100 Tips for Nannies and Families

As a mom myself, I understand from firsthand experience how much STUFF accumulates as soon as you have kids. Sometimes, the most challenging part of my day is just getting out the door with all of the necessary lunches, briefcases, backpacks, sports gear and permission slips for the day ahead.  Sound familiar?

I’ve learned a few tips along the way, from my mom and nanny friends, and they’re helping me get more organized - and less frazzled - in my very busy life.

I’ve started keeping a plastic bin in the trunk of my car that contains all of the sports gear for the coming week.  This way, I never forget the tennis racquet, baseball glove or team jersey for the upcoming practices or games.

My new month-at-a-glance wipe-off calendar has changed my life for the better.  I use color coded markers to track each family member’s activities, upcoming work meetings, school events, dance recitals and more.  I’m also jotting down specific things that I need to remember each day (e.g., bring cookies for the school bake sale, pick up gift for upcoming birthday party) all in this one central spot. It is so much less stressful than trying to manage a big stack of post-it notes, school flyers, etc, which was my old “system” for tracking information.

I keep necessities in my car and replace the items at regular intervals.  I always have snacks, bottled water, hand sanitizer, bug spray, sun screen and other necessities at my fingertips.   I find that it saves me a ton of time to pack all of these items at once, rather than scramble for granola bars or sunscreen as we’re rushing out the door.

I’m also trying to get prepared the night before by laying out clothes and packing lunches.  I find that my mornings are much less stressful if I do a bit of prep work each evening.

Rely on your nanny to help with logistics.  Let her know your organizational systems, and ask her to help you maintain these practices.

With these easy-to-implement tactics in place, you’re sure to feel more organized and, therefore, more in control of your stuff - and your life.

I recently had the great pleasure of working with Jon and Kate Gosselin, from the hit television show, Jon and Kate Plus 8, to help them find a nanny.  As you can imagine, these parents of eight young children were looking for an extra pair of hands to help out around the house.

I was thrilled to help this lovely family interview - and ultimately hire - a nanny to help care for their children.  I worked closely with Kate to determine what she was looking for in a nanny, and like many of the families we work with, she needed someone flexible, experienced, patient, nurturing and able to multi-task effectively.  And she wanted a part-time nanny to provide support, as needed.

Kate understood the key to successfully finding a nanny: being able to clearly articulate what they needed.  Obviously experience, patience and nurturing are important attributes for a childcare provider, but she also knew that their nanny faced some unique challenges and needed to keep up with the hectic pace of their household.  Their nanny had to be energetic enough to keep up with their multiple sets of multiples!

Additionally, Kate was up-front about her expectations, which is a critical step in forming a successful relationship with a nanny.  She explained the nanny’s responsibilities up front, so everyone was clear from the beginning of the relationship.  Whenever our clients hire a new nanny, we encourage them to define responsibilities from day one so there’s no confusion or miscommunication.  Let your nanny know if you want them to assist with bath time, dinner preparation, laundry or other household tasks.

It was a joy to work with Jon and Kate and meet their adorable children.  And I was delighted that we were able to match them with a wonderful nanny to assist them with their childcare needs.

W were recently interviewed by The Insider about our experience. To view, click here…>

In these tough economic times, we’re all being cautious with our spending.  Parents may be worried about hiring a nanny, thinking it’s too “luxurious” in light of the current downturn.  What you may not know is that hiring a nanny can actually save families money over other childcare options.

Many parents debate the merits of hiring a nanny versus putting their children in daycare.  If you have two or more children, it’s often more cost-effective to hire a nanny, as daycares charge per child and will be more expensive than paying a nanny to come to your home.

With a nanny, parents don’t have to leave work - potentially missing a day’s pay - when their child is sick, like they would with day care. Your nanny can stay home with your children while you work.  As an added benefit, you may have healthier children if you keep them out of daycare and away from other kids’ germs.

The economic downturn has everyone looking to cut costs whenever possible, so the concept of “nanny sharing” has grown in popularity this year.  There are several “nanny sharing” scenarios, including having one nanny watch kids from several families simultaneously or having one nanny work part-time for two different families, spending a few days with each family.  These options help reduce costs, while still providing the benefits of having a nanny.

For more cost savings tips, click here…>

Nannies4Hire.com’s database provides a list of nannies with a range of salary requirements, and we’re confident that we can find you a wonderful nanny that fits within your budget parameters.  Salaries vary and depend on the nanny’s experience, duties, responsibilities, geographic location and more.

For more information and to search our database, visit Nannies4hire.com.

