Guide to Hiring the Best Nanny

Hiring a nanny can be a very challenging process. To avoid regrets it is advisable to follow an orderly process that involves double checking the references, personal interviews, background checks and writing agreements. The steps below are very helpful and will guide you through the best processes that should be followed when hiring a nanny. Start by defining your needs regarding the skills required, characteristics, scheduling needs, duties you expect done and proposed terms.

The next step is choosing the recruitment method, available methods include nanny agencies, online services, newspaper advertisement and the yellow pages. An experienced nanny agency is highly advisable especially for those hiring for the first time. This will not only save time but also spare you the agony of screening. However, using nanny agencies will cost you about 10-15% of a nanny’s annual pay. Nanny agencies usually send a list of prescreened candidates for you to choose from. However in other recruiting options, pre-screening is usually the affair of the hiring family. In such cases you can rely on the answering machine as your evaluation tool. In this case you ensure that your automated greetings state clearly your position such as number of children and time schedule. The greeting should also ask relevant questions most specifically personal information, contacts of the candidate, and salary expectations.

Pre-screening involves initial personal interview which should be held in a neutral venue such as a restaurant or coffee house. It is advisable not to allow strangers into your home. During the first interview, ensure you verify some non-negotiable aspects of the job such as hours, schedules, and expectations. A brief narration of your household on your part at this point is very helpful. If you realize the candidate lacks the requisite skills then you can close the interview cordially and move on. Suitable candidates can be scheduled for a second personal interview. The second interview can take place in your home. This is the time for assessing aspects such as punctuality, suitability, ability to follow directions and initial impressions. Working interview is the most advisable at this point in time. This is where the nanny comes to your home, spent some hours with you and your children; chat and get to know her better. This way the nanny also gets the opportunity to familiarize herself with your family.

The next step after personal interview or working interview is to perform background checks with the references. Make sure the references understand that you are about to hiring the nanny. As a general rule, avoid hiring candidates with family references or with no references at all. Next work up an agreement and extend a conditional employment offer. The agreement should be very specific about responsibilities, work schedules, paid time off, overtime and confidentiality. All terms in the agreement should be agreed upon before proceeding to the next step.

The final step is orientation. Here the nanny is oriented to the household, children and logistics of the job. This will also provide a chance for you to observe how the nanny interacts with your family.

How to Become the Best Babysitter

It is the goal of any babysitter and indeed anybody else to become the best in his or her occupation. The best baby sitter will keep children begging to have her again and parents nodding in approval and positive recommendation to others. These tips will provide you with all essentials to becoming the best babysitter. Some of them might appear obvious but very crucial.

First and foremost make sure safety of the kids becomes your most important priority always. Always know what to do in an emergency or in case of an accident. Many parents just ask for the wellbeing of their children. You should avoid opening the door to strangers and never let anybody know that you are alone with the kids. Always be predictive and proactive, see the accident before it happens by staying alert; it better to be overly alert than being caught unprepared when an accident happens.
Before you are hired, consider arranging for time together with the family or children so that you get to know them better. This will help them to feel more comfortable with you when you actually start the job. When newly hired, listen carefully how you are instructed, if need be ask them to write some of the instructions down. You should not be afraid to ask questions, repeat the instructions to them so that you make sure you are reading from the same script. You should try to learn about the child. Find out what they like and what they do not. Children like it very much when they realize that you are interested in what they say and what they do. You can always engage them in a game and show them that you have fun too in what they play. Just take care not to get down to their level but remain relevant and in charge always.

As you get used to the job of babysitting, understand the children. Sometimes children can act in a way that is very frustrating, causing stress for you. Parents may not help the situation either. In such cases try to understand why the children are acting that way. Be caring and understanding where you think the children are lacking attention or something else. Ask them what may be bothering them and talk to them about it. However in rare cases where the children are just naughty and hard to handle, you may consider declining the job offer. However it is advisable to take your time to show the children how you care for them by expressing interest, praising and encouraging them.

Finally, many parents will be very happy if you are helpful. Help with house cleaning choirs such as sweeping, picking up left toys, wiping down counter tops and wiping pillows. You can also make the children participate by getting them to start a cleanup race this will get the children excited for the surprise of the parents. Finally remain calm and composed when the child throws tantrums. Lastly always show a good example to the kids you are babysitting and you will be the best baby sitter for them.

