Those who hire a nanny for their children cite the advantages of personalised, individual child care in a familiar home environment. There are downsides, too — cost is chief among them. Other potential snags include loss of privacy and the solitary nature of nanny care, which makes trust an even bigger issue than it is in daycare. If you choose to hire a nanny, the process can be daunting. Articles such as the one below on iVillage provide step-by-step guides for the search. Others suggest using a nanny agency, which can weed out the least qualified candidates. The competition for great nannies can be cutthroat; one article even suggests poaching qualified-looking nannies in your local park. Just remember: parents may gripe about the difficulty of finding a nanny they like, but chemistry is often an issue for the nannies too. One article says most nannies say they love taking care of kids, but that they have a hard time stomaching the idiosyncrasies of the parents.
GeoParent
“How to Find and Keep a Good Nanny”
“Many families [...] choose to use the services of nanny agencies [that sort] through the less desirable candidates on their behalf — something that can be a tremendous time saver. You don’t have to use the services of a nanny agency, of course — provided that you have the time and the expertise required to do the hiring yourself.” …read the full article
iVillage
“Hiring a Nanny”
“If you want your children to stay in your home and receive consistent care from one person who will grow to know and love them, then you are likely looking for an in-home caregiver or nanny.” …read the full article
BabyCentre Australia
“Nannies: How To Spot A Good One”
“You may find a carer who can do everything well, but if she truly enjoys being in the company of children, your kids will know it. Her enthusiasm will shine through every day that she’s with them.” …read the full article
The Nanny Doctor
“Maintaining The Bond: Your Family’s Relationship With Your Nanny”
"The relationship your child has with their nanny is a very important one, one that has potential to provide them with a sense of safety and security. Next to you, your nanny maintains your child’s emotional and physical safety on a daily basis. In addition to their own interactions with the nanny, children learn about relationships by watching you with their nanny." …read the full article
Careforkids.com.au
“Retaining Your Nanny”
“Take a business approach to the hiring of a nanny. Establish a contract of employment either formally in writing or verbally through open discussion. This should include salary, benefits, hours of work, main duties and responsibilities, sickness and holiday entitlements, notice period and disciplinary issues. If the contract is in writing it should be signed by both parties.” …read the full article
