Becoming a new mom introduces you to a whole new set of challenges that you will face at different stages of your baby’s growth, some of which you may not be prepared for. It is easy for parents to feel overwhelmed having a newborn in the house, especially if you and your spouse are not getting an external helping hand — gone are the days when you can sleep through the whole night without being interrupted.
A confinement lady will be able to help you through this difficult process and assist you with different chores during your confinement period. However, there are some basics that you need to know while you are looking for the right nanny to engage with. This post highlights how a new mother can choose the right nanny to help her.
Things to Consider When Choosing Your Confinement Nanny
Agency v Freelance
The first step in this quest is to find a reputable confinement nanny in Singapore. With one or two days of trial, you will be able to make a better decision as to whether you wish to engage the nanny or not. Make sure that the nanny you choose is knowledgeable in terms of babysitting and can handle different household chores. The nanny should be able to care for both the baby and the mother.
Many parents would prefer to go with an agency because an agency would normally have their own standards that need to be met by the nannies. Their nannies would be trained with the most updated knowledge and skills on maternity and newborn care to make sure they are also able to guide new parents with the latest information. Some common training a confinement nanny will receive from their agency includes cooking and preparing confinement meals, bathing a newborn, and putting a baby to sleep.
On top of their guaranteed standards, your employment process will also go easier with an agency because various things will be settled on your behalf. For instance, your confinement nanny work permit will be applied for you by the agency. If you do not have much time to handle such matters one by one, leaving it all to the agency would be a good option.
Attitude
Ensure that you have hired a nanny who is in good health condition, understanding, and has a good attitude as you are going to trust them with the care of your baby and yourself. They must be trustworthy and have a positive character. Ideally, she should also have the necessary skills and experience in postnatal care and have the ability to agree to changes and accept new things.
Necessity
Members of a family may have different opinions regarding whether to hire a confinement nanny or not, so try to have this discussion with your spouse first. In the event of any conflicts, you may consider finding other options instead of hiring a confinement nanny. If you are already getting extra help from someone else such as your parent, mother-in-law, or a domestic helper, you may want to rethink whether you really need a confinement nanny in your house. Of course, the nanny will bring in more benefits that others do not really have so opting for them is still a good option.
Some mothers may be very particular about the nanny while others are more relaxed regarding their requirements. You need to let the confinement nanny agency know your list of requirements so as to help them select the most suitable sitter for you. Most importantly, learn the confinement nanny duties so you are not expecting too little or too much of them.
Credibility
Ensure that the agency is registered and has all the necessary licenses and documents. It is okay to ask about these with them as well so do not feel bad to the point you do not ask for this information. For further information, you should ask about their personnel qualification level. When signing an agreement or contract, take note of all the terms and conditions, and if something is not clear to you, be sure to ask for clarification before signing the documents.
You May Also Read this : Why Your Family Will Thank You for Hiring a Confinement Nanny
Interview
When interviewing the nanny, you should prepare a set of questions to ask, allowing you to determine their level of professionalism. You can ask them questions like; What are your principles in taking care of a newborn? What food should the newborn be eating after one week? What are some of the confinement meals you can prepare well?
When they arrive at your place to work, you can also provide more specific possible scenarios and ask for their solutions. For instance, if your newborn cries all night long, what would the nanny do? How will they encourage you to breastfeed if your baby is not latching properly? All of these are valid questions and a confinement nanny should be able to answer them easily.
Note that other than the experience, the character of the nanny and their love for newborns, children, and families in general are also very important. Especially you have other children, she might help you take care of them as well. All in all, the best confinement nanny for you is simply one who is not only helpful but also makes you feel most comfortable bring around.
