Baby

12 Healthy and Practical Foods for 1-Year-Olds

Your 1-year-old is changing, growing, and discovering at a whirlwind pace. Making sure they’re getting the foods they need may be a concern.

Inconsistent food choices and a fickle appetite are par for the course at this age. As frustrating as it might be, this is entirely normal as your toddler establishes independence and learns to discern their body’s fullness and hunger cues.

By the time they reach 12 months, toddlers need about 1,000 calories, 700 mg of calcium, 600 IU of vitamin D, and 7 mg of iron each day to support proper growth, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (1).

With so much going on, you might be wondering how to best feed your 1-year-old without spending all day in the kitchen or chasing after them.

Here are 12 healthy and practical foods for 1-year-olds.

Around this time your 1-year-old starts to develop their pincer grasp, which involves pinching and maneuvering food with their fingertips, as they endeavor to self-feed. This is a great time to introduce finger-friendly foods.

Softer, fresh fruits are wonderful options for this transitional time and beyond. They not only deliver needed nutrients and a host of beneficial plant chemicals but also help cement healthy eating habits (2).

Slice bananas, clementines, strawberries, peaches, or mango, and slowly introduce them to your child. Avoid large pieces of fruit, as they may pose a choking hazard. Cut grapes into halves or quarters and never feed these to your child whole.

If your child doesn’t immediately take to the new fruit, don’t stress. In fact, studies show a child typically needs to be exposed to a new food 6–15 times before accepting it into their diet (3).

Soft fresh fruits can also be easily made into a smoothie or make an excellent snack when you’re on the go.

However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, make sure your child eats any cut-up fruit within 2 hours after being out of the fridge. If you’re outside and it’s over 90°F (32°C), that time shrinks to within 1 hour (4).

Summary

Soft, bite-sized bits of fruit are excellent choices, especially as your child experiments with self-feeding. Be sure they eat any cut-up fruit that’s been out of the fridge within 2 hours, or within 1 hour if you’re in hot temperatures.

As your child may be slowly weaning off breast milk or formula, it’s a good time to introduce cow’s milk.

Milk and yogurt are great sources of protein and bone-building calcium, which also benefits their developing teeth. One glass (244 ml) of whole milk offers 39% of the Daily Value (DV) for calcium that your 1-year-old needs each day, as well as 8 grams of protein (5).

While you may continue to offer breast milk until 2 years of age or longer, whole fat dairy milk or yogurt may also be introduced at mealtimes or as a snack. Yogurt can be topped with diced fresh fruit or a drizzle of honey.

Honey can be introduced now at this age, but be sure to never feed it to a child under 12 months of age. Doing so can put them at risk of botulism, a serious infection (6).

Though dairy is generally safe at this age, be sure to watch for signs of a casein allergy.

Casein is a protein in milk. It’s different from lactose, which is a sugar found in milk that many adults don’t digest well (7).

A casein allergy manifests in about 2–3% of children under the age of 3, although more than 80% outgrow it. It seems to be most prevalent in children who were introduced to cow’s milk in infancy when breastfeeding was not an option (7, 8).

Be sure to introduce new foods, including milk and dairy products, to your child slowly. In fact, it’s a good idea to do so one food at a time and wait 3–5 days between the introduction of another new food to see how their body reacts (7).

Symptoms of casein allergy include wheezing, hives, vomiting, and diarrhea. If your child experiences these or other reactions when you are introducing them to a new food, stop feeding them this food and speak to their healthcare provider (7, 9).

Also, consult your child’s pediatrician before giving them plant-based milk alternatives, as these are generally not recommended for toddlers due to their lack of essential nutrients for growth.

Summary

Whole milk and yogurt are great options as your child weans off formula or breast milk. These provide protein and support bone growth. You can offer them at mealtimes or as snacks.

Little ones won’t master the jaw-grinding motion, which helps with proper chewing, until they’re about 4 years old. In the meantime, their food must be mashed or cut up into small, easy-to-chew pieces (10).

Oatmeal is a wonderful option as your child makes this transition into chewing. It’s easy to swallow and boasts an impressive nutritional profile with a hearty heap of protein, carbs, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats (11).

What’s more, oats provide ample amounts of fiber, which helps keep their digestive tracts healthy and regular (12).

While premixed packages are tempting, opt for your own homemade blend when possible to limit their intake of added sugar. If you’re strapped for time, consider making overnight oats by simply soaking them in the fridge overnight.

Mixing your oats with milk instead of water will also pack a bit more nutrients into your child’s bowl. Serve these topped with diced strawberries, bananas, or your child’s favorite raw fruit.

Summary

Oatmeal is a nutritional powerhouse and offers an easy-to-swallow texture, which is helpful as your child develops the skills for proper chewing. Opt for homemade oatmeal over packets to limit added sugar, or try overnight oats.

Pancakes are popular among kids, and whole grains are a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Thus, whole grain pancakes are a natural solution to what to serve your 1-year-old (13).

Whole grain pancakes deliver gut-friendly prebiotics, which help feed beneficial gut bacteria. They’re also finger-friendly when cut into bite-sized pieces (14).

Whip these up or buy a mix with 100% whole grains. After sizzling them on a skillet or griddle, top them with freshly sliced soft fruits, applesauce, or a drizzle of honey.

You can even smear a very thin layer of creamy nut butter to add extra protein. Although, given that tree nuts are a common allergen, be sure to introduce this food into their diet slowly.

Summary

Whole grain pancakes are a practical and healthy choice for your 1-year-old. Whip up your own mix or buy a premade 100% whole grain mix. Top them with your child’s favorite soft fruit, a thin layer of nut butter, or a drizzle of honey.

Eggs are a powerhouse food for kids and adults alike.

They support eye health and proper brain development, and they’re rich in protein, healthy fats, and a host of other nutrients (15, 16, 17, 18).

Scramble them or serve them hard-boiled and peeled. Be sure to cut either of these into bite-sized pieces, especially as your toddler endeavors to self-feed.

Note that eggs are among the eight most common allergy-causing foods for children. Most children outgrow the allergy, but it’s important to watch for symptoms, which can include hives, nasal congestion, digestive issues, coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

Eggs can but rarely cause anaphylaxis, a severe life threatening reaction that can constrict airways or cause lightheadedness or loss of consciousness. Speak with a pediatrician if you are concerned about an egg allergy (19).

Summary

Eggs are excellent for toddlers and adults alike. They’re particularly supportive of eye health and proper brain development. Plus, they boast an impressive nutritional profile and can be part of a healthy meal or snack.

Tofu is a great source of iron, calcium, and protein — with firm tofu boasting the greatest concentrations (20).

A 2-ounce (56-gram) portion of firm tofu provides almost 1 mg of iron, or nearly 14% of the DV for your child. The same serving also provides 12% of their daily calcium needs (20).

Served sweet or savory, tofu is wonderfully versatile. Silken tofu can be blended into smoothies or mashed into bananas, avocado, or cottage cheese. Its flavor is neutral, so all this will do is provide some hearty nutrition.

Toss cubed firm tofu into soups, or stir-fry it with your favorite gentle seasonings. You can also break firm tofu up with your hands and scramble it with your favorite soft vegetables, such as diced bell peppers, tomatoes, and onions.

If your child has a diagnosed soy allergy, you want to avoid tofu. If this allergy runs in your family, you should speak with your pediatrician.

Summary

Tofu, whether silken or firm, is packed with iron, calcium, and protein. It is wonderfully versatile and can accompany sweet or savory dishes. Add silken tofu to smoothies or scramble firm tofu with soft veggies.

Soft bits of chicken or ground turkey can be great ways to incorporate more protein into your child’s diet. This nutrient is needed for proper growth (21).

Begin by feeding them puréed chicken, turkey, or soft cuts of meat. Poach the protein first, then add milk, broth, or yogurt to soften this mix in the blender or food processor. As they get more comfortable with self-feeding, sauté ground meat or cut it into small, bite-sized pieces.

Avoid any tough or stringy cuts of meat, as these might be too difficult for your child to chew or swallow. Also, steer clear of spicy or strong seasonings, which might upset their gentle stomachs.

Summary

Softer cuts of meat like chicken or turkey can be a fountain of protein for your growing tot. Feed them puréed poached meats. As they get better at chewing, sauté ground or small bite-sized pieces. Avoid strong flavors.

Avocados are a fantastic food to feed your 1-year-old. Their creamy texture is especially helpful during this transitional period, while their impressive nutritional profile supports your child’s growth (22).

What’s more, 30–40% of your toddler’s calories should come from fat, according to the American Heart Association (23).

Avocados are packed with healthy fats, which benefit your child’s brain and heart. Half a cup (75 grams) of diced, raw avocado provides nearly 9 grams of healthy unsaturated fats (24).

Cube or mash them and smear them on whole grain toast or a cracker. Experiment with blending avocado with other soft-textured fruits and vegetables, such as cooked butternut squash or sweet potato.

Summary

Avocados pack healthy fats and fiber while providing an ideal transitional texture for your toddler. Cube or mash them or blend them with other favorite fruits and veggies.

As your tyke weans off breast milk or formula, they need to hydrate. Water is an optimal choice. Fill up their sippy cups and replenish as often as they need.

Your 1-year-old should be getting at least one 8-ounce glass (237 ml) of water a day. They may need more if they’re active, ill, or in hot temperatures. Also, they will need more as they get older (25).

When in doubt, check their diapers — they should be urinating at least every 6 hours.

Summary

Water should be provided as your tyke weans off breast milk or formula. At this age, they should get at least 1 cup (237 ml) each day.

Steaming vegetables, such as broccoli, peas, and carrots, is an excellent way to introduce your child to this important food group.

Broccoli, carrots, and peas pack fiber and vitamin C. What’s more, carrots contain lutein, which supports eye health, while peas pack muscle-building proteins (26, 27, 28).

Venture out with other veggies, including steamed parsnips, sweet potatoes, and butternut squash, too. Serve these with a lemony yogurt dip or hummus.

You’ll want to hold off on serving any of these raw, as they’re still too tough to chew.

Summary

Steaming veggies softens them to an ideal texture for your growing tot. Broccoli, carrots, and peas are great choices, but feel free to venture out.

Half a cup (130 grams) of mashed beans provides nearly 39% of the DV for iron for your child (29).

Mashed beans — whether they’re black, kidney, or white beans — are a rich source of iron, which your child needs to keep their blood cells healthy (30).

Serving these alongside a food high in vitamin C, such as broccoli, diced tomatoes, or mashed sweet potatoes, will help them absorb iron much more efficiently (31).

This iron and vitamin C combo is especially important if your toddler doesn’t eat meat, as the body absorbs heme iron from animal sources more efficiently than nonheme iron from plant sources (31, 32).

Summary

Mashed beans boast impressive nutrients, including iron. This is especially important for your child’s health and helps keep their blood cells healthy. Eat beans with vitamin-C-rich foods to help boost iron absorption.

Hummus blends chickpeas and sesame butter, which pair to provide a bounty of protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals (33).

Spread hummus on some whole grain crackers or serve it alongside your child’s favorite protein source, a piece of cheese, or steamed veggie.

There are great store-bought options, but if you’re feeling inspired, this is an easy one to whip up. Simply combine a bit of garlic, sesame butter (tahini), chickpeas, and olive oil in a food processor until smooth.

Still, keep in mind that sesame seeds, which are used to make sesame butter, are among the top 10 most common food allergens, accounting for 17% of food allergies in children. Only 20–30% of affected kids outgrow it (34).

For this reason, be sure to introduce this and other sesame-containing foods to your child in very small amounts and watch for common reactions like hives and vomiting (34).

Summary

Hummus is a great food to introduce at this age, as it provides a bounty of protein, healthy fats, and other nutrients.

A lot is going on with your 1-year-old. They’re experimenting with feeding themselves, learning to sense hunger and fullness, and asserting their independence, among several other developmental milestones.

As you navigate this period of growth and change, there are many practical and healthy food choices, including fresh, soft fruits, steamed veggies, tofu, and eggs.

The key points are selecting foods that are easy-to-chew, soft, and highly nutritious.

It’s a good idea to introduce new foods in small amounts and one at a time. With each new food, watch for adverse reactions, and stop feeding them this food if you observe signs of intolerance or allergy.

However, if you suspect it’s simply a matter of taste, or if your child doesn’t immediately take to these or other new foods, keep trying. It might take 6–15 exposures to a new food for your child to accept it into their diet.

Don’t stress if their appetite is fickle or their food choices vary like the wind — this is all part of their process.

Baby Meal Plan: 12 Month Old

• Most of your toddler’s calories and nutrition should now be from solid foods

• Cow’s milk or soy milk can be introduced at this age

• Family meals encourage healthy eating and trying new foods

Your baby has made their way into toddlerhood and is starting to master the ability to eat solid foods. By their first birthday, formula and breastmilk should be reducing while solid foods will start providing most of your little one’s calories and nutrition.1,2 Expect your toddler to be eating 3 balanced meals with 2-3 healthy snacks each day.Between ages 1 to 2 years, toddlers have a great need for fat (which includes DHA), protein, and other nutrients such as iron, calcium, and choline to support their development.

For more information on nutrient needs of your young toddler, check out: Nutrient Needs and Feeding Tips for 6 to 12 Month Olds

Need some ideas for healthy snacks? Healthy Snacks for Babies and Toddlers

Transition to cow’s milk

Formula fed babies are encouraged to transition to whole milk or unsweetened soy milk at the one-year mark, while breastfed babies can continue to drink breast milk. If you’re making the switch to milk, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 16 ounces with a maximum of 24 ounces (2 to 3 cups) of whole milk daily,4 and breastfeeding moms can continue to breastfeed as long as mom and baby desire.5,6

Learn more: What Type of Milk Should My Toddler Drink?

The below 12-month-old toddler meal plan provides snack and recipe ideas to help you provide your little one with nutritious choices that will continue to influence their taste development and food preferences.

Pro tips on healthy family meals

By 12 months, your baby will be eating more and more of the foods you are. So eating as a family may become easier! In fact, making time for family meals is an important way to encourage healthy eating and appropriate mealtime behavior.7 Babies and children who are part of regular family meals are often more willing to try new foods.8

Keep in mind that even at this age, slight adjustments may be needed in the texture and size of certain foods to help prevent choking.9

Read more: Family Meals: Developing healthy Eating Patterns

If you have questions on how to prevent picky eating, reach out to our team of registered dietitians for free! They’re here to help on our free, live chat from Monday through Friday, from 8am–6pm ET, and Saturday and Sunday, from 8am–2pm ET. Chat now!

For more information on picky eating, please visit our  Picky Eating Hub.

Breakfast

• Option 1: Whole Grain Pumpkin Waffle Dippers with nut butter and 100% fruit spread

• Option 2: Unsweetened yogurt with sliced berries and granola

• Option 3: Oatmeal topped with diced cinnamon apples

• Option 4: Easy Cheesy Egg Roll-Ups

• Option 5: Banana pancakes (combine 1 ripe banana, 1 egg and 2 tbsp. whole wheat flour. Cook 3 minutes on each side over medium heat)

Lunch

• Option 1: Quesadilla made with whole-wheat tortillas, cheddar cheese and cubed avocado

• Option 2: Shredded or diced chicken or turkey with black beans and corn

• Option 3: Hard boiled egg, cubed butternut squash, sliced grapes

• Option 4: Whole grain pita “pizza” topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, spinach and broccoli

• Option 5: Easy-Peasy 5 Veggie Pasta for Baby

Dinner

• Option 1: Baby’s First Bolognese

• Option 2: Baked Seasoned Chicken Tenders & Sweet Potatoes

• Option 3: Baked fish “fingers” with roasted carrots and quinoa

• Option 4: Cheeseburger (ground beef, chicken or turkey), cut up in pieces on a whole grain roll and soft roasted zucchini

• Option 5: Fork mashed salmon and soft cooked cauliflower

Snacks

• Option 1: Baked Seasoned Tofu

• Option 2: Hummus with steamed or soft cooked veggies

• Option 3: Banana & Yogurt Muffins

• Option 4: Diced, ripe fruit

• Option 5: Shredded or cubed cheese

Let’s Chat!

We know parenting often means sleepless nights, stressful days, and countless questions and confusion, and we want to support you in your feeding journey and beyond. Our Happy Baby Experts are a team of lactation consultants and registered dietitians certified in infant and maternal nutrition – and they’re all moms, too, which means they’ve been there and seen that. They’re here to help on our free, live chat platform Mon-Fri 8am-6pm (ET), and Sat-Sun 8am-2pm (ET). Chat Now! 

Read more about the experts that help write our content! 

For more on this topic, check out the following articles and recipes:

Strategies for creating a healthy kitchen

High quality dietary fats good for you and baby

Why folate matters for babies, tots and mama

Why do omega 3s matter for babies, tots and mama

Healthy snacks for babies and toddlers

The Division of Responsibility: Helping Avoid Picky Eating

Why does choline matter for babies, tots and mama

Family meals: Developing healthy eating patterns

Nutrition needs and feeding tips for 6 to 12 month olds   

Our meal plans offer recipe and meal suggestions for your child. They are not designed to replace your doctor’s recommendations, nor do they take into account special nutritional needs, including allergies and intolerances. The meal plans suggest serving sizes that may or may not be appropriate for your child. Please consult your doctor to determine what is best for your child.

The Best Foods for Babies 10 to 12 Months – Happiest Baby

The 10- to 12-month age range is a time of incredible growth for babies. You’ll look down one day, and suddenly your sweet baby might begin to look more like a toddler. And with all the changes happening from trying to walk and talk to showing a natural, vibrant curiosity for the world around them, you’ll also notice that their food preferences will mature a bit too. 

The beauty of finger foods for babies between 10 and 12 months is that not only will your baby enjoy nutritious foods, but they will also be getting a dexterity workout too. Using their fingers and hands to pick up and feed themselves is an excellent way to practice hand-to-eye coordination and work on that vital pincher and grasping reflex.  

If you’re interested in moving away from purees and venturing into finger foods, then check out this list of snacks and meals that are perfect for your budding toddler. The best part? Most of these can be made ahead to cut down on time in the kitchen.  

Breakfast Foods for Babies

They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but it’s also a pretty big contender for the most fun. Here are five great, nutrient-packed, finger-friendly breakfasts that your little one will love. 

Overnight Oats

Fill a small jar with one part dry oats, one part breastmilk or formula, and sprinkle in some cut-up fruit, like blueberries or raspberries and a touch of pure maple syrup. Mix it up and leave it in the fridge overnight. This one is great for your baby to practice scooping with their fingers, although it is messy. 

Whole Wheat Waffles

You can buy frozen waffles or make your own and freeze them ahead of time. Make sure to look for whole wheat, and pair your waffles with fresh fruit instead of sugary syrups. Try a dollop of whipped cream (or even better: yogurt) for some added fun, and always make sure to cut up fruit to manageable sizes. 

Hard-Boiled Eggs and Toast Soldiers

Toast soldiers are a fun way to let your baby play with food. Simply toast a piece of bread and cut it into strips for dipping into the egg. Toast soldiers are great for gripping and self-feeding, especially for teething babies. Make sure that your child can handle eating toast before trying this one out. 

Cheese and Veggie Frittata

Frittatas are a lovely way to combine eggs and vegetables for your little one. Not only are they super healthy and delicious, but they’re also easy to pick up and eat. Experiment with fillings such as kale, spinach, pasteurized feta or Swiss, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, and chives. Always be sure to chop vegetables up into manageable sizes for your baby.   

Morning Smoothie

Smoothies are a fun way to get in vitamins and protein, and there are endless ways to make them. Here are a few popular combinations that your baby might like:

• Banana, peanut butter, and breastmilk or formula

• Strawberries, banana, mango, full-fat yogurt, and breastmilk or formula

• Avocado, spinach, banana, and full-fat yogurt

• Blueberry, banana, full-fat yogurt, and breastmilk or formula

Lunch Foods for Babies

If your baby is bored with bland, mashed foods for lunch, then try a few of these fun, well-balanced lunch ideas that you can easily make ahead. 

Broccoli and Cauliflower Coins

Steam and mash broccoli and cauliflower, add an egg, some almond flour, and shredded cheddar cheese. Mix ingredients together and use a one-inch melon-baller to drop balls onto a cookie sheet, flatten with a wet fork, and bake at 350 until golden brown. These veggie coins are soft, full of nutrients, and fun to dip into ketchup or applesauce. 

Beef and Barley

Make a batch of beef and barley stew and toss in peas, carrots, and other veggies. Try chopping the finished stew into a chunkier version of puree before serving with toast soldiers. Your baby can scoop with their fingers or practice using a spoon. 

Baby Charcuterie Plate

Using your baby’s favorite plate (or a muffin tin!), place bite-sized cubed cheese, crackers, cut-up fruit and veggies, and pieces of cereal for a fun way to eat a balanced meal.

Macaroni and Cheese

Upgrade the old kid food stand-by with chopped veggies like peas, carrots, sweet potato, and corn kernels.

Cottage Cheese and Dippers

Serve cottage cheese in a bowl with a small plate of dippers like toast soldiers, crackers, cut-up pieces of fruit, and soft vegetables like baked sweet potato sticks.  

Dinner Foods for Babies

By 10 to 12 months, you might already be serving your baby the same food that your family eats, albeit chopped, mashed, or cut up. Serving your baby the same foods you eat is ideal because it helps your baby develop a taste for healthy foods. If you’re looking for dinner ideas that your baby might love, check out these five options. 

Pasta Bowls

Pasta bowls are perfect because you can add almost anything to your pasta and call it a meal. Look for small pasta shapes like alphabet letters or elbows that your baby can pick up. Here are a few additions to try:

• Chopped, steamed spinach and ricotta

• Red sauce with chopped spinach

• Cooked carrots, peas, and corn kernels garnish with Parmesan cheese

• Chopped chicken, veggies, and shredded cheese

Rice Bowls

Like pasta bowls, rice bowls are also a great way to add various healthy tidbits for your baby. Simply choose a protein, a vegetable, or two, and offer some flavor options like low-sodium soy sauce or even unsweetened apple sauce. 

Beef and Lentil Stew

Good old-fashioned beef and lentil soup with lots of vegetables is a perfectly balanced meal that you can make ahead and freeze in small amounts. Your baby can use their fingers to pick up pieces of food or practice using a spoon. 

Mash

Mash some sweet potato or potato and mix in some small pieces of cooked veggies for a fun, healthy dinner. Try adding carrots, peas, spinach, kale, corn kernels, cherry tomatoes, beets, and more. 

Fish and Chips

Fish is a wonderfully healthy option for your baby, and it is so easy to eat with those sweet little fingers. Try roasting white fish with a splash of lemon and steamed veggies like asparagus or broccoli. Remember, small and soft, bite-sized pieces are your baby’s friend. 

View more posts tagged,
feeding

Have questions about a Happiest Baby product? Our consultants would be happy to
help! Connect with us at customercare@happiestbaby. com.

Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or
condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or
yourself, please contact your health provider.

what can be given, what fruits and vegetables, how to feed a 7-month-old baby on breast or artificial feeding

Healthy nutrition allows the baby to grow and develop properly. Despite the fact that breast milk remains the basis of the diet, complementary foods also become important for the child. Acquaintance with new products should be carried out carefully, starting with a small amount, monitoring the reaction and getting used to changes in nutrition. What can you eat at 7 months? The list is replenished with fruits and vegetables, cereals and mashed meats, and you can drink children’s tea or water.

Content: Hide

1. Acquaintance with new products
2. Features of the introduction of new products in the menu of new products
3. Approximate diet in 7 months
4. In what form to give products
5. The diet of the baby at 7 months
6. Important recommendation

Getting to know new products

You need to start feeding your baby gradually, moving from simple to complex. At first, it is better to use one-component products – vegetable purees or cereals. Fruits should be introduced after them, as a pleasant addition to the main course. Over time, you can add new ingredients, increase portions and make the consistency thicker, with pieces of fruit or vegetables. At the same time, the feeding scheme for each baby is individual.

Features of the introduction of new products in the menu

Pay close attention to the signals your child gives you. He is probably already full if:

• turns away from the spoon and closes his mouth;
• is easily distracted by extraneous factors;
• pushes and tries to throw food away;
• starts to eat much more slowly.

It is normal if the amount of food varies from feeding to feeding. However, if the child becomes restless, an intestinal disorder or a rash appears, then complementary foods should be discontinued and wait until all symptoms disappear, and then offer another product. Bad experiences should also be reported to the pediatrician.

Approximate diet

The child should have a clear daily routine, this also applies to the organization of nutrition. As a rule, children eat five times a day. An example menu might look like this.

First meal. Occurs at 6 a.m. and consists of mother’s milk or special formula if the baby is formula-fed. Doctors usually recommend that you breastfeed your baby for as long as possible, if possible, and add supplemental foods gradually.

Second meal. At 10 am it’s time for the children’s breakfast. The basis for it is porridge. Also, a child at 7 months old can eat boiled chicken yolk – this is a source of vitamin B12, selenium and phosphorus. During breakfast, you can offer your baby a new product. The child is already hungry enough to try it, and mom will have time to monitor the reaction throughout the day.

Third meal. Lunch usually starts at 2 pm – this is the most satisfying meal, followed by a walk. If in the morning you did not give the baby unfamiliar foods, then you can introduce something new into the diet. For lunch, vegetable and / or meat puree, porridge with a vegetable component are suitable, if the child did not receive porridge in the morning.

Fourth meal. At 6 pm, afternoon tea time. Unfamiliar products should not be present here. The main task of this meal is to replenish the energy spent in the morning and on a walk. Bebi milk porridges contain natural fruit additives and biscuits. The dish is balanced in terms of the composition of nutrients (fats, proteins, carbohydrates) and gives strength for an active evening.

Fifth meal. At 10 pm, the regimen is completed with mother’s milk or IV formula. Feeding something else is not worth it in order to exclude overeating, as well as the possible consequences of getting to know new products.

Read also: Complementary foods and dishes

How to give food

The list of what a child can eat at 7 months is already quite wide, compared with crumbs up to six months. Preparing a dish for a baby is not difficult at all. If you decide to feed your child mashed vegetables, then they need to be peeled, boiled and chopped in a blender. Fruit puree is even easier: they don’t need to be boiled, although some can be baked beforehand. Particularly hard foods can first be passed through a meat grinder, and then use a blender. Soft fruits are easy enough to grate. If you are giving egg yolk, boil the eggs for at least 15 minutes.

Why is self-catering not always appropriate? Pediatricians recommend using cereals, mashed potatoes and other industrial products when organizing the nutrition of a child at 7 months. Such complementary foods are produced taking into account strict hygienic requirements, have the necessary degree of grinding and a verified composition, including vitamins, and, if necessary, are enriched with minerals, pre- and probiotics, omega-3 and other biologically active components.

Baby’s diet at 7 months

Porridge. At the age of 7 months, porridge is already a familiar product in the baby’s diet. During this period, the volume of complementary foods per day is 150 g. Dairy cereals or fruit and cereals, dessert (for an afternoon snack), vegetable and probiotic-enriched porridges of industrial production are selected.

Vegetable puree. First foods must have soft dietary fiber. Zucchini, pumpkin, broccoli or cauliflower will do. Later, you can add carrots, beets, potatoes. Legumes are recommended to be introduced after 8 months as they can contribute to gas and bloating. Puree for a child should not contain salt or spices. You need to feed the baby gradually, starting with one teaspoon and gradually increasing the portion. For 7 months, the average volume is about 150 g.

Meat puree. If the child is prone to allergic skin reactions to complementary foods, then a rabbit or turkey is a good place to start. If you are allergic to milk proteins, beef and veal should be excluded. With iron deficiency, rabbit meat is recommended – it contains a lot of this substance. Meat puree should be combined with vegetable puree and given at lunchtime. In this combination, iron is well absorbed. In the first days, you can dilute the puree with vegetable broth or breast milk – a familiar taste will help speed up adaptation to new products.

Fruit puree. It is introduced after the child has become acquainted with cereals, vegetables and meat. For the first time, apple or pear puree is suitable – they are easier to digest. Apricots, bananas, plums and berries are medium allergenic foods, so the baby is introduced to them later. Melon, strawberries and citrus fruits can be given at the age of about one year. If you choose ready-made products, then pay attention to the composition: it is better if the puree does not contain sugar, starch and other additional components.

Baby biscuits. It can be given as a treat. Ordinary sweets are not suitable for a child at this age, as well as bread or crackers, to which he can reach. You need to choose specialized products designed specifically for babies. They are introduced into the diet in the same way as other types of complementary foods, given in the morning and monitoring the reaction.

Drinks

A 7-month-old baby should only drink water and baby tea. As for regular tea, WHO does not recommend its consumption by infants and young children. This is due to the fact that such a drink contains tannins, as well as other compounds that bind iron and other minerals, which reduces their bioavailability.

Experts also recommend delaying juices. So, in the “Program for optimizing the feeding of children in the first year of life in the Russian Federation”, the following is said about the drink: “Given their insignificant nutritional value, it is advisable to prescribe only after the introduction of all the main types of complementary foods. In addition, the use of juices, especially between meals, increases the risk of tooth decay. A large volume of juices (above the recommended amount) can serve as a risk factor for overweight in the future.

Important tip

A well-balanced diet can help ensure your child has a healthy diet and the nutrients they need to grow and develop. If your baby suffers from allergies or has other health problems, be sure to consult a pediatrician: he will tell you exactly which foods can be included in the diet and which are not worth it.

When a child refuses to eat

WHO notes the importance of repeated exposure of children to new foods during the period of complementary feeding in order to develop a healthy positive food system. There is an assumption that the baby should try a new food 8-10 times (at least), and for a clear positive perception of it – 12-15. In any case, parents are advised to offer a new product to the baby many times, since the food that the child initially refuses is often accepted by him later.

how to choose the right baby food and what is the best?

