A Baby Sitter Guide
By Maria Schasteen

A babysitter needs to know how a typical baby day and night might look like. So here is a quick babysitter guide.

Being a babysitter brings with it an array of responsibilities and challenges. A newborn baby needs to be cradled in the arms and kept warm, so keep the baby close to you, keep him wrapped and comfortably warm. But baby needs to keep his regular nap time schedule too. So it is an act of balance to find and support baby's day and night rhythm that's innate to him.

If the is formula fed, he'll need to feed every 3 to 5 hours. If the mother is breast feeding, he'll need to feed more frequently. If the mother has to be out at feeding time, she will pump milk in advance and set it cool for later.

At mealtime, the babysitter takes either mother milk or prepares the baby formula in a bottle. She warms the milk by holding the bottle under hot water or carefully using a bottle heater. Make sure you do not overheat the milk as not to destroy the life-giving nutrients in the milk. Never use a microwave oven to heat baby milk. Science suggests that heating food in a microwave oven alters the molecular structure of the food which in turn may lead to serious health risks. In addition, milk form the microwave oven my be extremely hot but may not feel hot to the touch.

After feeding with the bottle, the babysitter should hold the upright for burping. Gently pad him on the back and wait for the burp. This is necessary to get air out that the baby may have swallowed during drinking.

For a babysitter there will be a lot of diapers to change. His diaper will probably need to be changed shortly after feeding, and about more often in the beginning. Be sure to check frequently. To dispose of diapers, put them in a closed container and disinfect with Thieves Spray.

As babysitter you may not need to bath the baby, but just in case you do, here is the routine. Giving the baby his daily bath, you'll need: KidScents Bath Gel, Baby Shampoo, Baby Lotion and Tender Tush in easy reach. Temperate the room. Prepare a washcloth and warm towels, and fill the baby tub with warm water that feels comfortable to your touch. Hold the bay with one hand, supporting his head and spine with your arm. Then gently wash and rinse. Bathing every day is a good idea to prevent diaper rash. But keep in mind that too much bathing can dry out his sensitive skin. Therefore, thoroughly dry the baby and use KidScents Baby Lotion to moisten and nourish his skin. And he will smell so god.

During the day or when there is no time for a bath, wipe the baby's hands, face, neck and bottom every day with a soft washcloth with warm water. Pad it dry and rub KidScents body lotion on him. Be careful to dry the areas between th toes and in the folds thoroughly. Now may also be a good time to massage the baby, especially his little feet. Watch for his giggles and smiles.

Those little finger and toenails will grow quickly, and they'll need to be trimmed regularly so the baby doesn't scratch himself. The baby's nails can be long, even at birth and attached high on the nail bed. You'll need to gently press the finger pad away from the nail and clip it with a nail clipper. You might want to do this when the baby's sleeping to ensure that he doesn't jerk those little fingers and toes away!

As babysitter you should know that the child's mother is busy 24/7 during the first month. She will be feeding and changing diapers around the clock, calming down the baby when it cries, and watching over him when he sleeps. She definitely will need as much help as she can get and needs some peace and relaxation too. As babysitter it's your responsibility to help her get this needed rest and at the same time care for the baby like a professional babysitter.

Maria Schasteen is editor of Aroma-Essence.com - Nature's Most Trusted Therapeutic-Grade Essential Oils Store.