BABIES ARE SLEEPING IN MOM'S BED: HERE'S THE NEW RULES

BABY’S FIRST YEAR: WHY THE EXTENSION OF THE AAP'S GUIDELINES?

The AAP, the American Academy of Pediatrics, has come out with an extention and more stringent guidelines for parents for the first year of life. But are they really new? What prompted the changes? Busy parents and caregivers need to know, but often don’t get past the scary headlines. It’s important to go a bit deeper and see why the changes were recommended, in order to make the best choices for each family's situation.

Actually, the only new guideline is that the rules should be followed for the first year, rather than the first six months. And, doctors are recommending that babies sleep in the same room as their parents for the first year. 

“The new rules were created because pediatricians are seeing that parents aren’t actually following the old guidelines,” says Terian Gregory, a seasoned Phoenix Certified Newborn Care Specialist. “They realize that parents are sleep-deprived, not making good choices, and are too exhausted to follow the guidelines. They’re inadvertently taking less safe shortcuts,” she explains. "Like taking baby to an armchair or couch and falling asleep. Taking baby into their bed to nurse, and falling asleep. A lot of parents have done it, but it’s risky. The result is that babies are not always sleeping in their own beds, cribs, or bassinets, with a firm surface, with no pillows, blankets or soft toys.”

Pediatricians are recommending co-sleepers, bassinets attached to the parent’s bed or sleeping the baby in a crib in the parent's bedroom.  Mom can pull baby out, nurse, and put baby back without even getting up or leaving the room. Terian explains that what is happening is that doctors are responding to what parents are actually doing. "The AAP often puts out recommendations when there are safety concerns."

According to a recent NPR article, The updated recommendation, then, is that mothers feed their baby in bed and then place the baby on its own sleep surface afterward. If the mother falls asleep by accident, it's not as hazardous as it would be on a couch. When she wakes again, she should immediately place the baby back in its own bed, since the risk of death increases with the duration of bed sharing.

"I am struggling to find a concrete study,” Terian tells us, “that shows that if parents are actually following the guidelines and sleeping their baby in the baby's crib in the nursery vs. having babies sleep in parent’s bedroom actually keeps a baby safer". These parents are so sleep deprived they just aren’t making good choices.  If the parents put a bassinet in their room, it makes it simply makes it easier for parents to keep their baby safe."

“So what is the AAP really saying?” asks Terian? “They just extended the time of following their guidelines. They’re not just looking at SIDS, but all sleep related deaths. SUID (Sudden Unexpected Death) can include suffocation, aspirating on something, babies put in cribs with pillows, soft toys, or blankets, sleeping on tummies, on their sides. Parents are just not following the recommended practices." Terian stressed that if a baby is sleeping through the night, some of these concerns may not apply.  “As a Certified Newborn Care Specialist, I prefer to be in the same room as the baby. That’s my job. I prefer working with a baby to develop positive fundamentals and begin with "sleep shaping/sleep learning" strategies within the first 12 weeks. I have clients who prefer to have the baby monitor on even though I’m in the baby's room. In that case, I recommend them keeping the sound off.  Parents can see the baby better on a monitor from their room than I can staying in the same room as the baby. Babies make a lot of noise during the night.  They often grunt, pass gas and makes noises and then fall right back to sleep and when the baby is in the same room, parents tend to be over responsive. Monitors actually exacerbate any noises the baby makes. Therefore, the parents get less sleep because the baby's noises are waking them.  The AAP recommends that parents do not use 'Home Cardiorespiratory Monitors'.   It is important that parents understand that this is different than the typical baby monitors that allow them to hear or see their babies. A regular monitor with a baby in their own room, is very workable."

Terian continues by suggesting, "If a mom is nursing those first few weeks, and up every two to three hours for an hour each time, it makes sense to keep baby in the parent’s bedroom."

So, if you’re co-sleeping, follow the recommendations. 

If you’ve been getting up one to two times a night for 6 months or longer, parents are in survival mode, and not typically not making good choices.

However, If your baby is sleeping through the nigd and not making good choices, PLEASE follow the recommendations.

