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FAQ
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What makes Nanny Sarah different?The difference is so much more than price! Nanny Sarah is the most important difference! She is a private, certified, and highly qualified Newborn Care Specialist Care Pro with a genuine passion for her tiny clients and their families. Her love for and decades of comprehensive experience in caring for newborns, infants, and toddlers makes her an invaluable part of her client families. “Nanny Sarah is WONDERFUL!!! My husband and I met with and interviewed well over fifty nanny applicants, daycare centers, home daycare, and babysitters too! We really did our homework. And none came close to Nanny Sarah with her experience and knowledge.”
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Why should our family hire a nanny versus a daycare?If you’re not able to care for your baby full-time yourself, hiring a private newborn, infant, and toddler care specialist nanny is the premium solution to your child-care needs. As a parent you are choosing the very best care for your baby and family! New Parents often don't understand that premium solution childcare is considered an exclusive choice because it is set apart from main stream childcare options of a high ratio of babies to caregivers. When it comes to childcare one size does not fit all. The best choice is what works best for your baby's well-being, development, creates a feeling of security for your baby,and your personal family care needs. Here are a few Pros to consider: Full Attention. A nanny will provide your child with one-on-one attention, rather than having to share attention among a large group of children in a hectic noisy environment. A child in the care of a nanny does not have to compete for an adult’s attention in the midst of a room full of other babies. Flexibility. A nanny’s hours will be more flexible than that of a daycare, which may better serve parents who work long hours, travel for work, or who have nontraditional work schedules. So Convenient. When you have a private Nanny you have a higher level of trust, dependability, and reliability. Ex: References, background check, driver's license history, and getting to know your nanny on a personal level as she spends so much time with your baby and family. Daily Communication. A Nanny is able to communicate directly with parents with current updates as they happen, daily pictures, text messages, send videos in an addition a written daily end of day report. When a child is at a daycare communication is limited and is often done on a childcare app with no personalization. The end of day report often is written by a caretaker that did not spend the entire day with your baby, or once a week with a weekly recap with limited pictures and videos. Making, Creating, and Capturing Memories. A newborn care specialist nanny understands the importance of creating, documenting, and capturing pictures, videos, and making beautiful memories for parents and family to look back on as the baby develops, changes, and grows so quickly! A speciality nanny with experience is focused and fully present putting in 100% every day because it is her passion and she knows she is an important member of the family and parents are relying on her to help them to navigate through the the new life adventure called parenthood! Tranquil, Calm, and Peaceful Environment. Children thrive in tranquil, calm, and peaceful environments. A peaceful and relaxed environment can foster a sense of security and promote better sleep patterns, contributing to overall contentment and happiness. Babies that are are able to focus and absorb information because their brain is not overloaded by stress hormones, allowing them to engage readily with their environment and learning experience. This ultimately leads to better cognitive development; they are able to learn more effectively, and a calm baby feels safe and secure which is key to building trust and providing a positive learning experience with your nanny. Date Night/Weekend Care/Vacation. A nanny provides opportunities for parents to have a date night without seeking yet one more caregiver for their child — Some nannies will even travel with families on vacation. This is so important for the baby as it builds trust it establishes a sense of security and safety, allowing your baby to explore their feelings and environment freely which helps them to build healthy relationships and develop a positive self esteem all stemming from the knowledge that their nanny will consistently meet their needs and respond to their signals; essentially, a baby who feels they can trust can confidently rely on others to be there for them when needed. A newborn care, infant, and toddler specialist is more than a babysitter. She’s a highly-trained professional whose sole job is to love, care for, educate parents, and teach your baby. She is trained and experienced in all aspects of newborn, infant, and toddler care and has many years of hands on experience with families. As new parents begin to learn and feel more confident about their precious bundle of joy. She will be able to help them transition, become familiar , and provide solutions with common issues such a reflux and colic and transition from newborn, infant, toddler, and prepare the baby for preschool too!! A nanny with a newborn, infant, and toddler speciality becomes a private teacher, guide, coach, and a member of the family. Nannies help with your little one's schedule, food, activities, development, and become a resource for parents and family when the baby is moving quickly to their next developmental stage and or going through a leap. A private nanny ensures that your baby is in an optimum environment to foster proper development, growth, and learning because that is her greatest passion and what she was trained to do. Experts agree that babies needs are best met in a low ratio environment where babies feel loved, have a routine, comfortable napping, learning, playing with age appropriate toys, socialization, and enjoying one-on-one time with a loving nanny. “Nanny Sarah is by far the ABSOLUTE BEST!! Look no further she is AWESOME! She was referred to us by another family and we are so thankful she took care of our newborn daughter and son (twins) from the age of 3 months until my children turned 2 and were ready for preschool. She taught them daily to prepare them for school, played, baked, took them to the aquarium, Disneyland, went for walks, kept them on a routine with love, structure, fun, and proper rules and discipline for their age. She taught us as new parents but most importantly loved all of us so well. She is a member of our family now.”
