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First Time Parent
So I babysit once in awhile for a first time foster mom (baby is almost six months old) and I do have a lot of patience. Yes, I follow their instructions even if I wouldn't do it with my own child because it's not my child, 
. Here are a few things I'm learning and would like your view on them.
1. They use a Gerber gallon of water to fill her bottle. What is wrong with using regular water?
2. They are teaching her to use a paci when she never took one before. I personally would avoid it if she never took it before because it's one less thing to have to take away when they're older.
3. They put her in her crib once with toys and a paci to see if she would go to bed. For one, the crib is for sleeping....not playing. Secondly, I was taught that putting a child to bed with a paci (mainly in daycares) wasn't allowed because it could become a choking and/or suffocation hazard.
4. They mix 2 ounces of sugar free juice (not from the infant section) with 2 ounces of formula twice a day to create just over 6 ounces of fluid. I was told that children, especially young infants don't need juice. I don't get why they put it in her bottle when she takes a bottle just fine.
5. I was told once that if she wanted more than the 4 ounces of formula (just formula this time) that I could give her 2 more ounces of water. I had to ask her to clarify that she meant just water instead of formula and that is what she meant. I was told never to give a baby that young just water that they need all the nutrients they can get.
6. They keep track of her diapers and feedings/quantities....I like that for my sake, but how often would you be changing an almost six month old every day from wake up to bedtime? They have 9 diaper changes and five separate feeding times with a total of 26 ounces of formula a day and 4 ounces of juice a day. She is 14 pounds.
7. Lastly, since this is the first child and I'm one of the first babysitters she pretty much told me she would pay me daycare rates....which are $25 a day. I've babysat two full days so far and two very short shifts of a few hours. What does she do? The first day she doesn't have any cash and I had to go to her twice to ask for the money. She was also an hour late and the dad said he would personally pay me $10 more and never did when I said, "That's Fine". Even I know that if you really appreciate someone the first time or two you pay more so they come back! The second time I babysat she asked if she could pay me after the next day when I sat again for her. Then today was the fourth time I sat all day (with a few hours break that she will not pay for, but I had to go back like it was a split shift) she came home and said she'll pay me when she goes to the bank. I was asked to sit again tonight and I'm just really tired of feeling put down and I am going out to do errands instead. Financially, She says she see's it from a mother's view and wants to save money, but good luck finding a babysitter for $2 an hour. I usually babysit for $8 an hour and families round up. This person is a friend of mine, but I'm about to call it quits (Now that I have a new job starting Monday) so I don't have to take this. I am going to ask for $4 an hour later on when I have to sit again because it's not worth my time. Thanks for letting me vent.
. Here are a few things I'm learning and would like your view on them.1. They use a Gerber gallon of water to fill her bottle. What is wrong with using regular water?
2. They are teaching her to use a paci when she never took one before. I personally would avoid it if she never took it before because it's one less thing to have to take away when they're older.
3. They put her in her crib once with toys and a paci to see if she would go to bed. For one, the crib is for sleeping....not playing. Secondly, I was taught that putting a child to bed with a paci (mainly in daycares) wasn't allowed because it could become a choking and/or suffocation hazard.
4. They mix 2 ounces of sugar free juice (not from the infant section) with 2 ounces of formula twice a day to create just over 6 ounces of fluid. I was told that children, especially young infants don't need juice. I don't get why they put it in her bottle when she takes a bottle just fine.
5. I was told once that if she wanted more than the 4 ounces of formula (just formula this time) that I could give her 2 more ounces of water. I had to ask her to clarify that she meant just water instead of formula and that is what she meant. I was told never to give a baby that young just water that they need all the nutrients they can get.
6. They keep track of her diapers and feedings/quantities....I like that for my sake, but how often would you be changing an almost six month old every day from wake up to bedtime? They have 9 diaper changes and five separate feeding times with a total of 26 ounces of formula a day and 4 ounces of juice a day. She is 14 pounds.
7. Lastly, since this is the first child and I'm one of the first babysitters she pretty much told me she would pay me daycare rates....which are $25 a day. I've babysat two full days so far and two very short shifts of a few hours. What does she do? The first day she doesn't have any cash and I had to go to her twice to ask for the money. She was also an hour late and the dad said he would personally pay me $10 more and never did when I said, "That's Fine". Even I know that if you really appreciate someone the first time or two you pay more so they come back! The second time I babysat she asked if she could pay me after the next day when I sat again for her. Then today was the fourth time I sat all day (with a few hours break that she will not pay for, but I had to go back like it was a split shift) she came home and said she'll pay me when she goes to the bank. I was asked to sit again tonight and I'm just really tired of feeling put down and I am going out to do errands instead. Financially, She says she see's it from a mother's view and wants to save money, but good luck finding a babysitter for $2 an hour. I usually babysit for $8 an hour and families round up. This person is a friend of mine, but I'm about to call it quits (Now that I have a new job starting Monday) so I don't have to take this. I am going to ask for $4 an hour later on when I have to sit again because it's not worth my time. Thanks for letting me vent.
Otherwise, that is a big nono. Formula should ONLY be made according to package or doctor instructions. Babies (well, people in general) do NOT need juice.
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