SINGAPORE: An employer took to social media asking others for what they thought was the best age range for a helper taking care of newborns. In an anonymous post to a support group on social media for employers and domestic helpers alike, the woman asked other netizens for their thoughts on the matter.
Netizens who commented urged her to look at a helper’s skills instead of age. One said: “I once hired a helper in her 30s, mother of 2 children herself but had no clue on childcare. I dont think u hire based on age. Some young, unmarried helpers r better at childcare cos they r cargivers to several younger siblings while some r mothers themselves who’s kids were raised by their in laws or parents so they dont really know the nuances and safety issues in caring for infants”.
Another said: “If I am an employer, I wouldn’t go with the age but I will check her experience from previous employers.. and I will not depend on having experience with own children.. I believe the way they take care of their own may differ to the way you wanted to care for your child. I myself have no kids but I have many experience with kids from different employer, very unfortunate that my current they actually learn the way on how to handle even a baby from me.”
Another employer commented: “Age is a factor but more impt is temperament and willingness to look after baby. My current helper is married with 1 kid but totally clueless and worse, seems autistic and cold towards us and the babies. She has no eye contact with us or kids, just grabs the kid’s leg to wash, without any eye contact or verbal response. When the kid is walking and falls off, she is emotionless and stands like a wooden kayu. I think she didn’t look after her child and it was looked after by the granny. My previous maids were not so wooden although 2 of them were single ( had positive interaction with kids)”.
Earlier this year, an employer at her wits end with her maid took to social media asking for advice and feedback. In an anonymous post to a support group on social media, the employer wrote that her helper had been with the family for just over three months and “despite multiple reminders, she continues to use her phone while taking care of my newborn baby during work hours”.
She said that the maid liked to watch videos while feeding or playing with the baby, and this would result in her sometimes forgetting to burp the baby. “My baby once vomitted everything after her feeding because she didnt burp. When she first joined, we didn’t have this problem but seems like she really can’t control herself now”, the woman wrote.
She added that she did not want to go through the hassle of finding and hiring another helper but had exhausted all other options. “Any advice and feedback will be helpful pls. And is it even possible to find a helper without phone issues? Thanks in advance!” she wrote. /TISG