Proper Etiquette with a Babysitter

When you start hiring a nanny, you will become more familiar with “rules”. Your nanny has to abide by them, and you have to mind your own behavior towards your nanny. There are rules you, the nanny and your kids should follow. These are the basic etiquette rules that have to be followed when dealing with a babysitter. If you can abide by these, it will help the entire process run a lot more smoothly.

First of all, you will have new house rules with the nanny around. Inform your kids about these rules and lend your authority to your sitter.

Next, tell your nanny that she is under probation for a certain duration. She might not take invasion of privacy lightly but tell her that this is a standard rule you follow before you hire anyone for the long-term. Tell her that you will check her references as well as her records. Make it clear that you will keep an open mind and that this whole background check will be done professionally and without prior prejudice.

Make a list of all the things you want done inside the house while you’re away. Before you leave the children with the babysitter, let her know where you are going and how she can contact you. Make sure she has a list of numbers to call (including your work phone), and she knows what to do in case there’s an emergency.

If you can help it, don’t immediately leave the moment your nanny arrives. Allow thirty minutes to sit down with her and wish her a good day. If you haven’t already done so during your initial meeting with her, show her around the house and hand her the list of what she needs to accomplish with the kids during the day. Let her know where food is kept, where the toy bin is and where the fire extinguisher is.

Point her to the exact locations of the telephones inside your home. Tell her about certain appliances she will be using, and show her how these gadgets work. Let her know the prohibitions or your imposed limitations to avoid misunderstanding.

Let your nanny in on secrets about how to deal with the kids. For instance, introduce her to the stuffed toys, especially the favorite ones. If your children cannot sleep without a certain environment (a night light or with a favorite blanket), tell your nanny. The babysitter is not a parenting rival but a valuable teammate.

If your child is sick, make sure you take her to a doctor and inform the babysitter that the child is sick. Don’t leave your sitter with a sick child, particularly if the illness is contagious. Unless you’re also hiring your nanny as a private nurse, she might not have the capability to care for a sick child. Overestimate the time you will be home. Do not keep the babysitter waiting for you to come home. If you cannot come home early call her. Inform her of your estimated time of arrival.

Nannies vs Au Pairs

If you are thinking about hiring an extra pair of hands, you are not alone. Most families need helpers, and the main cause for this need is the need for both parents to work. Some parents take on more than one job to make ends meet. Children are often left alone at home or in the care of relatives. When relatives are not available to take care of the kids, moms and dads either rely on day care or hire a day sitter.

There are many types of sitters around. The obvious choice is a professional nanny. A nanny like this is often available through an agency. A professional nanny is a level higher than an average babysitter in that she has undergone training. But beware, nanny services through agency are expensive. You will be paying for booking fee (also known as agency fee) on top of the salary of the nanny. But you’d be surprised to know that even if the cost is high, so many parents are going for this option.

If your budget is tight, there are other options. You can go for Au Pairs. Au Pairs are regular babysitters who can take care of your kids part time. An Au Pair placement is an arrangement wherein a young woman or man lives for up to two years in another country as a member of a local family. His or her task is to help in the home for a set number of hours every day, or as a stay-in helper.

They are available when you need them, but if they have other things to do like go to school or work, you may have to arrange a good schedule with them. AuPairs may be younger adults who want to experience life in another country. These are usually quite adept at handling small kids. They may have been doing part time work since middle school, and have developed a keen sense of responsibility.
They may be working to save money for college. Au Pairs are not professional nannies or sitters.

The temporary kind of childcare provider is ideal if you’re not ready to hire a full-time nanny. On the flip side, there are also instances when hiring an Au Pair is not for you. For instance, your child is an infant or a newborn. An Au Pair may not be the helper for you if you expect your sitter to change the nappies and bathe the newborn. If the only task is mixing the infant formula, an Au Pair can handle it, but if you need the sitter to change the baby’s clothes, bathe him and trim his nails, you will need a more experienced sitter. It is more practical to hire an Au Pair for slightly older children, and to stick with an experienced baby nanny for infants.

Most kids become attached to Au Pairs because they are more like older siblings than caregivers. Children will have fun interacting with a person closer to their own age than Mom and Dad, or an older nanny. The best Au Pairs will be very caring, studious, responsible and fun to be around. For those looking to expose their children to new cultures or even new languages having an Au Pair can be a valuable experience.

Choose your Au Pair well. There are Au Pairs that are respectful and eager to help, but there are those who disregard house rules and might have a negative impact on your children. This does not mean the Au Pair is a bad person, it may be because she isn’t used to the work yet, or she’s not used to the lifestyle of a strange country.

