Nannies - what to expect
A
nanny is someone you employ to give one-to-one care to your child in your home.
She’ll take responsibility for your child’s daily care, preparing their food
and planning activities to support their education and development. Nannies
aren’t usually expected to do housework or daily chores, but can reasonably be
expected to clear up after the children and keep the house tidy.
If
you employ a nanny, it’s best to draw up a proper contract. You’ll be
responsible for paying her Medicare, Social Security, and payroll tax. You
might also want to consider incentives such as some paid vacation days and sick
leave – see nannies: your responsibilities as an
employer for more advice.
What are the advantages?
- Dedicated
one-to-one care for your child in your home on your terms.
-
No dropping off and picking up.
-
Potentially more flexibility if you need to work late, especially with a
live-in nanny.?
-
Will probably have a good network of other nanny friends, enabling your child
to meet and socialize with other children of a similar age
-
If your child is ill, your nanny will be able to care for him, whereas a daycare
center or home daycare provider may not. [SUGGEST LINKS]
What are the disadvantages??
-
It’s the most expensive option, though will cost slightly less if your nanny
lives in.
-
Nannies are unlicensed and although you can make a point of hiring a nanny with
a degree in early childhood education she may not have the years of on-the-job
experience you’d get from an experienced daycare center staff or a home daycare
provider with children of her own.
-
You’ll have to arrange a background check into her qualifications, experience
and criminal record yourself unless you hire her through a licensed nanny
agency, which performs these checks.
- It
costs more than the other childcare options.?
- You’re
responsible for paying a proportion of her taxes.
- You
may have to provide a lot of incentives to hang onto a good nanny – for
example, use of a car or health insurance.
-
If she doesn’t socialize with other nannies your child may not get many
opportunities to mix with other children.
- It’s
difficult to monitor a sole child carer.
-
If your nanny is unable to work for any reason, you’ll have to make contingency
childcare plans.
What to look for in a nanny
- Training in first aid and CPR
and experience in caring for babies and young children – always check
references.
- A degree in early childhood
education or certificate proving she has passed the Nanny Credential Exam –
awarded by the International Nanny Association, this tests a nanny’s working
knowledge of child development and education, safety and nutrition among
topics.
- A warm, caring manner – a
willingness on your child’s part to go to her without getting upset or anxious
is a good sign.
- An obvious interest and
delight in children.
- Ability to compromise and meet
you halfway if your schedule isn’t going to plan.
- Punctuality if she lives out.
- A good communicator who helps
you feel connected to your child by
filling you in on his day or jotting down what they’ve done in a daily
journal you can read through after your child goes to bed. A secretive nanny
may have something to hide.
- Good knowledge of general
health and nutrition.
Nanny shares?
A
nanny share is where two families employ a nanny to look after their children,
and spread the cost between them. See nanny shares for more information.
Related Articles
Last Modified: 15/06/2007
Related Chat
You'll need to be logged in to post new Comments and Answers or to Chat.
Login or
Register