"The medical community is doing their job: saving babies lives, but sometimes these headlines feed on parent’s fears. Parents and caregivers need to dig deeper, read a little more, and make the best choice for their particular family. Parents, Nannies, and Newborn Care Specialists need to assess the particular family's environment, physical, emotional, environmental, and assess this new information, and make the best choice for their particular situation."

Terian concludes with, "Caregivers need to educate themselves to make the best choice for their families. For example, how does the family plan on parenting? What's they physical layout of the house? Is baby’s room across the house or upstairs? What is Mom’s physical condition? Is there a lot of anxiety? Is she going back to work or will she be a stay at home Mom? Our goal is to empower parents and caregivers."ht, or if you can safely get up during the night and put the baby in his own crib after nursing, there is not a reason not to put him in his own room.  But, if you’re sleep deprived and not making good choices, PLEASE follow the recommendations.

"The medical community is doing their job: saving babies lives, but sometimes these headlines feed on parent’s fears. Parents and caregivers need to dig deeper, read a little more, and make the best choice for their particular family. Parents, Nannies, and Newborn Care Specialists need to assess the particular family's environment, physical, emotional, environmental, and assess this new information, and make the best choice for their particular situation."

Terian concludes with, "Caregivers need to educate themselves to make the best choice for their families. For example, how does the family plan on parenting? What's they physical layout of the house? Is baby’s room across the house or upstairs? What is Mom’s physical condition? Is there a lot of anxiety? Is she going back to work or will she be a stay at home Mom? Our goal is to empower parents and caregivers."

Beth Weise

APNA CONVENTION THIS WEEK IN SCOTTSDALE!

Our Caring Nannies staff is excited about the 2015 APNA annual conference starting this week in Scottsdale at the FireSky Resort and Spa. We have motivating and insightful speakers. We're looking forward to meeting first-timers as well as old friends, and even more we're excited about learning how to hone our skill-sets so we can improve our nanny and domestic staffing service and better serve our families.  APNA is a highly principled organization made up of hard-working, smart and creative industry leaders and we are proud to be a part of it. Caring Nannies is happy to be a sponsor this year.   Conference Speaker Spotlight: Rosalind Prather   Rosalind Prather is a Trusting Connections Co-Founder, a nanny placement agency and sitter service based in Tucson, Arizona. She helped grow Trusting Connections from a small 2-woman operation to a growing full-service agency of over 60 employees and oversaw the agency's expansion into the Southlake, Texas market. She currently serves as the Marketing and Client Relations Director and travels between Texas and Arizona to head the marketing and sales efforts of both locations.  Rosalind is above all, the proud mother of two girls and has a deep understanding of the joys and struggles of family life and parenting. As a successful "momtrepreneur," Rosalind is very passionate about sharing her insights with aspiring woman business owners to inspire them to believe that being a mom and a business owner is a beautiful possibility.  Rosalind will lead attendees in Anatomy of a Successful Sales Call on Saturday, October 10.

About Association of Premier Nanny Agencies  The Association of Premier Nanny Agencies, established in 1993, promotes best business practices in all areas of the nanny placement and household staffing industries. Media Contact Ginger Swift, APNA President 400 South Colorado Blvd. Suite 310 Denver, CO 80246 303-321-3866

Beth

AM I PAYING MY NANNY ENOUGH? 2014 NANNY SALARY AND BENEFITS SURVEY

The INA has just released the results of their 2014 Nanny Salary and Benefits Survey. Compare what your nanny is getting.



The International Nanny Association has released the results of their 2014 Nanny Salary and Benefits survey, done in conjunction with Survey Design & Analysis, a professional research firm.

The purpose of this annual survey is to collect data on the state of the nanny industry, to see if the profession is keeping up with the economic gains in the US. A new twist is that for the first time, the survey included international data, especially from Australia. Australian salaries are a bit higher than the US. One online source,  quoted $15-$25 per hour or an average of $20 for an Australian nanny. Some of the new questions this year were designed to determine how additional training and experience affects salaries. 

Comparisons were made back to the 2012 INA Nanny Salary and Benefits survey to highlight trends. 

