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Baby-sitting Co-op Basics
A Way to Find Sanity-saving Free Time
By Kendeyl Johansen
- Cigarette smoke odors: Second-hand smoke has been linked to childhood illnesses, including respiratory illnesses and ear infections.
- A lingering odor of dirty diapers: May signal inadequate sanitation standards.
- Too much clutter: Potentially hazardous to small children.
- Obvious dirt and dust: Could trigger asthma or allergies.
- Pets like iguanas or turtles: Can spread salmonella to young children.
co-op members and frustration toward members who rarely consent to watch other people's kids or who break the club's rules. Sometimes baby-sitting co-ops stagnate as kids age or members rarely participate. To keep the co-op fresh, Myers suggests asking each club member to request at least a two-hour sit per month or donate two hours worth of points as a door prize at meetings. He also recommends that moms with older kids recruit their club replacement.
Baby-sitting co-ops aren't for everyone. Moms who have their hands full with a new baby probably don't have time to sit for other people's kids, but many co-op participants find peace of mind when leaving their children with a friend. "The biggest benefit from a co-op is the psychological relief of knowing that, in a pinch, you will always have a trusted sitter and that the co-op moms will always be there for you for other things, too," says Myers. For more information on co-ops, visit Myers' Web site and download the free Baby-Sitting Co-op Startup Kit.
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