The ideal “baby food” for an infant is breast milk. However, not all mothers can breastfeed their baby, usually this is due to the health of the mother or child. It happens that the woman herself has a serious condition after childbirth and in the early postoperative period, reduced lactation or diseases in which breastfeeding is contraindicated. In such cases, the baby is given formula milk – this is the only alternative to mother’s milk. Subsequently, at four to seven months, complementary foods should be introduced into the child’s diet, regardless of whether he is breastfed or artificial. The mother is faced with the task of choosing the right baby food for complementary foods.

In this article, we will talk about what foods for babies are and how to choose the best baby food.

Legislation defines “baby food” as food products that meet the physiological needs of a child under 14 years of age. And nutrition for young children is food intended for children from birth to three years[1]. It is necessary to make a diet taking into account the age of the baby and the characteristics of his physical condition.

The Union of Pediatricians of Russia created the National Program for feeding children in the first year of life and the National Program for optimizing the nutrition of children from one to three years old [2]. They describe recommendations regarding what formula to feed the baby from birth, how to introduce complementary foods and expand the baby’s diet. These programs provide detailed information on what nutrients and nutrients should be included in the diet of children of different ages.

First you need to figure out what kind of baby food is [3]. Products for toddlers can be divided into two categories:

Milk formulas. There are for children from birth to six months (formula 1 mixtures, or initial), from six months to a year (formula 2) and from a year (formula 3). The composition of such baby food is adapted, that is, as close as possible to the composition of breast milk.

• In the initial mixtures, the amount of protein is reduced to 1. 2-1.5 g / 100 ml – in accordance with the composition of breast milk. They also changed the fat and mineral profile. The initial mixtures are enriched with such an essential amino acid as taurine, and micronutrients, probiotics, vitamins.
• After six months, the baby’s need for protein increases, mother’s milk changes its composition. And babies on artificial feeding begin to be fed with a more nutritious mixture of formula 2. Taurine is no longer always needed: the body of a baby aged from six months to a year is able to synthesize this amino acid itself. Meanwhile, the content of iron, calcium, zinc increases compared to the initial mixtures, because by this age the child’s reserves of minerals received from the mother during pregnancy are depleted, and they need to be replenished.
• A child’s diet changes after one year – he is already able to eat a variety of solid foods. However, it is advisable to continue to feed him with a mixture, though already formula 3. Pediatricians recommend it as a source of vitamins and minerals that the baby can easily absorb.

Complementary foods As we have already noted, it is introduced when the baby is four to seven months old. This interval is referred to as the “critical window” and is considered optimal for initiating complementary foods for several reasons:

1. The baby needs a wider range of minerals, vitamins and other nutrients. In addition, his baby’s digestive system is already ready to accept more solid and complex foods than mother’s milk or infant formula.
2. At this age, the child develops an interest in food, and it is necessary to offer him the right foods to develop his taste.
3. During this period, the risk of developing a food allergy to a new product is lower.
4. Timely introduction of complementary foods prevents the risk of micronutrient deficiencies and iron deficiency anemia.

Usually the first food is vegetable puree or monocomponent gluten-free cereals, dairy or dairy-free. Over time, cereals containing gluten, supplements from fruits and berries, and also consisting of several cereals are added. A six-month-old child can already be given several types of vegetables and cereals. Also, at about six months, they begin to give meat puree, then fruit, and from eight months – fish. A child from seven months is allowed the yolk.

From the age of 12 months, complementary foods already make up the majority of your baby’s diet. At this age, it is especially important to diversify the child’s diet: he can be given soups with small pieces of vegetables, meat, fish and cereals.

For information

During the first feeding, the child’s eating habits are laid, and it depends on the parents how correct they will be. Often, mothers introduce fruit juices into complementary foods too early. And because babies have an innate preference for sweet tastes, they can become naughty and stop eating the unsweetened foods they need, especially vegetables. Unhealthy taste habits are formed, which can later provoke obesity.
Domestic doctors are concerned about such irrational nutrition of young children – due to the wrong approach to nutrition, many babies experience a deficiency of vitamins and an excess of fast carbohydrates.

How to choose baby foods

Finding the right foods for your baby is not an easy task. Store shelves are bursting with boxes, jars and bottles, and manufacturers write on every second package that the baby will be healthy, strong and cheerful after feeding. Of course, the baby will receive the necessary substances, no matter what product his parents choose, because all the production of baby food is strictly controlled by the state. By the way, Russia has some of the most stringent requirements for the quality of baby food in the world.

However, products for children differ in their properties. It is necessary to select food so that by the end of the first year of life the baby has actively developed chewing skills and an interest in independence, and the diet of complementary foods is reasonably varied.

For children from one to three years of age, the diet should be even more varied. It is important that the child receives daily something new from the main food groups: dairy, vegetables and fruits, meat and fish, cereals, butter and vegetable oil. Of course, the baby’s diet should be expanded taking into account his state of health.

When organizing the nutrition of a child from the moment of introduction of complementary foods and up to three years, a mother needs not only to know what can be fed, but also to consider what foods should not be included in the diet. Among the prohibited products for children under three years of age:

• any mushrooms, vegetables and fruits in a marinade;
• pickles, preserves in tomato sauce;
• commercial juice concentrates, carbonated drinks, coffee and strong tea;
• various condiments – mustard, ketchup, hot sauces, horseradish, pepper, vinegar, mayonnaise;
• products containing flavors, industrial colors, including chewing gum;
• margarine and refractory fats – lamb, pork;
• chocolates, sweets and other sweets.

To choose the right baby food, you need to know exactly what you should pay attention to and what you don’t need to worry about.

When choosing mixtures, it is important to check:

• Absence of palm oil. Formula manufacturers may use palm oil (more specifically palm oil extract) because, like breast milk, it is rich in palmitic acid. However, in human milk, palmitic acid is in the beta position, while in palm oil it is in the alpha position. Such alpha-palmitic acid can interfere with the absorption of calcium and fats and is generally less well absorbed by the child’s body. This can negatively affect the work of the intestines, lead to constipation, regurgitation. Milk fat is better suited for baby food as a source of palmitic acid[4][5].
• Protein ratio. Human milk protein is primarily whey proteins and casein. A child needs both types of protein, while proteins are easily digested, which cannot be said about casein. If baby food contains a lot of casein, it stays longer in the digestive tract, which can cause problems with the baby’s stool.
• The presence of additional functional elements in the composition – lutein, nucleotides, pre- and probiotics. The task of lutein is to protect vision from ultraviolet rays. Nucleotides are low molecular weight compounds that promote the growth of beneficial bifidobacteria in the intestines. And pre- and probiotics in the composition of infant formulas help to establish comfortable digestion.

When choosing complementary foods, pay attention to:

• Age appropriate. It is important that in the diet of a child under three years old who receives complementary foods, special children’s products prevail – in their composition the components are selected taking into account the age-related needs of the baby’s body. It is impossible at an early age to transfer children to “adult” foods like pickles, smoked foods, fast food, and so on.
• Fortified foods. It is important that the composition contains vitamins and minerals. The National Child Nutrition Optimization Program recommends choosing complementary foods that contain elements designed to prevent anemia, rickets, and vitamin deficiencies.
• Diet diversity. The menu for a baby up to six months is quite monotonous. But as they grow older, the baby needs more various nutrients – proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals.
• To the individual reaction of the baby. If the child is already receiving complementary foods, then it is worth introducing a new product only after the previous one has been fully introduced. If the baby is allergic to the product, then it should be administered carefully, carefully checking the reaction of the body.

Ingredient safety testing is optional. Of course, the content of any “chemistry” in the product for feeding a child, whether it be a mixture or complementary foods, is unacceptable. There is no need to worry about this: baby food is carefully checked. If it is registered on the territory of the Customs Union and hit the shelves, then it complies with SanPiN 2. 3.2.1940-05 and there will be no “prohibited” components in its composition. Also, contrary to popular misconception, in Russia it is forbidden to use GMOs in children’s products.

Note

Baby food in jars (usually puree) has a short shelf life after opening, as it does not contain preservatives. However, before the jar is opened, the products can stand for quite a long time on the shelves of stores or in the refrigerator at home. This is possible thanks to a special production technology, sterilization and vacuum packaging. If a soft pop is heard when opening the jar, this is a good sign: the puree is not spoiled. But products in jars with swollen lids or a protruding bottom should not be used: microorganisms already multiply in such food, it is not suitable for food.

Features of the choice of dairy products

It is necessary to choose dairy products for babies, following the doctor’s recommendations. The specialist will take into account the health of the baby, especially if he is allergic to cow protein. In Russia, such an allergy occurs in 30–40% of children [6]. Such a reaction may occur due to hereditary predisposition and immaturity of the body. But most often, allergies go away when the child grows up.

Goat milk baby food may be a suitable option for young children with a predisposition to allergies. Its protein is perceived by the body better than cow’s: alpha-s1-casein, contained in large quantities in cow’s milk, makes a product based on it difficult to digest – food stagnates in the baby’s gastrointestinal tract, motor skills are disturbed, as a result, allergies often occur. In goat milk, as in breast milk, there is practically no alpha-s1-casein [7]. Therefore, goat’s milk, and hence the mixture based on it, are better absorbed.

Of course, with the introduction of complementary foods, other dairy products will appear in the baby’s diet. Unadapted fermented milk drinks, such as kefir, yogurt, biolact, can be introduced into the diet from eight months and in an amount not exceeding 200 ml. Also during this period, it is recommended to give cottage cheese – no more than 50 g per day, but according to indications, it can also be prescribed from the age of six months. Whole milk cannot be used as the main food, and it is advised to introduce it into the diet of babies no earlier than a year (in the amount of 100-150 ml per day) [8]. As mentioned above, it must be adapted infant milk or formula 3 formula.

To choose the best baby food, it is necessary to take into account the health of the baby, his tastes, as well as individual reactions of the body. Therefore, before going to the store, you should consult a doctor. The specialist will not only tell you which baby food to choose, but also give recommendations on how to make the child’s diet balanced and healthy.

Child nutrition at 11 months – diet, menu, routine. What to feed a baby at 11 months?

Closer to the year, children are already becoming more energetic and inquisitive. At this age, they are already wielding teeth and the child’s nutrition at 11 months becomes more diverse. Moms can already be more free in their choice of dishes. The menu is approaching the norm of “adult” food, but it is still too early to transfer the baby to the common table.

What to feed a baby at 11 months?

Both natural and artificial feeding are still included in the baby’s diet at 11 months, but these sessions are getting shorter and shorter. At the end of the year, the baby’s menu is already so diverse that the still unexplored natural foods of children at 11 months fit into a short list. Basically, these are allergic provocateurs:

• nuts;
• certain seafood;
• honey;
• exotic fruits.

The list of permitted is much longer:

• cereals;
• meat and fish products;
• fruits and vegetables;
• fermented milk products.

Breastfeeding at 11 months

By the age of one, babies already have an extensive diet. However, experts say that there is no need to stop breastfeeding at 11 months, but it is better to extend the process until the baby reaches the age of two years. The best way to prolong a baby’s natural feeding at 11 months is to breastfeed more often to stimulate milk production.

Complementary foods at 11 months

The range of products that can be fed to a child at 11 months is expanding significantly day by day. The kid has already managed to try a lot, and now the combination of ingredients and the serving size are only changing. In one go, crumbs can be offered porridge, egg yolk and even a fruit dessert – mashed potatoes. The nutrition of a child at 11 months is required to be balanced and varied. At this stage, new foods may appear in the diet. If you haven’t started giving your baby fish yet, now is the time. Norm of the day – no more than 50 g of fish puree from lean varieties:

• river perch;
• zander;
• saithe;
• hake;
• walleye pollock;
• haddock.

How to properly feed an 11 month old baby?

One of the most pressing questions is how much food should a child receive at 11 months?

Pediatricians advise limiting one-time food intake as follows:

1. Infant formula should be given no more than 200 ml per feeding.
2. It is better to reduce the portion of porridge to 150 g.
3. If you offer yogurt to your child, then it should not be given more than 150 ml.
4. Cottage cheese is enough for 50 g in one sitting.
5. Meat puree can already be given more – up to 60 g.
6. Shredded fish fillets can make a 40g serving.
7. When offering an egg, it is better to refrain from protein, but the yolk, introduced into complementary foods from 7-9 months, remains in the standard portion – ½ part per feeding.
8. Fruit puree can be given 100 g and vegetable puree up to 200 g.

11-month-old baby’s diet

Every mother knows how many times to feed her 11-month-old baby. Five meals a day is stored from six months and for life. However, the time of the meal in the children of “larks” and “owls” may vary. The diet at 11 months is calculated taking into account the time the child wakes up and goes to bed.

Early risers:

• 6:00 am – 7:00 am – Women’s milk replacer or breastfeeding on waking;
• 9:00-10:00 – full breakfast;
• 13:00 – 13:30 – hearty lunch;
• 16:30 – 17:30 – dinner;
• 20:00 – 21:00 – Women’s milk replacer or breastfeeding before bed.

Owl babies:

• 9:00 a.m. – Women’s milk replacer or breastfeeding on waking;
• 11:00 – 12:00 – hearty breakfast;
• 15:00 – 15:40 – a full meal;
• 18:30 – 19:30 – protein-carbohydrate dinner;
• 21:30 – 22:00 – Women’s milk replacer or breastfeeding before bed.

Nutrition for a child at 11 months – menu

Regardless of the fact that the menu for a growing baby at 11 months will have an extensive menu, nevertheless, such children’s cooking has multiple rules and restrictions:

1. Mode – five meals a day, where the first and the second meal is milk and formula.
2. Ban on fried and fatty foods. Preference should be given to steam processing.
3. Restriction on sweets and salt.
4. No need to grind food to a puree. You can just cut the ingredients into small pieces.
5. Allergic ingredients are strictly prohibited from appearing on the baby’s table.
6. The introduction of new products should be carried out gradually, starting with minimum doses of ½ teaspoon.
7. Drinking regime must be observed strictly. Pure water, in addition to juices, must be present.

11 month old baby’s diet on day

When compiling the baby’s menu, it is worth remembering that the diet at 11 months must necessarily meet all pediatric prescriptions. The norm for children of this age is 1000 – 1200 kcal per day at the rate of 115 kcal per kg of the child’s weight. BJU in this case can be found out according to the schemes:

• proteins – 3.5 g x per child’s weight in kg;
• fats – 5.3 g x per child’s weight in kg;
• carbohydrates – 13 g x per child’s weight in kg.

For five meals, the child should receive the BJU and calories in full. Here we must not forget about vitamins and minerals, so that all products must be introduced into the diet. Sample menu for a child for a day at 950-1000 kcal will look like this:

1. First feeding: breast milk or SFM (200 g) – 130-140 kcal.

2. Breakfast:

• oatmeal porridge with milk (150 g) – 153 kcal;
• egg yolk (8-10 g) – 35 kcal;
• children’s cookies (10-15 g) – 40-60 kcal;
• pear puree (50 g) – 25-27 kcal.

3. Lunch:

• vegetable marrow stew with potatoes and cauliflower (100 g) – 36 kcal;
• veal meatballs with zucchini and steamed rice (50 g) – 57 kcal;
• a slice of white bread (8-12 g) – 27 kcal;
• sweet biocurd “Theme” (40 g) – 45 kcal;
• banana (40 g) – 39 kcal.

4. Dinner:

• cottage cheese casserole with semolina (50 g) – 70-80 kcal;
• kefir 2.5% (150 ml) – 70-75 kcal;
• apple puree (50 g) – 41 kcal;

5. Last feeding: mother’s milk or its substitute (200 g) – 130 – 140 kcal.

Cottage cheese casserole

Ingredients:

• low-fat cottage cheese – 180-220 g;
• semolina – 1 tbsp. a spoon;
• fresh egg – 1 pc.;
• granulated sugar – 20 g.

Preparation

1. Pour semolina with warm water for 1 hour to swell.
2. Grind cottage cheese through a fine mesh sieve.
3. Beat the egg with sugar and combine with cottage cheese and semolina.
4. Pour the resulting mass into cake molds and bake for half an hour at 170°C.

Baby 11 months – food for a week

Wholesome nutrition for a baby at 11 months The menu should be balanced and not monotonous so that the child does not go in cycles in a certain type of porridge or puree from one vegetable. So that the dishes are not repeated, you can make a diet table for the whole week. To do this, it is better to study the recipes in advance and draw up the optimal menu.

Child’s menu on IV at 11 months

With unnatural feeding, the nutrition of a baby at 11 months will not differ dramatically from that of an infant only in the first and final feeding. The break between meals is normally 3-4 hours:

1. 6:00. Baby food for an 11 month old baby is the first breakfast. 200 ml of the mixture is enough to satisfy the hunger of the crumbs after sleep.
2. 9:30-10:00. For an afternoon snack, it is best to offer a child 150 g of porridge with butter (5 g). Dessert – 50 g banana.
3. 13:00-14:00. For lunch, it is wiser to cook vegetable soup with lean veal broth (150 g), squash, pumpkin or cabbage puree (80 g) and give 10 g of white bread.
4. 17:00-18:00. Cottage cheese (50 g), 2-3 pieces of Heinz cookies and a glass of kefir are ideal for dinner.
5. 21:00-22:00. Before going to bed, the child must be fed with milk formula in a volume of 200-210 ml.

Vegetable soup

Ingredients

• beef broth – 400 ml;
• salt – 1 pinch;
• potatoes – 1 tuber;
• carrots – ½ piece;
• zucchini – 100 g;
• cauliflower – 80 g.

Preparation

1. We clean and chop all the vegetables into small cubes, and sort the cabbage into small inflorescences.
2. Put all the vegetables into the boiling broth and cook the soup over medium heat for 20 minutes.
3. At the end of cooking, the dish should be slightly salted.

Breastfeeding baby’s menu at 11 months

Feeding a baby at 11 months on an artificial substitute for mother’s milk is not much different from the diet of a naturalist. The difference is only in the morning and night feeding, when the baby receives natural mother’s milk:

1. 6:00 – breastfeeding.
2. 9:30-10:00 – a hearty breakfast with porridge (150 g), several children’s livers (10 g), a piece of “Peasant” butter (5 g) and half the yolk.
3. 12:30-13:30 – for lunch, you can offer your baby fish (40 g) or steamed meatballs (60 g), and finely chopped or squeezed boiled vegetables (100 g) as a side dish. For dessert, fruit juice in a volume of 10 ml.
4. 17:00-18:30 – dinner is better to make protein or carbohydrate. Cottage cheese casserole (50 g) or porridge (150 g) will perfectly satisfy the baby’s hunger before evening feeding.
5. 21:00-22:00 – breastfeeding.

Steam cutlets

Ingredients:

• turkey meat – 120 g;
• salt – 1 pinch;
• zucchini – 35 g;
• turnip onion – 15 g.

Preparation

1. Grind the fillet with vegetables in a blender until creamy and add a little salt.
2. We form small cutlets and put them in a double boiler.
3. Steam meatballs should be cooked for 20 minutes.

The menu of an allergic child at 11 months

Mothers of allergic children often ask themselves what to feed their child at 11 months, how to diversify the menu and how to introduce complementary foods. The most important thing is to exclude all allergens from the diet, and expand the diet gradually and strictly for one product.

Baby Drooling? 5 Revealing Things About Your (Adorable) Drooling Monster

Photo by YinYang / iStock

Bibs aren’t just for meal time! By the time your baby is around two months old, you may find yourself with more and more soggy blankets, drool rags, and onesies. Sure, non-stop drool can be messy, but it’s not just a slick, slippery hassle—infant saliva serves some very important purposes in your little one’s development. Here are some of the burning questions we’ve heard about drool, and the, ahem, easy-to-digest answers:

1. I swear the drool started coming out of my baby overnight. What gives?

Researchers believe a baby’s excess drool production is connected to a developing digestive system—so the appearance of drool is likely a sign that your baby’s digestive system is in full development mode. Great! Saliva is vital for digestion—which is why your mouth waters when you smell a delicious dinner on the stove. While drool can be, well, wet, that saliva protects your babies’ gut and may also protect her toys and other objects with disease-preventing proteins and antibodies. Cool, right?

2. Why does so much drool fall out of my baby’s mouth and onto her shirt?

It’s a matter of muscle. Saliva glands in your mouth produce around 2-4 pints of saliva every day: Adults don’t notice as much because we’re pros at keeping accumulation down by swallowing (and a row of mature teeth act like a dam to keep the flow in). Babies, however, don’t develop full control over their swallowing muscles and the muscles around the mouth until they are between 18 and 24 months. Hence: baby = drool faucet.

Everyone Belongs In Our Circle

At KinderCare, we’re committed to building warm, welcoming and supportive classrooms for children of all abilities, backgrounds and experiences.

Find a center near you

3. I heard an increase in drool means my baby’s teeth are on the way.  

According to some, drooling is considered a classic sign that your baby’s teeth are getting ready to push through the gums. But there’s not necessarily a direct connection. While it’s true that drooling is very common for children around 2-3 months old, and typically lasts until a child reaches 12-15 months-s (roughly the same age that teething begins) drooling merely means your baby’s salivary glands are starting to fire up after not being needed as much when eating easy-to-digest milk. When your baby develops motor skills like chewing on her hands, motor receptors in her mouth send signals to the brain to initiate saliva production, a sign that she may be ready to eat. Basically, your baby develops the muscles and digestive saliva just as soon as she needs it to eat solid foods. Amazing!

4. She goes through 8 bibs a day or more. Seriously. Is there anything I can do to stem the drool flow?

While carrying around so many drool-catching bibs may take up more real-estate in your diaper bag, it’s important to remember that drooling, and even an abundance of drool, can be healthy. In his blog on excessive drooling, Dr. William Sears notes that “saliva bathes the teeth and gums, washing away accumulated food and bacteria. ” It helps babies break down food, and does all kinds of good things for the gut. The drool fest should end when all of his teeth are in.

A Lifetime Of Confidence Starts Here

Our teachers help every child build the confidence they need to try new things and explore the world around them.

Search for a center near you

5.  The drool was alright, but the resulting rash has me worried. What can I do?

Sometimes drool can lead to a rash around the mouth, owing to irritation that arises from excess moisture. To keep drool from getting in contact with baby’s skin, do wipe the drool off often with a soft, gently cloth. Because babies drool at night as well, before bed time, apply an moisture barrier ointment around his mouth and cheeks: Your pediatrician can guide you to the creams that are best for your baby, depending on his age.

General Tokens > CTA Block Token

General Tokens > CTA Block Token

Major Milestones

Teething

Caring For Kids

Infant

Health

Infant (0-1)

Understanding Your Drooling Baby – Playtime Pediatric Dentistry

October 25, 2020

It’s typical for babies to drool throughout the various stages of their oral development. It’s not a guarantee, but your baby will most likely start drooling at about three months of age. Drooling is a good sign, as many researchers say that drooling is a sign of a developing digestive system. You may have a baby that drools a lot, or you may have a baby that drools a little. If your baby is drooling a lot, it could be due to underdeveloped muscles in their mouth. The other cause is as simple as excess saliva production. If excess drooling is a concern, you can visit our office, and we can provide guidance. Continue to read and learn more about understanding your drooling baby.

Understanding Your Drooling Baby and Salivary Glands

We have six salivary glands that produce saliva, and when these glands produce excess saliva, we tend to drool. The saliva glands produce 2-4 pints of saliva every day. Adults have teeth and complete muscle control to keep the saliva from running down our shirts. Your little one will gain control of their swallowing muscles between 18-24 months of age.  

Drooling Baby And Developmental Cues

As a parent, you will find yourself looking for developmental cues to make sure your little one is progressing into the next phase. Drooling usually begins at about 2-3 months of age. The first drooling phase lasts until the child reaches 12-15 months of age. Your child is entering the teething stage, which means that drooling will most likely increase. Remember, saliva bathes the teeth and gums, helping wash away excess food and bacteria. 

Muscular Development and Baby Development

If your baby is drooling and blowing bubbles, you know that the baby is on track in physical development. In other words, these actions signify that your little one has entered a new stage of growth. If your toddler begins to drool after smelling food, you know that their sense of smell is growing. 

Is your child ready to eat solid food? 

Look out for when your little one begins to chew on their hands. This is a sign of their motor skill development and that they may be ready for solid food. When your baby chews on their hands, the motor receptors in their mouth signal the brain to begin producing saliva. This is another good sign. 

About Saliva
Saliva is comprised of enzymes that are useful for the baby to digest semi-solid or solid food. These enzymes help neutralize stomach acid, and saliva helps grow the baby’s intestinal lining completely and protects the lining of the esophagus from irritation. Saliva is sticky and slick and plays a role in binding food together to help swallow.

Your Childs First Dental Exam
The Canadian Dental Association recommends scheduling your infant’s first dental appointment at six months of age. At that time, we can answer any questions about drooling and your child’s development. Our goal is to spot any problems right away and help you fix them. Schedule a dental exam for your child.

Share Ella’s Insight:

“What a fantastic place to bring your child!!! Dr. Ella is the best. I don’t think any other dentist would have been able to cope with my son but she has the patience of a saint and the most calming manner. I can’t recommend higher. Also, I got a checkup phone call that night just to make sure everything was good, which it was, and could hear the concern in her voice. So special! We’ll be back in 6 months time for regular check ups.

– Lindsay F.”

Why a baby drools

Contents

After the birth of a baby and as he grows up, something new can be observed in his development every day. It is impossible to ignore the symptoms that are alarming for the mother, for example, increased salivation after the second month of life. The baby drools, which at first does not cause any discomfort to the child, then, after a few days, the salivation becomes more abundant, and the mother has to change clothes more often on the baby. If the child’s chin is constantly under the influence of saliva, then it becomes irritated, inflamed, and then the baby begins to show concern, because irritation and a rash cause him pain. Why the baby drools, and what characterizes this phenomenon, we will consider later in the article.

1. Teeth coming soon!

The main cause of increased salivation in babies is preparing the gums for teething. This period can start from 2 months and continue during the first year and a half of the baby’s life. The teeth can move even in the gum itself and cause pain to the baby. And saliva softens inflamed gums and has an anti-inflammatory effect, as nature itself intended. In this case, you are unlikely to cope with salivation, but you can help the teeth to be born by buying baby teething toys and special teethers, for example, filled with water. They can be cooled in the refrigerator and given to scratch the gums of the child. Pain will be much less intense.

2. Intensive work of the salivary glands.

The salivary glands are not yet fully formed, and during the first year of life they may “test” their work from time to time. There is too much saliva, the baby is not able to swallow it all, and it flows out. Fortunately, such periods are short-lived and are quite rare, but nevertheless they take place.

3. Bacteria control.

From the age of three months, the baby puts rattles in his mouth. And the older you get, the more you want to try “by the teeth”. Any dirty object can cause an unpleasant disease in a child – stomatitis. The body wants to get rid of the causative agent of infection by all means, and since saliva has bactericidal properties, the oral cavity is literally washed by saliva from microbes. Hence the complaints of parents about increased salivation in babies.

4. Hypersalivation.

I would like you to never come across this term in everyday life. In this case, increased salivation may be a sign of a more serious condition. Parents should monitor every change in the behavior and health of the child. It is necessary to consult with a specialist to rule out brain diseases, unequal systems, and the presence of tumors.

Hypersalivation is one of the signs of the disease, usually the primary one, because it is quite difficult to determine the discoordination of movements in infancy, because the baby is still just learning everything. The neurologist and pediatrician will see the picture more clearly, so do not jump to conclusions, but be on the lookout.

What to do and how to help a child with increased salivation?

The fact that the baby is drooling in most cases indicates teething. It is useless to fight this, you cannot influence this process. But to make life more comfortable for yourself and your child – it is quite possible for you too:

• so that clothes do not become saturated with saliva, put on special collars with a waterproof lining for your child;
• on the street, try to give the baby a pacifier, it will help the baby swallow saliva;
• baby’s gums are itchy, so you can massage them with a clean forefinger, gently pressing on the expected teething areas;
• gel for gums will cool the inflamed areas, relieve redness and in a couple of seconds the child will be calm and not hurt.

Remember that excessive salivation in a child is a temporary phenomenon, with the eruption of the first main teeth, the child will be much easier and saliva will no longer be released in such a large amount. Wait out this period, and to avoid making false diagnoses, contact a specialist – your local pediatrician. Easy teething to you, be healthy!

Related:

1. Why does a newborn’s chin shake?

Want to be the first to read our content? Subscribe to our telegram channel or VKontakte group.

We are in Zen – join us!

Our Blog in – Pulse Mail.ru

Abundant salivation in infants. Why does excessive salivation occur in a child and how to get rid of it? Increased salivation and nausea

The long-awaited day has come and the baby was born, which was so reverently nurtured under the heart of the mother for 9 months. No one and nothing can burden the joy of motherhood. Constant lack of sleep, care for the little one, cooking, cleaning … All this is nothing compared to the sensations that young parents experience after each cooing and smiling of their baby. What surprise parents are given if their 2-3-month-old baby began to salivate intensely. Bibs have gone to the entrance and everyone is waiting for the first tooth to appear. When does saliva normally begin to flow in children, and why does a two-month-old baby salivate so much?

Why does the baby salivate?

There is an opinion that if a baby is salivating, it means that the first tooth will appear soon. This opinion is not always shared by pediatricians, because pediatrics clearly states that the first tooth in a baby erupts at about 6 months from birth. Let’s look at this issue in more depth. An interesting fact is that the salivary glands have the ability to produce saliva even at the stage of intrauterine development of the fetus. Why does a child drool at such an early age?

When is excessive salivation normal?

This article talks about typical ways to solve your questions, but each case is unique! If you want to know from me how to solve your particular problem – ask your question. It’s fast and free
!

Parents should not be surprised if their beloved baby drools a lot. This is a normal physiological process, conceived by nature itself. Parents should be alerted by the side symptoms that accompany their increased excretion in the little one. Therefore, one should know when such a physiological process should cause an alarming reaction, and when it is the norm and does not require any medical intervention.

Newborn

An increase in salivation can be observed in the first months after birth. In newborns, this process is nothing more than a protective function.

It is the secretion of saliva that can prevent infection from entering the oral cavity in the first weeks after birth.

