Nanny Job Description Form

This job description if for ……………………………. during his/her employment for the………………………family. Employment will begin on……………………………..

1. Employment will be on the following basis:

Live-in………

Full-time………

Live-out………

Part-time………

2. The following will be the hours required on a daily basis:

Monday: Start time:………………End time:……………….Overtime:………………………….

Tuesday: Start time:……………. End time:………………..Overtime:………………………….

Wednesday: Start time: …………End time: ……………….Overtime: ………………………. 

Thursday: Start time: ……………End time: ……………….Overtime: ……………………….. 

Friday: Start time: ………………..End time: ……………….Overtime: ………………………..

Saturday: Start time: …………….End time: ……………….Overtime: ………………………..

Sunday: Start time: ………………End time: ……………….Overtime: …………………………..

The two days off are ……………………… and …………………….

The time off begins ………………………….at ……………………..

Time back on begins…………………………at………………………

3. Holidays when work will not be required:

New Year’s Day……      New Year’s Eve……            President’s Day……

Memorial Day……         Independence Day……          Labor Day……

Thanksgiving……         Day after Thanksgiving……      Other…… 

Christmas Eve……        Christmas Day……

Paid Holidays that are not worked will be paid:

New Year’s Day……      New Year’s Eve……            President’s Day……

Memorial Day……         Independence Day……          Labor Day……

Thanksgiving……         Day after Thanksgiving……      Other…… 

Christmas Eve……        Christmas Day……

Holidays that are worked will be paid overtime at a rate of $…………..per hour:

New Year’s Day……      New Year’s Eve……            President’s Day……

Memorial Day……         Independence Day……          Labor Day……

Thanksgiving……         Day after Thanksgiving……      Other…… 

Christmas Eve……        Christmas Day……

Any hours worked on holidays, as outlined, above, will be compensated at the rate of $………….. per hour.

4. Salary and overtime compensation parameters:

The nanny will be guaranteed a minimum of ………………hours per……………….which will allow the nanny to earn a minimum of …………………per………………….

5. Employment evaluation parameters:

Job performance evalutions will be conducted by………………………..These important job-related discussions will occur at ……………………………………………………….intervals to help maintain job satisfaction on behalf of both, employer and employee.

6. Employee disciplinary parameters:

The following is what has been agreed to with regard to employee disciplinary action:

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7. Duties require of the nanny regarding care of the child/children as agreed to:

A. Personal Hygiene:

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B. Meals and Snack Preparation:

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C. Maintaining Household:

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D. Activities and Playtime:

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E. Homework and Tutoring:

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F. Transportation and Errands:

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F. Daily and weekly Schedule:

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8. Special travel and family circumstances:

In the event of shared custody or travel the nanny will be providing care for the child/children at the following locations and under the following schedule guidelines:

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9. Specific household duties for the nanny:

The following responsibilities regarding housework will be required at the …………………………………….family residence. A “D” next to the items requires daily attention, and “W” means the duty is to be performed on a weekly basis.                                                                 

• Child/children’s laundry…………                                                                                   
• Tidy kitchen (counters, dishes, etc)…………                                                 
• Load and empty dishwasher…………                                               
• Set table for meals…………
• Clean table after meals…………
• Vacuum child/children’s areas…………
• Clean child/children’s rooms…………
• Clean child/children’s bath area…………
• Prepare meals for child/children…………
• Prepare meals for the family…………
• Family laundry…………
• Dusting and sweeping…………
• Vacuum entire home…………
• Clean bathrooms…………
• Mop floors…………
• Make beds…………
• Care for pets…………
• Walk dogs…………
• Grocery shopping…………
• Family errands…………

10. Employee Benefits Offerings:

A. Vacation:    

Yes………..                 No…………

If yes, state the number of paid days/weeks of vacation per year: ……………………………………………………….

Additional information:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

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B. Sick days Paid:    

Yes………..                 No…………

If yes, state the number of paid sick days per year: …………………………………………………………………………..

Additional information:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

C. Medical Insurance: 

Yes………..                 No…………

If yes, state the type of insurance and carrier: …………………………………………………………………………………….

Additional information:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

D. Medical Insurance: 

Yes………..                 No…………

If yes, state the type of dental coverage:…………………………………………………………………………………………..

Additional information:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

E. Other: 

Additional information:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

(Benefits are traditionally offered after a 30-90-day trial period. Vacation is one week after six months, two weeks after one year, three weeks after five years).

11. When the family goes on vacation, nanny’s salary will be reconciled in the following manner:

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12. The child/children’s doctor and dentist appointments will be handled in the following manner:

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13. Unplanned expenses for the child/children will be reimbursed in the following manner:

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14. The parents will get a hold of nanny with important information by taking the following steps:

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15. Automobile and transportation details:

A. When our nanny has her own vehicle:

We will reimburse our caregiver………….cents per mile for gasoline and insurance.