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Information to consider regarding daycare:Whether you’re considering a daycare center, home daycare, or preschool there are usually a high ratio of children to teachers. For example, typical infant programs require a ratio of 1:4 with a mixed age group of 10 (toddlers) and a maximum group of 12. The key is understanding that large centers will often say to a new parent that the "ratio" is 1 adult to 4 babies especially when parents are present but in reality they put 3 adults in an infant or toddler room with 12 children. This is due too a shortage of reliable and educated staff. Most of the time it is not consistent with the same teachers everyday due to a shortage of childcare workers as they are often overworked and paid minimum wage which is not enough money to live on. Therefore their focus is on surviving financially and not on what is best for your baby and family care needs. Even though these teachers are often very sweet and well-meaning but it doesn't mean your baby will be cared for properly. In Nanny Sarah’s professional experience, that’s just too many babies for a few caregivers to properly love, care, nurture, and teach on a day to day basis. And sadly because of the shortage of childcare since the pandemic there have been cases where the child to caregiver ratio law has been disregarded especially if parents are not present. Even the best daycare and preschool centers are institutionalized settings that are designed to care for and manage large groups of children that is never in the best interest of the child. But that’s not the only thing to consider when you’re looking at a daycare for your baby. Even the best daycares can’t provide consistent one-on-one attention. If your child needs a hug or the comfort of a special story read before nap time it’s not likely that a daycare can accommodate that need even though they will tell the parent they will. Daycares are unfortunately, frequently understaffed and unable to consistently monitor the cleanliness of toys, prohibit the sharing of pacifiers and bottles, properly address toileting, and thoroughly monitor the cleanliness of diapering and napping facilities. Daycare classes and age groups are commonly combined during the day, violating advertised teacher to child ratios. This often occurs after parents have dropped their children off and without their knowledge. Teachers and assistants are often overworked, uneducated, underpaid, and under appreciated… causing stress and frustration. Understandably, staff turnover tends to be very high in most daycare centers, which means that your baby won’t be able to form crucial trust bonds with their caregiver which is crucial for their development. Parents have reported that the wrong bottles, blankets, pacifiers and clothing are often sent home at the end of the day, making one mother wonder if her baby was receiving her breast milk or not! Some daycares may also claim to be preschools or schools… an unplanned visit by parents may show otherwise that the claim is an empty one and that no learning is taking place. Most daycares have a policy which states sick children are not allowed at daycare. However, a visit to any daycare will confirm the presence of children with runny noses and coughs often. Medications (antibiotics, Tylenol, etc.) are commonly administered. Colds, Flu, RSV, Covid, Croup, Whooping Cough, Hand Foot and Mouth Disease and many other illnesses are frequently shared in daycare settings due to lack of proper daily cleaning/sanitizing and your child getting sick means more time off from work for the parents. Daycares have set hours with no flexibility. If you’re required to work late, you will need a backup adult to pick up and care for your child… or face exorbitant fees for being late. Need to work on an evening, weekend, or a holiday? Most daycare centers are closed evenings, weekends, and holidays.
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Doesn't my baby need the socialization that a daycare provides?There are many ways for babies and children to learn social skills. A nanny may carefully select play dates, be a part of a nanny share, attend activities and outings, go to the park, do a story time to encourage playing with other babies, provide love and attention, and all the socialization your child needs. You should also consider that children model the behaviors they observe and that many of the social behaviors exhibited in daycare settings aren’t always ideal. You may not really want your children learning some of the social behaviors that other children have.
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Why does Nanny Sarah charge a registration fee?There is time and labor involved in setting up your family profile, invoices, advertising, interviewing, and background screening.
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Can our family have a trial period with Nanny Sarah?Yes! Nanny Sarah requests that the trial period be within the first two (2) days of care. After the first two (2) days, families are required to modify and/or end the arrangement by written notice to nannysarahc@gmail.com along with a verbal 60-day notice to Nanny Sarah, OR you may pay for 60 days of care to end the arrangement immediately. There are no refunds. There are no trial periods for short-term or date night families.