In addition, saliva has another important function in newborn babies, especially between 2 and 5 months of age. Thanks to special enzymes that are part of saliva, starch is broken down into sugar. This allows the gastrointestinal tract to adapt favorably to a new environment, promotes the proper process of digestion, and normalizes bowel function.

At 1 month

The swallowing reflex in the newborn is not yet fully developed, but the active work of the salivary glands stimulates the production of saliva. The baby at 1 month has not yet learned to swallow, although the young mother notices his swallowing reflex when breastfeeding.

Not understanding what he should do with the saliva in his mouth if he is already full, the logical action for him would be to let the saliva go out – to his parents and it seems that they are flowing in a stream down his chin. Mom and dad should then make sure that the baby does not choke on saliva while lying on its back – it is best to put it on a barrel. Also, keep your baby’s chin as dry as possible.

At 2 months

At 2 months of age, salivation does not decrease, but increases even more? It is worth examining the baby’s mouth. Often, excessive salivation may indicate an inflammatory process in the mouth, for example, stomatitis. A child at 2 months old requires special attention if drooling comes in bubbles (we recommend reading:). If the tongue is covered with a white coating, then the pediatrician should be informed about this, who will recommend an effective remedy for candidiasis.

At 3 months

Why does a three-month-old toddler have so much saliva and he literally lets it flow? At 2-3 months, children are already beginning to learn about the world around them. Their attention is attracted by nearby toys, which they strive to pull into their mouths. The thought creeps up that here it is – now the teeth should definitely erupt. Do not rush – everything has its turn.

In the third month of life, the amount of secretions from the gland, normally, should visually decrease. The child has already learned to hold his head, so some of the branches from the salivary glands can already flow into the stomach. Moreover, closer to the 4th month, the swallowing reflex begins to automate. Do not worry – salivation is considered the norm if the baby:

• calm;
• cheerful;
• active;
• playful;
• does not refuse food.

Symptoms that require a pediatrician’s consultation

A healthy child with parents and its correct development is a great happiness. Strong salivation, if it is not accompanied by other symptoms of abnormalities, requires only a timely change of clothes and bibs. Unfortunately, sometimes an immediate consultation with a local pediatrician is necessary. We list the symptoms in infants that should alert parents and require immediate consultation with a pediatrician:0003

• Salivation continues and is accompanied by difficulty breathing through the nose and increased body temperature. It is possible that the baby caught the virus – it is required to determine its etiology.
• The child’s eyes turned red, his nose is stuffed up, he coughs and sneezes frequently. These symptoms may indicate an allergic reaction. At two or three months and up to a year, the development of allergies in an infant can be provoked by pollen from flowering houseplants, dust, detergents, children’s hygiene products and pets.
• Thickening of the tongue and its constant protrusion from the mouth with profuse salivation. This may indicate a dysfunction of the endocrine system.
• Thick, cloudy saliva may indicate the presence of helminths. The pediatrician will prescribe the appropriate tests, the results of which will help to refute or confirm the suspicions.
• If by 3 months the baby does not hold his head, his fontanel pulsates, he does not sleep well and constantly cries, then he should be shown to a neurologist. Developmental pathologies are not excluded.
• Is excessive salivation accompanied by a runny nose and sneezing? Immediately call the pediatrician at home – these are symptoms of SARS.

The child cannot yet tell on his own where he has pain. You should carefully monitor the behavior of the baby and, at the slightest suspicion of a deviation from the norm, immediately inform the pediatrician.

After two months, the baby may notice a lot of saliva. In the future, salivation only increases, which causes discomfort to the crumbs. As a result, clothes and bedding get wet, irritation and inflammation begin on the chin. In addition, saliva falls not only on the chin, but also on the cheeks on the chest.

Therefore, irritation, dryness and inflammation can also occur in such places. Let’s see why the baby drools. We will learn what to do if a baby drools in bubbles or they flow very strongly, how to help the child and make the life of the crumbs more comfortable.

Causes of increased salivation

Teething is the main cause of this phenomenon. after three or four, and in some babies even after two months. The teeth move in the gums and cause severe discomfort, while saliva softens this irritation and even relieves inflammation.

At this time, it is important to give your baby chews on special teething toys. Gel cooling teethers help well, which are put in the refrigerator for a while before use. Cold products will soothe the gums, relieve inflammation and itching, and reduce salivation.

In the first year of life, the salivary glands are still being formed, so the newborn may suffer from increased or profuse salivation. Saliva is secreted in large volume, and the baby simply cannot cope with swallowing. This is a temporary phenomenon that does not occur often and disappears with age.

More often you will see thick and viscous saliva in the baby, which helps the baby to suckle. Due to salivation, the baby is comfortable and easy to suck on his mother’s breast, to extract breast milk. In addition, copious drooling occurs when the baby constantly sucks his fingers, bites or chews on his fist, puts objects and toys in his mouth. What to do if the baby sucks his finger, read.

Saliva contains enzymes, antibacterial and antiviral substances. Therefore, it is important to protect the baby from various diseases, including stomatitis. The child’s immunity is just being formed, in addition, the baby loves to drag various dirty objects into his mouth. This increases the risk of infections, while saliva, in turn, performs a protective function and disinfects the baby’s mouth, skin and body. Thus, the oral cavity is washed and cleansed of harmful bacteria and microbes.

In each of the above cases, the excessive formation and salivation of the baby gradually decreases and disappears after a year. However, there is a pathological disease that must be treated. In this case, increased salivation is called hypersalivation. It is the primary sign of any pathological disease. With hypersalivation, you need to urgently consult a doctor to establish an accurate diagnosis.

How to help a baby

To reduce skin irritation and skin inflammation, to make life more comfortable for a child, a number of preventive measures can be taken for excessive salivation, which include the following:

• Wipe saliva with hypoallergenic, sterile, natural, fragrance-free soft wipes. Throw away the tissue after each use;
• Lightly dab rather than rub the skin on the chin. Friction will only exacerbate irritation;
• Observe . Wipe the skin of the chin and chest several times with a soft sponge or towel moistened with warm boiled water;
• To soften and moisturize the skin, use a special baby cream, milk or lotion. Carefully check the composition and expiration date of the product. It is important that the cream has a natural safe composition and is appropriate for the age of the child. Choose products containing vitamins A and E. They effectively soften the skin, restore and protect the skin;
• To protect clothing, hang a special fabric bib or collar with a waterproof lining. They perfectly absorb moisture. Do not tighten the bib around the neck too tight!;

• Place a folded diaper under your baby’s head to protect bedding. Such a diaper will quickly absorb excess saliva;
• Lay the baby on the tummy. This procedure has a positive effect on the development of the child, prevents the deformation of the skull and the formation of an umbilical hernia, improves digestion and reduces salivation. In addition, it will help drain the saliva that usually accumulates in the mouth when lying down. possible already in the first week of life;
• Regularly change your bib, diaper or clothing as soon as they become very wet, with clean and dry items. Wash bedding and underwear, baby clothes separately from adult clothes and only with safe hypoallergenic products. Since such products are close to the baby’s skin and can easily provoke allergies, aggravate skin irritation on the chin, cheeks or chest;
• Watch your baby’s teeth, give special teethers to reduce pain and inflammation. You can also lightly massage the gums with your finger using gentle circular motions. Remember that the finger must be clean!;
• Use occasionally as they help baby swallow saliva. But do not give the pacifier too often, otherwise the child will be difficult to wean from it.

As we mentioned earlier, copious amounts of saliva can occur if the child sucks, chews or bites on a fist or finger, this may indicate that the baby wants to eat or drink. In addition, such a process can also be caused due to teething. Do not try to wean the child from sucking, as this is an innate reflex that will eventually go away on its own.

Strict prohibitions or screaming due to the fact that the baby sucks his finger or fist can negatively affect the mental development and nervous state of the baby. In no case do not smear your hands with mustard, garlic, salt and other similar means! They can cause allergies and poisoning in a child, burn the oral cavity and esophagus. Show and pay more attention to the baby. Distract the baby from the bad habit with games, activities, exercises and gymnastics. Try to find out and eliminate the cause of this behavior.

When to see a doctor

Unfortunately, hypersalivation can sometimes occur in a child. If you notice too much salivation, as well as blisters of saliva in the baby, contact your pediatrician! This can be a symptom of diseases such as candidiasis, middle ear or nervous system diseases, upper respiratory tract pathologies, hypersensitivity and allergies, digestive and endocrine system diseases, severe poisoning or gingivitis, severe stress and nervous tension in a child.

With stomatitis, you may notice associated symptoms such as white spots and sores on the mucous membrane in the mouth and near the mouth. Each disease causes severe discomfort in the baby. He will sleep badly and often cry, act up, eat poorly. The chair and work of digestion can be broken, temperature rises and puffiness is observed. The examination will help to identify the problem and eliminate the disease at an early stage.

The deviations listed above are rare. Basically, the increased compartment disappears as soon as the work of the salivary glands normalizes, the baby stops putting fingers, a fist or other objects into his mouth, or when most of the teeth erupt. As a rule, the volume of saliva is reduced by the age of one. However, for some children, this problem can torment up to two or three years. In this case, be sure to go to a neurologist.

If a child has a runny nose, it is often associated with increased salivation. The combination of profuse salivation and runny nose speaks of a cold, SARS, tonsillitis, allergies. In this case, be sure to consult a doctor so that he can diagnose and prescribe the right suitable treatment.

Every mother will be alarmed if her little child has profuse salivation. However, from birth, most babies have this problem. Let’s try to figure out why this happens and what are the reasons for this phenomenon.

Causes of excessive salivation

Every newborn has salivary glands with low secret activity.

Saliva should be viscous in texture and should be secreted in small quantities. The causes of excessive salivation in a one-month-old baby may relate to the immaturity of the salivation regulation system. As a rule, there is nothing wrong with this, because the activity of the glands is just beginning to grow. The most common cause of excessive salivation is teething in a baby. Everything will be back to normal as soon as the teeth erupt. Allergic rhinitis is also often the cause. Diseases such as viral infections, bactericidal or birth defects should also be noted. These reasons require the intervention of a specialist. To begin with, you should go to an appointment with a pediatrician, and he will already write out a referral as needed for consultation with other specialists.

Excessive salivation in children, what should I do?

Naturally, the abundant saliva of the baby should be constantly wiped. Otherwise, wet clothes can cause irritation and rashes. A good solution would be to purchase a bib. In case of irritation, you can smear the area around the mouth and chin with petroleum jelly or baby cream. However, make sure that the baby does not lick the ointment. At the age of three months, the intensive formation of the salivary glands and endocrine glands begins in children. But babies can only swallow at this age when they suckle, so a lot of saliva is normal.

Dangerous signals

Causes of excessive salivation in children older than three years require the intervention of doctors.

– They may talk about birth defects that interfere with swallowing. The child cannot swallow, a large amount of saliva accumulates in the mouth.

— Pseudobulbar syndrome may be a possible cause. It consists in the pathology of the muscles of the pharynx, tongue or upper palate.

– Causes of excessive salivation can relate to allergic rhinitis, both seasonal and year-round. The diagnosis made and the treatment carried out will automatically remove this problem.

Need to calm down

To stop living in speculation and drawing the most terrible pictures in your head, you just need to seek the advice of a pediatrician. In most cases, such dangerous syndromes are not confirmed.

Many mothers of babies periodically encounter the fact that for some reason the child begins to salivate very abundantly. In some cases, if the baby has increased salivation, there may not be any cause for concern, but sometimes excessive salivation can be one of the signs of a serious illness. Therefore, if a baby suddenly began to produce saliva in large quantities, parents need to quickly identify the causes of excessive salivation and take appropriate measures.

Causes of excessive salivation in infants

There are various causes of excessive salivation in infants. The most common causes include:

Teething

This is the most likely, common cause of excessive salivation in infants. The gums of a baby during teething become very inflamed, itchy and sore, causing severe discomfort to the child. And saliva, due to its anti-inflammatory properties, has a calming effect on the gums, dulling the pain and, as a result, improving the overall well-being of the baby. In some children, the preparation of the gums for the appearance of teeth begins as early as the second month of life. Therefore, there is no need to be afraid if

Intensive work of the salivary glands

The child has not yet established the work of the salivary glands. It happens that the baby produces more saliva than he is able to swallow, and then it flows out of his mouth. This is due to the fact that the salivary glands in babies under the age of one year are still being formed. You should not worry about this, the baby is growing and soon the work of the salivary glands will be established, and the profuse salivation will stop.

Bacteria control

Stomatitis in babies is quite common. After all, kids pull into their mouths all the objects that fall into their hands – both during teething, when the gums itch, and just out of curiosity – for a child this is one of the ways to learn about the world around them. Therefore, it is very important to keep the toys of the crumbs clean and make sure that he does not pull dirty objects into his mouth (which can result in stomatitis). If any infection appears in the oral cavity of the baby, then the baby’s saliva begins to be produced very abundantly. This is a protective reaction of the body, because saliva has bactericidal properties.

If the parents suspect that their child has some serious illness, then you should immediately consult a doctor. Indeed, in rare cases, saliva begins to be abundantly secreted in such serious diseases as a disorder of the nervous system and a brain tumor.

Despite the fact that there may not be anything particularly dangerous in increased salivation, the baby’s parents still need to take certain measures. After all, an abundance of saliva will lead to the fact that the baby will have skin irritation on the chin and neck. Such a rash will cause considerable discomfort to the baby: the skin will itch, the affected areas will hurt, sores may appear. Of course, it is unlikely that parents will be able to stop profuse salivation. But you can take the following actions:

• Massage the baby’s gums with a clean finger, gently pressing on the inflamed areas.
• Sometimes give the baby a pacifier – this will help the baby to swallow saliva more often.
• Change your child’s clothes more often. Since saliva runs down the chin to the neck, in order to prevent skin irritation, care must be taken to ensure that the child always has dry clothes.
• Use special baby teething gel cream. Thanks to the menthol in its composition, such a gel relieves inflammation well, making the baby feel better.
• Give your baby rubber teething rings so he can scratch his gums on his own. It is advisable to pre-cool such rings, then they will also help relieve inflammation.

Why your baby is drooling and what to do about it (video)

In this article:

Folk wisdom says: if a baby drools, teeth will soon come out. However, doctors do not share this statement, despite profuse salivation at 2-3 months, the first teeth usually appear after the sixth month.

Is it worth it to rush to the doctor and look for problems in excessive salivation?

Why saliva is needed

Baby’s salivary glands are capable of producing saliva while still in the womb. A couple of months after birth, salivation increases significantly. Thus, nature took care of protecting the child’s body from various infections that enter the mouth.

Another useful quality of saliva that is worth noting is the breakdown of starch into sugar thanks to special enzymes that are part of it. This property has a positive effect on the digestion of food that enters the baby’s stomach. And less painful teething is also her merit.

Increased salivation

Despite the above, there are times when increased salivation is worth paying close attention to. Drooling in a 2 month old baby may be more likely to be associated with a runny nose than teething. If the baby, with abundant salivation, also breathes through the mouth, this may indicate a nose clogged with snot. If there is no runny nose, and the baby is drooling, why not examine his mouth to exclude the presence of sores or inflammation of the oral cavity.

Closer to 6 months, the baby’s salivation can really increase, and this will be the first evidence of the imminent appearance of the first teeth. Effectively wetting the gums, saliva reduces the pain caused by teething. During this period, pay closer attention to the dryness of clothes – frequent change of blouses and the use of a bib are more relevant than ever.

If your chin is irritated from excess moisture, you need to lubricate the delicate skin of the baby several times a day with a cream with vitamins A or E.

Do not forget that at the age of 3 months a baby drools like water also because he does not know how to swallow them, and salivation seems to be increased to parents.

When to rush to the doctor

If the baby is characterized by profuse salivation, mothers may hear: wheezing in the chest or a strong cough. In this case, to exclude a viral infection, it is worth contacting a pediatrician. If coughing and wheezing are due to the fact that a 2-month-old baby is drooling, but it happens that they sometimes accumulate in the larynx, it is quite often to spread the crumbs on the tummy.

If you suspect inflammation, stomatitis, thrush, you should also rush to the doctor because of increased salivation.

After examining the baby, the pediatrician will answer why the baby is drooling.

Excessive Drooling Days in Babies are Over

×

Need Help Choosing Your item?

I don’t need help, thank you

Baby Survey

Does the child have Inflammation pain? For example:

Teething
Red Cheeks
Fever

Select a button below

Toddler Survey

Does the child have Inflammation pain? For example:

Teething
Red Cheeks
Fever

Select a button below

Older Child/Pre-Teen Survey

Survey: 5-12 years

Does the child/pre-teen have Inflammation pain? For example:

Fever
Growing Pains
Sports Injuries
Early onset Arthritis
Other inflammation pain

Select a button below

Teen & Adult Survey

Is there any Inflammation pain? For example:

Fever
Growing Pains
Sports Injuries
Early onset Arthritis
Other inflammation pain

Select a button below

Baby Survey

Is the child experiencing gut pain? For example:

Colic
GERD
Reflux
Constipation
Eczema

Select a button below

Baby Survey

Is the child experiencing gut pain? For example:

Colic
GERD
Reflux
Constipation
Eczema

Select a button below

Baby Survey

For babies and young children, we offer a wide range of products that contain all natural Baltic Amber, Hazelwood, and other elements. ..

There are a variety of intended benefits, such as relief for inflammation, gut pain, and even emotional ailments. Check out our selection below!

All Products Asthma & Breathing Separation Anxiety Anger & Stress Stress, Anxiety, ADHD Emotional Support

Toddler Survey

Is the child experiencing gut pain? For example:

Colic
GERD
Reflux
Constipation
Eczema

Select a button below

Toddler Survey

Is the child experiencing gut pain? For example:

Colic
GERD
Reflux
Constipation
Eczema

Select a button below

Toddler Survey

For babies and young children, we offer a wide range of products that contain all natural Baltic Amber, Hazelwood, and other elements…

There are a variety of intended benefits, such as relief for inflammation, gut pain, and even emotional ailments. Check out our selection below!

All Products Asthma & Breathing Separation Anxiety Anger & Stress Stress, Anxiety, ADHD Emotional Support

Older Child/Pre-Teen

Survey: 5-12 years

Is the child/pre-teen experiencing gut pain? For example:
Acid Reflux
Heartburn
Constipation
Eczema
Acne
Other gut pain

Select a button below

Older Child/Pre-Teen

Survey: 5-12 years

Is the child experiencing gut pain? For example:
Acid Reflux
Heartburn
Constipation
Eczema
Acne
Other gut pain

Select a button below

Older Child/Pre-Teen Survey

For Older Children and Pre-Teens, we offer a wide range of products that contain all natural Baltic Amber, Hazelwood, and other elements…

There are a variety of intended benefits, such as relief for inflammation, gut pain, and even emotional ailments. View our selection of Pre-Teens inventory below!

All Products Asthma & Breathing Sadness & Depression Anger & Stress Stress, Anxiety, ADHD Emotional Support

Teen & Adult Survey

Is there any gut pain? For example:

Acid Reflux
Heartburn
Constipation
Eczema
Acne
Other gut pain

Select a button below

Teen & Adult Survey

Is there any gut pain? For example:

Acid Reflux
Heartburn
Constipation
Eczema
Acne
Other gut pain

Select a button below

Teen & Adult Survey

We offer a wide range of products that contain all natural Baltic Amber, Hazelwood, and other elements…

There are a variety of intended benefits, such as relief for inflammation, gut pain, and even emotional ailments. View our selection of inventory below!

All Products Asthma & Breathing Sadness & Depression Anger & Stress Stress, Anxiety, ADHD Emotional Support

When Do Babies Stop Drooling? (And How To Tell It’s Excessive)

..”>“When do babies stop drooling?”

“Does it ever stop?”

These are the questions I used to ask myself with our first child, and I believe that they are also the questions many parents all over the world ask themselves. Fortunately, the answer is yes. It’s not a matter of if but a matter of when. However, there are certain cases that your child’s drooling might be a little bit excessive.

More…

When Do Babies Stop Drooling? (And How To Tell It’s Excessive)

Drooling – What To Expect From Your Child
Why Do Some Babies Drool Excessively?Age and Diet

Neurological DisorderOther Reasons

Should I Have My Child Treated for Drooling?
Why Should I Care About My Child’s Drooling And What Can I Do?

Working With A Health Professional

Drooling – What To Expect From Your Child

Drooling, or the involuntary flowing of saliva outside the mouth is a normal part of your child’s development. This is particularly the case during the first two years of his life. He hasn’t developed full control of the muscles around his mouth yet, preventing him from fully swallowing his saliva when he has to. Here’s a quick overview of the developmental stages of your child’s drooling.

• 0-3 Months: From your child’s birth until his third month, he may not drool a lot when he’s reclining, although he may drool when he’s in a sitting position.
• Six to Nine Months: At six months, your child’s drooling is more controlled when he’s in the supine position, but not very well when he’s seated. At times, he will also drool as a response to certain foods, and may also drool when he’s teething, babbling, or even when playing with or reaching for objects. By nine months, he’ll still be drooling in response to teething, but not as much when he’s engaged in rolling, crawling, and other gross motor activities.

• 15 to 18 Months: At 15 months, drooling may still be observed when your child is teething or when he’s engaged in fine motor activities like playing with blocks. This will eventually stop when he reaches 18 months of age, although he may still drool when feeding, dressing, or teething.
• 24 Months: As your child reaches this stage, his drooling should have gone minimal.

Why Do Some Babies Drool Excessively?

As mentioned, drooling in infants is a result of their inability to control their muscles around the mouth. This typically stops around the age of four. For some children, however, it may be excessive. In such cases, the drooling may be a symptom of developmental delay or a medical condition.

Any food, activity, medication, or medical condition that leads to poor muscle control, difficulty swallowing, and unrestrained production of saliva may also cause this. Many people think that drooling is a result of hyper salivation, also known as sialorrhea since it gives the appearance that it is so. However, it is not always necessarily the case.

The following are common causes and risk factors for excessive drooling in children.

Age and Diet

Drooling is normal in newborns and will peak between the third and sixth months of the child when he has become more active. During this period, drooling is considered normal, especially when your child is teething.

Any diet you give your child that is high in acidic content can also cause him to drool excessively. Additionally, as your child’s diet changes and his chewing skill begins to develop, he will need to learn to control the amount of saliva that fills his mouth when he’s not eating.

Neurological Disorder

Some children drool excessively due to a neurological disorder that decreases their control of their facial muscles. Cerebral palsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease all cause muscle weakness and affect a person’s ability to close his mouth and swallow saliva properly. Down syndrome and childhood apraxia of speech may also cause excessive drooling in children.

Here’s another video showing how this condition is treated through therapy.

Other Reasons

• Your child is teething. Drooling isn’t necessarily a sign of teething, but when your child is going through the process, he will drool a lot.
• Your child’s mouth is constantly in an open posture. Since swallowing requires that the mouth is closed, a child’s constant open mouth posture may be a primary reason he’s always drooling.
• Your child is engaged in a motor activity that requires balance. It’s normal for children to drool when they’re acquiring a new motor skill. When the skill has become automatic for them, the drooling related to the activity stops.

Should I Have My Child Treated for Drooling?

You don’t necessarily have to get treatment for your child’s drooling, unless it has become excessive and has resulted in physical skin damage around the mouth or if it’s a result of a more serious condition such. Even doctors would say that it’s normal and won’t recommend any form of treatment if your child is still under four.

The only time treatment would be required is when your child is already over four years old, and his drooling has become severe. Severe drooling is characterized by saliva dripping from the lips to the clothing and usually interferes with daily activities and creates social problems. In very rare cases, and usually only among adults, severe drooling may lead to saliva being inhaled into the lungs, causing pneumonia.

Treatment options are usually on a case-by-cases basis. Your doctor may perform a physical examination and come up with a management plan that suits your child’s need the best.

Why Should I Care About My Child’s Drooling And What Can I Do?

Aside from the fact that excessive drooling can be messy, it can also lead to social problems. This is especially true if your child looks perfectly healthy and doesn’t seem to have any conditions that may result to him drooling in the first place.

​

Moreover, drooling may be a sign of a serious underlying condition, and without early intervention, may lead to something worse. The good news is there are several steps you can take to help minimize your child’s drooling, especially if you know what’s causing it.

• If your child is drooling as a result of teething, a good way to deal with it is to provide him with a teething toy. If your child is already over a year old, you may want to give him some cold food items to help soothe his gums. Make sure you are supervising your child when giving him something to chew on to avoid choking.
• If you have a toddler, ask him to close his mouth and keep his chin up when eating. Explain to him that doing so will help him swallow his food better and not drool.
• ​The sight of sweet food alone can cause drooling, while intake of such can lead to excess production of saliva. Saliva contains amylase, the enzyme that helps break down starch into sugar. If your child is drooling, do not offer him any sweets.
• Your child may also drool when he has a sore throat as a result of a cold. He will have a hard time swallowing when his throat is hurting. Offering him cold diluted juice or water may help keep his throat moist and lessen his drooling.

Working With A Health Professional

Drooling is a normal part of a child’s development and should be minimal as soon as he reaches two years old. If you’re concerned about the severity of your child’s drooling, you may want to seek help from a therapist. A licensed professional will help you determine the primary cause of your child’s excessive drooling and provide methods to intervene. In most cases, a therapist may suggest the following:

• Increase your child’s oral-sensory awareness to help him assess when his mouth and face is wet.
• Help your child achieve and maintain a closed mouth posture.
• ​Improve his head and trunk control for a more controlled and efficient swallowing. Improve his oral-motor control to help him with swallowing.

​Working with a health professional in dealing with your child’s drooling will give you peace of mind. Most importantly, it will help your child receive the exact help he needs.

Recommend Products:

SE Single Jogging Stroller

Check Price

Solo Kids Bike Trailer

Check Price

Zupapa Trampoline

Check Price

12V Powered Kids Ride On Car

Check Price

Similac Sensitive Infant Formula

Check Price

Did you like what you’ve just read? Click any of the share buttons below to spread the word! And please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section. Thank you!

←Previous post
Next post→

Teething baby symptoms and remedies

Just when you thought you’d made huge progress with your baby and managed to establish some sort of reasonable sleeping routine, their first tooth makes an appearance and you find yourself right back to square-one, waking up with them through the night to comfort and soothe them.

When your baby’s first tooth arrives it is both exciting and frustrating as your child may suddenly become more irritated from discomfort, drool excessively and wake during the night with sore gums and rashes around their mouth.

Baby’s First teeth

A baby’s first teeth (milk teeth) actually develop whilst the child is growing in the womb. Every baby experiences teething slightly differently but in most babies the milk teeth start to emerge through the gums when they are around 6-7 months old. However, there is a spectrum of normal with some babies showing their first tooth emerging as early as 3 months old and others not teething until after their first birthday.

Pattern of tooth growth

The most common milk teeth to appear first are the two front teeth in the lower gums, followed by the two front teeth in the upper gums. Then the pattern goes outward with lateral incisors, which are the next spot over, followed by the molars closest to the opening of the baby’s mouth. Finally the canines appear on either side of the lateral incisors and the last are the second molars in the very back of the gums. The American Dental Association Tooth Eruption Chart illustrates this nicely.

Teething Symptoms

Teething symptoms can precede the actual appearance of the tooth by as much as 2-3 months. Your little one clearly won’t understand why they are waking in the middle of the night with achy gums or why the skin around their mouth is so itchy but here are the top teething symptoms to be on the lookout for with practical tips on how to manage them.

Drooling

Teething stimulates your baby’s mouth to produce more saliva and results in excessive drooling. If you notice that your little one’s clothes are often soggy with saliva, try placing a simple bib to gently wipe their chin throughout the day to keep them more comfortable.

Biting

Pressure from the new teeth emerging through the gums causes the baby to be in a lot of discomfort. Biting a cooled teething ring is a good way to relieve the discomfort and offer some counter-pressure on the gums.

Crying, irritability and waking at night

Some lucky babies sail through the teething process with little disruption in their sleep whilst others struggle with a significant amount of pain which wakes your little one up periodically through the night and makes them more unsettled during the daytime. The pain is due to inflammation of the tender gum tissue as the tooth pushes through to emerge at the gum line. It is much like when you or I have dental pain and are unable to think of anything else, your baby will cry and be grisly when they are in pain from their new teeth. This may result in irritability for a few hours to a few days. Once you have exhausted all natural pain remedies, a simple acetaminophen (Tylenol) for children is a useful and sensible way to soothe your baby periodically. Do not use over the recommended doses on the box and do not mix it with other pain killing agents.

Ear pulling and cheek rubbing

The gums, cheeks and ears share nerve pathways and so an ache in the gums can travel and be felt in the structures nearby. As such some babies may tug at their ears or chin when teething. A baby tugging at their ears could also be a sign of an ear infection so make sure you consult your Paediatrician to exclude this first.

Refusal to feed

The suction of nursing may irritate the gums of a teething baby which will make it sore for them to latch on and feed. Teething babies will tend to be quite fussy about feeding and be frustrated as they are also hungry at the same time. Babies who are already on solids when teething may refuse food for a few days at a time. It is important to maintain hydration when food is refused and if this pattern continues for more than a few days then it is best to see your Paediatrician to assess their hydration status.

Teething rash around mouth

Teething stimulates your baby to produce more saliva and drool. The excess saliva produced can cause chafing, chapping and redness to the skin around their mouth and neck. Using a protective bib can be helpful as a barrier and also to gently wipe their mouth. Barrier products such as organic nipple cream or Coconut oil can also be used to form a protective moisture barrier and soothe chapped skin around the mouth.

Coughing

The excessive drool will also be swallowed by your baby and this may cause them to cough and gag. Try to keep them upright during the daytime where possible to prevent positional gagging.

Loose stools

A lot of mothers tell me that their baby has looser stools when they are teething, possibly related to poor feeding of solids and also swallowing excessive saliva during this time. The saliva is more acidic when a baby is teething to help the new teeth to emerge through the gums and this acidity can also affect the gut and cause the stool to be looser. If the loose stool lasts for more than a few days at a time then highlight this with your Paediatrician to exclude signs of dehydration and other underlying causes.

