An introduction

Ask most parents a question containing the words "child" and "sleep" and a headache will ensue.  I have nannied over 4 families in the past 4 years (and I think at age 23 that's quite a few), and often the difference between nannying and babysitting as that I become a sort of surrogate tool via the arms and psyche of the primary caregiver, which in most cases is the mother.  My experiences and close relationships with mothers have been vital to my understanding of children.  By no means do I claim to be a sleep expert - all of my experience with sleeping (and playing) children has been as a nanny and sitter.  But as the most emotionally removed entity in the equation (mother-father-caregiver), I tend to have the advantage.  I am a learner and an observer, and a lot of the work I have done as a nanny has been driven by the fact that I was simultaneously earning my undergraduate degree in Women's Studies.  Now that I have graduated and I have made the decision to continue nannying, my new pursuit is to disseminate the knowledge that has -time and time again- served me well during my time as caregiver.  Hopefully, my ideas will be helpful to all caregivers.