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Finding A Nanny Job
Looking for a new nanny job? As a nanny or babysitter finding a job may be easy, but finding the right family could be difficult. You want to be treated like a professional and compensated for your years in the field. TLC for Kids is a professional nanny agency that will meet your needs and is here for you. When you work with TLC you will be assigned a Placement Counselor who will work with you to find the right family. 
Thank you to the International Nanny Association for these 4 reasons why a nanny should use a local agency to find a job.
1. Personal Attention & Support: When working with a local nanny agency, you will have all the personal attention you deserve throughout your job hunt. Look for an agency with a caring, professional staff to guide you through your job search. A veteran agency with a tenured staff will also have a great deal of knowledge and expertise in the industry. They will match your unique skillset and personality with the right families, and offer you jobs that meet your needs.
2. Industry Knowledge & Professionalism: When you decided to work with a local nanny agency, you can expect to be treated as a professional. Seek out an agency who is involved with the nanny industry at large, and who knows what is standard for compensation, benefit and vacation packages. A local nanny agency has first hand knowledge of local wage and benefit packages. Families who work with nanny agencies are well educated, and treat their employees with the respect they deserve.
3. Long-term Success: Families who work with a referral agency have realistic expectations about hiring a nanny. Look for an agency that provides families with an employment contract that outlines the job description, duties, compensation, paid time off, etc. You will also want agencies who educate their families on recommended intervals and processes for reviews to keep open communication between nannies and families.
4. On-going Support: Local agencies offer ongoing support even after you have been placed with a family. Professional agencies will host events for nannies to network with fellow nannies, as well as ongoing training opportunities for development. They will seek to expand your skills as a nanny professional. Your agency should also offer unbiased counseling and/or mediation should you have any issues with your placement.
The professionals at TLC Family Care personally assist nannies, babysitters and families in St. Louis, Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Charlotte, Miami and Orlando to find the right childcare arrangement. Our mission is to provide a safe and personalized approach for families and caregivers to connect with each other that is not an internet search. TLC has worked with families, nannies, sitters, newborn care providers, and tutors for over 35 years and looks forward to working with you! To find great nanny and babysitting jobs visit us at tlc@tlcforkids.com or Call 314-725-5660.
Caring for Children with Special Needs
When it comes to caring for children with special needs, there are different approaches you will need to take. As a parent or caregiver, you may need to treat the special 
needs child different from an ordinary child, depending on what their needs are. It can be difficult for many parents, especially when they first find out or when they feel like they are going through this alone.
Caring for children with special needs mean facing many obstacles and challenges that can be difficult at times. These children need extra attention that can take up much of your time. There are numerous hours required for medical appointments and hospitals visits and some children even require regular therapy sessions.
When you are caring for a child with special needs you not only have to consider the present but you must also think about the future. What will happen to that child if you were to become sick or if you are involved in an accident? As you age you may no longer be physically able to care for them but they may still need assistance. As important as the here and now is, the future must be considered.
Part of planning for the future includes taking steps to teach that child as much as they are capable of learning now. You will work with them to help them achieve independence and teach them the basic skills needed to survive but that still may not be enough. It will depend on their disabilities and they may always need someone to be there and help care for them. Take the time now to plan for the future and it will help to relieve some of your worries.
Resources for Special Needs
What resources exist for children with special needs? When your child was diagnosed with a disability or other issue, you were probably told then that there are many resources available for special needs. But you may be surprised to find out how many different options really exist for you out there. Search for resources for special needs with:
• Doctors
• Therapists
• School
• Online resources
• Online support groups
• Local support groups
• Books
• Videos/ DVDs
• Other parents and caregivers
These are just a few of many places you may be able to find more info about your child’s special need and what is available to help you.
When you are caring for a child with special needs don’t hesitate to use any of the resources designed for children with special needs. It’s a difficult task and no one expects you to go it alone. You should never feel like you have to deal with it all on your own, especially when there are so many people out there who know what you’re going through and so many resources to make it easier.