We will provide our caregiver with a gasoline allowance of $…………per……………..

We will pay ………………% of insurance up to $…………………

We will pay……………….% of repairs up to $……………………..

B. When nanny uses the family automobile:

Our childcare giver will be allowed to use our automobile only for the care of the child/children……….

Our care giver will be allowed to use our automobile for care of our child(ren) and for other occasions with our consent…………

Our caregiver will be allowed unlimited use of our automobile during the term of his/her employment………..

We will pay…………..% of insurance up to $……………….

We will pay…………..% of repairs up to $………………….

We have reviewed this job description and have come to a mutual agreement. This job description is not to be considered as a contract for employment. Employment may terminate at will on behalf of either the employer or employee for any reason and at any time. It is agreed that both parties, employer and employee, will give ……….. days notice when one has the desire to end at will employment.

Additional information:

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Employer’s Name:………………………………………………………………..Date:……………………………………………………

Employee’s Name:………………………………………………………………..Date:…………………………………………………..

(Signed and dated copies have been given to all involved parties).

Stages in a Nanny’s Life

Initially, nannies and families transition through what is referred to as the ”honeymoon stage.” During this stage, the family and nanny will get to know one another as the nanny accepts household chores, handles requirements and may even offer suggestions to help the household run efficiently and effectively. Early, in a nanny’s employment she will work hard and do her very best to prove her domestic capabilities as well as the all important task of caring for the children on a daily basis.

After the passing of another month or two, the nanny will find herself fully immersed in daily duties, and the parents will be back to focusing on work life and personal life fully confident in the nanny’s ability to handle matters at home. 

This is when things tend to slide. Many nannies find that after three to four months, they have taken on far more than their fair share of the family workload. To compound matters, the family, without realizing it, may become overly comfortable with the assistance of the added hand around the house (to the point of becoming borderline lazy).

Taking Nanny for Granted

Prior to leaving your home at 6pm, with children in tow, your nanny has already put in a full day’s work: She has diligently washed and folded all the family’s clothing, returning every shirt, pair of socks and underwear to their proper drawers; placed a chicken in the oven for for the night’s dinner; swept and vacuumed the house; took the dogs to the groomers; handled two back to school shopping errands; placed a call to get a plumber to the house, ASAP, the following morning, etc. Upon entering the home later in the evening, after soccer practice, nanny finds empty glasses, and papers strewn about; the kitchen counters littered with crumbs, empty cans and containers, etc…Now, wait, wasn’t the house immaculate at 6pm?

A nanny takes a lot upon herself to balance housework with child care. Even if your children are of school age, and gone for five hours a day, that doesn’t mean your nanny is a built-in housekeeper. (If she is expected to handle housekeeping while the children are in school make that very clear during the hiring process and within the nanny job description).

The Nanny Evaluation Stage

At a point, a nanny may begin to wonder about a lot of things: Did she take on too much? Is she incapable? She will begin to wonder if, perhaps, you are simply not the right family for her. This stage of your nanny’s life is referred to as the nanny ”evaluation stage.”

Unfortunately, many times families do not even pick up on subtle hints nanny’s drop. For example, if your nanny neglects to attend to domestic matters as she once did or she quits bopping around the house with the light, bubbly attitude, most likely the situation within the home is taking a toll on her peace of mind.

Another month passes and your nanny has managed to tolerate the situation. However, there is noticeable tension within the home and a breaking point is in the works. Your nanny is on the verge of quitting or cracking. This leads up to the “adjustment stage.”

The Nanny Adjustment Phase

The honeymoon is over: Long hours, an unbelievable load of daily chores, chauffeur service with unlimited miles (provided in her own car) and errands she never, technically, agreed to run. Your nanny is not only childcare provider and housekeeper, but she is also the personal assistant, house manager and dog sitter. No additional wages provided. Nannies who experience the unsettling notion that they have “been had” begin to develop a negative attitude simply because they have no choice in the matter.

It’s not only time to have a meeting of the minds, it’s beyond time. The out of control situation in the home has to be addressed.

Reassessing Nanny’s Duties

If you and your nanny did not commit to a formal employment contract or a nanny job description (both, highly recommended to avoid any and all troublesome situations regarding hours, workload and salary) then it’s time to do your homework to come up with a more realistic situation for everyone involved.

As a parent, if you honestly feel that your nanny is simply not doing that much around the house, then you must make a list of the duties you feel your nanny should be able to perform within a day’s time. Moreover, it is highly recommended that you visit the section within this website dealing with nanny work agreements and nanny job descriptions.