General trends-

Only 8% of responders were live-in nannies, a trend we have definitely seen in Arizona, where live-in nanny placements have become increasingly rare. Also not surprisingly, 85% of respondents have some college education, and three fourths work full-time. The percent of full-time nannies is up 7% since 2012. Happily, 67% have a written work agreement in place, but this number goes up to 80% if they were placed by a ‘brick and mortar’ agency like Caring Nannies. Caring Nannies sees a written working agreement essential for long term satisfaction and longevity in the nanny/family relationship. However, only half of the respondents reported that what they’re actually doing on a daily basis matches their written list of duties.

Reporters included 38% who described themselves as nanny/house managers. 72% have more than 5 years of experience in the profession.

Additional salary findings-

• The average salary is $18.66, which is up $1 from 2012
• Salary increases are up - 49% got increases in the past 12 months, compared to only 38% in a more cautious 2012.
• The more experienced and educated nannies tend to get the higher salaries. No surprise there.
• Annual bonuses hit 60%, up from 53% in 2011.
• Families paying their nannies legally topped out at 64%.

Nanny benefits-

• In 2012, 66% of nannies received paid holidays, now down to 57%, and 62% get a paid vacation.
• “Guaranteed pay”, money given a nanny when the family is on an extended trip, or when Grandma comes to town, is at 71%.
• Health Insurance is still an unusual benefit for the nanny profession, staying at 10% for full health insurance and 12% for partial. This is an area for employers to consider, as it gives the family and the nanny healthy tax breaks ,initiated in 2012 for employer provided health insurance.

Where are nannies finding their jobs?

39% got their current job through brick and mortar nanny referral agencies, and 34% online, a 10% increase from 2012.

The INA tells us that “Survey Design and Analysis’ concluded that improved economic conditions are evident in the nanny industry; with higher hourly rate, more bonuses, more full time work."

They see technology changing the industry via greater use of online classes, online job postings, and more families using payroll services. Education level and experience of nannies and most aspects of the nanny job have stayed constant since 2011.

See the complete survey at  2014_INA_Salary and Benefits Survey.

Beth

WELCOME TO OUR NEW NANNY RECRUITER

Our beloved nanny recruiter, Ashley Thrall, has gotten married, and now Michael has taken a position at a law firm in Durango, Colorado. Congratulations, Ashley and Michael!!!! We miss you both! We're excited to announce that Kristen Tourek has taken her place and is a quick learner!!  Kristen has a wide background in childcare plus administrative assistant skills. She's worked in church nurseries, and assisted in the children’s department organizing curriculum. Additionally, she spent a year as teacher at a preschool working primarily with two-year-olds, and as a one-on-one tutor for grade school students. She brings a love of families and children, and has a passion to build successful connections between the two.   Born and raised in Arizona, Kristen is currently attending school at Arizona State University, working on a degree in Graphic Information Technology, and when she’s not working, she enjoys drawing, painting, scrapbooking, and spending time with family. Kristen is doing nanny recruiting, reference checking, filing and is learning to do Temp placements. We're especially happy that Kristen is very techie, and is helping us with our social media. Welcome aboard, Kristen!  Beth