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How does Nanny Share payment work?It’s easy and convenient to make your Nanny Share payment. Your monthly care invoice comes every 4 weeks to the email of your choice. And all future nanny share updates, changes to terms, policies, and procedures will come directly to your email too! Parents are responsible for reading your monthly invoices. Check the notes section on your invoice each month by clicking on the link and reading your invoice to stay connected and informed. Parents are expected to follow the polices, procedures, and rules regardless of if they have read their invoice. Nanny Sarah does not do the invoicing personally as her focus is 100% on loving, caring, and educating the babies and nanny share families. All monthly invoices are automated by the software Freshbooks if there is an error or question just reply to your email and the small administrative team that manages Nanny Sarah invoices and emails while she is focused and caring on the baby will answer your questions for you promptly! Please pay your invoice immediately on receipt to avoid a late fee of $25 and $10 per day there after. For your convenience, Nanny Sarah accepts electronic payments through Zelle or Venmo...whichever is easier for you. If you are paying through Venmo please pay as friends and family and not as good and services. If you choose to use Venmo please make sure your Venmo payment is processed 3 business days prior to the due date for standard transfers in order to allow time for funds to transfer to the bank. All payments must be received and funds available in the bank on or before the due date. No Exceptions. EXAMPLE: If your nanny share invoice is due on the 5th of each month and you make payment through Venmo on the 4th which is on a weekend even if funds are transferred on Saturday immediately to the bank Venmo states at time of a standard transfer that the funds will be received within 3 business days. Estimated funds will be received to the bank according to Venmo's policy on the 8th of the next month which is considered late because funds were received past the due date of the 5th and a late fee would be applied to that invoice. No Exceptions. Please include the 3% fee for an instant transfer to be done along with your full invoice amount if you choose to not follow the 3 business day recommendation for instant transfer with Venmo. You must include a 3% fee for instant transfer and an additional 3% if you mark the payment as good and services by mistake. No Exceptions. Special Note: *If you pay by Zelle which is Nanny's preferred payment method none of this applies. All invoices must be paid in full and on time. Nanny Sarah has responsibilities, expenses, and bills too just like your family does so it is important to pay invoices correctly and on time. Nanny Sarah takes being financially responsible very seriously and she appreciates your respect and consideration. She works hard and is always reliable, goes above, and beyond, and does everything possible to be available for all family care needs and care requests. She LOVES what she does!! Venmo Payment Example: Invoice amount $2,592 plus 3% of invoice $77.76 for a total payment of $2,669.76 processed as friends and family. Please put invoice number, baby name, and instant transfer in the notes so the payment is processed correctly. This example does not apply to Zelle as Zelle bank transfers typically happen within minutes. Please make all Zelle payments on or before 6pm on or before the due date. Please put the invoice number and baby name in the notes section. Nanny share rate increases take effect in January of the new year and parents are notified in writing 30 days prior on their monthly invoice. If you are a family that is paying the current nanny share rate there will be no increase until the following year. If at anytime you need to modify, or end the arrangement please provide a written notice to nannysarahc@gmail.com, verbal 60 day notice to Nanny directly, and continue to bring your child, pay your invoice until the end of care. OR you may pay for 60 days of care upfront to end the arrangement immediately. Nanny tries very hard to minimize increases as she understands how hard it can be as a new parent managing new childcare responsibilities however due to rising costs, inflation, and her goal to always maintain the highest standards, quality, lowest ratio care, and to continue providing exceptional value for a shared rate of care. Nanny Share hours are between Monday-Friday 7:30AM- 5:30PM up to 9 hours of care each day. If you need before care or after care or more than 9 hours of care there is an additional monthly fee.
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Does Nanny Sarah have a child late pick-up fee?YES! When your running late, a last minute meeting, or fighting traffic it can be stressful and it’s no fun for anyone. Nanny Sarah understands exactly how you feel when unexpected things happen for any reason. You may be stressed, had a hectic day, and things just happen sometimes… these aren’t good times. And, unfortunately, these are also times when your baby still requires Nanny Sarah to care for your baby and work overtime until you arrive. Nanny Share hours are between 7:30AM-5:30PM up to 9 hours of care. If your child requires more than 9 hours of care per day no problem at all the rates are as follows: If your family needs AFTERCARE which is more than 9 hours of care per day it is an additional $10 daily (billed monthly) in addition to the regular monthly invoice. Both fees will be on the same monthly invoice. For example: If you drop your child off at 7:30AM please pick your child up by 4:30PM to avoid the aftercare additional rate. -After 5:30PM- There is a 5 minute courtesy given by Nanny Sarah for the first 2 late pick-ups however after a parent has been late 2 times total in a 12 month period. Monday-Thursday the rate changes to $30 an hour with a one hour minimum Beginning January 1, 2025 There will be no further grace period given on Friday late pick-ups. There will be an automatic late pick-up fee of $45 up to 30 minutes late with a 30 minute minimum. After 30 minutes the charge is $2 a minute. Late-pick up invoices are billed and due immediately. Any invoice not paid immediately receives a $10 a day late fee until payment in full has been received.
