Training Suggestions for Nanny Before Adding Infant

[Anonymous]

We like our current nanny and the care she has given our toddler. Ideally we would keep her through my maternity leave and she would then start caring for our baby and toddler when my maternity leave ends (baby would be 3-6 months, I'll gradually work from home and then build back up to full time). However, our nanny does not have much experience with infants. Are there any training classes or certifications that others are aware of that could help us ensure she can care for an infant? Our insurance company offers a few brief (1-2 hour) classes for 1) new parents on how to care for an infant and 2) grandparents on what has changed in infant care since grandparents were parents. Other than that and renewing infant CPR I'm not aware of anything, but I'm sure there must be things out there. How else to nannies learn to care for infants? Thank you for any recommendations or suggestions. And yes, we'd pay for any classes and the time it takes the nanny to attend them.

[Anonymous]

It's not rocket science. If she's comfortable with an infant, she'll be fine. Have her shadow you for a day or two so she can see how you do things - if you use different detergent for the baby, how he likes to be burped, soothed, how you want him changed, etc. Other than infant CPR, there's nothing that's needed.

[Anonymous]

Most nannies learn to care for infants while babysitting, being a mother's helper or having their own children...

Contact your local community college, they must have something, but a class isn't the same as actually being with an infant.

[Anonymous]

Youtube videos.

I have watched youtube videos to figure out how to do maintenance on my dishwasher, and how to repair my vacuum cleaner. I have a friend who learned to crochet by watching youtube videos. So after reading your post I went to youtube to see if there are videos about how to care for a newborn, and sure enough, there are lots of them.

[Anonymous]

There are newborn care specialist classes that focus on basic care and needs for potential NCS who are truly new to infant care.

Or your nanny could do a lot of reading and self-esteem. Would you be satisfied with that?

[Anonymous]

Study, not esteem.

[Anonymous]

Check out NCTA online classess. Then follow up with lots of real life practice.

[Anonymous]

The Newborn Care Training Academy has classes in newborn care to train nannies. Also, Montgomery county has a class they offer that's taught through Let Mommy Sleep (I think!) but seems extremely basic. Check with the International Nanny Association, too. They may know more resources.

[Anonymous]

INOVA offers baby care 101 classes - I went with my husband while expecting and it was a good use of our time. DH had no baby experience and my knowledge was out of date, so I picked up some good safety pointers.

If you're breastfeeding, I'd have her go to one of the free classes at the breastfeeding center on how to handle breastmilk. The protocol for breastmilk and formula are different.

[Anonymous]

Thank you! Great recommendations I hadn't come across on my own.