Nanny offers Royal approved child-care tips

A prestigiously trained Norland nanny has shared her top royalty approved child-care tips.

When it comes to the care of our children, we all want the very best. This is especially true for royalty, who look to professionally trained nannies and household staff for an expert helping hand.

Britain’s royalty like the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge utilises the renowned Norland trained nannies for their little ones and, as such, those with the Norland stamp of approval know a thing or two about caring for princes and princesses.

Norland nannies have an extensive training regimen and are taught everything from early childhood development to security and anti-terrorism precautions to help protect and rear the high-profile children under their care.

As a result of all their unique training, you would think these special nannies would have a thing or two to teach parents and those looking after children. Well, you would be quite right, and Norland Nanny and maternity nurse Louenna Hood has recently spoken to the Evening Standard, sharing her tips and experiences.

Hood has had a 17-year-long career, which includes work with several royal families, and she revealed her advice for getting children to sleep: “‘How do I get my baby to sleep?’ is “the top question” says Hood and that a balance between time awake and time asleep is key: “Their night reflects their day, so for me, a full routine during the day is really important.

“If they’ve slept for too long during the day, that could be why they’re waking at night.”

These days, managing your child’s screen time is a major factor for anyone looking after kids. Hood says: “You can’t shield them from it. It’s the world that we live in and I also think that with anything, if you say to a child, they can’t have it, they will want it no matter what.”

Instead Hood advises: “I give them opportunities of things that they would rather do, so I would always do some activities outside where they’d rather come and do that. Children want to be adventurous.”

She also suggests that integrating screen time as a family activity is a good approach, to “have the whole family watching the television.”

Hood also champions the importance of getting the kids outdoors into the fresh air as this is very important for their mental wellbeing: “Every child should go outside and spend as much time in nature and outside as possible.”

It doesn’t have to be a grand day out either, Hood suggests that a simple family walk can be the way to go: “Don’t underestimate [walks] because they learn so much. Talk to them, point things out to them. Things like that. Go for a picnic rather than taking them to a restaurant all the time.”

If you are looking for a childcare position, Beauchamp Partners, a UK nanny agency with international positions available would love to help you find the perfect role.

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