How to keep a good nanny

The core of keeping a good nanny is having the right fit in the first place.

Then it comes down to good communication.

A nanny wants to feel valued and appreciated for the work she does in caring for your children.

Employing a nanny can be a delicate situation as they see you in every aspect and are involved with you on a very personal as well as professional level.

Employing a nanny is slightly different  to employing any other employee. They become very close to your children and the family dynamics.

A happy nanny generally means happy kids. It means consistency and no rushing to find a new one and true commitment normally comes with a nanny happy in their workplace.

• Treat them like a professional. This is their career choice and they need to be treated with respect and as a professional.
• Show your appreciation. Remember to be thankful- a little verbal appreciation goes a long way.
• If possible, and especially if your nanny is new to nannying or the area, introduce them to or let them know about other nannies in your area. Especially if your child has established friends and connections.
• Encourage good open communication, including being available to hear the news/talk about the day rather than dismiss them ready to read the diary at the end of the day.
• Make sure that the nanny has all the important telephone numbers to hand, such as both parents’ numbers during the day….work number and mobile numbers, as well as Doctor, child’s school and name of teacher, emergency contact details, etc.
• Agree how much money should be in a “kitty” for treats (sweets, ice-creams, etc) if this applicable and the procedure if used or if the nanny has the option to buy things and be reimbursed.
• Call if you will be late home & try to give your nanny as much notice as possible. Also, try not to make it a common occurrence. The nanny has a life too and they will quickly feel very unappreciated and taken advantage of if it continually occurs.
• At the commencement: Agree the ‘non-nanny related’ tasks such as walking the dog, putting the dishes away, etc. The little things that will bug you if you expect it to be completed and it is not. Clearly defined in the beginning as much as you can such as the telephone usage and if she is expected to pay for calls, etc. even down to the nitty gritty such as explaining about locks, alarms and household appliances.
• Ensure that you agree what form of discipline is acceptable.
• Write down the children’s routine. If possible get them to start a day or two earlier than needed to do a ‘practice’ run whereby they spend some time with the children and do a cross-over. This is good for the children as well as yourself. It provides some piece of mind for you and enables you to start to build a relationship with them.
• Suggest to your nanny that they keep a diary of things the children did during the day (food eaten, places visited, developmental milestones achieved, etc). This is a great way to not only share information but helps if at the end of the day both you and the nanny are tired (and/or in a hurry) there is a piece of communication to refer to. It certainly is not to replace communication at the end of the day simply supplement it.
• We would recommend having a contract in place to clarify everything- duties, hours, holidays, use of car, sickness,termination, etc.
• Pay your nanny without any delays.
• Provide good benefits. A great way to retain a good nanny is to ensure they are satisfied and feel valued with the role. The benefits that the role offer do impact this.
• Be approachable. If the nanny needs to talk to you about something, it may be child related or position related, they need to be able to feel comfortable to approach you before it becomes a big issue.
• Think about whether you want to further acknowledge their excellent care and hard work through bonuses, gifts of appreciation, etc.
• Be flexible.
• Respect their privacy.