Seeking Help with Special Needs
As a parent, the more you learn about special needs and what options are available to you, the better prepared you will be to give your child the help they need and deserve. Don’t hesitate to seek help with the special needs of the one in your care. There are people out there more qualified and more experienced than you in this type of problem and they can help show you the ropes and gives you hints, tips and ideas for how to better care for your child.
As a parent or caregiver for a child with special needs you will spend countless hours worrying about your child and doing all that you can to comfort them. Many people spend sleepless nights simply listening and watching over the child so they will be right there in the event they are needed during the night.
Parents and caregivers of children with special needs display extraordinary strength and courage when caring for these kids. They focus all of their attention on the child and do all they can to nurture and protect them in every way. In the end, the most important thing is that you give your child the best opportunities available, regardless of what types of special needs they may have. In the end, caring for children with special needs can be one of the most rewarding experiences you ever have.
TLC For Kids, Inc. has been St. Louis’ premier nanny and babysitting agency for over 30 years. TLC For Kids’ dedicated staff is ready to assist you in finding nannies, tutors, newborn care specialists, sitters and more. We serve St. Louis, Atlanta and Florida. Reach us at tlc@tlcforkids.com or 314-725-5660
Keys to a Successful Family Budget
Creating a family budget is within everyone’s reach, but creating a successful one requires some particular methods. Here are some tips to help you create a successful family budget.
Get Everyone on Board
The more inclusive your budget is, the more likely it is to work well for your family. Include every family member who is old enough to understand. A budget affects everyone, and it’s a good idea to listen to input from other members of the family. 
Leave Room for Luxuries
Some budgets are so tight that it may seem there’s no room for any luxury. But if you get a bit creative about what constitutes a luxury, you will probably find you can in fact afford some kind of privilege or luxury. It could be something like buying your favorite brand name item at the store instead of settling for the store brand, or maybe buying fresh fish instead of frozen once a month. Maybe ordering a pizza or Chinese food is a luxury for your family that you can include in your budget.
If you are budgeting with more money, your luxury could be a family vacation or new piece of electronic equipment. The point is to include some kind of luxury in your budget. This helps keep family members motivated and makes the budget easier to deal with.
Get a Good Estimation
To do this, it’s a good idea to take your last three months’ worth of income and create an average. When in doubt, round down so that surprises will be more likely to be on the plus side. The same is true for expenses – include at least three months of expenses to get a true picture.
Be Patient
It takes a few months for a budget to sort itself out and become habit. There will be bugs that need to be worked out. Understanding this can help you stick with it as it needs tweaking and adjusting.
Software
For some, using software to lay out the family budget can be very helpful. Software that is designed for the purpose may make creating the budget easier.
Combine
As you look at the things that cost you money, remember gas and miles on your car. Combining errands is something most people try to do; but there might be some other combinations that you hadn’t thought of. For example, visit out-of-town family members during your vacation.
Distinguish between Optional and Necessary Spending
This distinction is harder to make for some people than others, and it’s tougher in some family dynamics than others. What one person thinks of as a “necessity” might be looked at as a luxury by someone else. If you’re in doubt, check budget formats and accepted principles in this regard that come from a third party.
Pay off Debts
It’s unpleasant, but paying off debts needs to be high on the priority list for your family budget. The sooner they’re paid off, the sooner you’ll have more money left over!
Laughter Is the Best Medicine When Parenting
Of all the different strategies and techniques for handling situations that come up as a parent, laughter is among the best. Not only does humor and laughter help to alleviate tension and stress, it has also been shown to benefit us physically. Here are a few benefits of parenting with a positive spin, as well as ways to incorporate laughter into your parenting routine. 
Physical Benefits
Laughter helps to relieve physical stress and tension, which leaves your body feeling more relaxed after. A good laugh also gets your heart pumping and gives your heart and lungs a workout. Laughing for fifteen minutes burns almost the same amount of calories as a fifteen minute walk. This means that laughing can really help when it comes to keeping fit and keeping up with the kids.