NANNY ONLINE SITES VS NANNY AGENCIES

What are the pros and cons of using an online nanny site vs a nanny agency? Your greatest concerns in life revolve around your children and home. When you need some extra help at home, a nanny or babysitter, how should you  go about finding the perfect one, the one just right for your family?  Should you go with a 'do-it-yourself' online site? Or hire a service to do the sleuthing for you. What are the pros and cons of using an online nanny agency versus a full service agency? We checked with some experts in the industry and have some pros and cons to help you decide which way is best for your family. Complete control. An online company gives parents complete control over  the process. Some parents feel that they know their needs and their family better than anyone, and want to do it all themselves. Price. An online service is much less expensive initially than an agency. Some online companies charge only $45 per month and a Phoenix nanny agency can be anywhere from $800 to $3,500.  Candidates. There are lots of candidates to choose from. There are outstanding, experienced candidates mixed in with others. Experience levels vary greatly. For example, Care.com requires candidates to have worked in three different homes at least one time each. Most 'brick and mortar' agencies require a minimum of one to two years experience outside friends and family.  Convenience. Since it's all online, a parent can do a lot of the work after hours. Cons of an online service  Time. Initially it may seem easy and some families find a great choice quickly and move forward, but others find it confusing because there are so many nanny candidates and it takes a lot of time to review resumes, interview candidates, call references, get quality background checks, get copies of Driver's Licenses, proof of auto insurance, First Aid, CPR certifications and validate the knowledge base of each candidate.  One family was successful, but recounts: "I found someone good but it wasn't easy. I spent a lot of hours interviewing and checking references...hours that I didn't have. I saved some money, but if I had it to do over, I would find an agency that does more of the work."  Another comment was, "I didn't realize all the stuff that ultimately fell on my plate." And again, "I had no idea that they don't even meet the nannies. They have a lot of resumes but I gave up after a while. It was like finding a needle in a haystack." Pros of a Full-Service Agency Streamlined Hiring Process: An agency has the ability to determine your needs and send candidates for interviewing within a day or two. Judi Merlin of A Friend of the Family Staffing Corporation in Athens, Georgia, tells us that her vetting process for nannies takes 15-20 hours. "We have found that only 1 in 10 applicants successfully complete our process," she adds.  There for you during and after the placement. One of the most valuable benefits of going with a nanny agency is being able to work with one person who will guide you through the process. One family in the Breedlove survey stated: " I liked being able to do a lot of the work online to save time. But I thought most of their nannies were un-hireable and I didn't have anyone to call when I needed help." Mimi Brady of Westside Nannies in Los Angeles tells us: "Most agencies always provide ears to listen, even after a nanny has been placed, and this can be extremely helpful in working on glitches regarding training your new nanny and miscommunications." Back-up help and support. If a family uses an agency, they can call for a last minute substitute sitter in case of an emergency. If a placement doesn't work out, most agencies guarantee the placement for three months. Cons of a Brick and Mortar Agency Price. It is definitely more expensive to hire a nanny or babysitter though an on-line service, but time and having a stress-free experience are more valuable to many families than the money they would save. Loss of control. Some parents prefer to be in charge of the whole process themselves. Pros of a Do it Yourself Website  Failure Rate. One out of three online hires results in a failed placement, according to a study by Breedlove, a nanny tax service. There is also the consideration of a failed placement and children who have grown to like a nanny or babysitter only to have them leave. There is also the fear factor of meeting a person in your home who may not be who they seem. Each family's budget, time constraints and priorities are what will determine the best way to go about hiring a nanny or babysitter. The bottom line for every family is the safety and well-being of their children. If you  have any questions about the process of finding just the right nanny or babysitter for your family, we're glad to help. You can give us a call at 480-946-3423 or fill out a Family Application to start your personalized search today. Beth

NANNY OF THE MONTH, CAROL

Every month, Caring Nannies likes to share one of the nannies who have taken a job with one of our wonderful families. This month, we chose Carol, who has faithfully been a nanny for one of our families for the past two years two days a week. Her new job is another two day job....read on...Meet December Nanny of the month, Carol

Carol is a warm, vibrant and highly dedicated nanny with over six years of nanny experience with three families! She started babysitting at age 10. With a medical degree, she was working at a very busy medical clinic as well as setting up specialty clinics in Minnesota until her family relocated to Phoenix. “It was very stressful and when we moved to Arizona, I just wanted to get out of the healthcare field and be able to play and just have fun, caring for children. No stress, no drama. I just love nannying-it's just the best,” she confided. In the Fall of 2012, we placed Carol as a nanny with a 3 year old girl two days per week, and just this week, she took an additional part-time nanny job for two days with a two year old and a newborn.

Carol loves children, and it shows! “They’re so much fun!” she shared. ‘Kids need to feel special. It’s a lot of work, but its so much fun. It’s about building a relationship with the children and the parents. If the children are happy, the parents are happy, and then I’m happy. it’s a win-win”. She’s fun-loving and active with children in all her nanny positions, diving into the pool for toys, playing hide 'n go seek, tag, bike riding, reading, walks, exploring, and encouraging independence as much as possible. “One key is letting them win games. It makes them feel so special when the parents come home and they say, ‘Mom, I beat Carol at ‘Pig’!’”

