Thursday Table Talk: Thursday Additional Workshops at the INA Conference

Thursday Additional Workshops at the INA Conference
By: Alice Shaffer

The 25th Annual INA Conference is less than two months away! If you are still on the fence, you still have time to get in on the early bird conference fee (April 1) and take advantage of the awesome additional workshops offered on Thursday May 20, 2010 starting at 1:00pm. These workshops have a small additional cost to them. This includes an American Red Cross Basic Water Rescue Certificate, INA Credential Review and Exam, a New Agency workshop, and Newborn Care Specialist 201 class.

If you have have been interested in opening your nanny agency or just recently in the past two years opened your agency, you really would benefit from going to the New Agency workshop. I actually went back in 2003 at my first INA conference and absolutely loved every minute of the program and still remember a lot of the information given. It helped me decide on whether or not to open a nanny agency. Which I decided against at the time. After the Thursday workshops don't forget to join everyone at the Opening Reception at 6:30pm.

AMERICAN RED CROSS BASIC WATER RESCUE 3-YEAR CERTIFICATION
Thursday May 20, 2010 1:00-5:00pm
cost $40

This course is designed for participants who do not need to be trained as lifeguards, but who require certification in victim recognition and general first aid topics. The class includes an in-water skills session to practice basic water rescue techniques, designed to assist victims and keep them faceup until more help arrives. This course is excellent for camp counselors, child care providers, health and fitness facility employees, and others who are around water on a regular basis. Presented by Lia Brewer and Serena Jolley, American Red Cross Water Safety instructors.

To help ensure an enjoyable and successful experience:

• Dress comfortably. Bring a bathing suit, towel, and swim cap if your hair is longer than shoulder length. Goggles are optional.
• Please arrive on time, no admittance is permitted 15 minutes after the start of the class.
• All necessary course materials will be provided during class.
• Practice sessions can be physically demanding. If you have any questions about your ability to participate, consult with your Health Care Provider prior to the course.
• Bring a pen/pencil and reading glasses if necessary.

Course Certification

• Payment of the course fee is not a guarantee of certification.
• Basic Water Rescue certification is valid for three years.

To be eligible for course certification you must:

• Be present for the entire course. + Successfully complete all required skills.
• Pass a multiple choice written exam at 80% or better.

INA NANNY CREDENTIAL EXAM
Thursday May 20, 2010 2:30-5:30 pm
cost $40

Nannies who wish to take the INA Nanny Credential Exam must submit a completed INA Nanny Credential Exam application to the INA Membership Services Office prior to the May 1, 2010. Please contact Michelle LaRowe at admin@nanny.org for additional information. Attendees should bring a copy of “Beyond Parenting Basics: The International Nanny Association’s Official Guide to In-Home Child Care” to this session. If you do not have a copy, you can purchase a copy during the conference registration process and it will be shipped to you prior to conference.

Newborn Care Specialist 201: A Day in the Life of a NCS

Thursday May 20, 2010 2:30-5:30 pm
cost $35

Join Newborn Care Specialist (NCS) Cortney Gibson and take an in-depth look at advanced newborn care, sleep training and what it truly takes to work as a NCS. Attendees will discuss the day-to-day reality of this career and tackle some common misconceptions. Learn how to take what you know about newborn care and apply it to real-life situations. Attendees should already have some newborn care experience and strong knowledge of the basics, as this is an advanced care workshop. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions, so come prepared! Handouts will be provided along with hands-on demos and an informative visual presentation.

Ready, Set, Go! A Workshop for New Agencies
Thursday May 20,2010 2:30-5:30 pm
cost $35

Ready, Set, Go! is a must-attend session for those new to the nanny referral business or those considering opening a placement agency. Join agency owners and consultants Wendy Sachs and Sharon Graff-Radell to learn the nuts and bolts of starting a household staffing referral agency and discover what needs to be considered as a young agency in today’s market. This in-depth presentation will focus on financial considerations, marketing, recruiting, competition, and insightful business practices that pertain specifically to our industry.

