The danger of skin cancer begins with a child's first exposure to the sun. And then the damage adds up year after year.  Too much sun in childhood greatly increases the risk of developing skin cancer.  Limit kid's exposure especially during the peak sunlight hours between 10am and 3pm. Keep them covered whenever they are outdoors and use sunscreen regularly SPA 15 or higher. Protecting your children from the sun is one of the most important investments you can make in their future.

Take if from someone who was never protected as a child while baking in the sun to a crisp and as a result has experienced Basil Cell, Squamous Cell and even Melanoma.  It isn't fun getting cut up, but the scars are just lines; and the alternative is much worse. I only wish we were more educated about the sun in those days by our parents and caretakers.

Nannies must always remember that sunscreen and sunblock on their charges...and to not forget to put some on themselves as well.  If you are in the car a lot, you can also consider getting a white tint on the glass to protect against UVA. It is legal and certainly can help.  Wearing hats is also a good idea when walk in the sun.  We all love a beautiful warm sunny day, but it also means that you and those around you must have extra protection!

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At the Pump Station during National Nanny Training Day in Los Angeles (sponsored by Westside Nannies) Stella Reid (Nanny 911) gave a charming and humorous talk outlining the 11 Commandments of Nanny 911.  Here they are:

1.  Be Consistent - No means no and Yest means yes.

2.  Actions have Consequences - Good behavior is rewarded. Bad behavior comes with penalties.

3.  Say what you mean and mean it - Think before you speak, or you'll pay the price.

4.  Parents (and the Nanny) must work together as a team - If you can't be on the same page, your children are not going to know who to listen to and they'll end up not listening to anyone.

5.  Don't make promises you can't keep - If you tell the kids your're going to Disneyland, better get ready to pack your bag.

6.  Listen to children - Acknowledge their feelings. Say "I understand" and "I am listening" - then take the time to understand and take the time to listen.

7.  Establish a routine - Routines make children feel safe and give structure to their time.

8.  Respect is a two-way street - If you don't respect your children, they are not going to respect you.

9.  Positive reinforcement works much better than negative reinforcement - praise, pleasure, and pride accomplish far more than nagging, negatives and nay-saying.

10.  Manners are universal - Good behavior goes everywhere....please and thank you always.

11.  Define your roles as parents (and as the Nanny) - it is your job to keep your children attached to you. It's your job to prepare them for the outside world -and let them be who they are.

It is no wonder why she was Nanny 911; Stella knows very well how to manage all types of situations concerning children while getting everyone on the same page doing what is best for the child.


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Nannies all over the nation are seeking training today at various designated agencies in many states.  This is a wonderful opportunity for nannies to get take additional training to become a more experienced nanny and household worker.  Families need to support these venues and send their nannies for further training to ensure that they are always growing in their profession. Joining the International Nanny Association is another good way to seek further training.  The Professional Housekeeper training center, we provide household management classes for nannies and housekeepers. 

If you want to be an awesome nanny who everyone wants to employ, then continue taking classes and learning more about your field.  Take advantage of today's training at your nearby Agency.  In Los Angeles, Westside Nannies is the sponsoring agency.

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Scientists have identified a new enzyme that could lead to new treatment for preeclampsia, a potentially fatal condition of pregnancy. Preeclampsia develops in 7% of U.S. pregnancies. Symptoms for this are: dangerously high blood pressure, high urinary protein and increased blood-clot formation. In a recent study, there were significantly increased levels of an enzyme called thromboxane synthase which is associated with high blood pressure and clot formation.  Blocking or inhibiting the enzyme could form the basis for new treatment for preeclampsia.  Folic acid supplements also could protect against adverse DNA changes that could lead to preeclampsia.

Bed Bugs seem to never go away.  Phillip M. Tierno, Jr. a clinical microbiologist tells us that there are "countless intruders" with us every night. This should be enough to make you pay special attention to how you care for your sheets. So here are some tips:

When should you change the sheets? - Once a week is standard and anything beyond that is simply inviting more unwanted critters. For those who are actively involved with others, changing them more regularly would be more sanitary. You will also be safer from breathing in the debris that accumulates.

What causes this debris?  Human skin cells become food for dust mites. That is one of the biggest problems associated with bedding.  Mites accumulate along with their feces. Then there is animal hair, dander, fungal mold, fungal spores, bodily secretions and bacteria. Then there is lint, fibers, insect parts, pollen, soil, sand and cosmetics. Now that is enough to make me want to change them daily. For those of you who like to eat in bed and sleep with your animals, I suggest you either re-think this, or begin to change those sheets more readily.

