THE SAFETY OF OUR PROVIDERS AND THE FAMILIES THEY SERVE IS OUR TOP PRIORITY. LEARN HOW.
Even though your nanny spends the bulk of their time with your children, it’s essential for you as parents to have a good relationship with your nanny.
Nannies have the same right to work in a safe environment as other employees, even if their employer is a family instead of a corporation. In addition, building a solid parent/nanny relationship will help your nanny build a stronger relationship with your children, which will benefit them for years to come.
Building a relationship with your nanny is a two-way street. Your nanny is likely doing what they can to build a relationship with you. Here are some things you can do to foster that relationship for the benefit of your children.
1. Don’t burn them out
Nannies are employees, not servants. They need to get breaks (including lunch breaks), weekends, and holidays, just like everyone else. You can request that they work additional hours for you, such as over the weekend or during an evening event, but they have the right to say no if it doesn’t work for them. And if they say yes, they should be fairly compensated for their extra time working.
Nannies can get burnt out on the job when they work too many hours for too many days. Unfortunately, the result is that your children suffer from being with a nanny who is not fully energized and present with them.
2. Offer guaranteed hours
On the flip side, some families use their nanny more as a part-time babysitter than a full-time childcare professional. As a result, when your hours are inconsistent, your nanny cannot fill in the gaps with reliable employment. This may lead them to quit working for you and pursue other opportunities.
So, set expectations about guaranteed hours with your nanny and stick to them. If you can offer additional hours during certain times of the year, such as summer or for special events, let them know. Then, give your nanny advanced notice of when you’ll need them to work more.
3. Practice effective communication
Your nanny won’t know there’s a problem if you don’t communicate with them. If they are doing something you don’t like or don’t think benefits your children, let them know in a professional manner.
Schedule frequent check-ins to ensure you and your nanny are on the same page about your children’s care and well-being. At the start, you may do weekly check-ins and then back off to monthly check-ins once your nanny settles in.
Additionally, your nanny should feel comfortable coming to you with questions or concerns. Ensure you welcome them in a friendly and respectful manner to encourage open and frequent communication.
4. Offer holiday and sick pay
Nannies need breaks, too; unfortunately, they can come down with the flu or some other illness. Make sure they are fairly compensated for holidays and sick days. After all, the last thing you want is for your nanny to bring an illness into your house because they can’t afford to take an unpaid day off.
5. Leave your nanny out of personal drama
Your nanny has one job – to care for your children. Therefore, they should not be brought into any family or work disputes. This places nannies in an uncomfortable, no-win situation. Do not take it out on your nanny even if you have had a terrible day. They are responsible for your children, not the rest of your life.
At Ease Family Solutions is committed to placing qualified nannies into the homes of busy families in California, including San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
If you ever have questions about how to handle a situation with your nanny, let us know. We can help walk you through your options. And if you need help finding a nanny, we can do that too! Fill out an online application to get started.