Low-grade fever

Many mothers report that their baby often has a low-grade fever when teething which is due to the immune systems response to inflammation in the gums. Any fever greater than 101 should be escalated to your Paediatrician.

IMPORTANT: Teething does not cause high fevers and you should see your Paediatrician if your baby presents with a raised temperature over 101 to exclude other underlying causes.

 

7 Teething remedies

Mothers complain to me about the vicious cycle of teething pain and then the baby refusing their food and drink which leaves them hungry and even more irritable. So what really works? Here are seven teething remedies to soothe your child.

1. Counter pressure
   

   Cooled teething rings and teething toys can provide some counter pressure to your baby’s gums which will be soothing. You can place these teething rings in the fridge to ensure that they are the optimal temperature for your baby.

2. Chewing
   

   Chewing is another way of providing counter pressure on the gums and can relieve some of the discomfort the baby is experiencing as the teeth push through the gum lines. As mentioned above, specially designed teething rings are available which can be placed in the fridge to give some instant relief to your little one. Be sure not to put the teething rings in the freezer as very cold temperatures can also hurt sensitive gums. See our Teethers & Rattles section for non-toxic teething toys.

3. Cold drinks and food
   

   Icy food to suck on and chilled food to eat and drink can provide numbing properties to help soothe the baby’s inflamed gums. Frozen, mushed-up fruits with the chunks removed can be soothing and appetizing as is cold yoghurt. Using a mesh-feeder you can safely get rid of any chunks in foods and give your baby nutritional, cool foods to eat whilst teething.

4. Frozen wet washcloth
   

   Using a wetted clean, soft washcloth which has been in the fridge can provide simple and fast relief when applied to your baby’s gums.

5. Pain relief
   

   If you have tried all of the natural remedies to no avail, as an absolute last resort using some children’s Tylenol can be sensible and appropriate short term. Try not to use more than the recommended doses for your baby and do not to mix with other pain relieving agents.

6. Massage
   

   Using thoroughly washed hands you can also try gently massaging the baby’s gums as counter pressure, but just be prepared for a little nibble.

7. Comfort
   

   Extra cuddles and patience are especially helpful to comfort your baby until the tooth has finally come through.

 

Ultimately the key here is to temporarily soothe your baby’s gums so that you can help them to eat and drink whilst the teeth are coming through.

What to Avoid Giving a Teething Baby

 

1. Homeopathic remedies containing Belladonna
   

   Belladonna is part of the deadly nightshade family. Although it’s common for homeopaths to use belladonna to treat a variety of ailments, it’s always meant to be diluted heavily, leaving none or or only trace amounts. I advise parents not stay away from any products containing this ingredient.

2. Teething gels and numbing agents
   

   While teething gels were once considered an acceptable method to help soothe teething pain, due to safety concerns their use is now discouraged. The main ingredient in most teething gels is benzocaine which is an anesthetic that the Food and Drug Agency (FDA) have reported can cause a rare condition called Methemoglobinemia, a condition in which oxygen carried in the bloodstream is reduced to dangerous levels. These gels only have very temporary effects either way and wash away from the gum line within minutes. For these reasons the FDA issued warnings in 2006 and again in 2014 advising against use of these products in children under the age of 2.

 

Non-Toxic Teething Toys

Dangerous chemicals and materials can lurk in teething toys. So it’s important to do your research about what to avoid when choosing teething toys for baby. See our article on How to choose non-toxic teethers.

For a selection of cute, safe and non-toxic teethers, see our Teethers & Rattles section.

My cat drools a lot

Cats are animals that tolerate pain so well that they will only complain when they can’t take it anymore. Therefore, it is very necessary to pay attention to any changes that occur in their behavior in order to quickly identify our friend’s discomfort and act accordingly.

One of the most alarming symptoms is excessive salivation. Sometimes it may not mean anything serious, but other times you need to see a veterinarian as your life could be in danger. However, if you are interested why my cat drools a lot , here you will find your answer.

Index

• 1 The reason for excessive salivation
• 2 Poison
• 3 Pain in the mouth
• 4 stress or fear
• 5 Nausea and / or vomiting
• 6 In the mouth
• 7 For pleasure

C reason salivation

Excessive salivation, also known as ptyalism , it can have a variety of origins. There are more and less serious ones, and these are:

Poisoning

If your furry pet has swallowed something in a bad state, or if he goes outside and eats insecticide-treated grass, salivation will be one of the first symptoms. But it will not be a little saliva and that’s it, but it can act like foam, that is, that it can expand and cover the entire mouth of . This can also happen if you put a pipette on him or sprayed him with flea and tick spray and he licked it, thus ingesting the product.

This is very dangerous, so if you see your friend drooling like this, wipe him off quickly with a dry cloth. If you think your cat may have been poisoned, here are the symptoms of poisoning in cats.

Pain in the mouth

If you are injured, if you have an infection in your teeth, tartar and/or gum disease, you will have trouble swallowing saliva so he will tend to “pull it out”.

This is especially true in older cats when they already have osteoarthritis, but even if your fluffy pet is younger, you must not let your guard down .

Stress or fear

When people are stressed or afraid, we feel our pulse quicken, our pupils dilate, and our body prepares to fight or flee. Well, in the case of cats, something similar happens, but in addition to this set of symptoms , drool is added to them.

One of the most common times we see him drooling is when we have to take him to the vet. Almost no animal likes to go there, so many, because they cannot control the situation, they produce more saliva than necessary.

Nausea and/or vomiting

A cat that is nauseated and/or vomits often drools. This usually worries us a lot, but if the vomiting is sporadic and the animal is fine, it may just have swallowed the fur and is trying to expel it. However, If this is accompanied by other symptoms, or if you vomit for several days in a row, you should contact your veterinarian. because you may have hairballs, an internal parasitic infection, or a serious digestive tract disease.

Foreign body in the mouth

If you give your cat leftover food, especially if you give her fish or chicken, it is convenient to remove both the spines and the bones Because they can get stuck in your cat’s mouth or neck, causing pain and, of course, excessive salivation.

You can give fish and meat without problems, but clean the fish first. Bones should always be raw, otherwise they may crack. This is very important too give them something bigger than their mouth so he has to chew on it. So you can enjoy delicious and natural food, and you will not have to worry about anything 🙂.

For pleasure

Uncommon, but there are cats who drool a lot when they are very relaxed simply because they feel very comfortable. They can also do this when they smell their favorite food and know that you are going to give it to them at any moment.

To be honest, I have not seen this behavior in my cats, but in one of my dogs. The amount of saliva that can be thrown out is impressive. when she’s happy or when she’s nervous because she knows we’re going to go where she likes.

Do? Nothing, just enjoy the happiness of your furry. What could be better than a gift?

Excessive salivation or ptyalism is the body’s response to something that harms it, such as in the case of foreign bodies in the mouth, or to calm, relax and/or be happy. Going to the vet will depend on the origin, but we must be aware that whenever a cat feels unwell, paying him a visit won’t hurt Well, as we’ve seen, drooling can be an indicator of illness.

I hope this issue has solved your question about why my cat drools so much. If in the end you have a problem, take courage and calmness that recovery is usually fast . Soon he will be the same as always 😉.

Can people get worms from cats and dogs – how and where

Most of us deworm our pets to rid them of parasites, but it is also important to reduce the risk of infection for ourselves. Here you will find our recommendations on what parasites your cat or dog can get and how you can reduce the risks to yourself and your family.

Roundworms or hookworms

People can get roundworms in a variety of places, so it’s important to know where they predominate and how to practice good hygiene. After ingesting roundworm eggs, the larvae hatch and “migrate” throughout the body, causing organ damage such as blindness or respiratory failure. Here are some ways of infection with nematodes:

From puppies and kittens

One nematode can produce up to 250 thousand eggs per day. Infection of puppies can occur in the womb, and puppies and kittens – through mother’s milk during feeding. Remember to wash your hands after contact with puppies and kittens, and also anthelmintic them according to the instructions for use of the drug in order to act on these parasites.

Through pet faeces

Roundworms can cause disease in humans if microscopic eggs in the faeces of infected dogs and cats are accidentally ingested. Be sure to bag your pets’ feces and clean up their feces regularly when walking in the yard to limit the potential risk of spreading parasites. Always wash your hands after handling dog or cat feces.

Through the soil

Roundworm eggs can survive in the soil for many years. People may come into contact with them while gardening, and young children are at risk of infection if they do not wash their hands after playing outside. In addition, roundworm eggs can stick to your pet’s coat, especially if your dog or cat likes to dig in the ground. So always wash your hands after petting your pet.

Tapeworms

Tapeworms are flatworms that parasitize the intestines. The small, egg-filled segments separate and are excreted through your pet’s feces. Although they are inanimate, these rings remain mobile for some time. If your pet has tapeworms, you may notice tiny moving white segments (parts of the worms) that look like rice grains around the anus or in the feces.

Dogs and cats can become infected with tapeworms by ingesting infected fleas while hunting, scavenging for food, or eating raw meat or offal. When infected with tapeworms from fleas, symptoms such as itching in the tail area, vomiting and diarrhea appear.

People can also get tapeworm from fleas by accidentally ingesting an infected flea (for example, petting their dog or cat that is infested with fleas). Some types of tapeworm can also cause what is known as “hydatid disease” in humans, where cysts form in organs that can cause serious illness or death. Cysts formed by Echinococcus larvae are difficult to treat and control, so it is important to reduce the chance of infection by treating the dog preventively, avoiding contact with garbage, wild animals, and maintaining good hygiene.

Hookworms or hookheads

Pets can become infected with hookworms by ingesting larvae from the soil, penetrating the skin, or eating infected rodents or birds. Symptoms of hookworm infection are not common in adult dogs, but the consequences can be very serious in young dogs including diarrhea, lethargy, anemia, and even death.

Hookworms can also infect humans. If you walk barefoot on an infected area, the larvae can penetrate the skin and cause irritation and itching. When outdoors, wear shoes whenever possible to reduce the risk of hookworm infection. It is also possible to swallow the larvae.

Symptoms include itching of the skin at the sites of penetration. Some hookworms can cause overt infection with symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and anemia, while others can cause bloating.

Deworming Treatment

Pet owners can choose from a line of deworming products, including Advocate ^® Cat Deworming Drops and Advocate ^® Dog, Profender ^® Cat Deworming Tablets and Drontal ® ^{Deworming Tablets} for cats and Drontal ^® plus for dogs. For simple deworming of cats, Profender ^® can be used. Profender ^® targets intestinal worms commonly found in cats and is available in an easy-to-apply wither drops. Deworm your adult pets at least once every three months to control intestinal worms and prevent worm infections in humans.

You asked: Why do 5-month-old puppies drool?

Contents [show]

Teething puppies often experience severe pain in their gums and mouth. Because of this, they usually drool more often than before. Even if your puppy tends to drool excessively, you will likely notice an increase in salivation during teething.

Why does my 5 month old puppy drool so much?

Drooling can be the result of a problem with your dog’s salivary glands, such as an infection or blockage, but in some cases, drooling can also be a sign of liver disease or, unfortunately, kidney failure. In older pets, it is also possible that a growth in the mouth, which may be cancerous, may also cause excessive salivation.

Why does my puppy drool so much?

Caries, gingivitis, tartar formation and swelling in the mouth and/or throat cause dogs to drool more than usual. Diseases of the mouth and teeth, if they progress, can cause serious illness throughout the body and even be life-threatening in some cases.

But children with developmental disabilities often drool excessively and for longer than other children. This includes children with autism, many of whom have delays and difficulties with muscle control and sensation.

Why is my 7 month old puppy drooling?

Your puppy will have a full set of adult teeth, 42 in total, by about 7 months of age. Your dog will undergo many changes. Drooling is just one of them. Because your puppy’s adult teeth are knocking out his baby teeth, his gums and entire mouth can be sore and painful.

Why is my 6 month old puppy drooling?

Frequent drooling

Teething puppies often experience severe pain in their gums and mouth. Because of this, they usually drool more often than before. Even if your puppy tends to drool excessively, you will likely notice an increase in salivation during teething.

Can teething cause puppies to salivate excessively?

Puppy teething symptoms

Signs that your baby is teething include: Drooling. Excessive chewing.

Dogs can also drool and lick excessively when they are nervous. Changes in the eyes and ears. Stressed dogs, like stressed people, can have dilated pupils and blink rapidly.

Salivation is usually caused by excess saliva in the mouth. Conditions such as acid reflux and pregnancy can increase saliva production. Allergies, tumors, and infections above the neck, such as tonsillitis, tonsils, and sinusitis, can make swallowing difficult.

How long will my puppy be teething?

Teething in puppies is intense but usually ends when adult teeth appear at six months. Relieve teething pain and change the direction of chewing by providing puppies with safe chew toys.

Some signs of autism may appear during infancy, for example:

• limited eye contact.
• no gestures or directions.
• lack of joint attention.
• no response to their name.
• muffled emotions in facial expression.
• absence or loss of language.

03/19/2021

Have autistic children been reached to be picked up?

Because they have difficulty paying attention and understanding language, autistic children usually do not respond to their name when it is called. Do not follow an adult’s index finger. A typical 12 month old baby will look when their parents are pointing at something. Not reaching out to be taken away.

How do I know if my child has autism?

How to recognize the signs of autism

• May not make eye contact or make little or no eye contact.
• Unresponsive or unresponsive to parent’s smile or other facial expressions.
• Cannot look at objects or events that the parent is looking at or pointing to.
• Cannot point to objects or events for parents to look at.

1.04.2021

Why is my 8 month old puppy drooling?

Drooling can be caused by many things, including nausea, ingestion of toxins, dental disease, mouth ulcers, etc. Check his mouth for any abnormalities and make sure he is eating and behaving normally. If he is currently taking any medication, this could be the culprit.

Why does my dog ​​drool when he meets a puppy?

Many people notice that their older dog starts to drool in the first few days when a new puppy comes into the house. Why is this happening? Drooling in dogs is usually a sign of mild stress or anxiety and usually resolves once the older dog gets used to the new puppy.

How can I keep my dog ​​from excessive salivation?

Oral Hygiene Issues

The best way to prevent this problem and associated drooling is to brush your dog’s teeth regularly, make sure he has plenty of teeth, and get regular checkups with the veterinarian.

Find Babysitting Jobs Hiring Near Me Now

Find a job that fits what you’re looking for.

New jobs posted every minute – search for free.

Join free to get started
Join free to get started

Jobs / Babysitting Jobs

Babysitter Needed For 3 Children In Mililani. – We are looking f…

Part Time
•
$15 – 20/hr
•
Starts
10/06
•
Mililani, HI

We are looking for a great babysitter for 3 children in Mililani.

Babysitter Needed For 3 Children In Wilmington. – We are looking…

Part Time
•
$16 – 20/hr
•
Starts
10/04
•
Wilmington, NC

We are looking for a great babysitter for 3 children in Wilmington. We would prefer a babysitter who has their own car, who does not smoke and who is comfortable with pets.

Babysitter Needed For 2 Children – We need a babysitter for our…

One Time
•
$20 – 30/hr
•
Starts
10/09
•
Morgan Hill, CA

We need a babysitter for our 2 children in Morgan Hill. And we’re looking now! Some light tidying up would be part of our caregiver’s responsibilities.

Babysitter Needed For 1 Child In Washington. – We are looking fo…

One Time
•
$17 – 22/hr
•
Starts
10/10
•
Washington, DC

We are looking for a great babysitter for 1 child in Washington. We would prefer a babysitter who does not smoke and who is CPR certified.

Babysitter Needed For 1 Child – I’m looking for a great babysitt…

One Time
•
$13 – 20/hr
•
Starts
10/05
•
Naperville, IL

I’m looking for a great babysitter for 1 child. We would prefer someone who could help out with light housekeeping.

When do you want a job?

Right Now
Right Now
Within a week
Within a week
In 1-2 months
In 1-2 months
Just browsing
Just browsing

Babysitter Needed For 1 Child – Seeking a babysitter near Alphar…

Part Time
•
$14 – 19/hr
•
Starts
12/01
•
Alpharetta, GA

Seeking a babysitter near Alpharetta for 1 child. Hoping you can start within days! We do have pets, so please consider that when applying.

Babysitter Needed For 2 Children – I’m looking for a great babys.

..

One Time
•
$24 – 25/hr
•
Starts
10/10
•
Newtonville, MA

I’m looking for a great babysitter for 2 children.

Babysitter Needed For 1 Child – Seeking a babysitter near Baton…

One Time
•
$15 – 15/hr
•
Starts
10/06
•
Baton Rouge, LA

Seeking a babysitter near Baton Rouge for 1 child. Hoping you can start within weeks! Animal lovers please apply (we have pets)! You should be willing to help with homework.

Babysitter Needed For 3 Children – Seeking a babysitter near Vir…

One Time
•
$15 – 20/hr
•
Starts
10/14
•
Virginia Beach, VA

Seeking a babysitter near Virginia Beach for 3 children. Hoping you can start immediately!

Babysitter Needed For 1 Child – Seeking a babysitter near Dallas…

Part Time
•
$13 – 17/hr
•
Starts
10/06
•
Dallas, TX

Seeking a babysitter near Dallas for 1 child. Hoping you can start immediately!

When do you want a job?

Right Now
Right Now
Within a week
Within a week
In 1-2 months
In 1-2 months
Just browsing
Just browsing

Babysitter Needed For 1 Child In Oakton.

– We are looking for a…

One Time
•
$16 – 21/hr
•
Starts
10/08
•
Oakton, VA

We are looking for a great babysitter for 1 child in Oakton.

Babysitter Needed For 2 Children – I’m looking for a great babys…

Full Time
•
$15 – 25/hr
•
Starts
10/17
•
North Babylon, NY

I’m looking for a great babysitter for 2 children. Animal lovers please apply (we have pets)!

Babysitter Needed For 2 Children In Bakersfield. – We are lookin…

One Time
•
$16 – 23/hr
•
Starts
10/08
•
Bakersfield, CA

We are looking for a great babysitter for 2 children in Bakersfield. We would prefer someone who could help out with light housekeeping. We would prefer a babysitter who is comfortable with pets.

Babysitter Needed For 3 Children In Los Angeles. – We are lookin…

Part Time
•
$20 – 25/hr
•
Starts
10/10
•
Los Angeles, CA

We are looking for a great babysitter for 3 children in Los Angeles. We would prefer someone who could help out with light housekeeping. We would prefer a babysitter who has their own car and who is CPR certified.

Part-time Babysitter Needed – We are looking for part-time care…

Part Time
•
$15 – 21/hr
•
Starts
10/11
•
York, ME

We are looking for part-time care Tuesday afternoons. I have a 3-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter who will be home during care. I do have a 16-year-old but she is often busy at sports practice after school. The hours can be somewhat flexible but I am thinking 2:30 – 5 p.m. Responsibilities will include: playing with 3-year-old and checking in on and engaging with the 12-year-old whenever possible.
In addition to this, my husband and I would like to schedule a date night at least every few weeks so if that is something you are also interested in, that’d be wonderful.

When do you want a job?

Right Now
Right Now
Within a week
Within a week
In 1-2 months
In 1-2 months
Just browsing
Just browsing

Babysitter Needed For 2 Children – Seeking a babysitter near Enc.

..

Full Time
•
$20 – 20/hr
•
Starts
10/04
•
Encinitas, CA

Seeking a babysitter near Encinitas for 2 children. Hoping you can start immediately! Some light tidying up would be part of our caregiver’s responsibilities. After school duties include homework help when needed.

Babysitter Needed For 2 Children – Kirkland family needs a babys…

One Time
•
$18 – 32/hr
•
Starts
10/05
•
Kirkland, WA

Kirkland family needs a babysitter. Must love kids! Our ideal match will meet the requirements below.

Babysitter Needed For 1 Child – We need a babysitter for our 1 c…

One Time
•
$20 – 22/hr
•
Starts
10/15
•
Grand Prairie, TX

We need a babysitter for our 1 child in Grand Prairie. And we’re looking now!

Babysitter Needed For 2 Children – I’m looking for a great babys…

Full Time
•
$18 – 22/hr
•
Starts
10/07
•
Portland, OR

I’m looking for a great babysitter for 2 children.

Babysitter Needed For 1 Child – Seeking a babysitter near Arvada.

..

One Time
•
$16 – 28/hr
•
Starts
10/08
•
Arvada, CO

Seeking a babysitter near Arvada for 1 child. Hoping you can start immediately! Please be comfortable with pets.

Looking for babysitting jobs?

Compare rates finding babysitting jobs that fit your schedule doesn’t have to be difficult. Create a profile today and apply to babysitting positions that suit your skills, interests, and availability. You can also have families contact you if they feel that you would be a good match for them. We’re here to help you connect with families hiring in your area and find new babysitting jobs as you need them.

When do you want a job?

Right Now
Right Now
Within a week
Within a week
In 1-2 months
In 1-2 months
Just browsing
Just browsing

FAQs for finding babysitting jobs

What is the hourly pay rate for a babysitting job in 2022?

On average, the national pay rate for a babysitting job is $15.25 per hour as of October 2022. This rate may vary depending on where you live, how many hours the family needs you to work for them, how many kids you’ll babysit for, and what your previous babysitting experience is.

How do I find a babysitting job?

To start your job search on Care.com, you can narrow the open babysitting positions by distance from your location, hourly pay rate, and specific job responsibilities. Then, create a babysitter profile that describes your babysitting experience, your hourly pay rate, availability, and other preferences so families can reach out to you if they’re interested.

Are families hiring babysitters during the pandemic?

Many parents still need help with their kids, even if they’re working from home because of COVID-19. Every family will be careful about bringing someone into their home, but Care.com can help you ease those concerns. We have enabled a feature where you can show any interested family that you have been fever-free and that no one in your household is currently sick. When you do land a babysitting job, make sure you thoroughly review the latest CDC guidelines so you can keep yourself and the family safe while you’re working.

Jobs / Babysitting Jobs

Babysitters and Babysitting Jobs | Babysits

The childcare platform trusted by familiesbabysittersnannies

Sign up for free

Natasha

(25)

Minneapolis

Candra

(62)

Murfreesboro

Yvette

(31)

Duluth (Georgia)

Kendall

(22)

Mesa

Jazmine

(22)

Pompano Beach

Kimberly

(51)

Myrtle Beach

Corina

(21)

Miami

Saira

(43)

Parkland (Florida)

See all 5,335 active babysitters

View all babysitting jobs

Safety and transparency are our priorities

Babysits offers a transparent platform, so you can rest assured that your children are in good hands.

Reviews and References

Government ID

Basic background check

Secure Payments

Affordable for families

Secure Messaging

How it works

Find a babysitter or babysitting job in 3 easy steps

Search

Filter based on your needs and review detailed profiles.

Connect

Send messages, screen users and have an introductory meeting.

Book

Book a babysitting appointment, pay or get paid and download receipts for expenses.

Sign up for free

Trusted by people like you

Steven from Los Gatos

September 2022

It was a pleasure to meet this girls were super creative and friendly. The…

Joy from Portland

August 2022

I took care of Macy from 24 august until 26. It was a great experience, Macy…

Quinn from Rosemead

August 2022

Very friendly, playful and smart boy, engaged well during the sittings. We ha…

Joy from Portland

August 2022

Adorei a Macy uma menina incrível muito amável e simpática , fizemos muita…

Kylee from Gresham

August 2022

Kylee was really great! We have been searching for a casual babysitter for qu…

Grecia from Inglewood

August 2022

My kids love Grecia , she has a lot of patience and her little girl also love. ..

Rachel from Brooklyn

August 2022

Rachel’s children were a blast to look after. Intelligent boys, full of energ…

Brianna from Bonney Lake

August 2022

She is amazing and my daughter loved her.

Entela from Charlotte

July 2022

Very sweet and understanding !

Kiara from Fort Mill

June 2022

Great!!! Kiara bonded immediately with my baby. She is a very responsible you…

See all reviewed babysitters

Discover the convenience of the Babysits app

Childcare is always within reach with our app. Quickly view the babysitting jobs and available babysitters in your area!

App Store

Google Play

Babysits is here for you!

We are there for the hardworking parents, for the parents who need some time for themselves and for the people who are there to support them with childcare.

4.7 / 5

See all Google Reviews

Platform tips

Trust & Safety

Tips for Parents

Tips for Babysitters

Babysits for Special Needs

Babysits for Work

Climate action

What we stand for

Babysits cares about the future of children! This is one of the reasons why we are a member of Leaders For Climate Action and dedicate part of our revenue to removing CO2 from the atmosphere.

small-colorful

---

Childcare wherever you need it

• San Antonio
• Los Angeles
• Houston
• Chicago
• Brooklyn
• The Bronx
• New York
• Miami
• Las Vegas
• Fort Worth
• Orlando
• Dallas
• Phoenix
• Indianapolis
• Philadelphia
• San Diego
• Tucson
• El Paso
• Denver
• Charlotte
• Austin
• Fort Lauderdale
• Jacksonville
• Columbus
• Baltimore
• Oklahoma City
• San Jose
• Atlanta
• Corpus Christi
• Minneapolis
• Cleveland
• St Louis
• Dayton
• Colorado Springs
• North Las Vegas
• Kansas City
• Denton
• Virginia Beach
• Fort Wayne
• Memphis

---

Do your employees need a babysitter?
Babysits for Work

Babysits Shop

Work it. Wear it.

Shop now

How to Get a Teen Babysitting Job | by Care.com | Care DotCom

These are the 13 steps you need to take to become a great babysitter — and land an even greater babysitting job.

Allowance not cutting it anymore? Are your parents after you to learn about responsibility and get a job? Babysitting could be the answer.

Babysitting is a great job — especially for teenagers. You can make quick cash while looking after and playing with kids. You’ve probably had to watch your little brother or cousin before anyway. Why not do the same thing and get paid for it?

While being a babysitter is fun, you do have to keep in mind that it’s not only about the fun. At the end of the day, babysitting is a child care profession — the parents hiring you are trusting you with their kids, so you need to take this job seriously.

Harriet Brown, author of “The Babysitter’s Handbook,” Dr. Danette Glassy, a pediatrician and chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Early Education and Child Care, and Halley Bondy, author of “Don’t Sit on the Baby!: The Ultimate Guide to Sane, Skilled, and Safe Babysitting,” offer a step-by-step guide to how to become a great babysitter.

And if you’re between the ages of 14 and 17, you can create a parent-monitored account on Care.com — a parent will have to approve your account and will be notified about any activity. Once you turn 18, your account will change over to a regular provider one.

(NOTE: Unfortunately if you’re younger than 14, you can’t sign up on Care.com just yet.)

Summer Babysitting Jobs – Care.com

Find the best summer babysitting jobs near you! Apply today and get hired quickly! Match made every 2 minutes on care…

www.care.com

Before you even think about babysitting, look at your schedule. Is babysitting realistic? “If you’re up to your neck in extracurricular activities from morning until night seven days a week, you probably won’t be of much use to families,” Bondy says. “Figure out when and if you’re free to babysit, so you can give a clear, accurate schedule to the families you want to work with.”

Now take some classes that will help you learn the babysitting ropes. All three experts advise potential sitters to take a babysitter training course and learn CPR and first aid. They’re usually cheap and short, so definitely worth it!

Lots of organizations in your area offer them — like community centers, hospitals and your local Red Cross. Check out this article for more on How to Get First Aid and CPR Training.

Another bonus of taking classes? You can earn even more money as a babysitter! 80 percent of parents feel that teenage babysitters should be paid more if they are trained in first aid, CPR and child care, according to a survey from the Red Cross.

Because safety is so important when you’re watching kids, it gets two steps!

Before you even think about babysitting a child, make sure you know what to do in an emergency situation like:

• The child is choking.
• The child gets a minor scrape or cut.
• The child falls on his bike and hits his head.
• You get locked out of the house.
• There’s a fire.
• A burglar breaks in.
• The child runs off.

What to Do in a Child Care Emergency: 3 Scenarios and Solutions

Here are the tips you should keep in mind if you ever find yourself in one of these situations while on the job. In a…

www.care.com

You don’t have to jump right into watching strangers’ kids. “For resume-building and practice on real kids, offer to babysit your family members’ and neighbors’ kids,” suggests Bondy. “If you’re brand new to sitting, you’ll want to have adult supervision at first, and eventually you can segue to real sitting for pay.”

What Is a Mother’s Helper?

Considered a “babysitter in training,” a mother’s helper does just that — helps Mom. They are babysitters generally…

www.care.com

The most important part: money. How much should you charge for babysitting?

Some families may want to give you a crazy low amount — after all that’s what they used get paid when they babysat 20 years ago. Don’t fall for it. If you’re responsible, experienced and trained in safety, you can ask for more.

Your price also changes depending on how many kids you’re watching, how old they are (younger kids need more hands-on attention), if you’ll be playing with them the entire time or if it’s nighttime and they’re sleeping.

“Use your judgment, and talk to a parent or trusted adult to figure out a solid rate,” Bondy suggests. You can negotiate with families, but it helps to have a starting figure in mind.

Check out Care.com’s Babysitter Pay Calculator to figure out how much you should be making.

Now that you’re ready to start, you actually need kids to babysit for. Let friends, family, and neighbors know you want to babysit. Put a notice on community boards where parents often are, like the grocery store, library and pediatrician’s office.

“Tell all the adults you know and trust that you’re looking for babysitting work — your parents’ friends, your aunt, your neighbors, your tutors, your soccer coach…everyone is a potential dollar sign,” suggests Bondy.

You can also find babysitting jobs on Care.com. Create a profile and apply to jobs — all for free.

When you find a job, the parents will probably want to interview you — either over the phone or in person. Before talking to someone you don’t know, make sure your own parents know all the details about the job and who you’re interviewing with. If something seems odd, tell your folks immediately. You need to stay safe, too!

When you interview with a family, tell your parents when the interview is scheduled for, where you’re going and the names/address of the parents. Ask them to drive you to the interview and wait outside. Or call them as soon as it’s over.