Finally, hiring an Au Pair is convenient for many families. The average nanny pay is far greater than the small allowance that most Au Pairs receive. Au Pair compensation is generally just the room and board, plus the meager allowance you’re giving her. But you might find hidden costs in internet bills, electricity and water bills. Remember, the Au Pair is like a member of your family and will use all the amenities in your home.
You can also ask an Au Pair to do more housework than a regular nanny. She is regarded as a part of the family, which means she is expected to help out with housework. While a nanny might help out around the house, she will most likely ask for extra pay for this service.

Nanny Background Check – Keep Your Children Safe

Children are very precious, not only to their respective parents, but to the society as a whole. Because children are easily influenced by the behaviour and actions of adults, everything must be done to ensure that our kids receive the best care possible.

Economic pressures often require parents to work double time to make ends meet. Because of this, children are often left in the care of nannies. If you’re a working parent and you want to find the best nanny for your children, here are a few recommendations for you…

Make sure your nannies can address the individual needs of your children. She must be responsible and she must be able to follow your instructions. The impact that a caregiver has on a child is significant. You want a nanny who has genuine concern for your child, and not a nanny who is only after your money. Your nanny must also represent the family’s values and work towards your parenting goals.

The nanny selection process is tedious to say the least. You will have to choose from several applicants. You will receive a lot of inquiries if you have a help wanted ad posted. You will get even more inquiries if you post a pre-employment screening offer on a job board.

Sometimes, the best option can be a nanny agency. The agency can help pre-screen the applicants so that you only need to choose from several candidates who fit your selection criteria. The agency is also in charge of background checks, but if you want to check a nanny’s background yourself, you can do so. Some parents go for online agencies for convenience, but if you do this, you will still need to drive to the physical location to meet with the candidates face-to-face.

A thorough background check starts when you trace a person’s social security number. This information provides address details. You may also want to perform a criminal records search. If your requirements for a nanny involve driving (like when she has to fetch your kids from school), you should check your nanny’s driving record.

Other relevant searches you can do include a state and national sex offender registry search. Most employers would also verify previous employment records by calling the previous employers and asking for recommendations. Lastly, a credit report or a consumer report can shed light on your nanny’s past credit history, including her banking records and other financial details. A civil records check will uncover lawsuits filed against or by a candidate. Federal court records will usually reveal white-collar crime records. A statewide liens judgments search can insure solvency.

Choose The Right Nanny Agency

Busy parents seek the services of nanny agencies to help them with their needs. Finding a nanny is a serious business, and working parents need all the help they can get. A good nanny agency can find the right babysitter, day sitter, night sitter and day maid for your family. The right candidate must pass through the agency’s stringent rules and needs to pass thorough background checks before being added to the employee pool.

Most nanny agencies understand that finding the right helper is a daunting task for anyone. They become more than just an intermediary to parents and nannies; they are the ones in charge of licenses, certifications and other nanny stuff you need to consider!

To find a good nanny agency, do a thorough research. There are tons of forums over the net that discuss nanny issues. Moms talk about where they get their nannies, which agencies are reliable and which nanny agencies to avoid. If other parents have nothing but praises for a particular nanny agency, you can try it yourself and find out why it’s good.

A locally based company is ideal, but if you can’t find one in your state, you can go for those that are located far away but can be contacted by phone. The internet is a good place to start looking. Just make sure you check who owns the company, and the general background of the nanny agency.

Know the Standards

Some nanny agencies accept only individuals trained in CPR, basic first aid, housekeeping and other skills. If a nanny claims to be certified in first aid, make sure you ask to see the certificate. If possible, get a nanny with at least 2 years of experience. Also, ask your nanny agency about CRB checking, and whether all nannies in their pool are CRB checked. The standards in most agencies around are pretty high and all applicants are compelled to abide by the basic government regulations.

Know Your Criteria

Whether you want a live-in nanny, a nighttime nanny, a bilingual nanny or a full-time nanny, make sure you put in your requirements when you send in your request for nanny services. Some families need a nanny to move abroad with them, which means the right candidate should be more travel savvy than others.