As parents, you can not bring up the fact that you are tapped-out due to expenses for your children. This is certainly not an issue your nanny should have to deal with. A nanny is hired to do a job and her expectation is to be rewarded for a job well done. Hence, if your household nanny is performing at an optimum level and tending to the care of your children, there is no reason to not reward her for her diligence and daily effort.

Keep in mind the old adage, “You get what you pay for.” If you want to skimp on taking care of your nanny, that is your prerogative. Remember, the hard and brutal truth: Your nanny certainly doesn’t have to take care of you; Employment is a two-way street.

Regional Nanny Salary Differences

Salaries tend to be the highest on the East Coast with Manhattan and its wealthier suburbs commanding the highest pay codes. In Florida and California, nanny wages tend to be slightly lower, mainly due to the illegal immigrant population available to pull from. On the average, common starting salaries range around $400 per week for 40 to 50 hours, with $300 to $800 at the extreme. Check with online nanny websites and payment calculators to see what the pay parameters are in your area of the country.

Minimum wage rarely holds standing criteria with regard to a nanny. Here’s the reason why: When it comes to hiring an individual to care for your children and home, salary is rarely a place to cut corners. After all, it’s not a car payment you’re dealing with, it’s the well-being of your children and the maintenance of your home. Nannies with more experience, a college education, the ability to drive, the care of two or more children, etc., should be rewarded with a higher salary. If the salary is negotiated, early, and the nanny rises above and beyond expectations, a raise at the end of the year should be taken into serious consideration to maintain your good home help for the long term.

Nanny Workload

It is a given that your nanny is hired to take good care of your children. This is priority number one. However, there’s a broad assumption on behalf of many parents that the hired nanny will also take care of the home. A little household help is not an unreasonable expectation. Many nannies are more than willing to assist the family in taking on a few chores while the children are sleeping, away from home (or even literally under foot). Still, it is imperative that you, as parents, are diplomatic about approaching the subject and even more diligent about expressing appreciation for the extra good deeds that make the home run like a well-oiled machine.

Family Laundry

Nannies fully realize that children’s laundry comes with the job description. If the nanny has time, it is perfectly acceptable to ask her to throw in the rest of the family’s wash as well. In many households, the family laundry is typically in one bunch. If this is the case in your home, then your nanny can most likely handle as much laundry as she can get done. No nanny, however, comes into an employment situation expecting to become a full-time laundress; washing clothes, attending to dry cleaning matters and making sure shirts are starched and ironed. Again, keep your expectations, manageable. In the event that you have major a wash situation, such as changing and washing sheets twice weekly, needing table linens ironed, and pet beds laundered, then you should probably hire an additional hand. If your nanny is willing to take on these tasks, make sure to pay her accordingly for the extra effort.

Shopping for Household Goods

When it comes to stocking the refrigerator, the nanny is typically responsible for the essentials, such as bread, milk, baby food, diapers, etc. If she can’t get out to do the shopping, it is important for a nanny to let you know when you are running low on certain items. As for general shopping, if both parents work late and can’t make it home to handle the grocery run, then it’s in everyone’s best interest to have the nanny do the weekly shopping run. It’s important to leave enough money with your nanny or provide her with a credit card to handle the extra expense. Discuss the need for receipts for these costlier errands and let her know that she can pick up things she would like, as well.

Preparing Meals

Nannies should be expected to prepare children’s meals and snacks. If the nanny you hired happens to be of the gourmet breed (purees vegetables for the baby, bakes chocolate chip cookies with the older kids and has a four-course dinner on the table when you arrive home) then that’s just the icing on the cake. Still, it is always important to keep your nanny’s workload in balance. If your nanny is spending half the day in the kitchen then other household duties may go unattended, particularly the care of your children.

Housekeeping Duty

Keeping the home neat and tidy is not an over the top expectation to ask of your nanny. Problems may crop up between you and your nanny, however, if your definition of “clean” differs from hers. In the event housekeeping is as important to you as the care of your children (and, unfortunately, this is a fact that many nannies face) then you might just have to pick up the slack yourself. Put in a few minutes yourself at the end of the day to meet your own expectations. Or, hire an added hand. A nanny’s job is to attend to matters which involve your children and their well-being. Housekeeping, outside of the children’s rooms and play areas, is not her duty. Again, be diplomatic in your approach to this subject and never assume that your nanny enjoys cleaning up after you and everyone else in the home.

Running Errands

When it comes to dry cleaning pick-up, returning books to the library, DVD rentals, packages to the post office, etc: if your nanny can fit a few of these errands into her daily schedule, great. But as an employer you should not expect her to do too much. Above all, certainly do not pass off your dirty work to your nanny, such as picking up after family pets and returning items at the department store. The best tactic is to kindly ask for help. If your nanny agrees to be of support then that is an added bonus to you. Bear in mind, the more your nanny has to handle, the more stressed-out she will become, which could short-change the care she provides to your children. Ask for help, but keep your requests in reason. And, most importantly, insist on paying for gas money and time spent for assisting with these extra duties.