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Does Nanny Sarah get paid for holidays, vacation, and sick days?"All Federal Holidays, Sick Days, and Vacations are paid for Nanny Sarah. There are no refunds, credits, make-up, or rotating days if your child is sick or misses his or her scheduled care days due to vacation or family visiting.
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Does Nanny Sarah have a sick policy?When your baby’s sick, it’s no fun for anyone. Nanny Sarah understands exactly how you feel when your little one is under the weather for any reason. Your baby is cranky, you’re unhappy… these aren’t good times. And, unfortunately, these are also times when your baby can’t attend Nanny Share. For the protection of all the children in care - as well as the health of your own child and Nanny Sarah – here’s the Nanny Share Sick Policy. In order to protect the group as a whole, sick parents or exposed and or sick children must be kept at home. (NO EXCEPTIONS) In the event that a child becomes sick, the family will be notified and prompt pick-up (within one hour) arrangements must be made in order to protect the other children. Children with infectious illnesses cannot attend. Common Cold Policy Colds and kids go together… unfortunately. The younger your child, the more difficult it is to keep the spread of germs down. For example: hand to face contact, mouthing of toys, uncontrolled nasal discharge, uncovered sneezing and coughing, etc. Sick babies also take extra care and cuddles to help them feel better, which means that the ability to provide high quality care to the rest of the children is jeopardized. How Can I Tell My Baby is Sick? Any fever over 100.4° F is a sign that your child is sick. If the baby's fever symptoms seem to be in line with those associated with teething, like drooling, swollen gums and chewing on their fingers, and it's a low-grade fever, then teething is the issue Teething is OK. Sick isn’t. Children suffering from a common cold will be assessed on an individual basis. If we all have a cold, then it’s no problem for your child to come to Nanny Share. If your child is the only one in Nanny Share with a cold… sorry, but you must keep them home. A child may return when he or she is free from symptoms and no longer infectious. and contagious. The child should also be well enough to actively participate throughout the day. In any case of serious or unexplainable illness, a doctor’s medical clearance may be required prior to admission back into care. Specific Symptoms and Conditions Fever 99.9 degrees and higher (this includes the night before/morning of Nanny Share.) No fever for 24 hours without taking fever reducing medication. If you had to give your child medicine the night before then that still means they cannot come to Nanny Share the next morning. Rash - Unexplained rash (especially on the back or belly please see the doctor and bring a note stating your child is not contagious. Flu/Bronchitis/Pneumonia - Consult doctor/Need a note stating it is ok to come back to Nanny Share. This usually takes about 2-3 days before they can come back to Nanny Share. Your baby must be on antibiotics and have no other symptoms and no fever for at least 48 hours without taking fever reducing medication. Vomiting or/and Diarrhea - (Very contagious) All symptoms must be gone and no vomiting or diarrhea for a full 24 hours. Example: if the baby was sick at 2 AM, you have to have no symptoms until 2 AM the next day. Strep Throat - Consult doctor/Need a doctor’s note. Your baby must be on antibiotics for a full 24 hours and be without a fever without medication for it. Ear Infection - Consult doctor/Need a doctor’s note. Your baby must be on antibiotics and have no fever for 24 hours before returning. Conjunctivitis (red eyes with yellow discharge)/Pink Eye – (Very contagious) Your baby must be on eye drops/antibiotics for 24 hours. Hand Foot and Mouth Disease - (Very contagious) Symptoms include ulcers, or sores, inside or around the mouth, and a rash or blisters on the hands, feet, legs, or buttocks. Consult doctor/Need a doctor’s note. Child must be on antibiotics and no fever for 24 hours before returning. Head Lice - Usually takes 48 hours to treat both head and house. Your baby may return to Nanny Share when all nits have been removed and your child is cleared from the doctor. You need a doctor’s note. If you have any questions concerning this policy and whether your child should attend, please text or call Nanny Sarah before bringing your child. PLEASE BE COURTEOUS OF ALL CHILDREN IN THE NANNY SHARE AND REFRAIN FROM BRINGING AN ILL CHILD UNTIL A FULL 24 HOURS HAVE PASSED SINCE ANY FEVER, VOMITING, RASH, DIARRHEA, OR ANY OTHER COMMUNICABLE SYMPTOMS HAVE OCCURRED. Remember, the only thing sadder than a sick baby is a bunch of sick babies and parents.