Carol is flexible, and has done extensive travel with past families. Carol's own family works around their schedule. Her current family flies her to Chicago frequently and once they brought Carol's 10 year old daughter along so her six year old charge would have someone to play with and they had a blast: "We went to the park, the zoo, we walked miles. My nanny job works so well. My employer is the kindest lady ever! She’s been so kind to me. This nanny position has been a really good thing for me. I don't look at it so much as a job. I love it and do whatever they need me to do.” 

With her young Kindergarten charge in tow, Carol can be found exploring on a Saturday with a backpack filled with water and snacks and no plans. “Its’ an adventure and we see where we end up. I like to come up with fun things, like: ‘Today we're going to see how many parks we can play at’".  They call it park-hoping and found 6 parks in one day. “She’s so smart for her age,” remarks Carol about her charge. We're always cooking and baking, and doing tons of crafts. We go to Michaels, pick up craft items, do painting, or make cards. The parents went off for a weekend and we put paint on her hands and feet and prints all over a paper and we hung it up with the words: 'Happy Birthday, Dad.'” 

Carol is compassionate, patient, adventurous, cheerful, and her medical background makes her extra safety-conscious. She loves teaching sports skills like hitting a ball with a bat or swimming. A favorite memory was a little fellow who loved basketball. Carol lowered the net so he could be successful. Carol is experienced with infants through school age, and is a pro at potty training. She’s happy to help with homework, do family laundry, straighten up the house, menu plan, grocery shop, run errands and is a gourmet cook! 

Carols own daughters are 10, 15 and 18 year old and her husband travels a lot. “My kids are pretty self-sufficient, and normally I’m home by 4-5 in the afternoon. Her family loves to go camping and travel in their motor-home. This summer she took her paraplegic cousin on a month long motor-home trip, and cared for him 24/7 with her 10 year old. Her close-knit family loves any kind of outside activities, camping at Lake Pleasant, and other favorite places. Thanks for all your great work, Carol, and congratulations on your new position!

Beth

WHERE HAVE ALL THE AFTER-SCHOOL NANNIES GONE?

Nanny agencies around the country have been turning away requests from families for the traditional after-school nanny. What's happened to the traditional college students?

This fall, Caring Nannies had nine After-School Nanny positions available. We were unable to place any of them! Nanny agencies around the country are no longer even accepting these requests. Where have all the traditional after school nannies gone? For the past 31years we’ve been able to source students from ASU and the surrounding community colleges to fill these crucial positions typically from 2 to 6 pm. The nannies have their traditional classes in the mornings, drive to pick up the  school-aged children, take them home for a snack, and then get started on homework. They transport them to appointments, dance, soccer or Karate practice with socks, tennis shoes, tights and mouth guards. These hardworking nannies  throw in a load of laundry and prep dinner or at least get a salad ready or feed and bathe the kids. They're typically paid $15 to $16 per hour and it’s worked out great. But now they’re just extinct. They don’t apply for these jobs. The truth is, they need full-time hours to meet rising costs of school, and they're doing online classes so they can do it all. Or, according to Daryl Camarillo at Stanford Park Nannies in Menlo Park,  they're seeking positions that will compliment their resume or matche their career paths.

Caring Nannies has a few suggestions. 

1. Keep your child in an after-school program and try to utilize Saturday sports and dance options.

2. Give an after-school nanny a higher wage, like $18-$20 per hour.

3. Give the nanny longer hours. Give her 30-35 hours per week and expand her duties. She may cook 2-3 family dinners per week. She can grocery shop, do family laundry, iron shirts, make travel plans, research summer camps, or do full housekeeping. Over the course of a week, she can focus on 1-2 areas of the home per day and clean the entire house within a five day stretch.

4. Another suggestion from Daryl is to be satisfied with semester-long placements, as college students change classes, since students change teachers sometimes each semester. You can have the outgoing nanny help hire and train the new one.

