Meg-A-Nanny

Hello lovely families,

I'm looking to start a new life on The Sunshine Coast.

I would love to offer my services to families with children under 5 years of age.
I have a very special nack with toddlers!

Please reach out or share this with someone you know looking for a minimum 4hrs per day.

Kind Regards,
Meg.

It's been a tough four years after losing Dad, and caring for & losing my precious Mum.
However Meg-A-Nanny is back!

I am currently located in the Hallidays Point region (Forster), and available for a minimum of 3 hours to help care for your little ones.

Please help spread the word to anyone you know in the area looking for an experienced, loving Nanny.

To all my valued families,

This year has been chaotic for all of us.

With the sudden passing of my Father in February, work being slow for me up north, & my Mother's constant ailments, I will be residing in Sydney for at least the next 6mths. Therefore I will be unavailable for any bookings on The Gold Coast & Northern NSW.

Thank you for your loyalty & referrals! You've been amazing.

❤

It's not often I share something personal on this page..
I've been a little quiet lately having been dealing with helping with the care for my sick Mother, amongst other things. Whilst she is doing ok now thankfully, sadly my Father passed away suddenly last Saturday.
Going through my childhood photos, I felt compelled to share.
I remember him as being such a playful Dad when I was little.
He told me he would wake me up as a baby in the middle of the night just so he could play with me & see me smile & giggle at him. I don't know too many Dad's that are happy to do that these days!

Create wonderful, joyful connections & memories with your children, as these will always stay alight in their hearts when they're older, no matter the distance or time zones between you.

As the article states, when the child is over 3, it's important they have an understanding of consequences to their behaviour.
Remaining calm & consistent, & applying consequences appropriate to the behaviour is key to managing unwanted behaviour.

Using consequences in behaviour management Used effectively, consequences can be a handy tool to have in your child behaviour management toolkit. Read how to use different types of consequences.

I get so excited when I see others follow their passion.
'Modern Hippie' was created by a good friend of mine Kellie.
Through her own battle with skin & health conditions, Kellie spent months researching & experimenting to come up with a product made from 100% clean & natural ingredients & essential oils.
The first product being launched under her brand is the natural deodorant range.
They are devine & I'm excited to see what other ranges Kellie will be inspired to create.
Please go over & check out & like 'Modern Hippie'.

Modern Hippie Our deodorants are:-

NATURAL |
TOXIN FREE |
VEGAN |
NO ARTIFICIAL FRAGRANCE |

It can be very challenging to hold the space for a toddler or young child when they are having a melt down.
Understanding how the chemicals in their brain are functioning at this time is helpful to knowing what is actually going on for them, & that they can't just "see reason" or switch out of it.
Being the "stronger, kinder, wiser" presence is what they need from us.

Thanks Allison Davies, Brain Care Specialist:)

Sensory experiences are wonderful for any age. They bring a sense of calm, wonder & special interest, especially when water is involved.
Experimenting with sinking & floating objects, (collecting some items on a nature walk), is one way to develop curiosity.
We used shells of different sizes, sticks, leaves, flower buds, pebbles, a macadamia nut, feathers, a metal spoon etc.

Brilliant~

I cannot love this more!

Today a few issues that Nannies feel quite strongly about were raised in a discussion & that I wish to educate the broader audience on.

One Nanny was asked to iron the Father's shirts "in her spare time". An assumption is always made that Nannies have "spare time" when the child/ren are asleep. During that time the Nanny is entitled to a break to eat her lunch & rest, for half an hour at least. Most Nannies utilise that time by doing child related tasks, which may include cleaning up the areas used to stimulate the child/ren, tidying up the kitchen after making the children's meals, folding laundry, setting up further activities or areas of interest.
I was once asked to change the sheets in the main bedroom & found used condoms, edible lotions & s*x toys!.
Never again will I agree to such tasks.

*Nannies are not housekeepers* unless an agreement has already been made verbally & in writing, & she is paid accordingly ($25/hr to house clean & care for young children does not cut it).

Another issue was of a kitchen totally cluttered with dirty dishes, pots, pans from the weekend. This did not happen in the Nanny's time, so in my opinion, I feel it is fair to not expect her to be responsible for cleaning it up.
If the Nanny chooses to do so, or if it was in her work agreement, then that's a different matter.

How many people attend a dirty/messy work environment? There are Workplace, Occupational, Health & Safety standards put in place for a reason for other workers, & I feel strongly that the same needs to apply for a Nanny.

I have cared for other people's children & worked in hundreds of homes for thirty plus years. I have seen it all. I feel very frustrated when I here about this because all too often Nannies are mistaken as house keepers. Unless it's agreed upon verbally or in writing, I feel it shouldn't be assumed that it is the Nanny's responsibility.

Also, there are differences between Au Pairs, a Babysitter, a Mother's help, & a Nanny. I will address that in a future post.

Families, please educate yourselves on the roles of a Nanny, & Nannies please address these issues upfront or in writing at the commencement of any role, to prevent resentment & miscommunication.

We are still seeing so many babies in baby carriers with their legs dangling straight down and in the most awkward positions. It's so important to ensure our bubs are in the right position in these carriers.

Here are some essential points to remember when baby wearing to ensure the comfort and safety of your baby and child.

1. Hips and legs position

Legs need to be in an M position ensuring the knees are higher than the hips. If the legs are not supported in this manner and are dangling straight down as we see sometimes, this places too much/all their weight into their hips which can cause significant problems and also this places their spine into an incorrect position

2. Tight

The baby carrier, sling or wrap should be tight enough so that the baby is held snugly against your body. If it if is not tight enough, the baby will most likely slump and this can lead to poor posture, difficulty breathing and in extreme cases – death. Also a loose fitting carrier can cause strain on the wearers neck, shoulders and spine.

3. In View At All Times

This means that you should be able to see your baby’s face at all times when you look down. Their face should be uncovered and facing up when carried in the cradle position.

4. Close Enough To Kiss

Your baby should carried as high up as possible, and ideally you should be able to kiss their forehead or top of their head by tipping your head forwards.

5. Keep The Chin Off Their Chest

Baby’s body should never be curled up so that their chin touches their chest. Always make sure they one or two finger widths space between their chin and chest.

6. Supported Back

When in the cradle position the baby’s bottom should be positioned in the deepest part of the sling/pouch. This ensures the baby doesn’t fold over on themself which could lead to their chin touching their chest.

When upright in the carrier/wrap/sling baby should be in a natural seated position whilst being held quite close to the wearer. This can be tested by applying a bit of pressure to the baby’s back; the baby should not be able to move closer to you or uncurl.