Hello!
Here's an update to my previous recommendation to auntie Chong. I tried looking for my previous post but I can't find it anymore. Nonetheless, if you're keen to read about my previous recommendation, please read it
here!
I've engaged her to be my confinement nanny for my second child! I think her tonics and soups are so good and helped my body to recover well that I got pregnant when my first born was just 9 months. Heehee.
Many have called to enquire about her services for my previous post. Thanks for reading my recommendation! Feels great to know that people do read what I write.
To make it easier to read for mommies, I'll elaborate on more important areas
Age!
She's in her late 50s. No known chronic ailments.
Experience!
She's been coming to Singapore to take care of babies for more than 10 years.
Where she's from!
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Food!
As like the first time, she continued to cook yummy food for me. I really like to have herbs in my food, which is the main reason I hired her cos she's versed in all these "herb" knowledge. Secondly, she makes awesome soup. Do check out the images at the bottom of the post. She won't cook the same dishes for days unless you request it. But I did! I love her mee sua with fish and fried ginger bits.
She does cook for my parents and in-law when they are over. Also, she cooks a separate dish for the hubby and herself while I have my confinement meal.
Pro-breast milk!
Auntie Chong is pro breast milk! She will make lots of milk boosting soups and food for you to eat. Using a mixture of herbs and wine, you can expect food non stop throughout the day. She does massage on the breasts if the duct is blocked. Be warned, it's extremely pain. I consider it as pain as squeezing the colostrum out. (Maybe my pain threshold is super low :/) For feeds at night, it really depends on you. If you don't mind fm or already have EBM in the freezer, Auntie Chong won't bother you and will heat it up on her accord. But if you want to nurse baby, then she will bring the baby to you. it's your choice!
Laundry!
She used to hand wash baby's clothes for me. But because I have an older child, I told her to just use the washing machine and save time to take care of the little one.
Household chores!
Like before, I wanted a nanny to just take care of my baby and myself. I dont't have a helper, but my hubby would help out with the chores. Auntie Chong would help to clean up the kitchen after she cooks. When she's free in the afternoon, she would help mop the floor or fold my laundry too. Basically she can help out in small areas when the baby is asleep. After all, the priority is to make sure the baby is okay.
Bathtime!
For the child - Auntie Chong would massage my son with baby oil and then bathe him. For first-time mommies or mommies who need refresher course, she'll gladly teach you the steps again!
For the mommy - If you have bought the herbal bath sachets, she will get ready the bath water for you.
Language!
She's Malaysian and her dialect is Hakka. So she can speak Chinese, Cantonese, Hakka and Malay fluently. She's not confident in her English but I think it's ok. She's had Caucasian and Indian customers, so if they can understand her, I think it's not that bad as she thinks it is.
Sleeping arrangements!
She goes where the baby goes. Auntie Chong sleeps with my baby boy in the baby room on a sofa bed.
Attitude!
She's very helpful and not demanding. Will always ask you what kind of food you like and ask you if there's anything you crave for. She's best at Chinese food, so she can't cook any other type of cuisine. Auntie Chong is not demanding that you follow her or the traditions. The decision still lies with you. For example, I had a bad case of stomach pain one night. It's probably too much wind. The next morning, she made me some ginger egg soup with probably spoonfuls of DOM. It tasted like hot vodka. After a few spoons, I gave up. So in the next few meals, she poured some of the soup into my dishes to mask the taste.
She's very keen to share her knowledge on taking care of children with people. My mom is not very savvy with taking care of newborns so Auntie Chong would teach my mom and I. And I'm super thankful for that cos we are super clueless.
Lastly, Auntie Chong has a cute little group of confinement aunties. They are like a gathering of nannies (mini association!). They connect regularly via phone and meet ups at Auntie Chong's place. They do call Auntie Chong when she's in Singapore but they dont't chit chat on the phone. (I'll be worried if she talks on the phone for long hours cos my mom is already very talkative and naggy). More of like asking each other how is she doing now and which part of Singapore is she at. Again, I feel that auntie Chong is also human and probably needs some social activity to keep her happy. If you think about it, she's actually alone in Singapore and working at your place 24/7. It's quite scary isn't it. I dont't think i can do it.
Ok super long post! I hope it's exhaustive enough!
I'm writing this post cos Auntie Chong is very dedicated in taking care of babies. Her children are doing well enough in their career for her retire but she still enjoys her work. I'm still in contact with her regularly because she and my mom are friends now. They go out together to do auntie things like shopping at Chinatown and to the temple.
Contact me if you want a good nanny!
[email protected] or text me at 93886999