Feeding Kids (spoiler alert: it isn't easy!)

 Have you ever tried to feed a starving crocodile?

    Probably not, eh? But you can probably imagine the hungry look in the crocodile's eyes as you hold a prime cut of meat above his head. You might even be able to imagine the sound of snapping jaws and splashing water as the crocodile surges forward to take the food from you.

    Now, add:

• screaming
• thrown food covering a 5-foot radius
• forks and spoons by your feet
• oh and at least one person crying (probably you)

            … and you can also imagine what it is like to feed a toddler or three.

How do you survive?

    Imagine lunchtime is a battle and prepare for all out war. Always avoid spaghetti! Believe me, it isn't worth it, no matter how expert you think your 'expertise' is. Embrace pouches whenever and wherever possible. You've seen them at the store, costing $1-$2 each; now you can make your own!

Cost effective and convenient? Now you're talking like a nanny!

Oh and one more thing...

Your in-home daycare is already taking up precious real estate in your home, so why are you storing full size high chairs and those tiny toddler tables in your garage?

They make miniature high chairs! Compact, lightweight, and they can be strapped to any dining chair or barstool. How awesome is that? (You can also fit roughly three of these bad boys on a coffee table, while you stand back and watch spaghetti and green beans fly. Learn from our mistakes!)

And remember: the most important part to any mealtime with toddlers is your clean-up specialist.

Ours is named Rufus and he's a 12-year-old wirehaired dachshund. (And not currently available on amazon.)

Always respect a child's anonymity when posting photos online.

 

Blissful Organization: How to keep sane with toy management.

 

The Pajama Nanny Code

 Here at the Pajama Nannies daycare, we pride ourselves on three major things:

• Flexibility
• Quality
• And Communication

Let me tell you about it.

1. Flexibility

    Our number one goal since we started is to be as available as we can. We're here for the weird work schedules and the family emergencies. The date nights and the "I just need a couple hours to myself" nights. We understand that life happens when we least expect it, and we understand that sometimes parents need room to breathe without children climbing over everything. No matter the situation, we get it.

2. Quality

    One of the first things we ask parents we meet with is what kind of preferences a kid may have. For example, are there certain foods they don't like? Do they need to sleep in a specific setting? Is there a certain toy or blanket they use as a comfort item?

    How the parent answers these questions is extremely important to us, because we want the children to be comfortable and for our daycare to feel like a second home. We actually had one family buy us a white noise machine and blackout curtains for their baby because that was the only way they could get her to sleep. We recognize that every child is different, and we want to meet their respective needs as much as possible.

   

3. Communication

    We want to keep your child safe just as much as you do. For example, if we pick your child up from school and you want us to update you when we leave the house, arrive at the school, get your child in the car, leave the school, and get back to the house? Done and done.

    But I will make an important point. Communication goes both ways. We want to be in the know just as much as you want to. You got off work early and want to pick them up from school to surprise them? That's a great idea! You want to clean the house without distractions for a few hours? Awesome! All we ask, is that you let us know.

    Because we care about your child. Whether it's just for a couple days while your regular caretaker is away or you're looking for a regular caretaker to begin with, we're here to help.