Meet the Parents: How to Interview for Child Care Jobs

Questions to ask when you’re talking with families about a nanny or babysitter job. Whether you’re a professional child…

www.care.com

Once you land that babysitting job, you’re not done yet. Think about what you’ll do with the kids to keep them entertained.

“Ask the parents what kinds of activities their child likes to do ahead of time, so you can prepare for that,” Dr. Glassy recommends. “Think about whether the activities you’re planning are age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate.”

Look for ideas on sites like Zero to Three, HealthyChildren, Let’s Move and Care.com.

Then run the activities by the parents. “Always do what the parents instructed,” Dr. Glassy says. “Come to the job with some suggestions for activities, or bring books to share with the children. Be sure to ask the parents if they think these might be fun for their child.”

101 Indoor Games and Activities for Kids

Fun ideas for keeping kids entertained when you’re stuck inside. It’s easy for parents, nannies and kids to get cabin…

www.care.com

Show off how professional you are by arriving on time. This shows you respect the parent’s schedule and you’re reliable. If soccer practice is running a few minutes late, make sure you call the family and let them know.

But “don’t cancel at the last minute,” warns Brown. Word will spread with local parents (they all talk!) that you’re flakey and you can say goodbye to your babysitting career.

“Young children can get into dangerous or deadly situations very quickly, so a babysitter must not be distracted by socializing while on-duty: no texting, no Facebooking or Internet/email/Twitter-checking, no personal phone calls [and] no personal visits from friends,” says Dr. Glassy.

Besides, your friends will be impressed later when you tell them you couldn’t talk or text back because “you’re working.”

Once the rug rats go to sleep and the house is quiet, you have a little more freedom. But make sure you ask the parents before they leave what’s okay: TV, phone, computer, etc. Keep an ear out for noises, don’t get distracted and stay quiet — you don’t want to wake the kids!

One thing all three experts agree on: if you want to impress the parents, tidy up before they return. It will really show off how responsible you are. If the house got messy during your Lego building or that action figure battle, make sure all toys are put away before bedtime.

How do you make sure the parents will call you again? “Be organized,” Brown suggests. “Tell the parents how your time with the kids went and anything they might need or want to know about it.”

“Most parents are content when you show up on time, have a positive attitude and follow their rules — so if you arrive at the first gig with a thousand bells and whistles, you might overwhelm the parents and the kids,” Bondy says. “Over time, however, you can show the parents that you’re really invested in the job by repeating things the kids told you, by showing up with activities you know they will love or by offering ideas for future outings — these are sincere efforts, not forced ones.”

Know that no matter how prepared you are, babysitting isn’t easy. “You have a little life in your hands, and you have to please the parents,” Bondy says, reflecting on her own past babysitting experiences.

“But I learned quickly that I would never be 100-percent perfect as a babysitter. I wouldn’t cook the broccoli just right every time, I wouldn’t be able to quell every tantrum immediately and not all my ideas for games would fly. However, I learned how to be confident despite these tiny setbacks and how to be a great sitter — if not a totally perfect one. Confidence goes a long way when it comes to handling kids.”

Learn more about Care.com’s Teen Care program by reading these Frequently Asked Questions about being a teen caregiver.

Elizabeth SanFilippo is a freelance journalist. Her work can be found here

Originally published at www.care.com.

Nanny job in Samara. Jobs nanny without intermediaries. Private announcements: a nanny for a child is required

A friendly Russian family needs a positive and loving child nanny for a few hours a day. For two children: 2 and 9 years old. Basically, to look after the younger one: walk, feed, keep the regime . ..

Vacancy from a private person

Natalya Grigorievna

Read more

Babysitting 1-2 times a week. Girl 3 years old. Feed on time, and sometimes play, sometimes sit and just check.

Vacancy from a private person

Artem Alexandrovich

Read more

I am looking for a person who sincerely loves children. My baby is not a difficult child. Smiling girl. And it will be easy for you with her, the main thing is to give her attention and care.

Vacancy from a private person

Alena

More

Accompanying boy 8 years old. Meet from the apartment and escort to the school and pick up from the school and escort to the apartment. Monday – Thursday classes start at 12:50, end at 16:10…

Vacancy from a private person

Anna

Read more

We need a specialist in the category: nanny-accompanying (to school, to classes). Release date: 09/02/2022. Schedule: 5 days a week. Job details: 1 child age group – junior school (7-10. ..

Vacancy from a private person

Elena

Read more

We offer a job as a nanny of the category: part-time nanny, babysitter (nanny for an hour), car nanny (by car). Working hours: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri. Release date: 03.10.2022. Nuances of work: 1 …

Vacancy from a private person

Igor Vladimirovich

Read more

I am looking for a nanny for children (a boy and a girl) who need to be picked up from kindergarten, walk in good weather, feed dinner (ready), play.

Vacancy from a private person

Natalia

Read more

I am looking for a nanny for a boy of 7 years from 12.00 to 17.00 daily, except weekends. Responsibilities include: accompanying the child home from school, doing homework.

Vacancy from a private person

Inzira

Read more

Need a nanny for a 5-year-old girl during periods of illness (from 08:00 to 17:30) Responsibilities: Feeding; Games; Lessons; Walks (if there is no temperature) Treatment. Full rate…

Vacancy from a private person

Anna Sergeevna

Read more

Looking for a nanny for two boys 5 and 9 years old. Play, developing activities with the younger, homework with the older. Welcome teaching experience. Do wet cleaning once or twice a week, 100 sq.m, bathroom, kitchen…

Vacancy from a private person

Anna Vyacheslavovna

Read more

Looking for a nanny for my daughter (4 years 10 months). The child has type 1 diabetes. There is continuous glucose monitoring. The candidate who successfully passed the interview will be taught the features of control…

Vacancy from a private person

Elena Dmitrievna

Read more

I am looking for a nanny who speaks English and has teaching experience. Pick up the child from the school opposite, learn the tasks in the language. Feed, work out according to age. Full day possible if…

Vacancy from a private person

Natalia Valentinovna

Read more

Boy, 9 years old, 3rd grade student, not spoiled, adequate. It is necessary to pick up from school, feed, help with homework. Accompany to training.

Vacancy from a private person

Larisa Anatolyevna

Read more

We are looking for a nanny to pick up in case of illness of a child. It is important to follow treatment recommendations. The child is generally healthy, most often gets sick with a cold, adenoids are also enlarged, which leads to a protracted …

Vacancy from a private person

Elena

Read more

I am looking for a full-time nanny to help my mother with twins. Responsibilities: help mom in feeding, caring for babies, walking, bathing. Laundry of children’s clothes, washing and sterilization of children’s dishes…

Vacancy from a private person

Elena

Read more

To pick up the child from the kindergarten at 12 o’clock, walk, the garden is near the house, put to sleep or walk with the youngest child (4 months) I will be at home. Or during the day…

Vacancy from a private person

Xenia

Read more

I am looking for a nanny for once a week, for a couple of hours. It is desirable to have a car nanny so that she can accompany the child to classes. This will be discussed in advance.

Vacancy from a private person

Elena

Read more

I am looking for a nanny for a teenage girl with cerebral palsy. Responsibilities: toilet, feeding, walking, escorting to classes.

Vacancy from a private person

Olga Pavlovna

Read more

Our family will soon have a second baby, in connection with this we are looking for a nanny for periodic assistance with a daughter of 2.5 years. I would like to arrange visits 2-3 times a week for 2-3 hours at places convenient for the nanny and…

Vacancy from a private person

Victoria

Read more

Looking for a nanny for our baby 9 months old, since September !3 times a week (for 3-4 hours) On our territory! Kind, attentive, caring, responsible and without bad habits. ..

Vacancy from a private person

Xenia

Read more

Need a job as a nanny in Samara?

Checked private ads of employers in Samara and agency vacancies. Jobs in Samara in families – just register, fill out the form and respond to ads. Our services are free for applicants. Hundreds of new babysitting jobs posted daily from direct employers, recruitment agencies and individuals. Search for salary offers in Samara for any employment schedule: from a part-time job for 2 hours a day to a five-day work week.

Frequent searches:

Jobs in Moscow

Part-time job in Moscow

Work abroad

Work with accommodation

Watch work for women

Residential Nursing Jobs

Vacancies and work as a nanny attendant at the Lyublino metro station in Moscow – prices and reviews. Vacancies and work as a nanny for an attendant inexpensively on YouDo

How to get an order?

• Select a task and respond to it
• Become a performer and complete your profile
• Get paid after completing task

Customer Orders

FAQ

In 2022, YouDo turned 10 years old. During this time, hundreds of thousands of performers have connected to the service and successfully earn money by completing orders. Well-known Russian and foreign mass media write about us.

YouDo customers are ordinary people who need a service right now. To learn more about a client, take a look at their profile and read their reviews.

In tasks with a risk-free transaction, the money is credited to your bank card after the successful completion of the task. You can also agree with the customer on any other payment method convenient for you.

Start with simple orders and leave as many responses as possible. When the first positive reviews appear, it will become easier to receive assignments.

You can read authentic reviews in your customer profile, and our support team is available every day to answer your questions.

If you want to perform assignments from legal entities, get the status of a business executor.

Thousands of orders are posted daily on YouDo. We are constantly working to increase this number, and performers always find suitable tasks for themselves. To receive an order, you need to respond to it. Along with advertising the services of the contractor, we send the customer contacts that remain with him forever. For this we charge. The contractor pays for each response separately or connects an unlimited package and responds without restrictions. Money for the response is returned only if the task violates the rules of the service.

You are here:

• home
• Work at YouDo

• org/ListItem”>
  Cleaning and household help
  • Household repairs
  • Installation and repair of machinery
  • Computer help
  • Repair of digital equipment
  • Virtual Assistant
  • Photo and video services
  • Web Development
  • Legal aid
  • Beauty and health
  • Events and promotions
  • Auto
  • Tutors, training
  • Trucking
  • Courier services
  • For women
  • For girls
  • For men
  • For pensioners
  • For students
  • For the disabled
  • Holidays
  • Needlework
  • Security services
  • Miscellaneous
  • Personnel manager
  • Engineer
  • Seller
  • Workshop workers
  • Cashier
• org/ListItem”>
  Nanny
  • Housekeeper
  • Cleaner, cleaner
  • Housekeeper
  • Dishwasher
  • Dry Cleaner
  • Nurse
  • Governess
  • Groomer
  • Veterinarian
  • Animal trainer
  • Seamstress
  • Tailor
  • Fashion designer
  • Cook
  • Dog walking
  • Maid
  • Kitchen worker
  • rootstock (rootstock)
  • Gardener
  • Manager
  • Housekeeper
  • Dole
  • Disinfector
  • Castellane
  • Commandant
  • Laundress
  • Cutter
  • Concierge
  • Ironer
• org/ListItem”>
  Nanny-accompanying
  • Babysitter
  • Car babysitter
  • Nanny caregiver
  • Babysitter
  • Nanny housekeeper
  • English nanny
  • Nanny speech therapist
  • Nanny at home
  • babysitter
  • Nanny in the family
  • Nanny for a newborn
  • Nanny for a boy
• org/ListItem”>
  Vacancies and work as a nanny attendant near the Lyublino metro

Babysitters | Cleaning | Housekeepers in New York, NY

Skip to content

Home » Jobs in the USA

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Login or E-mail *

Password *

New York, NY

• All cities
• New York, NY
• Los Angeles, CA
• Chicago, IL
• Philadelphia, PA
• Miami, FL
• New Jersey, NJ
• San Francisco, CA
• Sacramento, CA
• Seattle, WA
• Boston, MA
• Washington, DC
• Tampa, FL
• Atlanta, GA
• Connecticut
• Orlando, FL
• Columbus, OH
• Cleveland, OH
• San Diego, CA
• Houston, TX
• Denver, CO
• Charlotte, NC
• Las Vegas, NV
• Austin, TX
• Pittsburgh, PA
• Detroit, MI
• Indianapolis, IN
• Minneapolis, MN
• Kansas City, MO
• Phoenix, AZ

Babysitters | Cleaning | Housekeepers

• All categories
• Car Repair and Service
• Salesmen and Cashiers
• Construction | Architecture | Repair
• Babysitters | Cleaning | Housekeepers
• Hairdressers | Beauty salons | SPA
• Office work
• IT professionals | Computers
• Other specialties
• Medicine | Pharmacies
• Restaurants and Hotels
• Cable workers | Technical specialties
• Education | Sport
• Factories and Plants
• Carers | Home attendants
• Remote work
• Employment agency
• Temporary | For students | Seasonal
• Dispatchers
• Moving
• Drivers | Forwarders

EMPLOYEES are required in the CAR SALON.

Salary up to 35 per hour!

Dunhill Group car dealerships announce the recruitment of employees with the following specialties: Auto mechanic $20-35 per hour Auto painter $20-35 per hour […]

Babysitter in New York for a child 1 year old accommodation and meals at the expense of the employer Work schedule: 6/1 with accommodation for long-term cooperation! The nanny has […]

Nanny 40-55 years old with ACCOMMODATION needed!

Must be energetic, cheerful, loving children. Pure Russian speech, experience, ability to cook for a child, cleanliness. Separate room, own bathroom and shower in […]

347-570-5500

Show number

Residential

Recruiting workers in a cleaning company

Looking for girls, women to work in an apartment cleaning company. Good conditions. For all questions, please call the number.

Cleaning girls needed

Preferably with at least 6 months of experience All areas of New York. Part-time, cash payment – $18. Basic English is required.

Work for cash

Cleaning houses, apartments

There are vacancies in a cleaning company for girls and women. Cleaning houses, apartments, offices in Manhattan, Brooklyn. Pay $18-20 per hour […]

Work in a cleaning company

Cleaning apartments, houses. Povniy that nepovny working day. Payment by the year or per object. The presence of knowledge in this sphere will be a priority.

No language skills

No education

Looking for a cleaning lady

Preferably with experience in this field. Full/part time employment. $20/hour cash. Cleaning lady needed. Preferably with experience in this field. […]

917-423-9369

Show Number

Babysitter/Home Helper with Live in

Westchester NY $180 Cash per Day! 4 year old girl at school and 2 year old boy at home. Division of work 50% cleaning […]

609-782-0690

Show number

Live

Looking for a nanny

New York, Brooklyn, Bensonhorst area. For children 3 months and 2 years old we are looking for a nanny without accommodation with knowledge of English. Required […]

347-257-5717

Show number

Cash job

We are looking for a live-in nanny

New York, Staten Island. For a child of 1.5 years we are looking for a nanny with accommodation. A separate bedroom is provided for accommodation. Work schedule 6 days […]

347-400-5136

Show number

Cash

Live

Looking for a babysitter

New York, Manhattan. We are looking for a babysitter for a 2 year old boy. Working hours from 9 am to 5 pm, 5 days a […]

Work for cash

Need Cleaning Lady

Need cleaning lady Preferably with experience, basic EnglishManhattan, Brooklyn, NJMinimum 3 days per weekPay $18 for cash, tips yoursAll […]

Work for cash

Looking for

babysitter

New York, Manhattan Looking for a babysitter for a 1 year old child. It is necessary to deal only with the child. Work schedule 5 days at […]

We are looking for a nanny

New Jersey, Short Hills, 40 minutes from Manhattan. We are looking for a nanny for a 6 month old baby. We are considering accommodation options […]

Cash Job

We are looking for a babysitter

New York, Queens We are looking for a babysitter for a 1 year old child. It is necessary to deal only with the child. Work schedule 5 days a week […]

Work for cash

We are looking for a babysitter

We are looking for a babysitter for a 3 year old girl and a 1 year old boy. Work from 9morning until 5-6 pm, salary $16 […]

Job for cash

We are looking for a babysitter

New York, Manhattan, Downtown. We are looking for a babysitter aged 40-60 for a 5 month old boy. Work 5-6 days a week 40-45 hours, salary $20 […]

Work for cash

Need a nanny – housekeeper

We are looking for a nanny-housekeeper for a 5 year old boy.

The questions every parent needs to ask

What can we help you find?

ArrowLeftRed
SearchRed
SearchClose

Back

From previous experience to what they find most challenging about the job, here are the questions to ask a babysitter during your interview.

One of the most important parts of hiring a new babysitter is getting the chance to interview them about their qualifications. The word “interview” might sound intimidating to some people, but in reality, the interview is your chance to get to know a potential sitter on a deeper level — to see what makes them tick and most importantly, to determine whether you want to open your home and expose your children to them.

While you may be inclined to get to know a potential sitter on a more personal level, you’ll also want to be sure to ask the right questions so that you glean the information needed to make an informed decision about their child care skills. We asked two industry experts, The Babysitting Company founder Rachel Charlupski and NannyTrack co-founder Leah Clarkson, to tell us key questions to ask a babysitter during an interview interview. Here’s what they had to say.

Basic babysitter interview questions

If you’re planning to hire a neighbor or someone who was recommended by a friend, you likely won’t need to conduct as extensive an interview as you might with a stranger. But you’ll still want to ask some baseline questions about their experience, talk about any specifics related to house rules or discipline and go over any must-know information about your children and family.

You might ask a potential babysitter questions like:

• How long have you been babysitting?
• Are you ever available on short notice?
• Do you have reliable transportation?
• Do you have experience caring for children of [X] age?
• What activities do you like to do with kids?
• How comfortable are you enforcing household rules?
• How do you typically deal with behavior issues?
• This is a [screen-free/sugar-free/dairy-free/pet-friendly/non-smoking/etc. ] home. Are you comfortable with that?

More in-depth babysitter interview questions

If you’re speaking with a candidate you’ve never met before or someone you’re hoping to hire on a long-term basis, then you’ll likely need to conduct a more thorough interview to really get to know them. In those instances, says Clarkson, have a list of things that are important to you and ask very specific questions about those things.

“You want someone who is really great with children, but you want someone who is also a good role model for them, as well.”

RACHEL CHARLUPSKI, FOUNDER, THE BABYSITTING COMPANY

Get to know their child care background

In addition to the questions already mentioned above, seek more detailed information about the babysitter’s skills, experience and what kind of job they are looking for.

• What’s your favorite thing about babysitting?
• What do you look for in an employer?
• What do you find most challenging about caring for children?
• Have you taken any child care or safety classes? If so, may I see copies of your certifications?
• Would you be willing to submit to a background check?

Align on duties and expectations

Think about what a typical “shift” might look like for your babysitter, and tailor these questions to the exact kind of care your children need. Do not forget to ask about special circumstances like allergies, pets, special health needs and house rules.

• This job will require changing diapers. How comfortable are you with that?
• Are you willing to prepare meals and snacks for my child?
• Are you willing to assist with homework?
• How often do you rely on screens when caring for kids?
• Do you have experience caring for children with allergies?
• Do you have experience caring for children with special needs?
• What would a typical day/evening/afternoon caring for my children look like?

Ask about safety

Make sure your potential babysitter knows how to ensure your child’s physical safety, particularly if you have young children or the sitter will be responsible for driving them around.

• Do you have safety training in CPR, First Aid or water safety? If so, can you provide your certification?
• Are you aware of the current recommendations for safe sleep and preventing SIDS?
• Are you familiar with the foods that cause choking and how those foods should be prepared?
• Have you ever had to handle an emergency while on the job? What did you do?
• How long have you been driving and do you have a clean driving record?
• Are you comfortable using and installing car seats?

Give them scenarios

If you still have questions about whether or not a potential babysitter is a fit, try giving them scenarios and asking them to explain how they’re respond to each situation.

• You’re putting my child to bed and you notice they have a fever. What do you do?
• The baby starts choking while playing with toys. How do you react?
• My child won’t stop crying for me after I leave. How do you respond?
• The toddler is throwing a tantrum. What do you do?
• The baby had a huge blowout in his diaper. How would you handle it?

Red flags to note

The interview is an opportunity to get an overall feel for the babysitter and to make note of any areas where they might fall short of what you’re looking for. Look out for someone who:

• Forgets about an interview.
• Doesn’t return calls or emails to schedule the interview in a timely manner.
• Shows up late.
• Speaks negatively about past clients or children they’ve cared for.
• Seems unwilling to perform the basic functions of the job.
• Seems distracted or unenthusiastic.

“You want someone who is really great with children, but you want someone who is also a good role model for them, as well,” says Charlupski.

Like what you’re reading?

Join Care for FREE

Email

Please enter a valid email address

Click ‘Next’ to start an account and get tips, tricks and trending stories.

Already Registered

The email address you entered is already registered. Would you like to log in?

Log in

Almost done!

Join Care for FREE

Create a free account to access our nation wide network of background checked caregivers.

First Name

Please enter first name

Last Name

Please enter last name

Zip Code

Please enter a valid zip code

By clicking “Join now,” you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Welcome to Care!

You’re on your way to finding someone your family will love.

Start now

43 Babysitter Interview Questions (& Responses to Look For)

It is essential that the person you put in charge of your child is capable and experienced. They need to be a great fit for your family, and have a great personality too!

A good babysitter can make life much easier for you as well as a fun experience for your children. A bad babysitter, however, can sometimes be more trouble than they’re worth!

Finding the right babysitter can be hard. That’s why you need a list of interview questions to test your sitter and make sure they will measure up to your expectations.

Here are our top 10 babysitter interview questions:

• How many families have you babysat for?
• Why do you like working with children?
• How many years have you worked with kids?
• What activities do you do with the children?
• What do you like least about babysitting?
• Do you smoke?
• Do you have CPR and first aid certification?
• Can you drive if there is an emergency?
• What do you think children like most about you?
• What is your proudest babysitting moment?

Now let’s go through our full list of 43 babysitter interview questions and explain the types of answers you should be looking for.

General Questions

It’s good to ask your babysitter as many questions as you can think of. Some things that might seem obvious or expected to you could be unusual for a babysitter. The more things you talk about upfront, the less chance there is of any misunderstandings later on.

1. How much do you charge / what is your hourly rate?

There’s an old saying when it comes to negotiating that “the first person to say a number loses.”

It’s best to let your babysitter tell you how much they want to earn before you throw a number out. You might be willing to pay them $12 per hour, but they might be perfectly willing to do it for $10.

Just make sure you’re taking other factors into account like your babysitter’s age and experience. The cheapest option isn’t necessarily the best.

Refer to our complete guide to babysitter pay for help deciding on an appropriate pay rate for your situation.

2. What aspects do you like most about caring for children?

This answer doesn’t matter so much, as long as it’s not something superficial like “the money. ” You’ll mostly use this question to get an idea if they have experience with children.

3. What do you look for in a family / employer?

You will probably get some pretty standard answers here, like easy-going families with well-behaved children. You might also get some answers about things they don’t like as well.

4. Are you okay if we sometimes have to call and have you stay later than planned?

You won’t want to abuse this regularly, but ideally, your babysitter will be flexible and not be super resentful if you need them to stay a couple of hours later. Life is full of unexpected situations that might come up.

5. Do you live nearby? If not, do you have a car or reliable form of transportation?

In other words, if we call will you actually be able to show up?

6. What’s one thing you wouldn’t want me to know?

It seems like if you asked this kind of question to a criminal or someone with something big to hide, they would just lie. But that isn’t always the case! I’ve actually heard of one group interview where the interviewer asked everyone this question and one of the candidates just flat-out admitted to doing cocaine before the interview!

7. What are your views on discipline? Would you change if we ask?

Discipline is a very important subject as it is essential that you and your babysitter are on the same page when handling challenging behaviors from your children.

You really want continuity of care while you are out, so I would advise spending a lot of time discussing your family’s current discipline process and ensuring that the babysitter is on board with what you are already doing. They may even have some ideas that you haven’t heard of before and want to implement them yourself!

At Kidsit we strongly discourage spanking and do our best to promote positive discipline techniques as an alternative.

8. What days and hours are you available? Have you got a curfew or certain time you need to be home by?

You’ll need a babysitter whose schedule lines up with yours.

9. What’s your favorite age of child to care for and why?

Ideally, you want a babysitter who is confident caring for kids of any age. So a flexible answer is best here, but you at least want them to include your own children’s ages.

A good babysitter should be able to adapt to all different ages, personalities, needs, and skill levels.

10. Are you looking to babysit for a family long term?

You want to make sure your babysitter is serious and committed because there’s no point going through this whole interview process again next month if you can avoid it.

11. What do you like least about babysitting?

This is kind of like the dreaded “what’s your worst quality?” interview question that you’ve probably got before and had to answer with some corny answer about how you’re too much of a perfectionist.

But you might get an honest answer here that could give you some valuable insight.

Basically anything besides “the kids” or “it’s a lot of work” is probably fine. Even if a babysitter’s answer was changing diapers, I’d probably be fine with that, because at least it’s honest. It’s my least favorite part of the job too!

Background and Experience

All of the questions in this section have pretty straightforward answers, so I won’t elaborate on each one individually. You’re just trying to get a good idea of your babysitter’s experience and history.

12. How many families have you babysat for? How old were their kids?

13. What kind of jobs or volunteer work have you done with children in the past? (Other babysitting jobs, sports coach, etc.)

14. How many years have you worked with kids?

15. Do you have specific experience with X (newborns, special needs, potty training, or whatever you’re looking for.)

Sitter’s Current Situation

16. What are you studying in school?

This is more of a get-to-know-you kind of question than anything else, but bonus points for an answer involving education, childcare, etc.

17. Do you have any other part-time jobs? Or other commitments?

This probably already came up when discussing availability if they’ve got one, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

18. Are you allergic to dogs, cats, or any other pets?

If you’ve got one that matches their allergy, the interview might be over at this point. Unless they want to take an antihistamine every time they come over.

19. Do you smoke?

You definitely don’t want them smoking in the house or around your children.

If they need a smoke break during their shift and need to step outside for a few minutes, are they going to bring your children out with them, or just leave them unattended?

Even if they only smoke a cigarette or two per day and won’t need to smoke while they’re at your house, the smell of smoke could still transfer from their clothes into your furniture and might not be worth the hassle.

20. Are you scared of any kinds of pets?

Especially important if you have more exotic things like snakes or tarantulas. But they should be okay with dogs too because they’ll probably need to let them outside if you’re gone for more than a few hours.

21. Do you have any vacations or time off planned in the next 6 months where you won’t be available?

Another part of their availability and making sure there are no scheduling conflicts.

Safety and Training

22. Do you know CPR? Do you know first aid?

Basic First Aid and CPR are a must! This is the person that will be looking after your precious children in your absence, so you want the peace of mind of knowing that they can handle an emergency situation.

23. Do you know what you would need to do if a child is choking?

It happens more often than you’d think, especially with younger children. If your child is choking, they only have a couple minutes before they pass out. So you need a babysitter that won’t panic and knows the first aid action plan for choking. They would have covered this in their first aid course, but it is a good topic to bring up to refresh their memory.

24. Can you drive if there’s an emergency?

In case something happens that’s not so bad that they need to call 911, but still bad enough that they should go to the emergency room.

25. Can you swim?

This one is important if you have a pool.

Behavioral Interview Questions

I really like behavior-based interview questions because they tend to focus more on getting your babysitter to come up with a specific real-life example of something, as opposed to answering hypothetical “what if” questions.

26. What was a specific time where you faced a crisis at a job? How did you deal with it?

Here you’re looking for proof that they can keep cool and hold things together while under pressure.

27. What has your proudest babysitting moment or accomplishment been and why?

This one shows they’ve spent a significant amount of time around kids and have made a difference. It might be something like a baby’s first word, learning to crawl or walk, a child making a drawing for them, etc.

28. Tell me about a specific time when you had to prioritize several tasks and manage your time efficiently. How did you decide what was most important?

Multitasking is an important skill to have as a babysitter. The more kids they’ll be watching, the more important it is.

They need an effective way to prioritize for those times where one child is throwing a tantrum, the other is trying to shove markers in your dog’s ear, and the phone is ringing… all at the same time.

29. What activities do you do with the children on an average babysitting shift?

Your babysitter should be engaging with your children and have plenty of suggestions for games and craft activities that they could do together.

If your babysitter has trouble coming up with answers to this question, they might be the type that will just sit on the couch and watch TV with your child for 3 hours, every single time.

30. What do you do if a child refuses to go to bed? How have you handled tantrums in the past?

Both of these give real examples of how your babysitter would discipline your child.

31. Under what circumstances would you call me?

There’s a balance you’re looking for here. A babysitter shouldn’t be interrupting you with basic questions multiple times while you’re out, but you don’t want them to be too nervous to call for something serious either.

32. If you can’t get ahold of me, who would you reach out to for help?

It doesn’t matter who it is. They just need some type of support structure they can reach out to for help and advice. Whether that’s their mom or another family member, a friend, or maybe they look through your phone book to find someone.

33. Give me an example of a time and place when you faced a stressful situation that demonstrated your coping skills.

Similar to the question about prioritizing and multitasking.

Having a stressful situation is okay and it happens. You want to know what actions they took to fix the situation, and what the end result was.

34. Share a specific example of a time as a babysitter when you used good judgment or fact-finding skills to solve a problem.

You’re not expecting them to be able to fix a burst pipe with a shoelace and a piece of chewing gum. But they should have an example that shows they have some common sense and can think on their feet.

35. Share a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty as a babysitter.

Anything that shows they’re willing to take that extra step. Staying late, taking a child to the mall to see Santa, tutoring, etc.

36. Tell me about a time you were forced to make an unpopular decision.

If they’re anything like me, it probably involves taking away TV or candy.

37. Give me a real-life example of a time when you had to make a split-second decision, without parental input.

Anything that shows a willingness to take the initiative or do what they think is right, even without clear guidance. This might be hard for a babysitter without much experience to come up with.

38. Tell me about a work situation that irritated you. How did you handle it?

You need a babysitter that can keep their cool under pressure.

39. What three words would your friends use to describe you?

You could get a huge range of responses here. Kind, positive, loyal, friendly, honest, practical, or mature are good ones.

Words like “fun” might be a sign that they have trouble being serious when needed.

40. Are you comfortable giving the children baths and dressing them?

Most children only need a bath once or twice a week anyway, so it’s not a huge deal if the answer is no. But it would be nice to have it all done for you if the babysitter is going to be there on bath night and they’re willing to help out.