How does this debris affect my health? Apparently all of this is mainly a threat to your respiratory tracts. If you have any allergies or asthma, this can exacerbate it. If you don't have an allergy, it can bring one on.

What is the ideal way to wash sheets? The water should be 130-150 degrees Fahrenheit, typically on a hot water cycle and dry the sheets using a hot drying cycle. This actually kills lot of vegetative materials. You can also use bleach since it serves as an excellent germicide, but use low concentrations of it.  You can also use a cold-water non-bleaches use peroxide which also serves as a germicidal.

What about the mattress and pillows?  To protect your mattress, use an outer cover.  Everything collects there and is absorbed into its core. Outer covers are made of pliable, plastic vinyl.  Pillows should also be in covers.It is a good idea to take a small vacuum attachment and use it on the entire bed frame and mattress before putting on the cover.

Attending properly to your sheets isn't just about housekeeping rules, it is about your health.

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Everyone goes through a period when their kids are acting crazy and running around in a frenzy and in the back of your mind you are hoping they do not have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).  Rest assured that all kids go through this and it’s just kids being kids most of the time.  There is a lot more to ADHD than being a little hyper from time to time.  Teachers recognize the signs and will suggest that your child be tested in first or second grade if they think there is a chance that your child has ADHD.  Prior to that time no one will really test for it, but check out these ten early warning signs for ADHD.

1. Aggressive kicker in the womb:  This may sound far-fetched, but many mothers of kids who later were diagnosed with ADHD have commented that their baby was always kicking them in the womb and it was severe enough to seem unusual to those around her.
2. Colicky baby:  Not all babies who have colic turn out to have ADHD, but it’s just another early warning sign.  This one you will more likely have to think back on once you’ve noticed some of the other signs.  Experts say that if a child has ADHD when they are 6-7 years old that they still had it when they were younger, but no one realized it.
3. Slow to walk: Children learn to walk at different ages so don’t panic if your child is a late walker, but see your pediatrician regularly and keep him/her informed about your child’s development.  Many times a child with ADHD will have balance problems because their eyes don’t work well together in the beginning.
4. Unable to sit and follow simple directions:  There are different kinds of ADHD.  Some children won’t be able to sit still and will constantly interrupt people, but others will sit in their chair and space out in a daydream.  They will have problems focusing on tasks that they don’t find interesting or exciting.
5. Can’t control impulses: Impulse control is a big symptom with ADHD.  Children will often say inappropriate things or ask personal questions and not realize that they shouldn’t do it.  Sometimes they will throw things or get angry very quickly.
6. Very impatient: Often children with ADHD want to go all the time.  They have trouble waiting in line so they might cut in front of other kids for lunch or on the playground.  They will interrupt the teacher or blurt out the answer before the teacher calls on him/her because they can’t wait quietly with their hand up.
7. Refuses to sit in the cart: At a very young age your child may refuse to sit in the cart at the store.  They may run around the aisles and grab items or open packages, not knowing that they shouldn’t do that.  Behaviors like this should be brought up to the pediatrician during your child’s well visit.
8. Very messy and disorganized: If your child tends to lose toys very easily or never knows where their shoes are this might be a sign of ADHD, but then again it might not.  Kids get distracted and so being messy or disorganized doesn’t necessarily mean they have ADHD, but if you notice this along with several of the other things it might be worth making note of and discussing with the doctor.
9. Gets up and moves around the classroom: Children with ADHD have trouble sitting still and concentrating on what is being said in the classroom.  This is not to say that kids with ADHD can’t sit still because they can if they are doing something that really interests them.  So don’t feel like you can rule out ADHD if your child can sit for hours and play with Legos or watch TV because they are probably interested in those things.
10. Daydreamer: So the opposite of the hyper child that runs around the classroom being disruptive is the daydreamer that goes off into their own little world and doesn’t listen or pay attention in class.  They may have trouble completing their school work in school and be constantly bringing things home to finish.  Sometimes children who are bored in class turn out to be gifted and since they already know what is being said they kind of zone out.  And many times a child may be both gifted and have ADHD.

Just keep in mind that doctors will look for multiple symptoms to occur in at least two different areas of their life before diagnosing your child.  They also have to have been exhibiting these symptoms for more than six months.

Provided by:  www.NannyAgency.net

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Being a Professional Nanny means many important things. A true test is the nanny's level of understanding all concepts relating to childcare and household management.

1) A nanny must be experienced in childcare from age newborn to school age in every aspect of their growth and development: feeding, bathing, activities, behavior, sleeping and socialization.

2) A nanny must be educated in childcare and have taken child development courses and/or achieved a bachelor's degree in a child-related field.  She should consider joining organizations that provide have a credential exam, such as INA. This is a continuing learning process that requires keeping up with the latest concepts, methods and practices.  She should have knowledge on how to care for special needs such as autism.

