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Classic Tutti Bambini Nursery Furniture

May 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Tutti Bambini provide a large range of very stylish and homely cot beds, toy boxes, wardrobes, chest of draws and cot top nappy changers in fact all the nursery furniture that you will require bound up in a soft colour range that will compliment your home and make your babies new nursery look fantastic.

Tutti Bambini Barcelona Cot Bed

Tutti Bambini Barcelona Cot Bed

Tutti Bambini Barcelona Cot Bed

 

This fashionable classic looking cot is available in White and Natural and is made from top quality solid pinewood and will make a great looking cot for your baby. You can get it for a good price £189 from Tescos nursery furniture sets range online and in store.

It will fit in with contemporary or classic design and is built to protect the child with durable teething rails on each side to help keep your new Childs soft teeth and gums safe from harm.

Mattress

The mattress is adjustable to three height places to give you quick access to your child as they get bigger and for convenience a drop side. A nice feature is that this cot can actually be transformed into a small bed making the lasting effect of this furniture great and giving you exceptional value for money.

This means that the Cot is suitable from birth all the way to 6 years old.

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Babysitters and babysitting

February 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

A babysitter is someone selected by a family or person to care for a child, and may or may not be fully qualified or experienced to do so. Some babysitters are young siblings or a family member not au fait with childcare practices.

Teenagers often do babysitting to earn some pocket money, and if this is enjoyed, some teenagers later opt to formally train as childcarers. Babysitting may be short term or longer term depending on the childcare needs and the needs of the family. Tasks may vary from playing with children, watching a child sleep, making meals, driving or walking the child to activities, and teaching the child basic skills.

Babysitting may involve caring for a child on behalf of parents for a couple of hours while they go out, on an ad hoc or regular basis. Some babysitters are hired on contract while others work informally for pocket money.

The purpose of the Babysitter in doing Babysitting is to:

  • Meet the child’s needs while in care
  • Responding appropriately if there is an emergency
  • Using the family rules during care of the child or children
  • Keeping children busy with positive activities, such as reading
  • Giving medication where needed
  • Feeding the child or children
  • Helping the child or children with their development, such as using the toilet or changing nappies
  • Assisting with homework (depending on the age of the child)
  • Preparing children for bed
  • Washing up and clearing or cleaning after the child
  • Doing household duties as needed

The child’s needs

Depending on the child’s needs, the babysitter’s responsibilities may vary from feeding with a bottle to changing nappies. If children are older, it may be to prepare meals, help with homework, prepare for bed and so on. In all cases, the babysitter is ultimately responsible for the safety and care of the child.

Family rules for babysitting

Parents often have particular habits for their children or family rules that they want enforced, such as time for feeding and bed. Babysitters are meant to abide by such rules during their care. If children are read to before bed, the Babysitter is meant to do reading for the child before bed as part of the babysitting activity. Other activities may be walking the child to school in the morning or completing household duties, like laundry, after putting the child or children to bed. Some children are not allowed to eat certain foods or go to certain places. Parent(s) usually give clear instructions to the Babysitter about “Babysitting Rules”.

Emergency contacts

The parent(s) ensure the babysitter always has their contact numbers and also emergency contacts, such as neighbours, police, fire brigade, NHS Emergency, among some. Babysitters are taught what to do and what not to do, and are shown what is best for the child and safety.

Household chores/duties

Babysitters are often expected to clean up after the children. Depending what the babysitter is paid for, the chores may vary. The core duties of a Babysitter should be babysitting and childcare, not being used as a domestic in the home when performing Babysitting duties.

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Working as an au pair

February 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

There are a number of UK-based international employment agencies for those working in childcare and wishing to do so in other countries. These agencies act as specialist recruiters that match host families and nannies / au pairs registered with them. Some people desire to work as au pairs as a means of combining their enjoyment of working with children and experiencing new countries. Others use their childcare experience and qualification as a stepping stone, such as if the person has a university degree in child development.