When we laugh, our bodies release endorphins, which make us feel good and give us a sense of wellbeing. Laughing also reduces the levels of stress hormones in the body, which eases tension and anxiety. Reducing your stress hormone levels may also boost the performance of your immune system. This means that laughter may also help keep you and your kids healthy.
Other Benefits
When people laugh together, it strengthens their relationship. If you share laughter and humor with your kids, it helps you to bond more as a family. Laughing together encourages people to work together as a team and helps to settle conflict. Your kids will feel more connected to you if you share laughter and will be all the more motivated to do what you want them to.
Humor also helps to relieve distress during times when you are feeling overwhelmed. By making laughter a part of every day, both you and your family can maintain a more positive outlook and healthy attitude, all the way around.
Bring Laughter into Your Life
It’s easy to make laughter a part of your parenting routine, because kids love to laugh and have a good time. If your kids have a hard time getting excited about cleaning up after themselves, come up with an encouraging activity or game to play while you clean. This way, they will actually want to participate and help out, rather than doing it to avoid getting into trouble.
When something bad happens and it’s time to get tough, try to focus on the positive aspects of the situation rather than the negative. Your kids may be more inclined to stay in bed at night if you talk to them about some of the fun things that might happen in the morning, rather than how much trouble they’ll be in if they don’t fall asleep.
Not only does laughter help to keep you and your family healthy and stress free, it also encourages your kids to behave better and enjoy life more. The times your family spend laughing together are the times your kids will fondly remember as they get older and form families of their own. If you encourage them to stay positive, they’ll pass that outlook down to their own kids in the future.
Newborn Care Certifications for TLC Caregivers
Increase Your Earning Potential by becoming a Certified Newborn Nanny or Postpartum Doula!
TLC for Kids is once again partnering with Parenting Resources and is offering customized training.
What is a Certified Newborn Nanny?
A Certified Newborn Nanny is a nanny who has pursued formal training to work specifically with newborns to provide childcare.
While you don’t need a certification to work with a newborn, certification shows a potential client that you know all of the fundamentals and have advanced skills needed to take care of their little one. Parents can skip the stress about what you know and don’t know and you can both focus on whether or not you’re a perfect match!
Certified Newborn Nannies earn $18-$22 per hour
• Jaundice and Care
• Swaddling
• Circumcision Care
• Umbilical Cord Care
• Infant Massage
• Pace Bottle Feeding
• Common Skin Conditions
• Breast Milk Handling
What is a Certified Postpartum Doula?
A Certified Postpartum Doula is considered an all around ADVANCED support person for a family with a new baby. You support all facets of the new family, from breastfeeding support to newborn care. A Doula is not focused solely on the baby, but on the client, partner, sibling, home, and everything that goes into the family transitioning well into their new roles. You are not left alone with the baby to “babysit.” You are there to work within the family system.
Here are just a few of the roles that you may fill (and don’t worry, we teach you how to do ALL OF THIS!):
Postpartum Doulas earn $20-$25 per hour
• Helping get breastfeeding off to the right start
• Teaching proper upright bottle feeding
• Assisting with pumping
• Setting up an environment conducive to postpartum
healing
• Night shifts caring for the baby while the family sleeps
• Night shifts bringing the baby to the client for feeds
• Light laundry or meal prep to allow the family bonding time
• Providing and teaching the family everything they need to
know about newborn care
• Alerting families to red flags or warning signs if an issue
presents itself
• Pediatrician or OBGYN appointment accompaniment
• Integrating healthy sleep habits into the family’s routine
• Helping the client process their birth and postpartum
experience while providing support and acceptance
• And much more!
Both classes are great for TLC Temp Caregivers who are currently caring for newborns and their families and for TLC Nannies who are looking to increase their salary potential in future jobs.
Contact Chrissy for more information at Chrissy@tlcforkids.com.
Happy Father's Day!