How to Tell If Your Babysitter is Good

Working parents depend on babysitters to maintain the household and take care of the kids when it’s time to go back to the grind. Babysitters are more than just employees, they’re partners in raising our children. Because we want the best for our children, and we want them to be safe even when we’re not around, we rely on our babysitters to take care of them in our stead. Once you have this concept in mind, you will understand why most working parents insist on hiring only the best. But how can you tell if the babysitter you hired is really the best one for your kids?

Children can provide feedback on babysitters. Sometimes, they do this even if they can’t talk yet. Does your baby cry if she sees your babysitter? It’s a sign that the babysitter may not be getting along well with your children.

You want to keep hiring a babysitter who’s doing her job, and doing more than just her job. You want a babysitter who genuinely cares. You wouldn’t want to keep hiring a babysitter who lazes about, leaves the kids to fend for themselves and does other things while the mess piles up, right?

Here are some more suggestions for you if you want to develop a good criteria for hiring a babysitter…

You know your babysitter is good if she can get along with your kids. Some people have a certain rapport with kids. Maybe it has something to do with their personalities. Maybe the kids can relate to them. Or, maybe they have been around kids for a long time that they developed a certain behavior around kids.

A good babysitter can manage several things easily. You know how some people get rattled when the tasks pile up? There are some babysitters who can manage that kind of stress; and that’s the type of sitter you want! If the baby’s crying and the other child wants to go to the bathroom, the sitter should be able to calm them down and manage somehow. I know it’s impossible to keep calm all the time, but the best sitters around are pros at staying calm and collected in the face of tantrums.

A good babysitter will show interest in what kids have to say. She doesn’t just sit around and watch TV the whole time. A good babysitter draws with the kids and even comes up with engaging games they can play together. She is an authority figure yet she can be gentle with the kids.

There are so many types of babysitters in the world, and there are really good ones out there. If you keep your eyes open for the best ones, and do a little research, you’ll find one that will connect well with your kids.

Your Child’s Age and Your Choice of Babysitters

The first thing you should look at when choosing a babysitter is her personality. Don’t just look at her resume and consider her suitable. Meet with her face-to-face and observe her overall demeanor. Sometimes, it’s not enough that she has all the necessary requirements, such as training, work experience and references. Some babysitters have personality that can rub your children the wrong way.
One reason for this may be the way she deals with your child. There are some sitters who are great with middle school level kids but not with toddlers. Here are some more tips on how to find a babysitter according to how old your child is.

If you have a newborn at home, it may not be a good idea to hire a pre-teen or a teenager to care for your baby. Teenagers are less aware of the magnitude of responsibility involved in taking care of an infant. There are some exceptions, of course. Maybe the sitter has a lot of younger siblings she took care of herself. But it’s best to hire an adult if you want proper care for your baby. Hire one who has gone through training in infant care.

If your child is a toddler, the ideal babysitter is a person with a lot of energy. A young adult or someone in her late teens would be ideal. She must be able to keep up with your kids. A person who’s too timid to impose herself will have a hard time dealing with toddlers. At the same time, someone who’s listless or easily fatigued won’t do either.

If your child is going to school, hire a sitter who can talk to your child about school. It’s important that she’s naturally creative and eager to answer questions. Any age of babysitter will do, but if the sitter is too young, your child might have a hard time seeing the sitters as an authority figure. The babysitter must know how to initiate activities and spark your child’s interest.

Insist on conducting an interview when choosing your babysitter. Body language as well as manner of speaking will convey an individual’s personality and disposition more than a piece of paper.

What To Expect From Your Babysitter

Looking for a babysitter is a big job for parents, especially those who are very picky when it comes to who they leave their kids with. Parents who are overprotective may find it more difficult to screen babysitters, and who can blame them? There are so many evils in the world today and you really don’t want to haphazardly choose a sitter. Although you know it’s impossible for you to stay beside them twenty-four hours a day, it is still your responsibility to keep them safe. And, one way to do this is to pick your babysitter well.

If you have children at different age levels, you’re going to have to hire a sitter who knows how to provide individual care each child. It is important that the babysitter knows how to handle several kids at the same time. But the question is, what do you really expect from your sitter? Are you looking for someone who just needs to serve food and change nappies? Or, are you looking for a babysitter who can also be a tutor to your toddler?

Here are some more points to consider when looking to hire a babysitter…

1. Your babysitter should know her duties.

Delineate how many hours you will be away so that your sitter will know which activities she can do with the kids during that time. Is it her duty to supervise the kids while they color or do their homework? You have to list down all the tasks you need done while you’re away. Your sitter might charge extra if the tasks involve extra activities like cooking or cleaning the house.