Au pairs and the au pair programme

An au pair lives with a host family in a country that is not their home country and works as a domestic assistant and child carer for the family. For their work, au pairs receive an allowance and living quarters. Au pairs are usually aged between 17 and 27, able to work for at least ten months and usually need a work visa for the country they wish to work in.

Countries world-wide offer au pair programmes, but are more common in developed countries as a means of cultural exchange, such as in the United States, Germany, and Switzerland. Sometimes nannies or mothers’ helps join the au pair programme too. For the specific country of interest, the prospective au pair needs to research the requirements for work in that country.

Au pairs in the UK

Many au pairs working in the UK originate from the EU through European freedom of movement regulations or “Youth Mobility Scheme”. The standards for the UK Au Pair Industry are set through the British Au Pair Agencies Association (BAPAA) offering guidance to those working in the industry on employment, competence and codes of conduct, and ethics. In Switzerland, such guidelines would be established by the Swiss canton, in the US through the US Department of State Au Pair Programme, and in Germany through the Au Pair Society or the International Au Pair Association.

International Childcare: Questions to ask yourself

When someone suddenly decides that working overseas in childcare can be an option, a moment of euphoria may follow that is put into perspective when answering such questions as:

  • Why do I want to provide childcare in another country?
  • Which specific country am I interested in and why?
  • What are the childcare regulations and requirements in that country?
  • Which childcare requirements do I meet and which do I not meet?
  • How can I gain qualification or experience in the criteria required?
  • What specific environment do I want to work in overseas?
  • What age group or special need of children do I want to work with?
  • What are the language and cultural expectations?
  • Are there agencies or associations in the UK where I can gain further information?
  • How long do I intend to work overseas as a childcarer?
  • What steps will I need to take to prepare for overseas work?

International childcare work options

Depending on qualification, experience and specialism, people with child care backgrounds have the opportunity to work in other countries through child care schemes. Other than following an au pair scheme, children’s nurses or child developers may have more opportunities for work, especially where there is need in certain countries and if they meet equivalent experience and qualification. Similar to the structure, regulations and requirements for work in the UK childcare sector, other countries have their frameworks that the prospective international child carer needs to be compliant with. Deciding on international childcare takes thought and research to make an informed decision.

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Listen to nanny

February 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

In the UK, individuals who provide childcare services to families in their own home are called “Nannies”. Nannies are trained sufficiently and meet basic childcare legal checks to be able to look after a child regardless of age.

Registration on Ofsted’s Childcare Register

Although nannies do not have to register on Ofsted’s General Childcare Register or have a childcare qualification, it is highly beneficial for them to do so because it validates their suitability to work with and care for children. Since 2007, Nannies can do so through the Voluntary General Childcare Register (vGCR). The registration, even though voluntary, comes with certain requirements:

  • Enhanced CRB
  • Training in common childcare skills, such as communication
  • Having a first aid qualification for childcare
  • Public Liability Insurance

Qualifications for Nannies

Nannies are not legally required to have a childcare qualification, but there are qualifications that are beneficial for nannies to have which can broaden their opportunities for a career in childcare.

The Council for Awards in Children’s Care and Education (CACHE) allow individuals to gain relevant qualifications in playwork, childcare and education, home-based childcare and also early years.

Attributes of a Nanny

Nannies need a variable spectrum of skills to work with children, and may need to be quite flexible with their time. Some attributes and skills thought to contribute to a good and effective nanny include:

  • Confidence and a positive attitude
  • Passion and interest in childcare and children
  • Organisational and planning skills
  • Creativity in arranging and implementing learning opportunities
  • Awareness of safety and safeguarding
  • First aid training
  • Driving experience
  • Experience of childcare in different environments
  • Ability / experience of working with children irrespective of age

Employing a Nanny

Families decide to employ a nanny for a number of reasons, such as for specific childcare in the home, completion of certain tasks, flexibility in hours of work, experience in childcare and development, for living in or living out according to the families needs. People may tend to avoid nannies who are smokers or desire to have a nanny that can speak a particular language.