This workshop will also feature:

• Background Checks 101 presented by Lynn Peterson of PFC Information Services, Inc.
• Legal Issues 101 presented by Bob King, Esq., of Legally Nanny®
• Payroll and Taxes 101 presented by Kathy Webb of HomeWork Solutions / 4NannyTaxes.co

A spotlight on Caryoln Stulberg's workshop

This coming weekend is Nannypalooza in Chevy Chase Maryland. Carolyn Stulberg is presenting two workshops. Carolyn is from Solon Ohio, and is the Founder and Executive Director of The Alexandria School. Make sure to look for Carolyn and four of her students as they attend Nannypalooza.


Breast, Bottle or First Tastes to First Bites, Our First Year of Nutrition
Find out current thoughts on what goes in the “mouth of babes”. Pumping and storing of breast milk, formula updates, the latest on bottles and nipples will all be discussed. A making your own baby food demonstration with will be performed with taste tests included. Weaning from baby food to toddler food will be part of the discussion.

Unfolding the Mysteries of the Newborn
This is a workshop about the newborn from birth to the seventh day of life including appearance, jaundice, first feeds, and elimination. Understanding newborn development in the womb to the end of the first week is critical for anyone desiring to be a newborn care specialist.

More about Caryoln:
Alexandria School was founded in 2007 by Carolyn Stulberg, BSN, CCE, based on her passion for the highest quality in-home child care. With over 30 years of experience in child care education, Carolyn has worked in the pediatric wards and neonatal intensive care units of hospitals, taught prenatal, postnatal, parenting, grandparenting and breastfeeding classes, developed her own courses for creative play and current concepts in infant care, and is a mother of four herself. The instructors at Alexandria School, along with Carolyn and the school’s dedicated staff, are committed to educating and training nannies with a demanding, practical curriculum that will position graduates to be the best in the profession.

Do you have The Happiest Baby on the Block?

Do you have The Happiest Baby on the Block?
by Cortney Gibson

Many new parents have an unrealistic expectation of what their newborn will look like and how she will behave. They might expect a smiling, cooing, interactive infant. To the surprise of many parents, their long awaited bundle of joy is actually a wrinkly, red-faced being that does little more than eat, sleep and fill diapers! In addition to their newborn’s appearance, many parents are shocked to discover just how much their new baby can cry. As a matter of fact, half of all new babies cry more than two hours a day. Even more alarming, 15-20% of babies under three months old cry more than three hours a day!
The prolonged crying of a newborn often causes exhaustion, breastfeeding failure, marital stress, maternal depression and even child abuse. Sleep deprived new parents and overwhelmed nannies are finding themselves without the coping skills to deal with the inconsolable crying of a new baby.

Why are these babies crying so much and why are they inconsolable? World renowned pediatrician and UCLA professor, Dr. Harvey Karp has discovered the answer to these questions and the solution to the problem. In his book, The Happiest Baby on the Block, Dr. Karp explains why babies are so fussy and reveals the secret to calming crying babies. The 4 principles are The Missing 4th Trimester, The Calming Reflex, the 5 S’s and the Cuddle Cure

The Missing 4th Trimester is the idea that human babies are very immature at birth. In the first three months of life our babies look and behave more like fetuses than the offspring of most animals. For instance, a newborn foal is able to walk shortly after birth. Most animals rely on mobility and the ability to find food as a condition of survival. Humans, on the other hand, rely on a big brain for survival. If our babies could remain in the womb for an additional three months, they would be born with the ability to smile, coo and possibly suck their fingers. The problem with a twelve month gestation is that it’s already a tight squeeze at nine months. Our babies would get stuck in the birth canal if they were allowed to mature for another three months. Thus the early “eviction” at nine months!

Dr. Karp has also discovered the true nature of colic. For centuries people have been speculating about the reason so many babies have colic and what can be done to treat it. The truth is it’s not maternal anxiety, gas pain or a poor temperament. Colic is simply the result of a newborn’s need for the sensations of the womb in the first three months of life. The Missing 4th Trimester is the only theory that truly explains the existence of colic. Colic symptoms usually appear around two weeks of age, peak around six weeks and subside around three to four months of age. In premature babies, these milestones will likely occur at their adjusted age. In the case of a preemie, colic will present around two weeks after the baby’s due date and will end around three to four months after the due date.