3) A nanny must have excellent communication skills both verbal and written so that she can communicate properly with children, parents, teachers, doctors and anyone else with whom a child comes into contact. She especially understands how to communicate to children without getting angry, raising her voice or appearing frustrated.

4) A nanny must know how to be a good teacher, one that is patient, knowledgeable and capable of imparting information in a positive, motivating manner so that a child understands and learns the message clearly.

5) A nanny must know CPR, safety and how to handle any kind of emergency. This means taking CPR and First Aid and renewing these certifications as needed to keep their abilities fresh and current. She must have a list of emergency numbers for parents, police, fire, poison alert, doctors, hospitals, relatives and neighbors. All procedures for any type of emergency should be discussed and written out clearly.

6) A nanny must be a good driver, always adhering to the motor vehicle laws with attention to safety at all times.

7) A nanny must know where the electrical panel (circuit breaker), gas shut-off valve and fire extinguishers are located and how to operate these in the event a fuse needs replacement, plumbing problems, an earthquake, fire or blackout.

8) A nanny must understand a home security system and how to enable and disable the alarm along with the basic process the monitoring company goes through in the event of an emergency.

9) A nanny must know how to handle necessary medications and know where they are stored. If children are taking any medications on a daily basis or require ‘as needed’ medications (i.e. asthma inhalers), she should have a written chart for indicating the time and dosage of the medication.

10) A nanny must know how to cook basic healthy meals, beginning with knowing how to handle breast milk, formula, create a puree of vegetables for an infant to making a healthy meal for a school age child. She should understand nutrition and what types of foods are best for children of all ages and encourage good eating habits.

11) A nanny must be ethical, moral and well-mannered as she serves as an example to a child of what it means to be properly behaved. She must be understand the ways to discipline a child in accordance to the parent's wishes so that in a non-violent manner children learn the difference between right and wrong.

12) A nanny must understand how to clean, laundry and organize a household as she is responsible for these duties as it relates to the children, their rooms and clothes. This is called “light housekeeping” or “household chores”. It includes keeping the kitchen clean, dusting, laundry, organization and may extend to cleaning the child’s room and bath.

To be a Professional Nanny, you reap the rewards not only financially but emotionally as you become an integral part of a child's growth, safety and overall life.

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Most companies that produce cleaning products want their own "green" version to compete. Manufacturers like "Method" have great packaging that is very appealing, but still costly. For those watching their budget, they turn to home-made remedies by using Baking Soda, Vinegar and Water. Here are some ways to concoct your own arsenal of cleaning supplies:




OVEN CLEANER
1 cup baking soda (or more, as needed)
Water
A couple squirts liquid detergent

Spray water generously on the oven bottom, then sprinkle with enough baking soda so the surface is entirely white. Spray on more water and let it sit overnight. Grime and grease will be loose by then and you can easily wipe it off (a spatula works well). Then put some soap on a damp sponge to scrub off the remaining residue.

ALL-PURPOSE SPRAY CLEANER

1/2 cup vinegar
1/4 cup baking soda (or 2 teaspoons borax)
1/2 gallon water
Store and use indefinitely. Good for removing water deposit stains in showers, bathroom chrome fixtures, windows, mirrors.

FURNITURE POLISH

For varnished wood
1/2 teaspoon oil, such as olive or jojoba
1/4 cup vinegar or lemon juice
Mix ingredients in a glass jar. If it’s closed tightly it will last indefinitely. To use, dab a soft rag into the solution and rub on wood surfaces.

For unvarnished wood
2 teaspoons each of olive oil and lemon juice

Mix and apply a small amount to a soft cotton cloth. Wring the cloth to distribute the oil evenly and wipe with broad strokes.

LIME DEPOSITS

From bathroom fixtures
Squeeze lemon juice directly onto affected areas and let sit for at least 10 minutes before wiping with a wet cloth.

METAL CLEANERS AND POLISHES

Silver: Line a pan with aluminum foil and fill with water. Add a teaspoon each of baking soda and salt. Bring to a boil and immerse silver. Polish with a soft cloth.

Brass or bronze: Mix equal parts lemon and baking soda, or equal parts vinegar and salt. Polish with a soft cloth. Rub a dab of ketchup on tough tarnish spots.

Copper: Boil a pot of water and add 1 tablespoon salt and 1 cup white vinegar. Using a cloth, apply to copper while the liquid is hot; let it cool and then wipe. For tougher jobs, sprinkle baking soda or lemon juice on a soft cloth, then wipe. Rub a dab of ketchup on tarnished spots.