Using childcare recruitment agencies

People sometimes go to great lengths to find the “right nanny” for their family setting, and may register with a childcare recruitment agency. Nannies with specific skills, such as working with children who have special needs, may register their speciality with the childcare recruitment agency. Agencies may advertise their services and also available nannies with particular skills or experiences through local media outlets, such as newspapers, magazines or on their website.

The benefit of registering or advertising through childcare recruitment agencies is that they have a record of certain requirements, such as enhanced CRB and basic childcare training, of their candidates, the needs of prospective “employers”, and they strive to make the right match for nanny and employer.

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What if your stuck for childcare

February 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

In the decision-making process of what type of childcare is required, parents consider their feelings about having a childcarer, ideal location of care, financial affordability, career changes, developmental needs of the child and duration of care. Children with a disability may need special childcare arrangements. All these factors need to be taken into consideration.

In general, there are approximately four types of childcare that present benefits and also concerns. These childcare options may include:

Care by a relative, friend or neighbour

The benefit of having a trusted relative, friend or neighbour care for a child is that the child may already know the person and it also may be a more cost-effective option. The transition for the child into being cared for by someone other than their parent is easier and the child may feel less “separation anxiety” from being away from the parent. Sometimes this setting allows children to be cared for in their usual home environments or at the person’s home that they are familiar with.

Concerns over this type of care may be that the child isn’t getting the benefit of socialisation and learning with others in a centre or nursery care setting. The relative, friend or neighbour’s lifestyle or health may change requiring parents still to have to find alternate care. The relationship between the parents and the caregiver may also change due to concerns that place stress on the care being given and the “friendship” or “family bonds”. For example, if there is an accident involving the child in their care.

Family child care

Family child care is when a child is cared for in their usual home setting by a family member, such as a sibling, partner or grandparent. Family child care may also refer to a childcarer who offers a home setting to care for a number of children from different families. The feeling of “homeliness” can be an advantage and children also learn socialisation skills in a smaller setting. Usually such carers are qualified and registered as carers in their locality. Children can still get individualised care and the caregiver may have an assistant that helps out with the children. There are often planned activities for children to aid their development and parents are given more flexibility that reduces stress.

Concerns over family care may also be that parents need to have alternative care arrangements in place if the family carer is sick or goes on holiday. A few children may be cared for by one person whose attention and focus is split, raising the levels of risk. Being in an environment with other children may also facilitate spread of illness.

Day care centre or nursery care centre

The day care centre or nursery care centre operate on a larger scale to a “family child care” setting and the location may not be in a home as they operate as businesses in business premises. There is usually also more trained and qualified staff on hand with planned activities for child development, nutrition and care.

Similar benefits and concerns arise as with family child care.  These settings also offer children the sense of what it may feel like to go to school, but initial transition to day care or nursery care can be hard for children at first due to separation from parental care that they are used to; although some children may find it harder to adapt to this more rigid approach. Times, however, of day care centres or nurseries may not be that suitable for all parents and costs may be higher.

Nanny or au pair

The childcare provided by a nanny is based in a private home, seeing to the needs sometimes not only of the child but also the family. Nannies are employed on different terms depending on the family’s needs. The hours of work vary from full time, or live in, and part time, or live out. Depending on the age of the child, some nannies may be there for maternity care while others are there for the toddler. Nannies are involved in different aspects of care that ranges from preparing children for activities, bathing, accompanying children on outings or to school, cleaning in the home and preparing meals.

The benefits of having a nanny is that the nanny is employed on your terms and is usually flexible to meeting the needs in the home. Nannies should have qualifications and references. The concern may be if the Nanny is not experienced enough, gets bored, or lacks the flexibility needed by the family.

The difference between Nannies and Au pairs is usually rates of pay, frameworks for working (especially if childcare agencies are involved), training, and so on.

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