If you don’t feel comfortable having the babysitter give your child a bath, then you can just skip this question.

41. Are you willing to take children out to the park or library? Or would you just want to stay at home with them?

The more engaging of activities that your babysitter is willing to do with your child the better. Plus it shows a lot of confidence that they’re willing to go out in public with your child and not worry about losing them.

42. How do you handle conflict with a child you’re watching? (like not following instructions or refusing to go to bed.)

You likely already asked about discipline in general, but here is a chance to get some real examples of what they’d do.

43. What do you think it is that children like about you?

You’ll probably get pretty generic answers here like being friendly, nice, fun, or goofy.

If they take a while to think of an answer, they might be making one up. Which could be a bad sign and mean kids they’ve babysat before haven’t liked them!

See our complete list of essential babysitter qualities that you should be looking for during your hiring process.

Questions You CAN’T Ask A Potential Babysitter

Now you should have a great idea of what questions you should ask your babysitter. But we also need to discuss some questions that you absolutely can’t ask.

It’s unlikely that a babysitter would ever try and sue you for discrimination, but it’s still best to avoid some illegal interview questions.

To keep it simple, don’t ask questions about:

• Age
• Race / ethnic background
• Religious views
• Sexual orientation
• Marital status / plans on becoming pregnant
• Disability
• Arrest record

Note: Laws vary about what you can and can’t ask during a job interview depending on where you live, so check your local labor department’s website for more information.

Babysitter Interview Questions (Checklist)

When conducting an interview it’s always best to be well prepared.

Download our checklist with the top 20 questions to ask a babysitter so you don’t miss anything important. It’s also good to use the same questions across multiple candidates so they’re easier to compare afterwards.

Free Download

(babysitter-interview-questions.pdf 107kb)

Also, see our complete guide: How to interview a babysitter for other essential tips and trusted techniques to use during the interview process.

Related Questions

What responsibilities should I ask my babysitter about during our interview?

You might want to ask if they’re ok caring for more children if your kids have friends over. As well as whether they’re willing to help with homework, light housework, or making dinner.

What are some infant-specific babysitter interview questions?

The obvious one is to ask your potential babysitter if they’re comfortable watching infants and if they have any experience with it. If they pass that question, you’ll want to cover the basics like whether they know how to change a diaper, prepare baby formula, etc. You could also ask if they know infant CPR.

Can I ask my babysitter about driving?

Yes. If your babysitter has their license, you might want to ask if they’re comfortable driving with children in the car, whether they know how to install a car seat, how many years of driving experience they have, and if they’ve been in any accidents or received any tickets.

What questions should I ask babysitter references?

When calling the babysitting references that each candidate provides, you want to find out as much as possible about their previous work as a babysitter. Ask questions about their work performance, their personality, communication style, and how well they fit in with the previous family.

See our top 20 questions to ask babysitter references and download our handy checklist to work through while on the phone.

Next:

• How to run a background check on a babysitter.
• How to prepare for your first babysitter
• Is it legal to record a babysitter?
• How to find a babysitter for a kid with autism

Interview Questions for Nannies & Babysitters By Topic

Finding caregivers that are best for your family takes work. But it’s entirely worth it. Once you’ve found a handful of candidates who meet your criteria on paper, the next step is to interview them. There’s no substitute for the give-and-take of an interview with a potential babysitter or nanny. You can have your more in-depth questions answered and also get a feel for the sitter as a person.

Begin by preparing a list of qualities that are most important to you and prioritize them. For example, do you want someone who is CPR certified or someone who has formal early childhood development training? If that’s important to you, add that to the top of your list. When you’re interviewing a potential caregiver, start with your top priority and work down from there.

Below we’ve outlined typical topics to address when interviewing a nanny or babysitter. Each topic has a list of sample interview questions for caregivers. We suggest using this interview checklist as a starting point and adjusting it to fit your family’s needs.

Questions You Can Ask a Potential Nanny or Babysitter

General

• What is your child care rate?
• Have you ever been arrested or convicted of a crime?
• Do you live nearby? How can you get to jobs with us? Car, etc. ?
• Do you have any allergies to cats, dogs or other pets?
• Are you uncomfortable around or scared of any particular pets?
• Do you have any particular religious affiliation that might affect the way you care for our children?

Experience

How much experience does the potential caregiver have with children?

• How many years have you been working with children and in what ways?
• Can you tell me about your past experience specifically as a sitter?
• What ages do you have experience caring for?
• How many children have you watched at one time?
• Do you have any formal training or certifications in early child care?
• Do you have specific child care experience in [fill in the blank depending on what you’re looking for – special needs, potty training, infant care, etc.]

Availability

Does the potential caregiver’s schedule align with yours?

• What is your course of study in school or what is your full-time job?
• How many hours a week would you like to work?
• When would you be able to start?
• Do you have other responsibilities outside of child care?
• (For full time/regularly-scheduled jobs) Do you plan on taking any time off in the next six months?
• Are you OK if a job runs later than planned?

Personal Responsibility

Is the potential caregiver dependable and can be trusted to remain in control of any situation?

• Do you know First Aid/CPR and have you been trained or certified?
• Are you familiar with the Heimlich maneuver?
• Can you swim?
• Are you familiar with emergency numbers?
• Can you drive in an emergency?
• Have you ever had an emergency situation? What did you do?
• Do you have any experience administering medicine to children?
• Are you comfortable having a background check run on you?

Responsibilities and Tasks

Is the potential caregiver willing and able to fulfill all the needs your family has?

• How do you feel about play dates for my kids? Can you help arrange these?
• Can you care for more kids if we have a play date in the house?
• Are you OK assisting with homework, possibly making dinner and/or doing light housework?
• Are you comfortable watching my child as a mother’s helper if I decide to stay home during a job?
• Are you willing to help with overnight care if needed?
• Can you travel with my family if we need you to?

Enthusiasm

People are best at what they are passionate about—does the potential caregiver love what they do?

• Why do you enjoy being a sitter or nanny?
• What are your favorite activities to do with kids?
• What do kids like best about you?
• What’s your best on-the-job memory?
• What do you look for in an employer/family?

Dedication

Will the potential caregiver act with professionalism?

• Are you looking for a family that you can grow with?
• What would you do if you were sick and unable to make it into work?
• How much notice would you give if you had to leave for another job offer?
• How long were you with each family you’ve worked for?

Behavior

What is the temperament of the potential caregiver?

• Tell me about a time where you faced a crisis on the job. How did you handle it?
• What would you do with the kids on a day like today?
• What do you do when a child refuses to go to sleep?
• What do you think is the best way to handle tantrums?
• What is your proudest moment in babysitting and why?
• What are your views on discipline? Are you willing to change if we ask?

Newborn Care

• Are you comfortable sitting for newborns?
• What is your experience caring for newborns?
• Can you change a diaper?
• Do you know infant CPR?
• Do you know about SIDS and how to prevent it?
• Do you have experience preparing and heating formula?
• Are you familiar with Shaken Baby Syndrome?
• Do you know the proper size for baby chewables and how to prevent choking?
• Can you tell if a room is childproofed?

If the Sitter Will Be Driving

• Are you comfortable driving kids in the car?
• May I see your driver’s license?
• How many years have you been driving?
• Do you have any marks against your driving record (speeding tickets, accidents, etc)?

Ask for References

Be sure to ask for child care references with both the phone number and email address so you can contact them easily. When searching for a babysitter or a nanny on Sittercity, log into your Premium account, go to the profile of the sitter you’re interested in, and scroll down to the References section to find that info.

Meet Your Kids

Give each candidate a chance to spend some time with your child during the interview. Are they excited to meet your child and at ease when interacting with them? Pay attention and trust your instincts.

After the Interview

Ready to make it official with a sitter or nanny?

We’re doing our part to help you confidently find the child care help your family needs on Sittercity. We encourage you to spend some time in our Trust & Safety Center (for both families and sitters).

If you’re ready to move forward with a candidate, look over the background checks you could run for some extra peace of mind and consider writing up a child care contract. Caring for your child is an important job—make the choices that are best for your family.

Top 10 Questions to Ask Your Babysitters — Apiari

When it comes to finding someone to care for your children, asking the right questions could mean the difference between hiring a star nanny or a dud sitter.

We vet care providers day in and day out at Apiari, so we’re pretty good at interviewing potential babysitters. To help you find the right person to take care of your children, we’ve come up with a list of 10 essential questions to ask in a babysitting interview.

10 Questions to Ask Potential Babysitters

1. What did you do before working as a sitter?
You want to look for a pattern of “people work,” such as tutoring, after school program leader, camp counselor, daycare worker, or even in customer service. This demonstrates a natural interest in working with people.

2. What do you like best about childcare?
There are many ways to earn extra cash, so why do they want to earn it from childcare? This question also helps show that they genuinely enjoy being around children — if they can’t think of one reason, that’s a red flag.

3. What are the ages of children you have watched in the past?
This will help you understand the breadth of the babysitter’s childcare experience. If you have a 1-year old and are looking for a long-term provider, you’ll want to make sure the babysitter has worked with children up to at least 5 – 7 years old.

4. What are your favorite ages to work with and why?
While nannies and babysitters may have a wide range of age experience, everyone has a “sweet spot.” Some don’t mind or get frazzled by crying babies, while others find older kids more interesting because they can engage in conversation and games with them. You want a sitter that naturally clicks with your children.

5. What kinds of activities do you enjoy doing with kids?
Some babysitters are naturally more creative and active, while others are not. The answer will help you understand if you will need to plan out activities for them to do with your kids. Because you know your child best, you can also assess whether s/he would like any of the activities they may come up with.

6. How would you handle a child’s temper tantrum or attitude? Or give an example of your child’s behavior and ask how the sitter would have managed the situation.
The candidate’s response will help you understand if this is aligned with or supports your own behavior-management policies or if it would send mixed action-response messages to your child. If you disagree with their methods, ask for an example of when they had to follow another parent’s method and assess whether they had the adaptability and flexibility to do so.

7. How would you commute to our home?
If the sitter has a long commute, whether she drives or uses public transit, ask how she’s dealt with delays in the past. Has there ever been a situation where she was unable to make it on time, and what did she do to resolve the issue? How does she plan ahead to avoid potential delays? You don’t want to be in a situation where the sitter is constantly late because of a complicated commute.

8. Do you have specific childcare experience with [fill in the blank depending on what you’re looking for — special needs, potty training, infant care, etc.]?
You want to have the peace of mind knowing that you’re leaving your children in the best hands, as well as setting up the sitter for success. If your child needs special care, whether she’s going through potty training, has medical issues (even food allergies), or requiring behavioral/psychological support, make sure the sitter has the experience to understand and support your child.

9. Are you willing and able to help with homework, making dinner, and cleaning (and/or any other specific tasks) if needed?
Some nannies and babysitters are willing to do some light cooking and housekeeping, while others are not. Some can help with homework, and others can only make sure your child does homework. Be clear on your needs. And if you love the sitter for childcare but they aren’t willing to help with other tasks, just be prepared to find an additional provider to help with tutoring, cooking, and cleaning. Or, keep looking!

10. Can you provide me with three childcare references?
Always ask for references, and call them!. You want to hear that there’s consistency in personality and behavior. If you encounter contradictory feedback, such as “never late” and “often running late” you’ll want to probe further. Was the sitter within walking distance of her client’s home when she was never late, or did she have to take three different trains to get to there? What were the different situations, and which situation would your needs be most similar to?

Hiring During COVID. It is perfectly okay to ask what precautions a candidate is taking to ensure their safety during the pandemic and you should share what your family is doing as well. Open, honest communication is even more important during these crazy times. Ask if they regularly get tested or open to being tested. Discuss what would happen if either they or someone in either of your families gets sick. Have the conversation upfront to set the relationship off right.

One final suggestion

…

At the end of the day, you want to understand what your prospective babysitter does best and what he or she is willing to do to meet your child’s needs — as well as your own. It’s also important to remember that it’s not what they say but what they actually do and how well they do it that counts.

At Apiari, we encourage clients to book a 2-hour trial working session so the childcare provider and family can get a better feel for each other. Seeing providers interact with your children and how your child responds is the best gauge of fit. It’s also important to observe how well you and your childcare provider can communicate with each other. Does she or he understand and follow your directions? Can they flex their style to meet your needs? It’s only through an actual trial session that you can get a real sense of whether they are a good match for your child and family.

 

Nanny interview questions – important things to ask

Plus: when to listen to your gut

Hiring a nanny or babysitter can feel like a pretty big deal. You have read through countless profiles and selected a few standout candidates to interview. But what questions do you need to ask when interviewing a potential nanny?

You want to make sure the caregiver you hire has the right experience for your family’s particular needs, but also that they’re a person who you can trust to do what’s best for your children, even when something unexpected comes up. You want to learn as much as possible about who they are, but you only have limited time and multiple candidates to interview.

To reduce any potential stress in the hiring process, we have developed this in-depth list of the most important interview questions to ask a nanny or babysitter candidate to give you peace of mind – and make you feel confident about hiring the best caregiver for your family.

Start with common interview questions

Before you get to know your nanny candidate better, try to get a solid sense of their relevant experience. A great way to start the conversation is to ask a candidate why they love working with children. This eases you into the more black-and-white experience questions and can often give you a great sense of the candidate’s personality when it comes to working with kids. 

Here are some suggestions for interview questions you may want to ask a prospective nanny about the basics:

Nanny interview questions: relevant experience

• How long have you been babysitting?

• Why do you love working with kids?

• Tell me about your previous experience with my child’s age group.

• Do you have experience with siblings or working with multiple children at once?

• What is your schedule like, and how much flexibility do you have? Do you foresee any scheduling conflicts?

• Do you have much experience interacting with or overlapping care with parents, parents who work from home, and/or families with other household staff?

• Are you willing to help out with child-related household tasks (such as the children’s laundry, tidying up after playtime, meals, etc. )?

• What is your style of discipline? How do you handle conflicts, disagreements, sibling arguments, or behavioral issues?

• If applicable, have you ever worked with a stay-at-home parent?

• Do you have experience working in our neighborhood or are you familiar with the area?

Nanny interview questions: comfort levels and flexibility

• Are you comfortable commuting with kids, taking them to various activities by subway, bus, or cab?

• Would you be comfortable caring for additional kids during playdates, carpools, etc. if that information was given to you in advance?

• How have you communicated with parents in previous positions (text, e-mail, phone), and are you comfortable with our preferred methods?

• Are you comfortable helping with homework?

• Are you comfortable cooking or preparing food for kids?

As long as Covid-19 continues to be a part of our daily lives, it’s important to know your comfort levels and make sure anyone working in your home is on board as well. The interview is a great time to mention any adjustments and precautions your family is taking and what you expect from a nanny.

Read more about Covid-19 provisions to include in your job contract.

Nanny interview questions: personality and interests

• What are your hobbies and interests? How do you spend your time when you’re not babysitting?

• Do you have any special skills (languages, arts, etc.) that you’d be open to teaching to my kids?

• Do you have any pet or food allergies that we would need to know about?

Interview questions for a nanny for an infant or baby:

• Tell me about your experience with infants/babies.

• Do you have experience caring for infants who have a difficult time taking a bottle?

• What is your approach to establishing a sleep schedule?

• If applicable, do you have experience working with new parents?

• What is your experience with pumping and/or supplemental feeding?

• Are you comfortable with our methods of sleep training, play, and/or feeding? What are your preferred methods?

Dive into your nanny’s details

Having relevant experience is important when it comes to caring for kids, but it isn’t the only factor to take into account. As a parent, you know that unexpected and unplanned situations arise all the time when it comes to caring for kids, whether it be missing a bus, rescheduling an activity, or a diaper blowout at the playground with no spare clothes.

By asking your candidate how they have handled unexpected situations or conflicts before – or how they would hypothetically handle it in the future – you can get a sense of how they think on their feet: 

• Can you tell me about any emergencies or accidents that happened while you were taking care of children, and how you handled those? 

• Can you tell me about a conflict that came up with previous employers or the kids and how you addressed the situation?

• Have you ever worked for a family that had a different method of discipline, routines, or parenting style than you? How did you negotiate that?

A nanny interview is a two-way street

It’s important to remember that not only does a nanny candidate need to be the right fit for your family, your position needs to be a good fit for this candidate as well. If a candidate is juggling other endeavors and really only has part-time availability but interviews for your full-time position, there’s a high risk they will not stick around in the long term. This is true even if they love your kiddos or seem to be a great fit in other ways. 

Try to get a good sense of what the candidate is ideally looking for and leave space during the interview for the nanny to ask their questions as well. Make sure the candidate knows the schedule and general job outline either ahead of time or by the end of the interview.

You can help the conversation along by asking questions like:

• What kind of position are you ideally looking for?

• What has been important for you to learn about a position or a family when you’ve been interviewing? 

• Is there anything in our job description that gives you pause or that you would like us to clarify?

Trust your gut, too

At the end of the day, the nanny-employer relationship is a special kind of professional relationship. Your employee works in your private home and is an integral part of your child’s daily life, so it’s important that you feel comfortable with each other. By making an interview feel like a conversation rather than just a list of questions, your gut instincts can get a feel for your rapport with the candidate – and that’s an important factor too!

Consider scheduling paid trials with your top candidates to really get a sense of how they interact with your kids, their ability to pick up on your routines, and that they really are as punctual as they said in the interview. Seeing your kids’ excitement at the end of a trial can be what really solidifies your choice, or can convince you of a right fit when the interview made you think a candidate didn’t quite have the perfect experience.

Have you discovered any magical questions that get the most out of a nanny interview? Tag Smart Sitting in your Facebook and Instagram posts so we can share the insight.

how to hire a nannyGuest UserJanuary 10, 2022

0 Likes

12 Questions You Should Ask Every Babysitter

I had a major personality flaw. I was way too considerate. I cared way too much about what other people thought. These seemingly pleasant personality traits put my kids at risk. When interviewing for a babysitter, they caused me to not ask the right questions. I didn’t want to be rude. I didn’t want to be presumptuous.

 

I will never make that mistake again.

 

I share some of my story to not highlight my parental inadequacies (although it is a risk). But rather to help other parents learn from my mistakes.

 

We spent over $500 at a nanny placement agency. I know that sounds crazy, but I was willing to spend any amount to ensure my children’s safety. The agency was supposed to complete a full background check, check all references and ensure the applicant had enough expertise to care for our children. I trusted them. Mistake #1.

 

We got to interview the applicant they sent over. Our guard was down – as we felt she had already been properly screened. After all – we had forked over $500 for that very purpose. Mistake #2.

 

We never asked her the hard questions. I have always been was overly polite. I never liked to step on anyone’s toes. I have replayed that interview over and over again in my head. What if I had asked her better questions? What if my guard had been up? Would I have seen things – warning signs?

 

We had our sitter for over a year before any hint of a problem showed up. What had I missed before then? She was always friendly. My son always went to her – he never cried in her presence. She had children of her own. She was dependable. She was nice. She was a nightmare.

 

Trust me – this could happen to anyone. As a therapist, I read people for a living. I get people. I used to go into daycare facilities to observe their staff. I missed this because I was looking in the wrong direction. Asking the wrong questions.

 

Parents do this all the time. I hear similar horror stories in my child therapy practice. They thought they could trust their sitter. They thought they knew their sitter well. They thought because it was a relative they were safe. They thought wrong.

 

If you are searching for a babysitter, save yourself the guilt (trust me it’s not fun) and ask the sitter these tough questions. It is not important what sitters say to these questions (because frankly, if they have a problem, they aren’t going to admit it)), but watch how they say it.

 

Have you ever had any problems with drugs or alcohol? Did any previous employer have these suspicions?

 

The last part of the question is meant to make applicants second guess themselves. Did you hear something from one of their references that indicated an issue? Either they will adamantly deny an issue – or will stammer and try to defend themselves. 

 

Do you have to take any prescription medications that make you drowsy or impair your thinking?

 

You don’t want babysitters sleeping all day. Some prescriptions can make people extremely lethargic. You have a right to know what their mental state will be when they are watching your children.

 

If I had known the real answer to this question – it might have made me second guess putting my children in her care. It might have made me second guess her story about how my child got ant bites all over his body because he was playing in the backyard for just a “minute” while she was on the phone.

 

Do you have a history of anxiety or depression? If so, what normally makes you feel anxious?

 

I have absolutely nothing against anyone who suffers from anxiety or depression – after all those are the people I try to help at work. But, I do want to know if those issues will interfere with their ability to keep calm under stress.

 

I knew our sitter had anxiety, but I did not realize that it made her sleep all day or that it made her go into such a panic that she didn’t know what to do when minor situations popped up.

 

Will you ever need to bring anyone else to come with you when babysitting? If so – do they have issues with drugs, alcohol or mood instability?

 

Even if applicants insist they will never have to bring someone with them – probe further. Ask them, “But if you did, who would it be?”

 

I doubt my sitter would have been honest if I had asked – but it would have been worth asking.

 

Instead I had to find out the hard way – with the discovery of little liquor bottles hidden all around our house and a browser full of visited porn sites that had been viewed while she was watching our kids.

 

It turned out that our sitter had a pretty disturbed 20-something son. Apparently she would drop him off a block from our house and call him to come over when we left.

 

Was he safe to be around kids? Did he have a criminal history? I will never know. I do know, however, that he felt free to drink and view porn in a stranger’s home.

 

What’s the worst scenario you have had to deal with while babysitting?

 

Stop asking the happy questions – and focus on the hard ones. Did the applicant have an example? Did the applicant handle the situation well?

 

Who would you call in case of an emergency?

 

This may seem obvious, but when our infant son had over 100 ant bites from head to toe – our sitter called her teen daughter for help. Not us. Not poison control. Not the doctor. Her teenage daughter.

 

Have you ever hit or come close to hitting a child?

 

They won’t be truthful, but if you are able to read people – this would be a good question to ask.

 

Have you ever had any issues with the law or has your license ever been suspended?

 

Let them know that you will do a background check – that you do it for all applicants. Once they know this they might be forthcoming.

 

Describe the most annoying kid you’ve ever babysat.

 

Get a window into what bothers them the most. Does their example show some impatience? Is the answer sugar coated?

 

Describe the most annoying parents you’ve ever had to work with.

 

Are they describing you? Are they more annoyed by involved, caring parents or indifferent, uninvolved parents?

 

If you had to discipline our kids, how would you do it?

 

Such an important question to ask. Don’t assume they won’t hit your child or punish them in another way you might find unacceptable.

 

How were you disciplined growing up?

 

If you want a better peek into the last answer – ask them this one. What do they describe? If they experienced harsh discipline do they support it or talk about how they would do things differently?

Trust your gut!

When I look back – there were many times my gut told me something was not right.

 

When she told me she took him to the store, but something told me she went to her home.

 

When I told her not to take him out anymore, but when I forgot my bag they were no where to be found.

 

The warming signs goes on and on. But with each warning sign I had a rational explanation to dial back my concerns and she had good excuses.

 

I will always trust my gut from now on. I will not care if other people think I am paranoid or overreacting. I will not worry about hurting other people’s feelings. I will react. I will protect.

 

I am one of the lucky ones. I dodged a major bullet. My kids are okay. Four years later and my kids don’t even remember her name. But, I do. And I will never forget the lessons she taught me. Don’t judge a book by its cover. Because sometimes the cover is nice, but the story is ugly.

 

Have you had a similar experience with a babysitter? Do you have any other good questions we should ask sitters? Leave a comment and help us all do a good job screening the people we are entrusting to care for our kids.

 

Do you know other people who need to ask babysitters these tougher questions? Share this article and protect their kids.

 

What questions to ask a nanny at an interview

The truth is cruel – there are no ideal nannies. However, you can find the governess closest to your personal vision. To make things easier, we have prepared questions to ask her before making a decision. You can ask them in any order.

What questions to ask the nanny by phone

The phone conversation should be short and cover key issues. Its purpose is to check whether the respondent meets the criteria and whether it is worth dating.

1. I am looking for a nanny who will take care of… (insert basic information such as child’s age, hours of operation, address). It suits you?

Be sure to ask this question. Even if you specified the requirements in the ad, it is worth checking if everything is clear. If the future governess does not live up to expectations and at the same time tries to convince you that the selection criteria are meaningless, tell her that she is not suitable for you.

2. What are your financial expectations?

If you ask a question now, you can avoid problems in the future. Do not expect that the payment will decrease after the negotiations. State the maximum amount you are willing to pay and find out how much an extra hour in the evening or weekend will cost. Determine the payment period – once a month or depending on the number of hours worked. When a nanny agrees to pay below market average, try to find out why. One of them is a protracted job search, because the woman is “new” in this business or is known to employers in a negative way.

3. Where do you live?

By asking this question, you can determine the time spent by the nanny on the road, the chance of possible delays and how quickly she will get to you in an emergency.

4. Do you have experience?

It’s good when you have experience, but remember – taking care of your own child, siblings is not the same thing. Of course, the fact that the respondent has children suggests that he has practical knowledge, but this does not mean that they are suitable for professional activities. For example, it is not known what kind of patience a woman has and how she applies educational methods. When you have experience, ask the nanny to provide you with several phone numbers of former wards.

What questions to ask the nanny at the interview

1. How long did you work and how did you care?

This is one of the important questions to ask. Listen patiently to the story and draw your own conclusions. Write down the dates and names, then look at the note and make sure the notes form a cohesive whole. Remember, some people have trouble reproducing accurate data from memory, so keep that in mind. If the nanny changed jobs or residence frequently, find out why.

2. Tell us about your responsibilities in your last family. What did you do all day at work?

The nanny will tell you the whole day with details, which will allow you to find out the real scope of her duties and about cooperation with former employers. You will get to know a woman better – how she amuses the child, does it, whether she takes into account the wishes of the baby.

3. What are you doing now?

The answer brings a lot of important information. For example, if she finishes her studies, she will probably soon begin searching for a position in her profession, abandoning her old activity. Have you recently sent your toddler to kindergarten? Most likely, she will need not rare “days off”, as constant colds are possible. Is there a child she plans to take care of while working? We advise you to abandon such an idea, even if they are the weather. Put yourself in her place. What do you do when students fight? Whom do you blame – a baby from a strange family or your baby?

4. How long have you been looking for a job?

If within a few weeks, be sure to ask the reason, because good nannies are in great demand. Pay attention to the information received, it is quite possible that the nanny was not satisfied with the time of employment and the agency did not have suitable offers.

5. How did the previous collaboration end?

One of the most promising answers is “the child went to kindergarten. ” However, there may be some bad news as well. For example, that the employer delayed wages or hurt self-esteem. If the phrase “I have been unlucky lately” or “I come across exploiters” was heard, this may indicate that the people who hired her are unhappy with her help. There is a high probability of a repeat of the situation.

6. What is important to you?

The candidate may say that he would like to work in a clean room. This means that conflicts can arise if the order in the house is not well maintained. Perhaps the nanny appreciates fixed hours, which is difficult to achieve when you often stay late at the office.

7. What are your shortcomings?

Ask a question with the addition – “because everyone has them.” Of course, most talk about overzealousness, inability to rest, or endless love for all living things. There will also be those who talk about their real weaknesses, such as frequent lateness, which some employers are willing to turn a blind eye to. In the course of a conversation, inappropriate confessions may be heard, such as “I can’t control myself when I’m angry” or “I am sometimes inattentive.” Such statements indicate that a person made a mistake with the choice of position.

8. What are your benefits?

Ask this question when there are no objections to the candidate, but for some reason doubts remain. Usually, a person talks about the benefits without thinking.

9. What is your education?

If the governess is a nurse, pediatrician or psychologist by training, then of course this can be considered a good asset. However, remember that a child first of all needs an attentive and caring adult. In addition, there are nannies who believe that their education allows them to put their opinions above the requests of their parents and they promote their educational measures without permission.

10. In addition to babysitting, do you agree to iron clothes, cook food…?

Such a question will save you from misunderstandings, tell your chosen one about additional responsibilities. At the same time, you must understand that too many additional cases negatively affect the care of the ward due to lack of time.

11. Do you smoke?

The only correct answer is “no”. If the candidate says she quit, ask how much time has passed. There is a risk that the bad habit will return at any time.

12. How do you feel about alcohol?

Most people drink alcohol from time to time. People who don’t have a problem with it answer honestly, “Sometimes I drink beer on the weekends or on holidays.” The statement “I never drink alcohol” sounds more often not from abstainers (there are very few of them), but from a person who has serious problems. Before drawing conclusions, ask about the reason for the abstinence, and then find out from former employers if there were any situations when the nanny was regularly excused from work for various reasons. This can be a warning sign of alcohol addiction.

13. What are your expectations for the holiday?

Specify if there are any plans or requirements regarding leave. Does she think that her vacation should be paid, if so, what amount does she expect – full from the trip or partial. The answer is not decisive when choosing, the only exception is the circumstance when the planned vacation lasts too long – more than a month.

14. Describe the most difficult situation that happened

Difficult circumstances are an integral part of any work. Sometimes stories about them can show the strengths or weaknesses of a person. An example is the situation when a child is hysterical, begging for chocolate, and the nanny at this time patiently waits for him to calm down and calmly reminds him of his parents’ order – no more than one chocolate bar a day. It is a bad sign if the nanny reports a situation where they had to call their parents from work because she could not calm the ward.

15. Have you ever hit a child?

Feel free to ask this question, especially since some nannies openly admit it or say that physical punishment has never hurt anyone.

16. What will you do if the baby refuses to eat/sleep/fulfill the request?

Ask about the reaction to the behavior that is most typical for your baby. The answer will allow you to explore educational methods. Keep in mind that if your methods are very different from the standard ways to calm or put to sleep, the nanny may not live up to expectations, especially if she is elderly and has previously worked with a group of young children. In this case, ask her if she agrees to follow the rules presented. Some people need time to adapt, only after a while you will be able to assess whether the promise is being kept. There are also nannies who prefer to act on their own and consider this the most correct. Think carefully whether such a governess suits you.

Questions asked to the nanny at the interview should be spoken calmly and confidently, in addition, do not be afraid to embarrass or offend. A conscientious person answers without hesitation and long pauses.

