Ensure you know the quality and convenience of babysitting/baby listening services before you book.

Baby Sitting Services

If you only require an occasional night's babysitting many hotels both in the UK and abroad can arrange this for you. Check whether the babysitter's are qualified and/or are experienced in dealing with children the same age and nationality as yours or whether it is simply the chambermaid who speaks only broken English earning a bit of extra cash.

Check what amount of notice is required to book a sitter and what the rates are for before and after midnight. Always ensure that the sitter you use knows exactly where you are going.

Child-friendly resort packages are more likely to use qualified staff, however, you may be asked to bring your child to the crèche to sleep in his pushchair or a cot: you'll have to try and get him to sleep in unfamiliar surroundings before you go out or let a stranger put him to bed; then when you get back from your night out you'll have to try and get your (hopefully) sleeping little one from the crèche back to your room or apartment. Some resorts will give you a mobile phone so they can always contact you if there is a problem back at the crèche.

Baby Listening Services

Some hotels offer baby listening services for those parents who wish to stay in the hotel but possibly relax in the bar or eat a leisurely meal after the children are in bed.

These usually take the form of leaving your hotel room's telephone off the hook and the hotel receptionist will listen in and get a message to you if he/she hears that you child is awake. The alternative is to take your UK walk-about baby monitor downstairs with you, unfortunately however, due to the different radio wave bands that have been allocated to be used by different countries, interference is common. Add to this the frequent construction techniques used in much holiday accommodation, i.e. thick reinforced concrete walls and steel girders, and you may find reception is also a problem.

Crèche's

Day care Crèche's for younger children usually those still in nappies, can only be as good for your children as the people who are doing the caring, so look first for booking your holiday with a reputable British tour operator. They are most likely to ensure that the staff have the right training and/or experience, support and supervision.

The higher the number of staff relative to the numbers of children they care for (the adult: child ratio) the better. Recommendations for excellence are that one adult care for no more than three babies. Babies should be in rooms containing groups of no more than six children (and two adults). Young toddlers may be in groups of nine children (still with three adults). From around 18-36 months the usual recommendation is an adult: child ratio of 1:4 and a group size of up to twelve children (and three adults).

Where a center cares for children of different ages in "family groupings", there should be no more than two children under two years in any one group. There is no obligation overseas to adhere to these levels although British Tour operators who have decided to offer this service for their customers generally do. Some Crèche's will only accept children whose parents agree to remain, for example, within the hotel grounds.

The physical conditions in which children are cared for are obviously important but also subject to widely varying regulations. Consider how clean and warm and bright it is, how much daylight and sunshine comes in, is there a separate area for taking naps, and the amount of space available to each group (can two one-year-olds push toddle-trucks without terrorizing the rest?). Look for outside play space in daily use, how much shade is available in hot climates, what equipment is provided.

As far as possible physical care arrangements should allow for individual differences. Ask if every child is expected to eat the same food and take the same length nap at set times. With older toddlers you also need to feel happy that your child will be able to communicate well with both the carer's and the other children there.

If there is only a Crèche available rather than a kids club this can work with an older child as they can be wonderful company for toddlers provided they are not expected to do it all the time, playing at the younger level can be fun for the older ones for a short period before they get bored or miss children of their own age. Rigid separation of age groups - even year-by-year groups - is peculiar to Western societies.

All children can benefit from opportunities to experience being leader as well as follower; or baby as well as big one. Don't assume that the toddler will be the baby though; he may end up giving a bottle to a five year old who is making the most of his first opportunity in years to be the baby.

Holidaying with Nanny too

Those all important points for taking the children and your nanny on holiday, with thanks to Tinies Childcare their tips include;

Booking your holiday as far in advance as possible and checking what child friendly facilities your accommodation has.

Organising bags to ensure supplies such as nappies and jars or food are easily accessible. Hiring a car to make journeys more comfortable.

Requesting front/exit seats when flying to give restless youngsters room to move.

Requesting children’s meals to satisfy hungry tummies.

Taking toys that guarantee to keep your child entertained on long journeys.

Allowing your nanny to have time off too!

And most importantly, enjoying your holiday!

Tinnies also asked their best nannies what their top tips would be for the trip and here’s what they said:

As well as lots of book and tapes the one thing we always take on the plane with us is play dough - keeps them quiet for hours - but if all else fails a lolly-pop usually does the trick! “ Fleur

As cabin crew and mother of two, I know about flying with children. Make sure you order children’s meals preferably through your travel agent but also ask at the check in. They can still get it on board. At least then the kids will eat something. Take some bubbles to blow and distract the one year olds when they have to be strapped in for take off this helps them keep still. And try and enjoy it loads of people travel like this, use the crew to help you if need be and you'll be there before you know it. Nikki

For the children get them to take their favourite toys, colouring books, cassette player with tapes, plenty of food, buy new toys and surprise them on the flight and give the toys to them on the plane that usually works Sam

Overseas Clients or Moving Overseas?

Tinnies runs a dedicated International desk that specializes in finding nannies who will move abroad with parents and in finding English speaking nannies already based in the country you are moving to. Please 'phone our International Desk for assistance (Tel 020 7384 0322)

Taking Your Nanny With You

For many families it is important to be able to take their existing child carer abroad with them. Usually one of the parent's employers will organize the entry requirements. In the European Union the administrative hurdles are not too great. However elsewhere, especially in the States, it can prove difficult taking your nanny with you. Tinnies is happy to help all its clients wherever it can. If your current child carer is unwilling or unable to move abroad please contact our International Desk. We will do our best to find a suitable nanny who will move abroad with you.

Finding A Nanny Overseas

Tinies has links with nanny agencies in lots of foreign countries and is happy to put you in touch with those we recommend. If you require a daily nanny then you are almost certainly better off using a local agency.

Nanny induction guide. Helping parents employing a nanny.

What the nanny needs to know

Children’s likes and dislikes

* Favourite, toys, books and characters
* Special comforters
* Allergies
* Regular medication
* Fears, phobias

Children’s diet and food preferences

* Make clear their likes and dislikes when it comes to food and drink

Discipline

* Your feelings and approach to discipline

The house

* How do the appliances work
* Where is the cleaning equipment
* Where is the first aid kit
* How does the heating work
* Setting alarms/securing the house
* Your feelings regarding TV viewing
* Telephone message taking
* Callers at the door
* Petty cash & expenses

Travelling & commuting

* Fitting car seats correctly
* Folding buggies and pushchairs
* Contact list
* Parents work and mobile numbers
* Parents secretaries if applicable so meetings can be interrupted
* Doctor
* Neighbours
* School
* Relatives
* Friends

Local facilities

* Parks, library, shops, swimming pools, doctors surgery, hospital

Who the nanny needs to know

* Neighbours
* Children’s teachers and play workers
* Children’s friends and their parents/carer
* Any relatives and friends that live close by

Parents already living overseas

For parents already living overseas who want to find a suitable British nanny to assist with their childcare requirements, Tinnies runs a specialised International Desk. All nannies and childcarers who wish to work overseas are given the same vigorous checks as all other carers on our books. In addition they are screened for their suitability for overseas positions.

Please phone 0800 7836070 for your nearest branch or log on to www.tinies.com for more information.