BabysitEase | babysitting service in Cincinnati, Lexington, Baltimore, & Virginia Beach

Autism Awareness Month Roundup

At BabysitEase we provide babysitters for many children on the Autism Spectrum.  In fact we have many babysitters who have experience and are currently studying in fields that may go on to specialize with children on the Spectrum.  To recognize Autism Awareness Month we thought a quick roundup of some of the emerging thoughts, concerns, and breakthroughs could be of interest:

Autism Prevelance Rises to 1 in 88

With the new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention numbers now showing that 1 in 88 children in the United States are being diagnosed with autism – nearly a doubling of the prevalence since the CDC began tracking these numbers – autism can now officially be declared an epidemic in the United States.

Doctors Want to Redefine Autism; Parents Worried (from the USA Today)

For the first time in nearly two decades, experts want to rewrite the definition of autism. Some parents fear that if the definition is narrowed, their children may lose out on special therapies.

 A New Link Between Mom's Obesity and Autism 

The journal Pediatrics published a study that shows an association between maternal obesity and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It also links type 2 diabetes and gestational (pregnancy-related) diabetes with ASD. These maternal health conditions are associated with increased autism risk in some people, but are not necessarily causative. In other words, these factors slightly increase the risk for autism in some people, but do not directly cause it.

New Social Network Providing a Support Community

MyAutismTeam is a part of the MyHealthTeams network, online communities for people living with or caring for those with chronic health conditions. On the network, users share information about the members of their support teams — parents, specialists, businesses — with other users looking for the same.

Too Old for a Babysitter?

Maybe your tweeners are free of diapers and naps, but that doesn't mean adult independence is the next step!  This summer you may possibly need another helping hand and extra supervision, and maybe it's just that you need another chauffeur.  

You don't have to tell the kids they are getting a babysitter- we'll find you a summer buddy!  We have several college students that can help with life, not just babysitting.  If your household needs something different than a traditional babysitter part-time or maybe full time for the summer, just let us know.

Maybe this summer's kid craft will be learning to cook or master soccer ball juggling.  You also need someone to get to and from swim lessons along with summer camp.  And on lighter weeks, you would like to fit a date night in too.  Create some breathing room in the fun as part of your summer plan.

You could have a summer buddy like Alyssa Banister.  Alyssa currently attends the University of Cincinnati and is 21 years old studying to be a speech language pathologist. Alyssa has worked with many children who have disorders and is taking American sign language.  She hopes to one day open up her own clinic for Austistic children. 

Give us a call to schedule Alyssa or any of our other fabulous babysitters as a summer buddy.

Planning your Summer Childcare

Your familly is constantly evolving and childcare solutions that worked for you last year may not work again this year.  Each child's unique care needs evolve as they do.  This truth is made fresh to us again this year as our twin daughters reach two years old and our son begins to push 5 years old. 

Last year we incorporated some summer day camps into our son's summer care solutions.  Next year we will look at Montessori for the twins.  It is a constantly evolving process that in many cases requires multiple child care solutions.  Nannies, summer camps, occasional babysitters, and even family can be a part of this total solution - but how do you plan for this to line up the available options that will work for you?

We have compiled a list of considerations that we hope you will find helpful in identifying your unique needs - enjoy!

1. Plan out your schedule - begin by looking at your childrens' school schedules and identify the likely end of school (this can sometimes be tricky based on winter weather impacts) and the beginning of the following school year.  This will establish the full scope of childcare needs for the upcoming year.

Continue the process by plotting out planned vacations, holidays, or flexibility in your own work schedules.  For instance, the flexibility that running my own business offers means I take Fridays off to spend at the pool with the kids.

2. Layer in Your Family's Goals - you likely have unique plans for your childrens' development needs.  We want Peter to work on phonics and try out a sport in the following year.  Finding a summer camp that helps develop that in him is a good way to help achieve those development plans for him. Additionally, finding activities that BabysitEase babysitters can do with him an hour each day can help get him to where he needs to be as he prepares to enter Kindergarten in the following year.  

3. Find the Right Care Solutions - Now that you have defined your scheduling and development plans you can begin to layer in the right care options.  We know that we have to find other options for the week our nanny is planning a vacation and we want to be sure we get Peter out around other kids for some play at least a couple hours each day to fill the void left by his Montessori's summer break.  