The Calming Reflex is virtually an off switch for crying. All babies are born with this reflex and all babies can be soothed if the reflex is activated correctly. Babies are born with many reflexes; the Moro or “startle” reflex, rooting, sucking and grasping just to name a few. These reflexes are built-in and require no thinking or planning on the part of the baby. Much like a knee reflex, when the calming reflex is initiated the response is automatic. Anyone can turn on the calming reflex in a baby, provided the proper techniques are used.

The 5 S’s are the key to turning on the calming reflex and calming even the fussiest baby. These five steps essentially recreate the womb experience for the baby. All the comforts of home are reproduced in these five simple steps:

Swaddling – Tightly wrapping with arms down, the cornerstone of calming.
Side/Stomach Position – Holding Baby in this position will put her at ease, a baby’s “feel-good” position
Shhh – Matching her volume, the Shhh will remind Baby of the noisy whoosh of the womb, a baby’s favorite sound of love and safety.
Swinging – Gently jiggling, moving in rhythm with a baby’s needs.
Sucking – A pacifier or clean pinky offers the “icing on the cake” of soothing.

Swaddling by itself will not usually calm a crying newborn. In fact, some babies will initially cry harder at the prospect of being wrapped. The wrapping must be very snug and the baby’s arms should be down at his sides. Once the baby is swaddled nice and snug he will calm faster and sleep longer than if he were unwrapped. This restricted movement is reminiscent of the womb, where he was tightly packaged for many months.

For many parents, the side/stomach position is counter-intuitive. Most people hold the baby on her back in the cradle position. For a crying baby, this position only increases her uncontrollable wailing. For the calming reflex to be initiated, the swaddled baby must be moved into a position somewhere between on her side and stomach. Each baby has her own preferred position and you may have to turn the baby a fraction of an inch in one direction or the other to turn on the calming reflex. Please note that the safest and only way a baby should be put down to sleep is on her back. The side/stomach position is only for soothing, not for sleeping.

When swaddled and in the side/stomach position, a crying baby will usually soothe in an instant. If his cries persist, it’s time to add a loud “shhh” to the mix. The caregiver should have her mouth right next to the baby’s ear and begin with a loud “shhh” blowing parallel, not into, the baby’s ear. Newborns are used to the 85 decibel sounds of the womb, which is comparable to that of a vacuum cleaner! Although it may seem harsh to us, babies feel very calm and safe when they hear this sound. Use a white noise machine near the crib to prolong naps and night time sleep.

Every baby has her own special combination of S’s that work for her. Many babies particularly like the 4th S – swinging. Swinging, swaying and jiggling are all ways to recreate the movement sensations that a baby feels in the womb. Imagine the constant movement that goes on in there! A baby’s motion detector is in her head, so activities that allow her supported head to jiggle slightly will turn on the calming reflex. The idea is to do small, quick movements (more like a shiver) to produce a little jiggle. Please note that the baby’s head and neck must always be supported and you should NEVER shake a baby.

Most babies need to suck in addition to feedings. This is a behavior that babies instinctually start doing in the womb and will continue to use as a comforting measure. Extremely fussy babies may need all the S’s, including sucking on a pacifier, to calm down. As with all sleep props, it is recommended that babies not be allowed to fall asleep with the pacifier in their mouths, but used only to calm the baby or pacify until feeding.

Experimenting with different combinations of S’s and paying attention to what works will eliminate most crying and relieve frustrated parents and nannies. These techniques work, but only if you perform each element correctly. Many parents are doing each step, but lack the vigor necessary to activate the calming reflex. To learn the correct way to implement these techniques as well as an in depth look at why they work, consider taking a class from a Certified Happiest Baby Educator.

For more information about The Happiest Baby on the Block or finding a Happiest Baby class, please contact Gibson Newborn Services at (866) 432-BABY or by visiting http://www.gibsonnewbornservices.com/.


Cortney Gibson is a Newborn Care Specialist and Parent Educator. She owns and operates Gibson Newborn Services, a company dedicated to helping parents of new babies succeed through education, newborn care and support.
Cortney has spent the past 13 years directly working with families. After eight years as a professional nanny, she began exclusively working with newborns in 2004. She specializes in the care of preemies and multiples, as well as sleep training and new parent education.