Share with your friends in any way convenient for you!

15 most important questions about a nanny that every mother should know the answer to

In a modern family, having a nanny is no longer a luxury, but rather a necessity. Moms and dads have to work hard to provide the family with a decent standard of living, and for themselves career self-realization, so it turns out that a responsible adult who is able to take care of a child in the absence of parents is a real must-have. But often finding a good babysitter is harder than finding a needle in a haystack. In his new column, the expert “Oh!” Psychologist Anna Skavitina answered 15 most popular parenting questions about nannies. Every mom should know this!

Anna Skavitina, psychologist, analyst, member of the IAAP (International Association of Analytical Psychology), supervisor of the ROAP and the Jung Institute (Zurich), expert of the Psychology journal

Modern families often face a serious problem: living in their separate, rather comfortable apartments, they are deprived of the help and support of relatives in the care and upbringing of children. In the morning, dads go to work for the whole day, and moms are left alone with the kids. It happens that in this mode, during the day, mothers do not even have enough time to have breakfast, clean up or change clothes. Grandmothers in our time less and less want to help their adult children in raising their grandchildren: they have their own life, hobbies, work. They believe that they have already raised their children, they want to do something for themselves.

In addition, young mothers often conflict with the older generation also because they believe that they themselves were raised incorrectly, therefore they deliberately do not claim the presence of grandmothers in the house on a regular basis. But it is not enough for any mother to raise a child without the help and support of others. That is why a nanny for many families becomes the only way out, the grandmother that the family chooses itself.

Long gone are the days when the presence of nannies indicated the elite status of a family. According to very inaccurate statistics, every tenth family with children uses regular babysitting services, and almost all irregular ones. With questions about nannies, they also come to a child psychologist. What are the most important things for parents? I will try to list the most popular questions and briefly answer them, and if you do not find the answer to your question in the text, write it in the comments, I will try to answer separately.

When to hire a babysitter?

The moment you realize you’re missing one more hand in the house and there’s money you’re willing to spend on it. Do not pull, do not make a heroic deed out of your motherhood. A child needs a kind, calm mother, ready to respond to his needs, and not an exhausted creature that does not respond to any signals.

I won’t hurt my child if I take a babysitter, because mom is always better?

One very good mother who made a big business gave birth to three children. Contract. At the same time, she was sure that it was not worth giving birth to children if they were then given to a nanny, so she did everything herself, involving only the father of the family to the best of her ability and ability to care for the children. When the children were 3, 2 and a year old, the housemates mistook the young mother and father for grandparents. After that, she looked in the mirror and decided: “That’s it! Three nannies – and immediately! And I take care of myself!” For her children, it was traumatic both the time spent with her mother without nannies – because her mother could not cope at all, and the time when her mother decided to take a break, transferring care of the kids to other people.
It’s not about leaving your kids, it’s likely to hurt them. It’s about accepting the help you need for a limited time.

What if the children love the nanny more than me?

A question asked by very insecure mothers. Believe me, in order for this to happen, the mother needs to try very hard: not to take care of the child at all, to constantly scream or do something else of little use. But even in such conditions, a mother will still remain a mother. The child has a huge credit of trust! Advice on the Internet that calls for changing the nanny more often so that the baby does not have time to become attached to her is tantamount to mockery of your own child. Imagine that you become friends with a person, and he suddenly disappears from your life.

What can I ask a nanny to do?

What you are willing to delegate. Think about what you are ready to share from your affairs? For example, I wanted to spend more time with children, less time in the kitchen and other household chores, and it also seemed to me that the child did not care who was pushing the stroller with him on the street. Some of the mothers are not able to stay awake at night, so they take a night nanny. Someone needs a person who will take the child to doctors, someone – to circles. Make a list of what you do and think about what you can outsource without harming yourself and your children.

Is it necessary for a nanny to have a special education: medical or pedagogical?

Not always. Moms want to be able to get qualified professional help from a nanny, although they often just need second kind, calm and supportive hands, and they take them to doctors and developing circles not to a nanny, but separately. It is important that the nanny has experience interacting with children: professional or personal.

For example, mothers of several children usually do not work well with nannies who themselves have one child and therefore do not have experience in resolving conflicts between brothers and sisters. If you need constant medical manipulations with your child or you want to organize developmental classes at home, then special education is obviously needed.

One very interesting and intelligent woman with a PhD in pedagogy retired as a nanny. She cleaned the apartment with high quality and cooked food, but she wondered why the employer was looking for a nanny with a higher pedagogical education, which was in no way in demand, except that her mother, on occasion, bragged about him to others.

What should I do if I don’t like my nanny?

It is important that mother and nanny are psychologically compatible. Even if the mother cannot really explain why she does not like the nanny, it is worth listening to the mother’s intuition and changing the nanny. First try to invite the nanny for a trial day, see how she communicates with the children, with you, listen to your feelings. It is clear that the nanny will not be able to do everything exactly as you want, but is she ready to accept criticism without intense resentment and change her behavior?

What if the parenting style that the nanny uses is very different from the parent’s, is it harmful to the child?

Most likely, the parents themselves will not like it. Therefore, it is better to immediately look for a nanny who matches your style of upbringing.

Does a mother need to maintain the nanny’s authority and what to do if he is too big in the family? What if the nanny builds alliances with other family members (with children, grandmothers)?

If you want to be sure that your child is safe, support the authority of the nanny. The child must trust the nanny and listen to what she says. But do not forget that the main thing in the family is the parents. They are responsible for everything that happens to the child. If the nanny begins to “befriend mother” with other family members, contradict mother’s ideas about upbringing, communicate with the child’s grandmothers by phone, “surrendering everything about everyone”, she must be separated immediately. Suggestions and conversations do not work here. Mom needs to take her place in the family structure.

Who should like a nanny – a mother or a child?

Firstly, the nanny should please the mother and match her ideas about what kind of help the family needs at this stage. Secondly, it is important for the mother to take a closer look at the child: does he enjoy spending time with the nanny, is he afraid of her coming, does he run away when she appears, especially if the nanny has already worked for you for some time. If possible, it is sometimes worth spending time with the child and the nanny to look at their relationship from the inside. If you like several of the proposed nannies, ask the child to choose the one that he liked. One mother I know, while looking for a nanny at an agency, asked her child at the age of 1 year and 8 months to approach one of the five girls that he would like the most. The kid held out his hands to the young woman. Subsequently, the mother was not disappointed in the choice of the child.

What are the most important questions to ask a nanny during an interview?

Not very many:

• What experience do you have with children?
• Do you have children of your own?
• Who did they stay with when you worked? Who will they be with now if they are small?
• What is your relationship with your children? (It’s great when the nanny has experience in raising her own children and she is on good terms with them. It’s strange if the nanny leaves her children and goes to take care of strangers, even because of a difficult financial situation).
• Give an example of how you usually respond to criticism. (You will try to understand if the nanny is ready to hear you and change).
• How do you cope in situations when the child does not fall asleep / does not eat / does not want to go out / refuses to learn lessons? (This is how you define the nanny’s parenting style).
• Do you apply punishments? Which?
• Do you have experience working with families? What can you tell about families? (For example, I don’t trust nannies who immediately start leaking information about former employers and their children).
• What do you like to do? What do you prefer to do with children? (You’ll be lucky if the babysitter likes to do things that you don’t like to do even though you think it’s good for the kids.)
• How do you feel about surveillance cameras? (Even if you are not going to put them in the house, ask to see if the nanny is ready to work under control).

If the nanny is not of the same nationality, what is the child? For example, a Filipina, how important is it for a nanny to have a good knowledge of the child’s native language?

If you hire a nanny during the formation of your native language, from birth to five years old, and you know that the nanny will spend a lot of time with the child, then it is important that the nanny’s speech is competent and clear. If you take a nanny who speaks another language (English, French, Chinese) in order for the child to learn a second language from birth, then you must be sure that the nanny speaks a foreign language correctly, because in this case she speaks with the child in in their own language, and not in the baby’s native language, all the time.

Different religions of the family and nanny. How to treat this?

If everything suits you, and you are tolerant of people of a different religion, nationality, skin color, then this will only serve as a good example for children and expand their understanding of the world. Public opinion may be different, you are not responsible for it.

What should I do to prevent my child from copying the nanny?

The child copies what he sees. This is one of the main ways of learning. Spend more time with your kids and/or hire babysitters who can be role models for your child.

What should I do if a nanny who has been working with a child for a long time suddenly quits? Do I need to say goodbye, remember, be sad, or is it better to forget as soon as possible?

We are all living people, and such situations happen to everyone. If possible, regardless of the age of the child, he needs to say goodbye to the nanny, explain in understandable terms the reason for her departure. If you parted on good terms, then from time to time it is worth meeting with the nanny, inviting her for a day or two to the child. But even if you say goodbye to the nanny in connection with a grandiose scandal, the disappearance of a person close to the child must be mentioned.

Are there good nannies?

Yes. Although on TV and in other media they often talk about terrible ones, but it just causes more emotions. Talking about good nannies is not so exciting. I know nannies who got a job in a family through an agency, who fully raised the child entrusted to them, because the mothers withdrew themselves and even stopped paying salaries. But the brave nannies raised the children as their own, released them into the people, gave them an education. Often, nannies become practically relatives, working with the family for many years. It’s great when your baby has another person who loves him and for whom he can have warm feelings.

Photo: Stokkete/Liderina/Lordn/Shutterstock.com

psychologydevelopmenteducationuseful adviceAnna Skavitina

Intensive: how to interview a nanny | Posta-Magazine

In the new Intensive section, we tell you how to master the skills and abilities that will definitely help you improve the quality of your own life. As well as the quality of life of your children – in the debut material we understand the intricacies of an interview with a nanny.

Recommendations are provided by four experts: deputy director of the recruitment agency Tatyana Rebrova, teacher Maria Nikolaeva, as well as a practicing psychologist working with children of preschool and school age, Marina Arzhanykh, and educational psychologist Yulia Kazachkova.

Preliminary preparation.

“Before starting an interview, it is necessary to analyze all the information provided,” recommends teacher, founder of the English Nursery and Primary School Maria Nikolaeva. – The nanny must provide all the documents in advance, which the employer is obliged to check in the most thorough way. The fact that the nanny claims to have graduated from the Pedagogical Institute in 1985 says nothing – a diploma can be bought. In addition, there must be a certificate of non-conviction, a full set of medical tests (it is better to pay for them yourself – then you will be sure of the quality and veracity of the studies), for foreign nannies – a visa with the right to legal employment, a certificate from the police (in England, the form is called CRB check), diploma of education (“Very often, people who have completed two-week online courses pretend to be foreign language teachers”). Next, Maria Nikolaeva recommends checking the nanny on a polygraph (“This is as important as installing cameras in all rooms except the toilet”), and also inviting a psychologist for an interview: “For the greatest efficiency, I recommend that the mother herself also be tested – in order to her communication with the nanny was as comfortable as possible. People with different psychotypes often don’t get along together.”

Where to begin?

At the next stage, it is important to decide exactly how you plan to hire a nanny – on your own or through an agency. If you choose the second option, start with a good manager – a person to whom you can outline all your requirements and wishes. “As a rule, at the first stage, an experienced manager takes on the role of a conversation moderator, helping to create a cozy atmosphere and establish the first contact,” says Tatyana Rebrova, head of the Second Mother recruitment agency. – Another thing is that modern mothers are very active, and often they are the initiators of the dialogue. There is an unspoken rule: at the interview, the nanny must first tell about herself. Your task is to carefully track factual information, remembering everything that is in doubt or, say, does not coincide with what is said in the resume. This monologue must necessarily contain a biographical block with a story about where she was born, in what family the nanny was raised, what education she received, whether she has her own family, what kind of relationship she has with her husband and children, where and with whom she lives at the moment, as well as detailed comments about work experience, in particular working with families. ” According to Tatyana Rebrova, after an impromptu self-presentation, you can move on to questions and answers, but before doing this, the mother should ask herself: is this person pleasant to her, does she see him next to the child, or, on the contrary, intuitively feels some antipathy. If the answer is no, it is better to try to end the conversation delicately or give a sign to the manager so as not to waste your time and the time of the applicant.

How to build a conversation?

All experts agree on one thing: there is no universal list of questions. Every child, like every mother, has her own needs: for some, gentleness and sincerity are important, while others, on the contrary, are looking for a nanny-educator with iron discipline. However, there are a number of recommendations that will help build a constructive dialogue. Maria Nikolaeva advises using the situational survey method: “It consists in the fact that you offer a situation, and the applicant must provide its solution. Let’s say you say: a six-month-old child is naughty, itches and does not find a place for himself. What’s happening? Any specialist who has worked with children of this age will give a clear answer. Ask the local pediatrician to offer you a couple of medical situations that the nanny will have to comment on. The task of the nanny, of course, is not to treat, but she is obliged to sound the alarm in case it is necessary. The child fell: what signs are alarming? What to do if the baby chokes? Another block of questions is pedagogical. Again, the situation: the child is three years old, he has never been left alone with the nanny. What to do if mom left and he does not calm down? Any specialist will offer several solutions to choose from. Or another situation – the child categorically refuses to eat, what should I do? A good specialist will not have pauses in his answers. If you yourself are not sure about them, consult a doctor, teacher, child psychologist. Remember: a nanny should not be a doctor or a psychologist – she should be all at once.

What questions should be asked?

“Everything here depends on the mother and her wishes,” says Tatiana Rebrova. – During the interview, I would recommend that you make sure to clarify how the nanny’s educational concept and her approach to caring for a child correspond to your views (it is interesting that one of the trends is nannies without experience working in families: many mothers want the nanny not to broadcast in a new family installations of previous employers). The question that is unlikely to be answered honestly, but which needs to be asked, is about intentions: how long does the nanny plan to work in the family, why did she decide to become a nanny? Sometimes a person wants to finish his son’s education, earn money for TV or solve some other financial issues and is not going to stay in the family for several years, as you, for example, planned for yourself. But it is very important for a child that from a certain age there should be one person with him – say, from two or three years old to school, just as from birth to two or three years it is also desirable that there be one nanny. A very good question – what employer would not suit a nanny? Often in this way it is possible to reveal the very irreconcilable contradictions, which otherwise would have been revealed only after some time. “When talking with a nanny, it is best to use hunter tactics,” recommends Maria Adzhanykh, a practicing child psychologist at the Lomonosov School. – Ask not about successes, but about problems with past employers and how the nanny solved them, return to questions to which you did not receive a detailed answer or doubt its veracity. For example, if the nanny claims that she has never had disagreements with previous employers, ask her after five to seven minutes what kind of mother’s behavior annoys her (comes late from work, asks to cook food, does not allow her to use the home phone, etc.). e.) – the answers of the nanny will give out her past experience.

What else to pay attention to?

Be sure to pay attention to the appearance of the future nanny. In this case, you should trust your first impression. “According to the laws of psychological perception,” Maria Adzhanykh explains, “regardless of your desire, the assistant, by her example, will also influence the child’s external and verbal behavior, his taste preferences in clothes, music, art, and everyday life.” Tatyana Rebrova also agrees with this opinion – she is sure that it is necessary to be vigilant in relation to any trifle: “Everything is important, even details that seem insignificant at first glance: appearance, the ability to verbalize one’s thoughts, the ability to listen. What should be of concern? Outward negligence, excessive activity, attempts to interrupt a potential employer, critical reviews of a previous employer, not to mention obvious factual inconsistencies.

Should I invite a child to an interview?

“We always recommend that our parents, who decide to invite an assistant to their family, arrange a first date with the baby,” continues Maria Adzhanykh. – How quickly she can establish contact with the child, what will she say, how friendly, will she give instructions – watch the first reaction of the child, if the baby makes contact – you are on the right track. The main selection criterion for parents should be the attitude of the child. If your baby categorically does not want to communicate with the nanny, cries at the mere sight of her, hides or does not leave his parents – this is not your nanny. Or now is not the right time for a new person in your child’s life. Her colleague, educational psychologist Yulia Kazachkova, who works with school-age children, echoes her: “Bring the child to part of the interview. Let him drink tea with cookies with you for 20 minutes. Here your task is to observe. Accurately and imperceptibly. What is important to pay special attention to, only you know, since it is you who know your child. So, for example, if a usually talkative kid is squeezed and does not want his favorite cookie, this is a sign. If the child is always a little shy, then his stiffness in this case is not a sign of a bad nanny.

Stress interview. Yes or no?

“Today, psychologists are arguing about the appropriateness and usefulness of this type of interview in general,” Yulia Kazachkova comments. – Each side has a lot of arguments, but everyone is convinced of one thing: such an interview should be conducted by a qualified specialist with a good education in management psychology. Therefore, for a private conversation, a stressful interview at home is more likely to harm your further relationship with the nanny if you and the child like her.

What trends exist today in the market of services for hiring nannies?

Firstly, nannies and governesses of foreign origin are still popular: Filipinas, Americans and English women, less often Italians and French women, even less often Chinese women. “If we talk about market trends,” explains Tatyana Rebrova, “as already mentioned, there was a request for nannies without experience in working in families (in fact, for the same reason, nannies recommended by friends, neighbors, colleagues very often do not take root in new families ) and without pedagogical education – modern mothers want to give the child more freedom, self-expression, and not orientation to pedagogical manuals, many of which were written quite a long time ago. There is also a demand for male tutors, but in our country it is, unfortunately, minimal: as a rule, mothers are interested in men, raising their sons alone and thus hoping to bring a male shoulder into the family. 9April 10, 2017 Arina Yakovleva for the section Psychology Recruitment agency MosNaim.ru

26
Apr, 2017

Blog Maria

Nanny selection. Interviews with candidates.

Do you need a babysitter? The selection of a nanny begins with an interview – this is the most significant stage in hiring staff. At the interview, you can clarify important information for yourself, evaluate the knowledge, appearance and manner of communication of the nanny. The main thing is not to bet on the first impression of a person, because it is like a freshly filled glass of champagne – give it time to stand and you will see its fullness. Experts say that to determine the degree of attractiveness to a stranger, we need up to 4 minutes. This time must be spent to your advantage and not be deceived by the first impression. Indeed, sometimes “the most interesting book is hidden in a dusty cover”, and vice versa, a person who knows how to impress does not know how to do anything else.

The first thing to do at home is to prepare questions for the nanny. Correctly formulate so that the nanny understands you and can give a clear answer.

Note:

~ A person perceives only 70% of what they are told, understands – 60%, remembers only 10-25%;

~ A person’s memory can store up to 90% of what he does, 50% of what he sees and 10% of what he hears.

Write questions about the babysitter’s qualities and skills. Start with the nanny’s personal characteristics: marital status, children and family influence on work; health; education, both basic and additional; teaching or medical experience. Next, consider questions about your experience as a nanny for families. For example, how the working day went, what was included in the duties, what kind of food the nanny cooked for the child, how she behaved in various situations (whims, tantrums, injuries, illnesses, etc. ), about the reasons for dismissal, the level of wages. It is also worth preparing questions related to the specifics of your family (about the characteristics of your child, whether you are ready to linger after the end of the working day, go out on weekends, accompany you on trips abroad or trips to the country, run errands around the house, etc.). The last questions to ask are whether the nanny needs to think or consult with the family before deciding when the nanny can start work and when she is ready to go on trial days.

How to start an interview? First of all, explain to the nanny what kind of employee you need and what will be included in his terms of reference. Next, take the time to ask the babysitter, and then give him the opportunity to ask questions that interest him.

Tricks to use when meeting with a nanny:

1. Ask incriminating questions about the families in which the nanny worked. If she starts telling intimate details from the life of employers, then you can be sure that this will not bypass your family either. But do not put an end to this nanny, perhaps she is an excellent specialist. Take note of your observation – “Forewarned is forearmed.”
2. Ask the nanny what educational games and activities suitable for the age of your child she knows. If the nanny owns a large amount of educational material, then your baby will always be busy and develop in step with his peers. And one more important fact – he will not have time for whims and tantrums. If the nanny does not have the necessary knowledge, consider whether she is worth the money she claims. And if other human qualities suit you in a nanny, then you will need to purchase developmental aids. For example: “School of the Seven Dwarfs”, “Lomonosov School”, etc.
3. Ask the nanny what salary she received at her last job. If this figure is higher than your level of offered pay, then most likely the nanny will work for you until a better option turns up. If possible, a good nanny or governess can be motivated by an increase in salary based on the result of work and after a certain period. First, ask what salary the nanny started working in the last family and after what time her salary was raised.
4. If, when communicating with candidates, you are interested in a specific nanny and you are inclined to make a decision in her favor, then do not tell her about it immediately at the interview. Be sure to take a specific time to think, thus you will develop a “feeling of loss” in the candidate you like, and give yourself the opportunity to let go of emotions and make a sober decision.
5. If you liked several nannies at the interview, then you don’t need to suffer and choose one. Invite them all in turn for trial hours, so to speak, to get to know the child. A child is the best sensor for good people. You will have the opportunity to test the nanny at work, as well as in interaction with the parents, i.e. with you.

What to look for during an interview with a nanny:

1. Pay attention to the look of the nanny. “The eyes are the mirror of the soul”, they will tell you everything about a person: whether he tells you the truth; Is he interested in your nanny job? whether he is currently experiencing or confident in himself, etc.
2. At the interview, do so that the nanny talks more than you. Thus, you will have the opportunity to pay attention to her competent Russian speech.
3. If the nanny at the interview does not answer the question posed, but instead speaks a lot and not to the point, then we can safely call such a person unable to hear and non-executive. In work, he will not hear any of your recommendations and will do what he sees fit.
4. If the applicant at the first communication with you talks a lot of irrelevant things, then practice shows that in work such people will be more eager to communicate with you, on the phone, with other staff in the house or with strolling mothers or nannies on playgrounds.
5. Pay attention to the questions the nanny asks. Whether they relate to the work process itself (child, your views on upbringing, regime moments, etc.) or only salaries and the frequency of payments, additional payments for overtime, weekends, vacations and sick days. Maybe the nanny does not plan to work, but only intends to create the appearance of the nanny’s active work, receive a salary, as well as get sick and rest at your expense.
6. If the nanny at the end of the interview said that she needed to think for a few days, then most likely she planned to go to other interviews, where she was probably offered better working conditions or pay, and then make a choice. Remember that managers of the MosNaim recruitment agency tell all applicants about your working conditions and pay, and also give time to think and consult with loved ones about the proposed vacancy. Therefore, most often, when a candidate takes a time-out, practice shows that he is not satisfied with either the employer or those nuances that were not specified by you to the agency manager. Do not bet on this candidate, or already at the interview, find out the reason and try to find a compromise. Of course, provided that you liked the candidate 100%.

Do you want not to make a mistake and make the right choice when choosing a nanny? Trust the experienced managers of the MosNaim recruitment agency, they have helped many families find “their” nanny, they will help you too.

Share on social networks:

Need a nanny for a child. Questions at the meeting.

June 4, 2017 Of course, finding a nanny makes parents worried. Still, how to recognize in a short interview time what kind of person is in front of you, whether you can trust him with your baby. To make it easier for you to form your opinion about a potential nanny, here is a list of questions that you can ask at the first meeting.

There are a lot of questions, let’s make a reservation right away, you don’t need to ask all of them, both you and the nanny will get tired. Choose the most important for you and be attentive to the answers. Sometimes the nanny is so worried that she can answer inappropriately. In principle, there is nothing wrong with this. Anxiety can and should be forgiven. And sometimes, on the contrary, a person answers questions clearly, logically, reasonably, but your soul did not respond. Nobody canceled intuition, listen to your heart.

1. Full name, mobile number, registration.

We advise you to ask this first of all, because you can get carried away with the conversation and forget to write down the data when you say goodbye. In addition, knowing the full name, you can make inquiries about this person. By the way, you can contact our agency, we are ready to inform parents if this nanny is on the “black list”.

Tyumen registration is important. So calmer for you. I know that some parents do not take domestic workers from other settlements as a matter of principle.

2. Age, married/single. If it’s important for you – ask. But remember, married women are more calm, but not ready to work with heavy loads. For the option with an irregular working day, with frequent delays of parents from work, with trips with a nanny abroad, it is better to consider women who are not burdened by family stress, preferably with adult children.

You also determine the optimal age for a nanny. It is easier for someone to interact with young nannies, their peers, someone trusts the older generation more.

3 . Education, if that’s a priority for you.

4. Work experience in other families:

— How old was the child at the time of joining the family.

– How long did you work.

-Why did you leave.

— What schedule did you work on?

– Can I be delayed, do I have a passport (if this is relevant for you).

— What were the duties?

-What salary do you expect? By the way, this is a very important question. He says a lot about the nanny, in particular, about the adequacy of her professionalism and salary expectations. You can read more about this in the article “ Nanny Tyumen. Salary expectations .”

By completing these surveys, you will receive important information for yourself, which you can check by calling the referrer, as well as select a person with the experience closest to your requirements.

5. Obligations to feed the child. Did you have to cook? Do not be shy to ask for a recipe for any dish, if the nanny knows how to cook, she will easily answer this question. This is especially important if your child is allergic. Summarizing my experience, I will say that specific questions on nutrition are almost never asked.

6. Did you have to do massage and gymnastics? If your baby is often sick, it makes sense to ask this question.

7. You can ask: “Why is the baby crying?” This concerns the little ones who themselves will not tell yet what they need. Based on the answers, you will understand how experienced the nanny is. You should get some specific answers: hungry, thirsty, hot, cold, tired, hurt, wet, etc. The answers are vague, like something is bothering him, you should not be satisfied.

8. Ask: “If your child makes you angry, what will you do?” Analyze the response.

You can hear a lot of interesting things for yourself. One nanny, without waiting for a question from the parents, was the first to ask: “How do you punish a child?” This answer of the parents alerted and the nanny was denied a job. As it turned out later, the nanny asked this question for the sole purpose: she wanted to find out the level of control of the child.

That is, whether he can hear remarks or is he used to more severe forms of punishment, for example, to a belt. Naturally, she does not consider the belt option, but she draws conclusions for herself how easy it will be for her to communicate with the child, what interaction strategy to build. By the way, at an interview in the second family, she also asked this question, but explained why she was doing this. Parents understood the nanny, and now she works perfectly in the family, raising two boys. From what actions of the nanny parents are shocked – read in the article “ Babysitting services for a child ”.

9. If you really want to test the nanny’s professionalism, do not hesitate to ask what games does she know that are suitable for the age of your child. If the nanny answers with general phrases (for example, “games according to the Montessori method”, games using Zaitsev’s cubes, etc.), then this is not an indicator. It’s better if the nanny gives an example of a specific game, it’s good if there are several games. The specifics show real knowledge of games, and general phrases can only speak of general erudition.

10. You can also ask: “ What is the most difficult thing about babysitting for you? » Most people say that it is most difficult to find a common language with parents. There is nothing terrible in this, every person is worried when he comes to the family. Here, more than ever, the proverb “with your charter does not go to someone else’s monastery” is relevant. Just specify which specific situations were difficult. This will help you to know the employee better and build an optimal system of interaction with him.

11. Important question: “What is the most important thing for you when caring for a child? » Answers vary. It is good if the nanny did not forget to put the health and safety of the baby in the first place, although for most this is a matter of course, therefore this axiom may not be voiced.

12. You may ask, what is the nanny proud of? Of course, this is not necessary, but you will receive additional information about the person.

13. There is a provocative question: “Why do children love you?” Analyze the answers, this is how your opinion about the employee gradually develops.

14. You can come up with questions – tests. These can be any questions about how the nanny will behave in any situation. Maybe you will take a question from your life practice.

For example, question: “You are stuck in an elevator with a toddler. Your actions.”

If you get reasonable answers, such as “call the elevator operator by pressing the button, call the mobile to inform the foreman about the breakdown, if the child is warmly dressed, you need to undress him, in no case show your panic, try to turn the situation around into the game, etc.”, then your nanny, most likely, will not be at a loss in difficult times. Analyze answers and draw conclusions.

Another important safety question: “If a child hits his head, what should I do?” It is important that the nanny can distinguish a dangerous injury from a trifling one, she knows what symptoms are dangerous in the next 2-4 hours, that is, when an ambulance needs to be called. In addition, it is necessary that the nanny immediately inform the mother about this. The answer “I have never had this” is not a plus.

15. Be sure to ask for medical book , especially certificates from a psychiatrist and narcologist.

16. Certificate of no criminal record. Ask or not. In our opinion, it is never redundant. In addition, she shows the degree of openness of the nanny.

17 . Recommendations. Ask, check. The question of when it is better to check, before the trial day or after the trial day remains open. If you are very anxious, you can make inquiries before the trial day. But at the same time, you will not yet have your own opinion, and you will have to rely on the characteristics of the recommenders. There is a chance that you will become a hostage to their opinion. And if you call after the trial day, then you will already have your own impression of the nanny, and you will be able to ask more important and necessary questions.

18. Nanny or not. For some, this is also an important issue. If a believer, then specify what faith. You don’t need Jehovah’s Witnesses, do you? Tips for interacting with a believing nanny in the article “ Nanny for a child – a believer ?”

We say again: you don’t need to ask ALL questions at once , decide on the most important ones for you. This will help you find exactly YOUR nanny.

Domashniy Servis Agency is ready to provide you with quality services in the selection of domestic staff. Always ready to be of service to you.

Head of the agency, psychologist Larisa Neguritsa.

Tags: need a nanny for a child, nanny Tyumen, nanny for a child, babysitting services for a child

questions to ask a future nanny at an interview

Popular

Recently, questions related to how to choose the right nanny for your child have become topical. After all, modern society makes young parents work hard, and a beloved baby has to be trusted by professionals. But everything will be fine if you interview the nanny correctly. And for this, it is worth choosing the right questions.

Documents for the provision of services

Usually it is enough for the nanny to ask a few questions and, after listening carefully to the answers, understand how much she is ready to ensure the safety of the child. By the way, questions should be prepared in advance, so that later at the interview you don’t get lost and don’t invent on the go, and then regret that you didn’t have time to ask a lot.