5.  By the age of 12, many families allow a child to stay home alone. Clinical psychologist Angela Bowers feels that children ages 10 and over have the ability to stay home for a couple of hours occasionally, but that it shouldn’t be overdone, since they can begin to feel lonely and isolated. Determining factors are how responsible they are, who their friends are, and if they know how to handle emergency situations.

It’s frustrating, we know. Spring is right around the corner and our recruiting staff is walking the campuses at the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers college in Northwest Phoenix, Grand Canyon University, Paradise Valley Community College, Scottsdale Community College,  Mesa Community College and ASU main in Tempe, talking to career services, posting on job boards and still not getting quality experienced applicants. We want to help in any way we can. I hope some of these suggestions help if you’re searching for after-school help after the holidays.

Beth

7 SECRETS TO KEEPING A GREAT NANNY

Some families keep their nannies for years, while others go through a string of nannies, leaving children confused. It's a lot of work finding your dream nanny, but the hardest part is after the hire, developing a strong ongoing relationship. Think about your own work environment and how your boss treats you. Realize that she's a professional in her own right. 1. Does she know you appreciate her? Express your appreciation to your nanny out loud frequently, and give her respect and support, especially in front of the children. Don't allow your children to be disrespectful to her and never speak unkindly to her. Zoe from Unnecessary Wisdom tells the story of her own part time nanny job and a boss who hosted an executive company Christmas party. She invited Zoe to attend and hired a sitter for the event. She raised a toast and asked her husband and Zoe  to stand, announcing: “To my husband and Zoe – the two most important people in my life. Without you, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do.” Zoe recounts her undying devotion to this family for years afterwards. 2. Are you really Communicating? Take time to establish regular communication routines with your nanny, daily, weekly, monthly and annually. Take 15 minutes weekly to review her plans and schedule for the following week. Share developmental goals, ideas for the household, your frustrations, and listen to hers as well. Initiate a Nanny Log and ask her to make notes daily and actually read them, occasionally leaving notes of your own or give written praise for a job well done. 3. How do you resolve conflicts? Think before you speak. Focus on creating a win-win solution, not on being right. How can she effectively play with your children, dance with them, sing to them, cuddle with them, put them to sleep if you yell at her or give her the cold shoulder? The fingerprints on the microwave may be bothering you. You know it's silly and not worth mentioning, because you're OCD, and you don't want to rock the boat because she's home with your baby all day. She already knows something is wrong, but can't get you to tell her. The baby knows too. It could be something more serious, and I know it's hard for you to bring it up, but after the first time, it gets easier. The process of resolving conflict will actually bond you both closer together when done quickly, before it festers. Take care of it the same day it occurs, or as soon as possible. 4. Are you micromanaging? If you've done your homework and found a nanny you can trust, then trust her. It's not fun being under a critical eye. A  good parent draws forth the qualities they envision for their child. Likewise, your faith in your nanny, knowing she'll do well, creates confidence and a desire to please you even more. 5. Are you adding more duties and hours? Don't keep adding more chores or hours without additional compensation. 6. Is she bored? Encourage her to get out and go on playdates, trips to the zoo, the park, the Children's Museum or the Butterfly Wonderland. Being a nanny is isolating. The interaction and stimulation will benefit your child. 7. Is your pay and benefits package competitive? If you're able, are you giving her raises when you get a raise at your job? Beth

WHAT KIND OF TASKS CAN MY NANNY TAKE ON?

Depending on your children’s ages and schedule, your Nanny can partner with you to make your life easier, giving you more time with your loved ones. You don’t need to rush home, start dinner and be up folding laundry late into the night.

Laundry. Children’s laundry and bedding are normally taken care of by the Nanny, but many Nannies also do family laundry and strip beds. Nannies normally organize kids drawers and closets, switching out seasonal clothing, mending or removing clothing that no longer fits and taking it to a charity to be recycled. But some Nannies also organize family closets and cupboards.

Shopping. Nanny-Managers typically will keep a running list of items that are running low, and go shopping to replenish the pantry and fridge. She’ll routinely refresh the fridge, removing older leftovers. She can plan a family’s favorite menus and do the weekly shopping. Dry Cleaning, getting the oil changed for the family car can also be coordinated. Some Nannies do the seasonal shopping for children’s clothing or are responsible for returns and exchanges.

