Sunday Staffroom - Childminder ands Nannies

[nannynick]

Expect I'm the only one working today.

Tonight I may or may not be online that much, as I will be attempting to sleep-train two children. I am expecting a very restless night, as the children usually only sleep around 4 hours.

Oh poor you Nick.. best of luck with the sleep training - what method are you using?

My own method The children are 3 and 5 years old, so not babies. They also both have special needs, so doubt any published method would really work that well.
Initially, my method tonight will be:
Give them an alarm clock so they know when they are permitted to get up.
Make sure the bedrooms are at a suitable temperature and light level.
Return to Bed, when they insist on leaving their room (I won't be insisting that they sleep, but that they just remain in their bedroom).
Will then play it by ear from then onwards.

good luck nannynick [i don't envy you]

hows it going Nick??..sending good luck to you and lots of nice sleepy thoughts to the children

I survived. Eldest child slept though the night, woke at 6.45am. Youngest however would wake at end of each sleep cycle and want to be in mummy's bed. Took many hours of Return To Bed for him to get the idea that sleeping in mums bed was not an option. I needless to say had a very disturbed night, so I should sleep well this evening. Luckily I'm not working daytime today.

aw good on you nick, were the parents not around to do/help this sleep training?

No, dad is away working, and mum wanted a night's rest - so stayed with a local relative.

Well done Nick. Sounds like you did really well.
I need to try with dd so might try tonight as you've given me the momentum to actually do it!

How old is dd? Do you have a plan of action?

Tip: Make sure the room environment is right, major issue I found last night was the room temperature. Room temp should ideally be around 18 to 19 degrees.

She is 3. I think it's habit that she is waking up during the night now. Not sure what temp her room is but think it might be a bit cold but not sure how to make it warmer without keeping the central heating on. Will try and find a thermometer!

18-19 nick?, our house is alsways 21-22!..i couldnt stand it if it were 18-19..is it cooler so they stay snuggled up in bed??

oh and you sound like a godsend to that family..mum having night off while you go to all this effort...hope they show they appreciate you!?

nick - i hope the parents don't spoil you good work when you're not there - is this your main family - i'm confussed

i think Nick just works for one family, being a nanny?..stop me if im wrong?

yeah he sounds like a really good one too but i know he does the babysitting too and for some reason i thought he did respite care - christ i sound like nannynicks stalker

I do all sorts of things Just heard that I won't be doing any more Contact Session Supervision - quite nice not to do that, it's not that nice.

Sunday night was respite and trying to teach the children to sleep for more than just a couple of hours.

Currently half-term, so I'm at home quite a bit this week, as my nanny job is Term Time only. Reminds me, must think of something to do over the summer. Short holidays are fine, but the summer holidays are so long, I can't stand being at home for that.

contact session supervision - is that for parents to see their kids who are fostered or in care? how did you get involved in that?

there must be local families who need nannys just for school holidays - or would it be cheaper to use holiday playschemes?

Yes, it was for a father to see his son. I had a call from a solicitor!

Playschemes much cheaper than a nanny. In my area, all day at a playscheme is cheaper than all day at a childminder.

I had thought when I took the term-time only job that finding work for holidays would not be a problem... but in reality, it's been tricky. Ended up helping at a playscheme last summer.

yep it's the same here playschemes are cheap dd used to go to one occasionally when i still worked in a shop retail [aah the easylife!!!]
but as a nanny don't you charge an hourly rate per family as opposed to an hourly rate per child? [nosey] how much do nanny's get paid p/hour?