As a nanny, what are your concerns about being in a family environment?

Question

Curious about the nanny's point of view on their do's and don'ts parents can do to help the nanny help raise the children. Any input is welcome!

Are their things you would want to see parents do or stop doing to keep you and the children happier day to day?

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

praise her often for her good work

if something is bothering you that she does, tell her don't let it fester inside

don't take advantage by leaving the kids with her when she is not "working" (if she is a live in nanny)

work together in coming up with creaticve ideas for dealing with issues. For example if the child has been having tantrums. Work together to come up with ieas for dealing with it so she feels like you value her opinon and like you are a team.

pay her well

have good communication

Answer 2

I was with one family that kept a notebook for both of us to write in, and I wish I could get other parents to do it.  

When I started with the family, it was an infant baby and a first child, so they were super into noting everything like diaper changes, feedings, ect.  We kept a note book between ourselves about all this.  I would write down the things that happened when I was with the baby, and they wrote down the stuff that happened when they were with the baby.

I realize as kids get older that kind of detail is no longer necessary, but a couple paragraphs back and forth each day would be a great help in just knowing whats going on with the kids when Im not there.  No, Im not the parent, but I am being paid to spend as much if not more time with the kids than the parents do.  Most parents I have ran into are super interested in me writing down notes for the day, but dont want/feel necessary for them to write me notes because they are the parent, not me.

Nannies are not maids.  While I consider it part of my job to clean up after myself and the kids, your laundry is NOT my job, especially when it contains your silky lingerie with s***n stains all over it.

I was staying a whole weekend with one family while the parents were out of town.  I was bored, so I did some laundry they had piled.  No big deal.  But because I did it that once, they thought I ought to do it all the time.  The next time I was there for the weekend, they left me all their laundry with instructions,,,  which included the lingerie....

If it is going to be part of my job dute to be a maid, I expect extra money per hour for it.  If I offer to do something here and there to help out, dont assume that I am always going to do it and dump it on me.  I am not an excuse for you to not do your own chores.

As someone who spends as much time if not more with your kids as you do, I need to be able to discipline them.  I will stick to methods you approve of, but if I am not allowed to discipline, I wont be your nanny, because that leads to terror kids who do nothing to cooperate while I am with them, because they know I cant discipline.

If I am going to be full time with school aged kids during the summer, allow me to take them places,,, like say the park or the science museum or whatever.  School aged kids get very board and restless all day long at the house.

And even if you dont want anyone else driving with your kids, make sure the nanny has access to car seats in case their is an emergency.  One family I was with had a paranoia about others driving their kids.  I had a major family emergency that I could have taken the kids with me to take care of had I had the proper car seats.  Instead I had to wait 2 hours for one of the parents to get home.

I understand that in your eyes your kids are perfect, but trust me, they are not.  Why would I lie to you about what your kid has done or not done?  I have no reason to lie.  Your child does, has clearly learned what works on you and what doesnt.  I am not lieing, your child is manipulating you.

Some parents have under lieing guilt about leaving their kids all day with someone else.  I feel bad about that, but you are the one that chooses to sacrifice staying home with the kids in order to be able to get your nails and hair done.  Get over it.