I came across this service, Moca Paper, which makes “mommy-cards” – that parents can use to make playdates.  Why not make up a set for your nanny? If your child collaborates well with another kid in the sandbox, you nanny can give one of these to the child’s parent or caregiver.  I love a nanny who networks on a child’s behalf!

http://www.jessicaalger.com/jessicaalger/?page_id=95

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/04/garden/04nannies.html

The first-ever Brooklyn Baby Expo is being put on by A Child Grows in Brooklyn on Sunday, March 13th, and Brownstone Nannies will be there!

A Child Grows in Brooklyn Baby Expo will showcase top resources for Brooklyn parents and provide a space where they can interact with other parents and children, exhibitors and experts.

Here’s what you will find:

• Mini demos and mini seminars on everything from setting good sleep habits, learning CPR, how to make baby and toddler food, how to install a car seat, school zoning, nursing, how to select a nanny or doula, cloth diapering and more.
• Full 45 minute seminars by famous experts on “Raising A Good Sleeper”, “Best Baby Gear Gurus….tell all!”, “Greening Your Home”, “Parenting Partnerships: how to make it work”, “Expectant Parents Guide to Brooklyn” all with great raffle prizes for seminar attendees: like Stokke and Boon high chairs, strollers, organic mattress and more. For the list of seminars available go here.
• Try out different carriers, stroller fitness, laser therapy for pre- and post-natal conditions, ways to clean your childrens’ teeth, try stylish maternity and post-baby clothes and get really fitted for a bra.
• Get pampered with mini-manicures, blow-outs and savor catered food from Brooklyn Fare.
• Your children will be amused by baby yoga, tummy time, first lock cuts, haircuts, and can chill in the nursing lounge or take a romp in the B. Playful room stocked with b. toys.
• Check out our amazing list of exhibitors from national companies to the best NYC resources available to parents.
• You can get some of your shopping done with our exhibitors, from furniture to strollers (some with discounts) to organic baby blankets to the great clothes for you and your child.
• Win highly coveted raffle prizes throughout the day, individually valued between $75-$650. Some of the spectacular giveaways include strollers by UPPAbaby, Mutsy, Britax, Quinny and diaper bags and parent pampering packages that will knock your socks off. Check them all out here.
• The first 250 registered families will leave with bountiful eco-bags from LuLu’s Cuts and Toys filled with fabulous finds from: Boon, Dr. Browns, Eebee, Seventh Generation, CalNaturale Svelte, Giggle, Boogie Wipes, Belly Bar, Soyjoy, Choices in Childbirth, Boiron, NY City Explorers, Britax, Stroller Strides, Ruckus Mobile Media and more. Total retail value of over $120
• Every attendee receives a FREE subscription to Time Out New York Kids.

Tickets and registration
Tickets may be purchased at http://www.achildgrows.com/register/
Price: $35 per ticket or $60 for two tickets. Tickets at the door are $45 each.  All activities, seminar and demos included in admission price. The first 250 registered families receive gift bags: total retail value of over $120. (That means sign up early!)

Details:
Sunday, March 13 from 11am to 4pm
The Expo will take place in the stunning penthouses of downtown Brooklyn’s “eye-popping” LEED building, Toren, (150 Myrtle Ave).

You can read more about it here: http://www.achildgrows.com/expo/

The Great Remember is the brainchild of Brooklyn-based artist, Lisa Waltuch. Lisa produced her first piece incorporating people’s artifacts into art work while an MFA student in design at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). There, she created a woven tapestry for poet Lynore Banchoff that included her prom dress, lace from her trousseau, her wedding set of towels, her son’s bib, and her daughter’s Halloween costume.

Lisa has had a successful career as a San Francisco- and New York-based creative director. All the while, she has pursued her own work as an artist. More recently, she has made many large-scale pieces that are reflective of people’s lives. To see these pieces, go to www.collectingstones.com.

After becoming a mother, Lisa began searching for ways to capture her children’s lives at specific points in time. Thus the idea for The Great Remember was born!

This endeavor has been a labor of love for Lisa, who is herself very nostalgic.  While sharing her early prototypes, Lisa has been gratified to see the heartfelt reaction of parents who view their own children’s belongings transformed into meaningful and permanent pieces of art.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703766704576009522429956708.html

http://brooklyn.babybites.com/brooklyn-events/luncheons/

http://www.npr.org/2010/12/05/131834127/Nannies-Get-New-Benefits-In-New-York

Some important highlights include:

• Nannies are required to be paid overtime (1.5) for hours over 40 each week (44 for live-in nannies);

• one day of rest in each calendar week (should try to coincide with a worker’s day of worship);
• overtime pay if a worker agrees to work on her day of rest;
• After one year of employment, entitled to 3 paid days off;
• Protection against harassment based on gender, race, national origin, and religion;
• Covers full-time and part-time domestic workers for temporary disability benefits.

It goes into effect in 90 days.

Here is a link to a summary.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/04/business/economy/04leonhardt.html