2. Extra Skills and Duties

Before you hire a babysitter, make sure you tell the applicant that you expect her to cook, clean or bathe the kids. Sometimes, this isn’t needed and the babysitter will just do these things without your instructions. But most sitters will wait for your go signal before entering your kitchen and touching the food inside your refrigerator.

To avoid confusion, pin or tack the menu for the day on the wall by the refrigerator. Tell your sitter about your children’s food preferences, allergies and the like. Prepare the ingredients and put them in containers inside the refrigerator. Label them with instructions so that your sitter knows what’s for lunch and what’s for dinner. If you have the time, show the sitter how to prepare meals so that you can rest assured that your kids are eating right.

A little bit of cleaning is important if you don’t want to come home to a pigsty. Make sure your sitter knows this so that she can clean up the mess before you get home. Now, don’t expect your sitter to do heavy work like dusting, vacuuming, and moping. It’s enough for her to be able to fold the dirty clothes and put the toys away after playtime. Tell her to do the dishes, put away leftovers and wipe off the stove and the counter.

3. Schedule and Routines

If you’re frequently on call, make sure your sitter knows about the nature of your job when you hire her. Then there is the topic of availability. If you work very long hours and you only have one day off work to care for your kids, hire a regular sitter to watch your kids. If you only need her to watch your kids for two hours, tell her.

Every family is different in terms of schedule. Sometimes, it’s difficult to find an individual who can adjust her own routine with your schedule, so it’s great when you find someone who is willing to work with you. Your babysitter has to be understanding and patient enough to adapt to your routines.

Keeping Your Nanny Happy

This is a familiar scenario. A good nanny leaves a home even if she loves the kids, she’s doing her job well and she’s not able to find another job. For what reason would someone in this nanny’s position leave a job she loves? Maybe her employers are the problem.

Put yourself in your nanny’s shoes for a while and think of what you would feel if you were in her position. Nannies that are overworked and underpaid are unhappy. If they feel unappreciated, they become depressed. If they keep hearing bad things or you verbally abuse them, they will usually leave.

Good employees are difficult to find. It’s important to keep the best employees around when you find them. Although you may not have the budget to splurge on your nanny’s salary, there are some simple things you can do to make sure your nanny stays with you for a long time…

Three Things You Can Do to Keep Your Nanny Happy

1. Lend Her Your Authority

Nannies should be authoritative figures around the house. While kids shouldn’t fear them, nannies should at least hold a semblance of control over things when you’re not around. If you make your kids feel that the nanny is a subordinate they can order around, she won’t be able to discipline them when they do something wrong. The kids might think that you, the parent, will always take their side even if they’re in the wrong.

This situation can cause a great deal of frustration for the nanny. Moreover, you might end up confusing your kids. Is the nanny the boss of them? Are they allowed to do things because she’s “just another sitter”? Sometimes, the children question the nanny’s authority because you haven’t done your part in making sure the kids follow the nanny’s instructions.

2. Pay Her Well

Nannies know more about the rates than we think. They may have spoken with other nannies and found out that the rate you’re paying them is too low. Sometimes, a good nanny leaves a home because she feels that she can find better pay elsewhere. Take note of the rates for nannies in your area. If your nanny has stayed with you for a long time, consider giving her a raise.

Most nannies will not raise the question of salary with you unless you really are too dense to notice the signals of dissatisfaction. For instance, she mentions something about another nanny in the neighborhood getting more pay for the same level of work. It may be her way of telling you that she would like a raise. If she’s not confident enough to ask for a raise, be intuitive and think of a good way to compensate her.

3. Don’t Pile On the Housework

Your nanny is not a housekeeper. A simple instruction like “clean as you go” will suffice; but don’t expect her to do heavy work like vacuuming or mopping the floors. Sometimes employers will ask their nanny to do a great deal of housework, and this makes the nanny feel that her services are being abused. If you insist that she has to do more work on top of the light laundry, sweeping and meal preparation, make sure you compensate her properly.

How about privacy issues? Sometimes, nannies feel that they don’t have any free time at all. Worse, they feel that they cannot rest even for a minute because you have surveillance installed. This is particularly true if they know you’re watching them through a camera. Nannies who feel uncomfortable leave, it’s that simple. If you really want to monitor your nanny, you should find a more discreet way to do it. Also, if she’s a stay-in nanny, make sure she can go out and do her thing at least once a month.