Cooking. Nannies routinely cook breakfast and lunch and sometimes dinner for children, but many Nannies also make dinner every night for the family, or do the prep work if parents enjoy cooking. If a Nanny isn’t confident enough to cook for adults, smart families instruct them to make dinner for the kids and have leftovers for the parents, alleviating the pressure for a hesitant Nanny. Most nannies are willing to follow a recipe and give it a try, saving you time a few nights a week. 

Extracurricular Activities: Nannies will arrange for play dates, plan field trips to the library, zoo or museums, or do research on Summer Camps or Preschools and interesting opportunities in the community. Nannies of school-agers routinely communicate with teachers or monitor assignments online.

Each situation and family is different, and amounts of down time each Nanny has differs. Some of these suggestions will require additional hours or pay for your nanny, but it can give you more of your most precious resource-time. Time to spend truly enjoying your family and a peaceful evening, knowing that the day’s most pressing needs have been met.

CARING NANNIES HAS MOVED!

Caring Nannies has moved! 
We're getting settled into our beautiful new Old Town Scottsdale Office and it really looks homey and cute now that we our pictures up!

Jenny Riojas, Family Placement Coordinator

Our new address is 4215 N Brown Avenue, Suite C

Scottsdale, AZ 85251, just a block East of our old office. We now have covered parking and more space! Come visit us when you're in Old Town Scottsdale!

Beth Weise Nanny Recruiter, Temp Job Placements

We're here to serve our loyal families and dedicated nannies in Scottsdale, Phoenix, Glendale, Grayhawk, Chandler, Tempe, Paradise Valley, Carefree, Cave Creek, Gilbert, Awatukee, Mesa, Anthem, Fountain Hills, Glendale, Peoria, Avondale, Litchfield Park, Surprise,  Queen Creek, Sun Lakes, Maricopa, San Tan Valley! We're exploring ways to streamline our service to give you better support. Thank you for letting us serve you!

IS YOUR NANNY CAR READY FOR FALL?

Is your Nanny Car ready for the Fall school season?

If you take the time to keep up with routine maintenance, you have added assurance that your children will be safe during the busy rush-hour morning runs to school and the after-school pick-ups and trips to after-school sporting events and activities. For the 4 most essential maintenance tips, read on.

Routine Maintenance

Keep the tires inflated to the manufacturers specs for best handling and life of the tires. Walk around the car every time you fill up on gas and give a visual inspection.

Check  that the following 5 fluids are at the proper levels every other time you gas up.

• Engine oil-check at every other gas fill up and replace every 3-4,000 miles
• Coolant/Antifreeze-check level every gas fill up. Flush every 2-5 years
• Brake fluid-check once a month. Add more if the level is low. For passenger safety, brake fluid could be the most important fluid to maintain. It's not  uncommon for brake fluid to leak, which can compromise the ability to stop in time.
• Power-steering fluid. Check monthly while the car is warm
• Transmission Fluid-Check every 25,000 miles or every 2 years

Keep on top of your Maintenance Schedule.

If you no longer have the schedule that came with your car, download one from the internet. Be diligent with routine tune-ups and check the battery life before January, when cold weather can affect your battery. Batteries in Phoenix last about two years.

Before the next big rain, check your windshield wipers.

Wipers in Arizona crack every two years if you park in the sun. Check the windshield wiper fluid quarterly. For more tips, click here.

The most critical factor in keeping your charges safe, is the continual attentiveness of the you, driver. Do not allow a cell phone, a dropped sippy cup, or a fight between kids in the back seat, to deter you from driving as if everyones' life depends on your continual attentiveness, because it does.

Our trusted partners at Feeney Automotive will give all Nanny Cars a FREE FALL CHECK-UP including fluids, brakes, tires and hoses. Call today for an appointment. They are famous for saying, "You don't need that yet. Come back in another month." Frank Feeney has been servicing cars for the past 20 years and provides customers with cost-effective repair and maintenance alternatives.