As it turns out, it is enough to ask the nanny just seven questions that will allow you to decide whether to take her to work or to look further for one that will be safe for the children. The same questions can be asked to the kindergarten teacher in order to understand how safe this institution is for the child.

Elon Musk was called a danger to democracy because of Twitter

If not to the bank: when can you wear jeans to an interview

Psychological recruitment: how the resource for ensuring the health of employees works to find out what valid training certificates you already have. This primarily concerns kindergartens, which must have licenses to provide such services. You can additionally ask the nanny what training programs she owns.

Find out right away if your child care provider is certified in first aid. And, most importantly, they should not be overdue. So you can make sure that your child will fall into safe hands, and nothing will threaten him.

Disinfection and rules of conduct

The second question asked of the babysitter should be one that will give you information about how she copes with cleaning the premises and disinfecting. This, of course, is not part of the duties of a nanny, but when she is next to a child, anything can happen. So, the child may spill some liquid or make a mess associated with food.

That’s when a thorough cleaning of rooms, toys, surfaces, and other things that the baby could come into contact is required. And this will have to do the nanny.

Thirdly, do not forget to ask the nanny what her rules of behavior with a child on the street are. After all, the child should not only be dressed for the weather, but he should always have access to drinking water, and there should also be sunscreen if it is summer time.

Solo dining and vegan options: restaurant business trends for the coming year

Core values ​​at work: the importance and how to successfully use them for your career

Can Thailand be in the top 5 popular destinations for the New Year holidays

behave badly. And what does he do in such cases? Discipline, of course, is good, but it can be achieved in different ways. It is necessary that the nanny use only positive methods, which are not to use force, but to resolve conflicts smoothly, and also try to prevent any problems in the future.

Nanny’s behavior with a sick child and in emergency situations

It is difficult to find such a child who would be completely healthy. More and more often in our society there are children who suffer, for example, from food allergies. Is the nanny prepared to accommodate the unique needs of the child? She must be able and know how to act in such cases and how to apply the necessary medicines for this. If she herself cannot cope, then she should always have an emergency way out of such a situation.

The sixth question you can ask is one that will help you find out how the nanny will act in an emergency and whether she has already been in such situations with a child. This will give you confidence that your child will not be left in a situation where he will be in danger.

The seventh question is about what the nanny will do if the child suddenly falls ill, for example, he has a stomach ache or a fever. And it is necessary that in such a situation the child also feels comfortable before the arrival of the parents. After all, it is necessary that both the physical and mental state of the child is always in order.

Found a violation? Complain about content

• August 9, 2020
• Sergey Klimov
• 0
• Business articles

Share:

See also

• For 3.

What to do when your toddler or baby hates their car seat

When my daughter was a baby, every car ride ended in tears—hers, and often mine. She could only entertain herself for a few minutes before starting to wail. It was so bad that for a while, we tried to just stay close to home, going to local playgrounds instead of meeting friends across the city.

Unfortunately, some kids just hate their car seats. “My daughter screamed every time she was in the car as a baby,” says Toronto parenting coach Sarah Rosensweet. “I remember her screaming, and then I would get so upset, I was almost sweating.” 

But we can’t always just stay home. Grocery-store trips and school runs for older siblings are facts of life. So what can you do if you have a pint-sized protester in your back seat? Here are some tricks to try if your baby or toddler hates car rides. 

Investigate

Start with the basics—maybe your baby is uncomfortable for some reason. Is there light shining in their eyes? Is it hot or cold in the backseat? Are the straps adjusted correctly, so they’re not too tight or too loose, and are they in the right spot behind their shoulders?

“The straps could be pinching skin, the buckles might be hot from the sun, or the baby may be cold,” says Shawn Pettipas, director of Community Engagement at BCAA, which runs one of the largest carseat education programs in B.C. “There could be lots of reasons.”

Check your seat

Next, double-check your car seat is installed correctly—most aren’t. “You really do need to make sure that your child is correctly reclined for their age and stage,” says Pettipas. An incorrect angle can be uncomfortable, and be dangerous—your baby could suffocate if their neck is at the wrong angle. It’s different for every seat, so Pettipas recommends going to a car seat safety clinic or checking the manual of your car seat to make sure you’ve got it right.  

Some parents find switching from an infant bucket seat to a roomier convertible style can help their babies feel better. Look for one that’s safe for your baby’s age—they do go all the way down to newborns (though most parents choose the portability of infant bucket seats at this age). Other young babies are the opposite, and are calmed by feeling a bit more snug. A safe way to do that is to roll up two receiving blankets, and tuck them in the sides of the seat. 

Whatever you do, don’t turn the seat around from rear-facing to front-facing too early. “I’m asked all the time if parents can turn the seat, because they think the baby doesn’t like being rear-facing. They think they’re upset because of that, or maybe they have some FOMO,” says Dina Kulik, a paediatrician in Toronto. “But babies absolutely need to be rear-facing until at least two years of age, and actually as long as you can possibly go. Later is better.” 

Test out different feeding schedules 

Rosensweet suspects her daughter was screaming because she was feeling ill—as she got older, it became clear that she had carsickness. “Now, she takes Gravol before car rides,” she explains. (Note that Gravol is not safe for kids under age two.)

It’s unusual to have a carsick kid who doesn’t show it, says Kulik. “Usually you would know if it’s carsickness, because your child would be vomiting. Carsickness is much less common than parents think,” says Kulik. 

Kids who are carsick tend to do better on an empty stomach, so putting your baby or toddler in the seat after it’s been awhile since they’ve eaten can help. Having the windows open or the air conditioning on can also help with motion sickness. 

Distract, distract, distract

Try to make your baby forget that they’re strapped in, and perhaps a bit further away from their parent than they’d like, by making it fun. Talk to them, play kids music, or just belt out a few tunes. While it’s not safe to offer snacks that could be a choking hazard in a moving car, car seat-safe mirrors can be very helpful, says Kulik, because babies like looking at themselves. (If you do offer a pouch or puffs in the car seat, a mirror can help you keep an eye on them while they’re rear-facing.)

When babies are a little older—usually after about nine months old—toys can help distract them, too.“Having some special toys that they only get to play with when they’re in the car seat can work really well,” says Rosensweet. Just make sure they’re age-appropriate and soft, like stuffies or pillows, because hard toys can injure passengers in a crash. “Everything that is not tied down gains weight exponentially in a collision,” says Deanna Lindsay, executive director of SEATS for Kids, an organization that runs car seat inspection clinics in Ontario. “I usually say, would it hurt you if I threw it at you? Then it can’t be in the car.” 

Empathize and console 

For many parents, car seats are one of the first times they have to set a boundary that their child is unhappy with. 

To help a baby or toddler through big feelings, the first step is to stay calm. Little kids naturally co-regulate and match your internal state, says Rosensweet, so give yourself some empathy first. “You might think, my child is really upset, and there’s nothing I can do about it,” she says. “This is really hard.” 

Then, validate your child’s emotions. “You could say—even over the screaming—‘Oh sweet pea, you hate the car seat so much, this is so hard. You wish you weren’t in the car seat so badly. Mama’s going to get you out in a few minutes,” she says.  

For a toddler who is testing boundaries, and able to understand and communicate more than a baby can, you might want to take a bit of a harder line. “The key thing is to stay very neutral,” says Jennifer Kolari, a child and family therapist and the founder of Connected Parenting. “If you’re coming at it from a place of fear, then the child is going to pick up on the idea that they have a lot of power, or maybe this is something bad.” Instead, stay positive, and say something like, “I love you. It’s OK if you’re mad at me, but you’re going in this car seat, and it’s going to be fine.” 

It builds resilience—and it’s a good chance for you to practice responding in a helpful way when they’re upset, she says. “It’s a skill you’ll still be using when they’re teenagers.” 

Stay in touch

Subscribe to Today’s Parent’s daily newsletter for our best parenting news, tips, essays and recipes.

• Email*
• CAPTCHA
• Consent*

  Yes, I would like to receive Today’s Parent‘s newsletter. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.**

FILED UNDER: baby development Baby safety car safety car seat Car seats health service seo

Car Seat Troubles: When Baby Cries in Car Seat

There are two types of babies in the world: Those who love the car seat and those who cry at the mere sight of a car seat. My children fell into the latter category, so I spent years deciding whether or not it was even worth it to leave my house knowing a car ride full of wailing awaited me.

And I know I’m not the only one. Parents are constantly searching for the elusive trick that will make baby stop crying in the car. Car seat safety helps protect infants in car accidents, and the design protects babies’ heads and spinal cords in case of a crash. Unfortunately, babies don’t understand these benefits. They just know they can’t see mama and no one is holding them.

Upset babies are hard to deal with all on their own, but the distracted driving that comes with a crying child in the car seriously augments the problem. It’s no wonder. Research proves that all humans—not just parents—have a hard time ignoring the sounds of a crying infant. We are primed to help, according to scientists. A parent stuck in a car with a crying infant will likely feel panic, sadness and fear that can manifest in an increased heart rate and stress.

Dr. Teri Mitchell, APRN, CNM, IBCLC, explains why a baby’s cries are so hard on parents and babies in these situations. She says the kind of cry a child emits when separated from a caregiver is specific in its demands. “There’s a name for this particular type of cry: the separation distress cry,” Dr. Mitchell says. “It’s nature’s built-in way of making sure that mothers go to their babies and ensure that they feel safe.”

Children whose separation distress is not tended to because parents are stuck in rush-hour traffic will continue to do what is normal for them in this situation: Scream. Dr. Rakesh Radheshyam Gupta says that “[excessive] crying may lead to vomiting in infants and may cause hoarseness of voice.”

Related: A parent’s guide to car seat safety: Tips, rules and product picks

1. Make them comfortable from the start

When a baby cries in their car seat the moment they’re buckled in, it’s unlikely that they’ll calm down for the remainder of the ride. That’s why it’s important to start off strong by making the seat as comfortable as possible right from the beginning.

Don’t let a baby lean back on the seat straps while loading them. The sudden feel of those obtrusive items on a baby’s back can startle them or cause discomfort—enough to remind them that they hate the car seat. Items like StrapsAway pin to the car seat straps to hold them out of the way while loading or unloading a child from the car seat. This makes the process fast and easy, and it can also help keep a sleeping baby from waking up during the transfer from mom’s arms to the seat.

2. Create new routines

Sometimes it just takes some consistent prep work. “My son hated [the car seat] at first! What helped him was getting him used to riding around,” says Mariah M. “We’d go on drives after dinner often just so he got used to being in the car and eventually it started to soothe him.”

If your older baby still hates the car, incorporate frequent trial runs into your week while your baby is awake to create a positive association. With the car in park, sit in the backseat and play with baby while they’re strapped in. You can move to the driver’s seat for short stints after they get used to the setup.

3. Adjust the seat spacing

It’s worth checking out whether the back of your infant’s rear-facing car seat is resting directly against the back of the driver or passenger seat, notes Cassy S. “It makes the ride much more bumpy as the car seat absorbs the movement from both seats,” she notes. “Moving up the passenger seat so my daughter’s car seat didn’t rest directly up against it made an enormous difference immediately!”

4. Consider what they’re wearing

Temperature can be a problem for babies when in car seats, but not in the way most parents expect. As opposed to being too cold, many babies struggle in the car because they are too warm.

Babies should never be placed in a car seat wearing a coat or jacket. Not only will they overheat, but the bulk of a jacket keeps the car seat straps from working properly.

Take the weather into consideration, of course, but since the car is temperature-controlled, dress the baby in normal clothes and save the jackets or extra layers for when it’s time to get out of the car.

Related: 5 tips for car seat safety, according to a certified safety instructor

5. Travel during naptime or bedtime

Traveling during your child’s normal sleep periods can help them acclimate better to the car, too, as they’re already tired and may just sleep for the majority of the ride. “My daughter got car sick a lot, so we always planned to drive during her nap time,” says Jianmei N. “Once she fell asleep, we’d put her in her car seat then drive.”  

6. Sing a song

Parents swear by music as a soother for kids during car rides, and researchers support the idea of using music to calm babies. In one study, babies exposed to music stayed calm twice as long as babies exposed to baby talk or adult speech.

Cueing up a playlist of baby’s favorite songs can work, but singing to the baby along with the music has benefits for all involved. Besides calming them, singing a tune can also calm parents. Mariah M. notes that turning on her son’s favorite song, ‘Apples and Bananas’, seemed to help soothe him on longer rides.

7. Plan around gas

Sure, make sure you have enough gas in the car to get to where you want to go, but also plan around a baby’s gas. A baby who experiences major gas after a meal is not going to like feeling constrained. Plan car rides long enough after mealtimes for a baby to get the gas out at home when moving around is possible.

Children with reflux also have unique challenges in car seats as they don’t allow them to move freely so they can have problems getting comfortable if they can’t find the right position due to stomach or reflux pain.

One mom found that her son’s reflux took care of itself around the 6-month mark, and car rides suddenly weren’t a problem anymore. Waiting for reflux to fix itself is difficult, however, so talking to a pediatrician or finding natural ways to deal with it are preferable. It’s possible that controlled reflux will equal peaceful car rides for all.

8. Recognize that it may just take time

And if none of these tips work for your tiny wailer? Know that babies do grow out of the crying-in-the-car-seat phase. “My third baby cried in the car seat for at least the first year,” notes Emily G. “Honestly it was SO rough because he’d scream the whole time I had to drop off/pick up my other kids. We tried just about everything, but it really just took time. Thankfully, it now feels like a distant memory.”

If you’re still in it, understand that this too will pass. Stay optimistic: Peaceful car rides may be around the next bend.

A version of this story was originally published on Aug. 11, 2020. It has been updated.

Why Some Babies Hate Car Seats and How to Fix It — The Chiropractic Place for Mommy & Me

It seems like babies either love or hate riding in a car seat. Many moms get instant feedback when their baby doesn’t like to take a ride in one. Reactions can be as strong as constant wailing and screaming or less intense like fidgeting or general fussiness from the moment they’re placed in their car seat.

Many moms ask themselves, “Why doesn’t my baby like the car seat?”  If you’re new to the experience, you might think your infant just doesn’t like riding in the car or they don’t like being confined, or the car seat is uncomfortable, or dozens of other minor reasons. But consider this: Your little one may not just be acting fussy; your baby may be crying from pain. That pain may be a result of misalignment that could be rectified with a pediatric certified chiropractic adjustment.

Many car seat-crying babies we see in our office have a tightness in their hips or mid-back. This can cause them discomfort in a car seat because they can’t bend easily. The seat position puts pressure on their tight vertebrae and those associated muscles and it just plain hurts. After some adjustments, viola!  They start to enjoy being in their car seat for the first time.  

 

Some Things to Try Before You See Us

As we mentioned, there can be many reasons why your child does not like riding in their car seat. If their reaction is inconsistent – sometimes ok and other times not – or they’re not crying but just are not enjoying the experience, read on for a list of possible reasons why and some suggestions.

 

Why Babies Don’t Like Their Car Seat

An uncomfortable position is one of the first things to check. Their straps could be too tight and putting pressure on their tummy or even choking or breathing restriction.  The first place to start is to make sure that they are in they are properly installed in their car seat.  Always follow the Safe Kids Worldwide guidelines on how to correctly install your baby or infant and other additional car seat safety. 

Once you know your baby is installed correctly and baby still doesn’t like their car seat, it could be related to not enough padding, uncomfortable angle, or the seat puts baby in a hunched position … not to be considered lightly. Other reasons:

●        Movement upsets baby’s tummy if they have eaten recently

●        Motion sickness

●        Dislike of being confined. Some babies want to play with their hands and can’t

●        Hates being alone

●        Boredom

●        Air temperature in the car too hot or too cold

●        Bunched clothing

●        Medical conditions such as reflux or other tummy upsets

●        Tight muscles or ligaments

 

Easy Solutions to Try First

●        Check and adjust the angle of the seat and straps. Following the Safe Kids Worldwide guidelines.

●        Play music they like: nursery songs, lullaby CDs, playtime music box, turn on the radio.

●        Give them toys to play with, objects that have lights and/or motion to keep their attention.

●        Avoid putting baby in the car immediately after a meal.

●        Offer them a pacifier if your baby already takes a pacifier.

●        Burp them before putting them in the car.

●        Look into an upgraded car seat.  Every car seat on the market has been tested for safety, but different prices and brands can reflect a different level of comfort, such as extra padding or updated design.

 

Don’t assume baby will stop crying or fussing on their own. When nothing will soothe your screaming baby, choose a certified baby chiropractor!

 

We Are Pediatric Chiropractors

We are Doctors Michelle Parker and Darcy Goode. Dr. Parker is certified by the Academy Council of Chiropractic Pediatric Association in pediatric chiropractic for pre- and postnatal specialties. She is the only chiropractor with the C.A.C.C.P certification in Parker County. Both of us have specific chiropractic expertise in working on the muscles and bones of newborns by integrating craniosacral therapy, myofascial release, and gentle pediatric chiropractic adjustments.

 

Centrally Located near Fort Worth

The office of The Chiropractic Place for Mommy and Me is in Aledo, Texas, just 15 minutes west of downtown Fort Worth or 10 minutes east of Weatherford, Hudson Oaks, and Willow Park.  

Feel free to visit our social media pages on Instagram @TheChiroPlaceforMommyandMe or Facebook @TheChiroPlace to get a feel for our atmosphere and how we work with mothers and children.  We are proud to offer a family-friendly, kid-approved, and mother-oriented space to the community.  Give our office a call to get your baby’s appointment scheduled today at 682-214-0408.

How to accustom a child to a car seat?

With newborns and in early infancy, there are no problems at all, since such babies in car seats, as a rule, sleep sweetly. If a small child begins to act up in the chair despite the fact that he is full and has a dry diaper, the point is most likely that your trip has dragged on and a stop is required. Do not forget that for children up to a year, the continuous time spent in a car seat should be no more than one and a half hours. Since, despite the fact that the position in the child in the chair resembles the physiological position in the mother’s womb during pregnancy, the car is still subject to much more vibration than the mother, but its depreciation systems are much worse. Therefore, even if there is not much left until the end of the trip, do not abuse the child’s patience, give him the opportunity to rest, otherwise he will soon refuse to sit in his favorite car seat at all.

The older the child gets, the shorter his “car” sleep. Increasingly, he is awake on trips, but just sitting or lying in a car seat becomes frankly boring for him, and the baby begins to protest loudly.

What to do in such a situation?

If the child is less than six months old – get him interested in bright toys. As an option, there is a wonderful adaptation for a car seat – an arc with attached toys. First, the child will be interested in looking at them. Secondly, the baby may well reach out to them with their hands and feel them in the most thorough way. Well, and, thirdly, if the toys are musical, then pleasant sounds when they vibrate from the vibration of the car will captivate the child for a long time.

If the child is older than , he will naturally try to get out of the car seat on his own or at least free the arms and legs. In this regard, seat belts with a five-point fixation are especially relevant. With their presence, you can be absolutely sure that nothing threatens an overly inquisitive and mobile child. But you can take his curiosity with the help of a variety of ways. The most frequently used and fairly frequent in use is the placement of a special panel in front of the child with various toys sewn, embroidered, glued and put into pockets. The child will not rest until he explores all his secrets, which means that parents can enjoy a quiet, serene ride with pleasure. To prepare such a panel on your own is quite within the power of even the most “non-handmade” mother.

There are other, more complex versions of such panels that attract the attention of kids, especially boys. This is a panel-panel with a steering wheel and touch controls. By pressing special buttons and pictures on the steering wheel, the child is able to control and sound the images on the panel. Of course, such a toy will make him forget about whims and tantrums for a long time and eagerly sit in his car seat.

A specially prepared bag with many surprise pockets can be attached to the side of the chair, in which a variety of toys will be hidden. Attempts to get them, as well as to guess by touch what is there, will captivate your baby for a long time.

Sometimes the tantrums of a child in a car seat are due to the fact that he simply grew out of his age group. For example, it is enough for a one-year-old baby to replace the zero group seat, looking out the rear window, with the group 1 car seat, and he immediately stops being naughty during trips. After all, now he has an excellent overview both in front and in the side windows.

If the baby’s view through the windshield is obstructed by the mother or the headrest of the front car seat, then it makes sense to place the car seat in the center so that the front view is maximized. The sight of the road and moving cars usually fascinates even the most restless kids.

There are children who enjoy sitting in car seats only when their mother is nearby. In this case, leave for a while the thoughts of the front seat and conversations with your husband and move back, armed with books and toys. It will be better than any developmental activities for a child if you read poems and fairy tales to him on the road, or if you tell, show and explain everything that you see behind the glass.

Be sure to check the temperature in the car and see if the child is overheated. Being in a car seat is quite warm, and sometimes hot. A child can sweat and sit wet, of course – such a trip will not give anyone pleasure. If this is due to the synthetic upholstery of the chair, it makes sense to put a napkin or a small towel made of natural material under the back of the child. Perhaps the child’s dissatisfaction is due to the fact that after adjusting the sides of the car seat once, you forgot to do it again when you put the child there in winter overalls. The same applies to the tension of the seat belts.

If all your attempts were unsuccessful, forget about travel for a while. Take the car seat home and let the child calmly get used to it, feel it and figure it out. And in a couple of days you will see how a happy child sits in it and plays in it, and soon you will be able to return to family car rides in peace and quiet.

Back to the list

0001

October 11, 2019

It’s not easy to get an active child to sit quietly in a car seat. We’ve put together some basic tips for you on how to make it easier.

Quite often, parents are faced with a situation where the child resists attempts to transport him in a car seat. The topic is actively discussed at various forums, dozens of different “recipes” are offered for getting out of a difficult situation. We will try and briefly state our view on this problem.

This problem may not exist at all

If a child, as required by law, is transported in a car seat from the first days of life and shows by example that it is necessary to buckle up. In most European countries, you won’t even be allowed to pick up your newborn from the maternity hospital without a child car seat. It is a dangerous misconception that it is better to carry a baby in the mother’s arms. It’s dangerous, inconvenient, and expensive with current fines for not using a child restraint. The longer a child travels without a car seat, the more difficult it is to teach him to ride in a seat. Also, quite often one has to observe a rather strange situation: an expensive, comfortable and safe car seat is installed in the car, and the mother, “pitying” the child, carries him on her knees. Or even worse – the child crawls all over the cabin, i.e. the chair serves as a dummy for the police.

The longer parents take a child without a child car seat, the more difficult it will be to accustom him to it in the future.

Of course, there are other cases in life: for example, parents bought a car after the birth of a child, or simply did not go anywhere with a child by car in the first year or two.

One way or another, we came to a situation: the child is a year old (two, three), the parents picked up a chair, installed it in the car, trying to seat the baby, and he throws a tantrum, arches his back, breaks out, cries. Of course, the chair itself can be uncomfortable, but, in most cases, changing the model of the chair will not work – if the child is naughty already at the moment of sitting down, then the reason is definitely not the comfort of the chair. In such a situation, success largely depends on the pedagogical abilities of parents, patience, cunning and consistency.

Here are some tips to help you:

1. Be consistent! The child must understand that there is no alternative to traveling in a car seat: “either this or not!” If we go by car, then only in a car seat. Soon this will be accepted as the norm.
2. Lead by example – be sure to buckle up! All adults in the car are seated, all children are in car seats. Children enjoy imitating their parents.
3. Alternating rides in a chair and on your knees will only complicate matters. Don’t make any exceptions.
4. For a long trip, choose a time close to the child’s bedtime. So the trip will be calmer and the time for the child will fly by unnoticed.
5. Take a walk before the trip. It is best if the baby runs and gets tired.
6. You can play with the chair at home, focusing the child’s attention on the fact that this is his chair, his property. Tell him that he has such a beautiful / new / wonderful / cozy car seat.
7. Try to switch his attention at the moment of sitting down and at the beginning of the trip. For example, interest him in the purpose of the trip (“We are going to grandma / grandpa, there will be a cat / dog!”), music, a toy, new items. In general, when a child is just starting to ride in a car seat, it is desirable that someone be with him in the back seat – it is obvious that situations where the child distracts the driver should be avoided.
8. On long trips, make stops to walk around a bit with your child.

Don’t show weakness

Children “categorically do not want” many things: to be vaccinated, to drink medicines, to dress, sometimes to eat. If you were able to teach your child to ask for a potty, do without a pacifier and use a spoon, you can also teach a car seat. In most cases, when parents categorically state that the child cannot be carried according to the rules and see the reasons for failure in the cramped seats, softness / rigidity, tilt angles, or in the individual qualities of the child (“mine will never sit still …”, etc.) – this is exactly what is commonly called “excuses” – an attempt to shift responsibility to someone else, to justify one’s own irresponsibility or laziness.

Always remember: a child in a car is much more vulnerable than an adult. A minor accident at low speed, in which you get off with fright and bruises, is much more traumatic for a child

Finally

Child car seats do vary quite a lot in terms of comfort. If you want your child to be as comfortable as possible, choose a chair strictly in accordance with his age, height and weight. The most common mistake parents make when choosing a chair is the desire to take a chair “for growth”, more, more spacious, to get by with one chair for all the time. Miracles do not happen – can you imagine a car seat that is equally safe and comfortable for both a one-year-old baby and a schoolchild? For example, the most comfortable chair of group 1-2-3 (from 9up to 36 kg, from 1 year to 7-10 years) will yield in comfort to most group 1 chairs (from 9 to 18 kg, up to 3-4 years). This moment is especially important on long trips when the child falls asleep. If possible, when choosing a car seat, visit a specialized store with your child, where it is possible to seat the baby in various models of car seats from various manufacturers. If age allows – invite him to take part in the choice – this may affect his further attitude to travel in the chair

We recommend reading

Age groups of children’s car seats

Carsres and a pillow of safety

Winter clothing in children’s car seats

Comments

Little Fidget: We teach a child to drive in car seres

The issue of baby safety is not solved in the car in the car is not solved in the car only by purchasing a high-quality car seat, because it still needs to be installed correctly, and the small passenger must be fastened according to the instructions. But how to do this if the child is not sitting in a car seat and pestering adults with whims? Let’s figure out what is the cause of children’s restlessness and how to overcome it.

Why does my child refuse to sit in a car seat?

There are three most common causes.

The first reason: the child is uncomfortable

The baby will definitely refuse to ride in a car seat if he is uncomfortable in it. He rubs the belt, the legs go numb, the frame presses – all this will provoke the child to whims and discontent. This situation may arise due to an incorrectly selected chair for age or carelessly adjusted elements. Check the head restraint level, inclination, position and tension of the belts. Two fingers should fit easily between them and the baby’s body.

If you have bought a chair “for growth”, special liners for newborns, shock-absorbing pads, belt pads and other useful accessories will help increase comfort. When the child is hot in the car seat, use a summer natural cover. In winter, take off your outer clothing, after taking care of heating the cabin. So you can fix the child better, and he will not sweat in a warm jacket.

Important!

Do not leave your child alone in the car during summer trips! Even if you leave for a few minutes and open the windows. In the heat, a car can become so hot that the air inside reaches +50 degrees, and this will not take long. Heatstroke is the most common cause of death in children outside of car accidents.

The second reason: protest or resentment

The child may be jealous or offended, and this will affect his behavior. Moreover, he will subconsciously choose the car as a place for whims, realizing that they are inappropriate in it. In this situation, there is no better way out than to calmly talk with the baby and discuss all the critical points. Find out what exactly upsets him, and promise not to let it happen again.

Children are also offended when adults do not pay attention to them. Talk to your baby, don’t ignore him or get carried away with your own conversations. The child is a member of your family and also craves communication.

Third reason: feeling unwell

If the baby is tired or not feeling well, it is unlikely that he will sit peacefully in a car seat. Create comfortable conditions so that he can sleep on the road: cover the window with a curtain, put a pillow under his head and organize silence in the cabin.

Offer cool water, lollipops or slices of lemon to your child when motion sickness, and encourage them to look out the window at the horizon or straight ahead. Babies get sick in the car very rarely, more often it happens with children older than two years.

Many parents, unable to endure children’s whims, give up and take the child in their arms. Such an alternative to a child seat can lead to fatal consequences. With sudden braking, even the smallest child gains weight over 300 kilograms. No adult can keep him in such a situation, not to mention the effect of surprise. Therefore, responsible parents cannot have any other option but to carry a child in a car seat.

Car seat training: expert advice

The reasons may be individual, but none of them can justify not using a car seat. Ideally, the child should be accustomed from the age of 0 months, laying him in the infant carrier. To pick up a mother with a baby from the hospital, you will definitely need it. Traveling in a car seat from birth, the child will not mind doing so afterwards.

It is quite possible to accustom a child to a group 1 car seat, just choose the way that is convenient for your family.

• Lead by example. Children repeat everything adults do, so if you get into the car and buckle up first, the child in the car seat will most likely copy your behavior. Set a rule: until at least one passenger is not fastened, the car will not go.
• Give it time to get used to it. Put the car seat in your baby’s room and let him explore the purchase. Perhaps he even voluntarily wants to sit in it. Secure the car seat in the passenger compartment and gradually increase the duration of the trips.
• Use gadgets. Fix the tablet in front of the child and turn on his favorite cartoon. Even better, this method will work if you reduce the viewing at home by transferring it to the car.
• Buy a baby steering wheel. Playing the role of a driver is much more exciting than being a passenger. Give your baby a toy steering wheel with buttons and announce the co-pilot who is responsible for safety. For more realism, you can print the “rights” to his name and paste a photo there.
• An example of a toy. Sit your baby’s favorite soft toy in the seat next to you and fasten it with a seat belt. Tell him what it is for.
• Communicate with your child. The advice applies only if you are a passenger and not a driver. Show your child interesting objects outside the window, comment on what is happening. Very quickly, the baby will be distracted and stop thinking about the car seat.
• Promotion. Upon arrival, praise the child if he behaved well, and come up with a small reward: something tasty, watching a cartoon, a toy, etc.
• Guess the time of sleep. Transporting a baby in a car will be easier if he is sleeping at this time. Having a rough schedule of sleep and wakefulness, you can adjust the departure time for it.