The Little A-Z by Rachel Perks PhD

Author:Rachel Perks, PhD
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: She Writes Press
Published: 2020-05-14T16:00:00+00:00

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Nanny: I recognize this is a controversial topic, and equally, a privileged one, as not everyone can afford this type of exclusive care. In DC, almost all career couples will have a nanny at some point. The trick is finding one that matches your requirements and your personality, and then navigating the legal requirements for employing one. Nannies are considered employees, and therefore any family hiring one is required to apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) with the federal government. Once you receive your EIN, you will be required to file both federal- and state-level taxes for your nanny. Naturally, this means that your nanny must have a Social Security number. Please do these things! Don’t encourage people to work illegally in the US, and certainly do not put yourself in a position where you might be caught employing someone illegally. If you don’t think you can handle filing yourself, there are payroll companies who specialize in nanny taxes—for instance, HomeWork Solutions, if you are in the DC, Virginia, and Maryland area.

Apart from paying taxes, you may or may not need to offer your nanny certain other benefits, like health insurance, paid sick days, and annual leave. Each state has its own requirements on these issues, so it’s best to read up on it. Also, some states now apply minimum wage requirements to all job categories.

We found it useful to draw up a simple contract with our nanny. This was important not only for us as employers but also for her as an employee. (For instance, having a contract allowed her to apply for loans with her bank.)

Nervous System: New moms will experience hormone shifts, and for some of us, this may lead to symptoms like sleeplessness, anxiety, and feeling “revved” or “tired but wired.” Dr. Sara Gottfried has some great information on this and how to balance hormones in her book The Hormone Cure.

Night Nurses: Are not the exclusive domain of mothers with twins. Even working moms with one child may resort to using a night nurse to combat fatigue (see Nanny for a discussion on employing childcare help). In parts of the United States, a night nurse can play a triple function: lactation coach, night nurse, and general helper. I know of some who will gladly come and clean your house or cook a meal. You just need to talk to potential candidates and figure out the breadth of their services. Often, night nurses will have different packages with prices adjusted to reflect the full scope of services you are looking for.

Nighttime Routine: Just like napping and sleeping, routine around bedtime, even in those early months (say after three months) is helpful for everyone. I suspect most people follow the old adage of bathtime, night dressing, a little music, and a bottle or breastfeeding. Some of my friends were even reading to their kids at that point. Whatever it might consist of, the nighttime routine helps baby unwind and get ready to sleep.

Nipple Guards/Shields: One

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