Be sure to call BabysitEase for these gaps or for a more permanent long-term solution.  We have college kids returning home for the summer that have a free schedule and 40 hour week availability and we have regular sitters who want to pick up more time to fill in for their vacant school schedules.  We can find the flexible options that can fit your schedule.

4. Secure the childcare options - placing deposits on summer camps begin in February and it is never too early to let BabysitEase know your flexible and semi-permanent childcare needs.  The sooner the specific babysitter has been selected the more opportunities that exist to schedule them occasionally in advance to get your children familiar with the care provider and the more prepared babysitters and nannies are with activities that support your development plans for the summer.

What You Missed from BabysitEase

Here are a few of the things you missed on the BabysitEase Facebook page over the holidays.  Be sure to like our page and join in on the conversation.

1. A BabysitEase babysitter is featured in a Mason newspaper for her non-traditional role teaching children
2. We shared a story about legos and their role in our boys' lives and their aspiration to have a similar role in our girls' lives
3. An Indian inventor's story from Fast Company and how he is transforming womens' lives in developing countries

What You Missed in July

Here are just some of the great stories, ideas, and events we shared in Facebook and Twitter.  Like us on Facebook or Follow us on Twitter to get all this and more.

• We ran into babysitter Darci supporting a kitten rescue at Findlay Market and snapped a picture - you can see her work on our Facebook page
• Articles about the latest on Autism, weddings without kids, and the cultural implications of school on Saturdays - Korean style.
• Personal musings on our kitchen remodel, Jerry Seinfeld, and running a triatholan for FitToFightOC.com

 

Planning for Back to School

As BabysitEase begins placing babysitters and nannies for after school care it reminds us of some resources we have posted in the past.

This post entitled "Easing the Summer to School Transition" posted originally in August 2006 provided these great tips among others:

• The weeks leading up to the first school week begin adjusting bed times and wake-up to simulate a regular school week
• Begin to limit video game and TV viewing to more closely simulate the time available after school, homework, and dinner
• Prepare a small writing or reading assignment or craft to start getting your child back into a structured learning rythem

There is also this "Get Organized with a Back to School Checklist" post from August 2008 provides a link to a great online checklist from Online Organizing to help you plan the kids return to school.

Share a Picture - Get Free Starbucks

 
We always love to see our babysitters in action but with many babysitters in homes all across the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area it is impossible to truly grasp the childrens' lives that are being touched by our wonderful babysitters.

This is where you come in - send us a picture at cincinnati@babysitease.com or post it to our wall on Facebook and we will send you a $5 Starbucks giftcard.  That is favorite latte and a scone in exhcange for a couple clicks of your mouse - what a deal!

Got Pets?

The word 'dog' is about the only word our 14 month old daughter can say now.  She loves dogs and lets out a squeal every time she sees one on our evening walks.  Many people love pets but some of our babysitters have allergies or are uncomfortable around your cats or dogs.  Please be sure to update your profile with any information about pets you may have added to your household.  We want to be sure your babysitter is comfortable when caring for your children.

You can update your profile by logging into your account and choosing 'View or change your account information'.  If you are having trouble finding this link - shoot us an email and we can update your account for you.

What You Missed in May

 
Here are just some of the great stories, ideas, and events we shared in Facebook and Twitter.  Like us on Facebook or Follow us on Twitter to get all this and more.

• An interesting discussion on the guilt that can accompany leaving your child in daycare
• We share our use of a service that provides children products to rent while you are traveling - it's great not having to bring a pack n' play!
• A recent parenting.com blog post talks about how everyone needs help - no shame in getting childcare, cleaning, or other domestic help
• If you are a Marketing professional you can see Peggy's live tweeting and others from a recent Cincinnati AMA event.

 

Using Video to Communicate the Value of BabysitEase

If you have never used BabysitEase you may think the only reason to schedule a BabysitEase babysitter is for the occasional date night.  You can hear it from the mother of a BabysitEase family about how she has used BabysitEase including for weddings, childrens' parties, and marathon training.  

 

In addition to this recent testimonial from a Cincinnati family - check out this great promotional video by our Virginia Beach franchise:

 

If you would like to stay up to date on other video content created by BabysitEase subscribe to our YouTube feeds in Cincinnati and Vriginia Beach.