Aluminum: Make a solution of equal parts cream of tartar and water. Rub with a soft cloth.

MOLD KILLERS

“Tea Tree Treasure”
2 teaspoons tea tree oil
2 cups water
Combine in a spray bottle, shake to blend and spray on mold. Do not rinse. The strong smell of tea tree oil will dissipate in a few days.

MICROWAVE OVEN CLEANER

1 part lemon juice
2 parts water
Mix the ingredients in a microwave safe mug or bowl and heat until steam fills the oven, about 10 minutes. Let it sit until the oven cools before wiping it out. The steam kills the microbes and the lemon leaves a clean fragrance.

CARPET STAINS

Use equal parts white vinegar and water.
Mix in spray bottle. Spray directly on stain and let it sit for several minutes. Then, scrub with a brush or sponge using warm soapy water.

For fresh grease spots, sprinkle corn starch onto the spot and wait 30 minutes before vacuuming.

For heavy duty stains
1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup borax
1/4 cup vinegar
Stir into a paste to rub into the stain. Let it sit for at least 3 hours and vacuum.

VINYL AND LINOLEUM FLOOR CLEANER

1 cup vinegar
A few drops baby oil
1 gallon warm water
For tough jobs add 1/4 cup borax (but use it sparingly on linoleum.)

WOOD FLOORS

Equal parts Murphy's Oil and water
Add a few drops of peppermint oil (optional)
Mix for damp mopping.

SOFT SCOURING POWDER
For stove tops, refrigerators and other surfaces that shouldn’t be scratched, apply baking soda directly with a damp sponge.

TOILET BOWL CLEANER

1/4 cup baking soda
1 cup vinegar
Pour into the basin and after about 15 minutes scrub with a brush and flush.
Use a pamas stone for those rings around the toilet.

GLASS CLEANER

2 teaspoons vinegar
1 quart warm water
Mix in a spray bottle and shake it. Use crumpled newspaper or cotton cloth to clean. Don’t clean windows if the sun is on them or if they are warm because, if you do, streaks will appear when it dries.

TUB AND TILE CLEANING
For simple cleaning, sprinkle the surface with baking soda, scrub with a damp sponge or cloth and rinse with water. For tougher jobs spray surfaces with vinegar first, and follow by scrubbing with baking soda. Avoid grout if using vinegar.

Sources include: Annie B. Bond; eartheasy.com


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The Supreme Court’s liberal and conservative sides are evenly split over the question of whether the “individual mandate” requiring every American to carry health insurance or pay a fine is constitutional.

Immediately I begin to think about those individuals who work in the private service industry as a Housekeeper, Nanny, Cook, Companion, Mother’s Helper, Butler, just to name a few. In this line of work, very few hired individuals are offered health insurance.  It appears that only the higher paid professionals such as household and estate managers are most often provided this benefit. The others, who are making an income of only $20,000-$36,000 per year, need this benefit the most.  There is no mandate forcing families to provide health insurance to hired private service professionals. (In most states, these same domestic workers do not receive any other benefits such as vacation, sick days or holidays, unless the family chooses to do so.)  When domestic workers are represented by agencies, the likelihood is that they will receive most of these benefits because they are educating their clients and suggesting that they provide such benefits to stay in line with what is typical in the industry.  However, they are hard-pressed to force clients to offer health insurance. Hence, most domestic workers do not receive this benefit.

Everyone, including myself, likes the idea that “everyone should have health insurance”, but if they cannot afford it and an employer is not offering this benefit, how do they afford it?  Furthermore, the concept of charging a penalty on top is seriously like throwing salt into a wound. It may heal the problem, but it also will throw someone further into debt.

There are organizations like Domestic Worker’s Alliance who are fighting across the nation to overcome this battle through legislation so that domestic workers obtain benefits and better working conditions. Many domestic agencies do not think what they are doing is useful and worry that forcing these conditions on their clients will steer them underground. Agency owners will clearly tell you that they are there to help their applicants get a good working agreement that includes all these protections.  Yet, not everyone goes to an agency for employment nor finds available working opportunities through agencies.  The bottom line is that if a family doesn’t want to or can’t afford to offer health insurance, the “housekeeper” is simply not going to have it. 

It is not easy to come up with a solution to this health care problem. However, the health care industry as a whole must be revamped. It is ridiculously expensive to have any procedure and forget about it if you happen to need an operation. Five minutes in an emergency ward to make sure you are OK could cost you $3,500. Health insurance companies gauge people making it impossible to pay their plans and refuse you if you have a previous condition that makes you highly unaffordable from their perspective. Perhaps if it wouldn’t cost so much, everyone could find a way to afford health insurance as well as provide it to their employees.

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