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What is Nanny Sarah's Sick Policy during the Coronavirus Outbreak?March 11, 2020 Dear Beloved Families, These are trying times, aren't they? I'm here to help you... whether it's by providing advice or lending a listening ear to you as I continue to love and care for your little one. Please know that I understand how much you and your family rely on Nanny Share for your childcare needs. I want you to know that I am completely committed to continuing to provide the reliable, high quality care your family is accustomed to receiving during this public health emergency. I love your children and I want the very best for your family. My priority is to promote health and safety for everyone while protecting those most vulnerable to the coronavirus... especially your little ones. I've been staying informed with up-to-the-minute updates on Covid-19, and I'm currently taking the following steps to minimize any health risks to your children, you, and the community: enhanced cleaning procedures for toys, bedding, high chairs, strollers, and anything else used to care for the babies. social distancing, no public outings, and limited personal contact with others outside of Nanny Share since March 1, 2020. Everyone will be required to be fully vaccinated with 2 shots (Pfizer or Moderna). Parents will be required to show personal identification and vaccination cards. Nanny Share will continue to provide a safe haven for your little ones unless directed to close by the local, state or federal governmental authorities, including the CDC, in order to curtail the spread of this virus. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the following updated Nanny Share Sick Policy change is in immediate effect: If you, a family member, someone that you've had contact with, or your child has the following symptoms (or shows signs of having any of these symptoms), they may not come to Nanny Share for fourteen (14) days or until a doctor has confirmed that they are free of Covid-19 (coronavirus): fever runny nose sore throat cough headache vomiting diarrhea stomach ache difficulty breathing body aches If you need more information, the CDC website is located at https://www.cdc.gov/. As new developments occur, I'll share information on how Nanny Share will continue to operate safely and effectively while caring for the babies. Thank you so much for being a valued client. We can get through this together! With warmest regards, Nanny Sarah & Administrative Team
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What sleeping method does Nanny Sarah use?The Ferber Method is a sleep training technique that involves putting the baby to bed, leaving the room, and returning at gradually increasing intervals to provide brief comfort, such as shushing or patting, if they cry. This method helps teach children to self-soothe and fall asleep on their own. Consistency in the routine and extending the waiting periods between check-ins are crucial for success.
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Does Nanny Sarah use a discipline method?Yes! Nanny Sarah discipline methods typically focus on positive reinforcement, clear expectations, and redirecting negative behavior, including strategies like time-outs, praising good behavior, earning a sticker, setting clear rules, and calmly addressing misbehavior with open communication to help babies learn appropriate actions while fostering a safe and nurturing loving environment; avoiding harsh punishments or humiliation. Babies are learning, exploring, and it is important to allow that while also showing them love with gentle corrections in a positive way. Key elements of discipline: Positive reinforcement: Actively praising good behavior and desired actions. Clear expectations: Establishing simple, understandable rules and expectations for babies. Redirection: Guiding a child's attention to a different activity when they exhibit inappropriate behavior. Time-outs: Providing a designated space for a child to take a brief break to calm down when needed. Nanny Sarah starts this once the child is walking and over the age of one. Gentle discipline: Using respectful and supportive approaches to address misbehavior. Open communication: Maintaining clear communication with parents regarding discipline strategies and explaining that this is very normal for all babies this is how they learn, grow, and test their boundaries. Identifying the cause of misbehavior: Trying to understand why a child might be acting out to address the underlying issue. Consistency: Ensuring disciplinary actions are applied gently, fairly, and consistently.
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Does Nanny Sarah use a specific curriculum?Yes! Babies get to have fun learning from the age-appropriate curriculum from the award-winning Preschool Prep. The Preschool Prep Series uses videos, workbooks, apps, coloring, and reading books to immerse children in a fun, meaningful educational environment that makes them love to learn. When Nanny Share babies aren't having fun learning Spanish and English... ABCs Numbers Colors Phonics Sight Words Addition/Subtraction Math Drills ...Your child is playing with blocks and other age-appropriate toys, having fun in organized activities: song, musical play, wagon rides (seriously, you can't believe how cute a wagon train of smiling babies is!), going for walks or outings to the local park (weather permitting), and even learning how to bake simple things like cookies or pancakes (once they turn 2 years old). Nanny Sarah provides the solid, proven early education that your baby will thrive on while adding the little personal touches that mean so much.
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