Of course we all want to have a relationship with our nanny that is both personal and professional. It’s a fine line and it’s in your hands to get the relationship off on the right foot. An ideal nanny will ask us about our weekend but refrain from asking details of our night out. How can we establish this relationship and not get in too deep?
When hiring a nanny…
- Make sure you share the same values about children as your nanny. Talk about expectations, values and education.
- Communicate what a day would look like when your child is with your nanny. Be clear on your ideas.
- Be on the same page with discipline. Talk to the nanny about past experiences and how they handled the situation.
- Ask the nanny about their family. Do they have a close relationship with their brothers and sisters. Are they close to their parents?
- Get an idea about their social life. Are their weekends packed with going out, or are they more of a homebody?
Personality can be just as important as experience. I always tell parents that it’s a gut feeling. Sure, we all feel nervous about going back to work and having a stranger take care of the most important person in our lives. When you meet the right person, you just know. You get a sense of security and those worries slowly melt away.
Before jumping the gun and hiring on the spot, make sure you…
- Call all references. We at Olive.You.Nanny call at least three childcare references. It’s always a good idea to call a potential nanny's friend, too. You’d be surprised what comes out!
- Have a trial day with the nanny. Have the nanny come back for at least a few hours. Have her change a diaper, give a bottle. It’s important for you to see the interaction.
- Run a background check. No matter what.
- Have a nanny/family agreement you go over to make sure you’re all on the same page. Talk about expectations.
And lastly, make sure you set aside time every few weeks to catch up with each other. Talk about how things are going and always keep the lines of communication open!
