriate, and keep it short.
Rely on Our Child Care Services
At Elite Nanny League, we understand that parents in Houston and The Woodlands, TX area are busy and sometimes careers and other obligations cause the need for nanny services. That is why we are committed to providing top-tier services to busy, high-profile, and/or professional families. We make sure your child is being cared for by an exceptional role model and in a safe and happy environment. Whether you are looking for a full-time or part-time nanny, we’ve become experts in finding an ideal match based on each family's unique needs. Our night nanny will ensure your child is getting a proper bedtime routine to have them succeed each day. For more information or to set up services, please give us a call today!
The transition from no kids to having kids can be very difficult, especially when you are running on two hours of sleep. Our nanny agency, Elite Nanny League wants to help make the transition smoother by providing your family with night nanny services. Here are some benefits of hiring a night nanny:
Less interrupted sleep - Most parents do not get a full night of sleep for months or sometimes even years after having a baby. Hiring a night nanny will allow you to focus on getting a full night of rest, so you will be ready to take care of your baby or go to work the next day.
Better mental health - Part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle is keeping up with your mental health. After having a baby, it’s easy to let your mental health be pushed to the side because you’re focused on meeting the needs of your baby. However, it’s crucial that you get enough sleep if you want to be the best version of yourself for your baby. Sleep deprivation will decrease your mental health causing you to be less helpful to yourself and your baby.
Quicker postpartum recovery - Having a baby drains you of all energy because it takes a lot of physical, mental, and emotional energy to push a baby out. A night nanny can take care of your baby while you recharge your body after giving birth. We promise that hiring one of our night nannies will give you the opportunity to get more sleep at night.
Smoother night feedings and diaper changes - A night nanny will stay up to take care of all the night feedings and diaper changes your baby needs, so you can just sleep. This will take away the worry of feeling like you won’t have the energy to properly care for your baby during the night.
Less stress in your household - Lack of sleep often translates to more stress due to your body being overworked and forced to run on empty. Hiring a night nanny will alleviate the stress because you will be able to sleep through the night while they tend to your baby.
An easier transition back to work - If you have to go back to work after your baby is born, a night nanny would be a great investment. A night nanny will prevent you from needing to go to work sleep deprived, which would affect how productive you are at work.
Contact Elite Nanny League for more information about our night nanny services. Our nanny agency proudly serves The Woodlands and Houston, TX. We hope to hear from you soon!
If you are a parent who works long hours or struggles to juggle daily schedules, you may benefit from investing in a professional nanny who can help you with tasks you just don’t have time for. Hiring a nanny is a huge decision, and while it will make your life easier, you want to ensure you find the right one for you and your family. Now you may be asking yourself, “what are the qualities of a great nanny?” A nanny will be a big part of your children’s day-to-day life, so you want to choose someone you can trust and who will positively impact their lives. Below are a few qualities to look for when making your hiring decision.
Loves Children: One of the top qualities to look for in a nanny is their genuine love for children. While this may seem a little obvious, nannying is not a walk in the park, and there will be some long and challenging days, so it is essential to find a person who truly enjoys spending time with children. A way to test this could be setting up a time for the potential nanny and your child to meet and see how they interact.
Patience: As a parent, you know your child has good and bad days. A nanny must stay calm when dealing with temper tantrums, mood swings, fighting over toys, and anything else thrown their way. Ask candidates how children have tested their patience and how they handled the situation. A good nanny can keep their cool while effectively addressing the problem.
Reliable: A nanny may have to drop the kids off at school, take them to sports practices, or relieve you so you can go to work, so they need to be punctual. With a busy schedule, a nanny must have excellent time management skills. When interviewing potential candidates, take notes on if they show up on time.
Trustworthy: A nanny will be in your home, taking your children from place to place and watching them for long periods, so ensuring they are trustworthy is essential. You want to ensure that your selected nanny provides outstanding care, keeps your personal information private, and can be trusted around your belongings. You should see the references of potential candidates before making the hiring decision.
At Elite Nanny League, we take pride in matching families with qualified, experienced, and well-referenced nannies across the country. Whether you are looking for a part-time nanny, full-time nanny, or night nanny, we will find the perfect nanny for your family. Contact our nanny agency today for more information about our childcare services.
We look forward to working with you!
Glorious summer days are always welcomed after a busy school year. We have 5 FUN ideas that are achievable for everyone.
Summer Bucket List Ideas
1. VISIT THE ZOO
Take a trip with family and friends to a local zoo to search for some cool creatures. Check out the Houston Zoo or TGR Exotic Wildlife Park in Spring, TX!
2. SLEEP IN A TENT
Grab a flashlight and set up camp! You can camp in your own backyard or take a quick road trip to Stephen F. Austin State Park in San Felipe, TX for great trails and campsites.
3. SEE A BASEBALL GAME
Attend a Houston Astros game at Minute Maid Park or check out the Minor League team Space Cowboys in Sugar Land, TX.
4. HAVE A PICNIC
Enjoy a picnic at any local park. Visit The POST, home to Houston’s 5-acre rooftop park, the largest of it's kind in the country it is the perfect place to have a snack and snap great photos of the city skyline.
5. MOVIE NIGHT
Enjoy a movie on a rooftop or at a drive-in theater with family and friends at Showboat Drive-In in Hockley, TX or Rooftop Cinema Club Uptown are worth a visit
Let’s talk today to discuss our many affordable nanny options and how they can help you navigate this summer stress free!
Ready to start your search? We’re here to help!