Summertime and the livin’ is easy…especially if you’ve hired a nanny to support your childcare needs.

Ensure a smooth relationship with your summer nanny by clearly communicating your expectations and outlining their responsibilities. 

Before you hire a summer nanny, decide if you need special skills, such as someone who is lifeguard-certified (especially relevant if they’ll be spending time at the beach or pool with your children.) Some families also prefer a nanny that has CPR/First Aid certification. Communicate these preferences in your profile at Nannies4Hire.com so you can pair yourself with a nanny that meets these criteria. How to Hire a Nanny also provides some great tips to think about when searching for a nanny.

Once you’ve hired your new summer nanny, immediately explain what the summer routine will entail.  Let the nanny know what days/hours you’ll need their help, if they’ll be transporting the kids, the children’s activities and so forth. 

Be clear about household expectations.  Do you want your nanny to fold laundry during your baby’s nap? Should all toys be put away before dinner?  Do you want your nanny to start dinner so it’s ready when you get home from work? 

Summertime often means fewer scheduled activities for your children.  Do you want your kids to continue having structured days, with certain times allotted for naps, outdoor play and crafts?  Or do you want them to have the freedom to do whatever they’d like?

Decide who will plan your children’s summertime activities. Many nannies enjoy the responsibility of planning outings, craft projects, play-dates and other adventures.

And, remember, this is a new routine for your children, so be sure to help them transition to the summertime nanny.  Mom should spend a day or two at home with the new nanny to demonstrate a “typical day,” explain the children’s routines and answer questions. 

For more information about hiring summer nannies, click here…>

In today’s society; there are many benefits of hiring a nanny:

1.  If you have 2 or more children; it may be cost effective for you to hire a nanny; as many daycares could cost you more.

2.  If your children are sick; you can still go to work as the nanny can stay home with the children.  You may also have healthier children keeping them in their small home environment.

3.  A nanny can simplify your life.  For example; a nanny can be an extra pair of hands helping with household duties, laundry, errands, transporting children and starting the evening meal.  This allows for more family time when the parents arrive home.

4.  Many families are using “nanny share”.  This is when 2 families share 1 nanny.  This cuts down on cost but you still feel the benefit of having a nanny.

5.  No need to rush in the morning to get the kids out the door for daycare or school.  A nanny is an extra pair of hands in the morning.

Did you see our sister Company; www.babysitters4hire.com featured for the Valentine’s Day Show on Dr. Phil? Check it out at http://www.nannies4hire.com/drphil.asp

Parents can be full of worry when hiring a nanny. This is especially true for parents who are leaving their children in the care of a nanny for the first time. However, if you’re a parent who has been thorough in the hiring process and clearly outlined your nanny’s role, you should try to put your fears at ease and let your nanny do his/her job. Here are several childcare requirements you should expect from your nanny.

• You can expect your nanny to arrive on time for work.
• You can expect you nanny to notify you in a timely fashion if he/she is ill or will be late in arriving.
• You can expect your nanny to keep you up-to-date on any significant milestones, changes and issues regarding your child.
• You can expect your nanny to keep you informed of your child’s activities, whereabouts, and eating habits during the day.
• You can expect your nanny to provide a positive environment for your child where all of his/her basic needs are attended to.
• You can expect your nanny to respect your privacy and behave in a professional manner with you and your children.

As a nanny, your main job is to care for the children. If the family is expecting you to clean their home or clean up after their pets, you should question whether they are looking for a nanny or a housekeeper.

Generally, a nanny will do some light housekeeping, such as picking up after the children in her/his care. You should also be prepared to cook and make meals for the children you are watching. Most children don’t have elaborate tastes, so some basic kitchen skills are usually all that is required. If the parents expect dinner to be served for the entire family, make sure this is clearly outlined in your nanny contract that you are paid accordingly. You may also be asked to do laundry for the children.

Most families will understand that it’s near impossible to care for their children 40 hours a week and keep their home immaculate. However, if you’re looking for extra money, it might be worth asking your employer if you can do some housekeeping to help them out.

If you currently have a nanny and have mixed feelings about whether or not you should keep him/her in your household, here are five warning signs to watch out for. Any one of these should be cause enough for you to reconsider keeping your live-in nanny.

• Your child seems apprehensive around your nanny and is reluctant to go to him/her.
• You make repeated requests to your nanny and he/she doesn’t follow them.
• Your child seems prone to getting into accidents with your nanny, signaling a potential lack of attention.
• Your nanny criticizes the way you raise your child.
• Your nanny seems reluctant to share information about his/her day with your child or seems to be giving you contradictory stories.