Creating a Safe Sleep Environment for Baby
Our guest post today comes from Newborn Care Solutions 
I sat down today to review a ton of information for a client I am seeing next week. I am going into the home of first time parents-to-be to teach them the baby basics; essentially a baby “boot-camp” if you will. I LOVE working with first-time parents—there is an amazement and wonder that they hold that just makes me smile and the confidence they gain in their newly learned skills is a fantastic site to behold!
However, as I reviewed information I have seen a thousand times at least, it reminded me that new parents are made every day, and safety is never out of style. So I want to talk about crib safety today.
Continue reading for guidelines are set forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and additional information from Newborn Care Solutions.
TLC Family Care is ready to assist you and your growing family. So, whether you are expecting and want to set up a caregiver before your baby arrives, or already have a newborn and need help, call TLC Family Care today: (314) 725-5660 or tlc@tlcforkids.com
The Latest Must Have Accessory for New Moms
A recent article from the New York Post suggests that hiring a postpartum doula is the latest accessory for new moms. Moms give birth and then are expected to do it all. However, it’s not easy to handle the stress of bringing a new baby into the home. A doula can help. doula is a Greek work and means “women helping women.” The postpartum doula is there to nurture the new mom. She helps mom with whatever needs to be done. It can be cleaning, cooking, running errands, taking care of the baby or playing with a sibling.
Many doulas have newborn care training and can offer mom support in nursing, bathing and sleep training. Hiring a doula can provide mom the support she needs to ease into motherhood. TLC Florida has doulas in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Plam Beach, St. Petersburg, and Tampa. Some doulas are willing to travel if expenses are covered. Visit our website at tlcforkids.com to learn more.
To read the full article from the New York Post click here .
Available Childcare Jobs with TLC
Looking for a job where you can use your childcare experience? TLC has a job for you! Working through a nanny agency doesn’t only mean full-time nannying with one family. No matter what job you take on, we can offer you a competitive salary, hours and benefits that work for you, and guidance throughout the process with your resume, application, and other paperwork.
Here are just a few of the ways you can help out at our agency:
- Permanent Nanny: caring for one family’s children on a long-term basis
- Temporary Nanny or Babysitter: on-call any days you are free to help out for a day, an evening, a weekend – whatever works with your schedule!
- Hotel Sitter: assist out-of-town visitors looking for childcare assistance in your area
- Tutor or Homework Helper: certified teachers help kids learn any subject K-12 or in higher education
- Housekeeper or Personal Assistant: helping out in homes
- Adult Companion: there to provide non-medical care or household assistance
- House- and Pet-Sitters: taking care of houses and/or pets when families go away
- Newborn Caregivers: qualified to provide care for babies daytime or overnight(caregiver is required to say awake)
TLC can help you to figure out what type of work best suits YOUR skill set, experience, and needs. For an idea of what we’re hiring for right now, check out this page, apply here, and/or contact us! We’re so excited to meet and work with you.
How To Become a TLC Caregiver
Interested in nannying? Apply to work with TLC for Kids! We can help you find the pay and hours that work for you based on your needs and your previous experience. All you need to do is:
- Apply! Our application is straightforward and accessible online here. Be as accurate and thorough as possible so we can get a good sense of who you are.
- Interview with one of our staff members – it’s important to us that we get to know you as you move through the application process.
- Help us finalize your file. This includes any certifications you have, like CPR or first-aid, letters of recommendation, and background checks.
- Attend Orientation! Once we have interviewed and screened you, we will invite you to attend an orientation so you can become more familiar with our policies as an agency.
It’s as simple as that! Once you’ve been hired on, we’ll match you with families and get you started. Learn more and start the process at this page. We look forward to working with you!
P.S. Don’t forget – TLC caregivers must be eighteen or older; have a high school diploma or GED; be able to provide your own vehicle and valid driver’s license; be eligible to work in the U.S.; be willing to provide a clean police record check; and be able to give TLC at least three verifiable childcare references. Contact us with any questions!