Feel free to reach out via email at info@elitenannyleague.com or give us a call and one of our team members to assist you (713) 331-9434
There’ so much to love about being able to work from home but there’s also a lot to of duties to tackle when school holidays roll around (as they so frequently do!). It doesn’t have to be so stressful though – there are a myriad of way to prepare yourself and your family to not only survive, but thrive during the busy school holiday periods.
Hire a Short-Term babysitter
Many work at home moms still enjoy the freedom and flexibility to do school drop off and pick up and don’t have a need for any extra help to care for their kids during the term. Yet, when the school holidays start, it can be tricky to be as proactive and productive as you’d normally be when you suddenly have an audience who want your every attention.
The ideal way to combat this situation is to hire a short-term carer, such as a babysitter. Not only can they mind your children while you work, they can also ensure a fun two weeks and arrange outings. This way the kids don’t have to spend their holidays stuck at home while Mom is working.
Specialist Babysitting Agencies will be able to assist you in finding the perfect carer for your children. You’ll be reassured knowing they have all undergone all necessary safety checks, possess a driver’s license and first aid certifications and come with impeccable references.
Budget Blues? Why not Nanny-share?
It’s no secret childcare is expensive. One way to combat the rising costs of care is to nanny-share with your friends. This is when two families come together to split the costs of hiring a nanny to look after their combined children. Generally, it can be quite a flexible arrangement, with the ability to switch between the family homes as it suits.
Popular because of its affordability, it’s also a great way to introduce a variety of play mates into your children’s lives in the holidays. You’ll also be reassured knowing the Nanny will come with all the necessary safety checks completed as well as possess all the qualifications you’d expect from an experienced child carer.
Child Swap
It’s often said it takes a village to raise a child. Why not put this saying into practice and assemble your own tribe who will help you navigate your commitments as a WAHM during the school holidays? After all, no one else understands better the working mom struggle than a fellow WAHM!
Make arrangements with friends to take turns of looking after each other’s children. These play dates will not only allow one parent the freedom to work uninterrupted but also give the children an event to look forward to. Or perhaps you can arrange to pick up your friend’s children one day a week from school in return for looking after your children for a few days in the holidays. Whatever the agreement, parents are each other’s best allies and can make a huge difference to the life of a WAHM during school holidays.
Grandparents to the rescue
Speaking of villages, another option to assist a work at home mum with her workload while the kids are on school holidays is to enlist the help of grandparents. If they are retired and live close by (and are willing to miss a week or golf, bridge or bowls!) this would definitely prove to be an affordable solution to your childcare woes. Alternatively, if the grandparents live away, you could either encourage them to plan a visit to coincide with school holidays, or arrange for yourself or your partner to travel with the children to their home and let them have a holiday at Grandma and Grandpa’s.
Vacation Care
Designed to assist families who require care for their primary school aged children during school holidays, this is just like day care, but is only run during the vacation period. Many schools will have a Vacation Care program established which includes activities to meet the social and recreational needs of the children, and often can include special events and excursions.
And When all methods Fail!😂
If you can’t beat them, join them! If you’ve exhausted all your options and run out of credits with family and friends to look after your children during school holidays while you work, why not make the most of the enforced stop work situation and plan a family holiday?
Like to know more about how we can help make your life as a WAHM easier during school holidays? Let’s talk today to discuss our many affordable nanny options and how they can help you navigate the school holidays stress free!
Ready to start your search? Or just have questions in general? We’re here to help!
Feel free to reach out via email at info@elitenannyleague.com or give us a call and one of our team members to assist you (713) 331-9434
Finding a part-time nanny can be frustrating. There are a lot of factors to consider when finding a part-time nanny. We have come up with 8 tips for hiring a part-time nanny.
Schedule
Figure out how many hours you need and when. We suggest trying to structure your childcare needs in a way that allows the nanny to work out hours with another family, go to school or find another job. This is huge if you are looking to have a larger candidate pool.
Wish List
Really understand the type of person you want around your child. Is education background important? Do you like a certain type of parenting style? Are you comfortable with your person having another job? Do you need your person to drive? What kinds of interest does your child have that maybe a nanny can enhance.
Offer Promised Hours
Huge plus, offer a promised amount of hours to your nanny so they can depend on the income and commit to your family. Most part-time nannies are looking for a minimum of 30 hours a week in order to be committed fully to a family. Promised hours means you are paying your nanny a minimum amount of hours even if you go on vacation or have a holiday off and don’t require your nanny to work. This makes your position more appealing as well.
Know Your Budget
Come up with a budget and how much are you paying hourly? If you are in TX you need to consider the range of $20-$25 gross per hour and payroll taxes to come up with your budget. Figure out what works for your family keeping in mind that part-time nannies are often requesting a higher hourly rate because they are working less hours.
Know Your Expectations
Understand that most part-time Nannies have another job or things outside of work going on ie. College student, or other family they are working with. Know what kind of tasks you need your nanny to do while you are away from the home, come up with a list of things and go over it with your nanny so there are clear boundaries and expectations. Which leads us to our next tip.
Open Communication
Make sure you have open communication with everything from last minute changes giving enough time for your nanny to accommodate the change or planned travel to medications your child requires and food allergies. If you need a soft start or soft ending to your day, communicate it with your nanny.
Use a Reputable Agency
Agencies are able to find you exactly what fits your family’s needs and can help you navigate the entire hiring process. Agencies take the guessing out of the screening process. Making the process less stressful, giving you more joy in your life.
Ready to start your search? Or just have questions in general? We’re here to help!
Feel free to reach out via email at info@elitenannyleague.com or give us a call and one of our team members to assist you (713) 331-9434