Newborn Care Specialists

by Lisa Stipe

A baby has been born and the new parents would like some assistance for the first few weeks, just to get them rolling into this whole parenthood thing. Maybe they already have a newborn and they just want to know that they can get a full night’s rest so that they can function during the day as normally as possible. Maybe they have a premature baby or multiples and are feeling overwhelmed and sleep deprived. New parents now have options for help that do not include keeping their mother-in-law for an extra week or hiring a long-term, full-time nanny (at least not immediately!)

There are women who make their living caring for newborns on a temporary basis. They come with years of experience with newborns. They care for premature infants, multiples, babies on monitors, and healthy singletons.

Newborn Care Specialists are hired on a temporary basis - usually anywhere from two to twelve weeks – to come into the home and nurture and manage the care of the newborn(s) while mom recovers from childbirth and to provide emotional and educational support to the new parents. Newborn Care Specialists usually live in the clients’ home for these weeks, making themselves available to the clients and their newborn 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Alternatively, they will come into the home during the night only and care for the baby while the exhausted new parents get a full night’s rest.

Newborn Care Specialists provide expertise in all aspects of newborn care. The primary responsibility of a Newborn Care Specialist is the everyday care of the newborn(s). They are not responsible for household duties except for those relating directly to the newborn. This includes feeding; burping; changing; cord and circumcision care; cuddling; providing a stimulating environment; administering and logging medications; and attending to monitors (if applicable) as well as bathing; sterilizing, preparing and cleaning bottles; keeping a log of the baby’s patterns, including eating, sleeping, elimination, and moods; and doing baby laundry and preparing bottles. Responsibilities also include educational and emotional support to the parents and light care and emotional support of the new mother. Many professional Newborn Care Specialists are experienced in sleep training, and will make it their top priority to transition a baby into a regular routine and work to get him to sleep through the night at an age and weight that is appropriate. They will feed the baby with formula or breast milk from a bottle, or they will bring a nursing infant to the mother and help get him positioned and latched on properly. When a nursing infant is finished eating, the Newborn Care Specialist will retrieve the baby, burp him, and settle him back to sleep if it is nighttime or encourage a wakeful period during the day. These professionals do not usually care for siblings, although a good one will work with siblings and other family members to welcome the new baby and help him integrate into the family.

Because many families cannot afford the costly rates of a professional Newborn Care Specialist, some of these ladies are now working as consultants, teaching parents newborn care techniques and sleep training in their home or even via email. With this alternative, a parent gets a “crash course” in infant care, including tricks on changing diapers, getting burps to come up, giving baths, getting organized, and of course establishing a routine. In the capacity of consultant, the Newborn Care Specialist comes to the home for a few hours during the day for anywhere from one day to two weeks, and she normally charges by the hour. She may also do consulting via telephone or email. Many of these professionals specialize in the care of preemies and multiples.

Another area of consulting that is now available to parents is nursery preparation. Many parents find it completely overwhelming to create their baby registries, and end up receiving many gifts that they are unable to use. A nursery preparation consultant will help parents determine exactly what items they should register for. The consultant will also educate the parents on the different products on the market so they can make an informed decision about the products they include on their registry. The consultant will educate the client on the pros and cons of different products including bottles, sleep positioners, pacifiers, and blankets, just to name a few. Did you know, for example, that you can’t swaddle a baby in just any blanket? Most are too small; some are too stretchy; and some are too thick. This is just one trick that a nursery preparation consultant or Newborn Care Specialist will teach a new parent!

The fees for Newborn Care Specialists vary, depending upon the client’s needs, their geographical location, the number of newborns, and the experience of the caregiver. For example, parents in the D.C. area will typically pay more than parents in Ohio. A night care specialist (often known as a night nanny) will range from about $13 to as much as $30 an hour, and parents can expect to pay a small premium for an infant on a monitor or who has other minor medical issues. Daily rates (24/7) range from about $300 to upwards of $500 per day. Consulting rates range from $20 on the low end to as much as $75 an hour, on the high end. For more information on Newborn Care Specialists, visit http://www.nannyfornewborns.com/.

Lisa Stipe is a working Newborn Care Specialist and infant sleep trainer and is the owner of Nanny for Newborns.