The Nanny Who Never Says, ”No”

There are nannies who rarely say no. They do what they are asked and they rarely if ever complain. If you have a nanny like this in your service, do whatever it takes to keep her happy. This nanny is truly a rare gem you can’t afford to part with. The issue with this scenario is that many parents tend to take advantage of the extra help, throwing more and more chores her way. The result is rarely ever positive. Be fair and thoughtful with regard to the expectations you have for your nanny. The best way to keep your nanny happy is to be appreciative, balanced and fair.

Within the past couple years a growing phenomenon has replaced the usual plan of hiring a female nanny to attend to matters of childcare within the home. More prevalent, now, than ever before, moms are finding, interviewing and hiring men to look after their children. Instead of a nanny, these male nannies are aptly referred to as “mannies.”

Why Hire a Manny Instead of a Nanny?

The controversy is expected and interesting with regard to hiring a male nanny. Why would a mom prefer to have a man looking after her son or daughter, than a woman? In many respects, it all makes perfect sense. Wouldn’t  it be nice to have a responsible adult male role-model around to throw the football with your son or ride bikes with your daughter on a daily basis? Children can share similar interests and even learn a thing or two from an additional male hired hand.

Studies by childcare agencies indicate that working mothers are turning to male childcare providers more and more due to the listed factors of female insecurity, jealousy and mistrust. The threat of a qualified, attractive nanny in the home is often viewed as too much of a threat. (These are the hard, cold facts as reported by mothers looking for male nannies).

Male or female, it doesn’t matter. You should always be looking for the best care for your children. When it comes down to it, the most important factor for hiring a worthy childcare provider is simply getting the right person to do the job. Qualifications, references, criminal record checks, experience and the face-to-face interview are imperative for appointing a quality nanny.

Trends Regarding Men as Childcare Providers

A recent survey by a childcare recruitment agency indicated that attitudes are definitely evolving in favor of male nannies. Eight out of every ten parents stated that they would find it appropriate to hire a manny and one-fifth of the demographic polled stated they knew of a family who already had a male nanny on the job. Still, only four percent of people working in the childcare industry today are men. Five years ago, 8,500 men were employed as childcare providers, whereas, today, close to 13,000 men are registered in the childcare field.

The U.S. Government has even been working to widen the pool of talent entering into the childcare field to assist in strengthening ambitious plans for after school programs. But, despite broad efforts to draw men into the field, male childcare providers are sill in short supply.

Unfortunately, men rarely consider the field of childcare for their career endeavors citing poor pay and benefits, unattractive terms and conditions, lack of career progression and the overall perception that childcare is simply ” woman’s work.”

How to Hire a Male Nanny

There are very few men to select from when it comes to using the Internet as a tool for finding a qualified, highly interested male nanny. Likewise, the pool of manny candidates is marginal with regard to “live” nanny placement agencies. Because of this, parents must be diligent and resourceful when it comes to the manny search.

When starting your search for a qualified manny, it is best to start with some general networking amongst close personal friends and family members. Again, someone might know someone who knows someone who is looking for a great summer job. A summer male nanny might be the perfect time to explore this hiring option for the long term.

Once you find a potential male childcare provider, treat the interview just like you would if you were hiring a female nanny. Ask the same questions, and treat the situation just like a regular employment interview. Pay special attention when asking why the man you are considering as your nanny is entering into the field of childcare. You might find important information with regard to your potential manny’s depth of character and family background which will help in your final hiring decision.

An important consideration to entertain is the fact that many mothers enjoy the added bonus of having a little extra help around the house when they hire their female nanny. After all, who doesn’t like to have an extra hand around the house to assist in tidying up? There is the unavoidable and natural stereotype that a male nanny might not be quite as helpful when it comes to domestic matters. Be certain to have your male nanny candidate elaborate on his abilities in the kitchen and homemaking department. Of course, who is to say that a male nanny wouldn’t also be fabulous in the kitchen and a real domestic dynamo when it comes to loading the dishwasher and emptying the trash? Again, it all comes down to qualifications and experience.

Likewise, it’s common for the family to feel the need for all-out personal time as well.

What follows are some pointers for handling situations as they arise. The main thing to take into consideration, again, is that both the nanny and family must learn to consistently respect each other’s space and personal time and never take anything that goes on in the household too personally. 

Nanny as Family

As a parent, you might take every step known to man to include your nanny in family gatherings and events. You want to make your nanny feel comfortable and “at home.” Regardless, try as you might,  it seems your nanny’s reception is less than heart warming. Whatever you do, don’t take it personally. Even if you’ve grown fond of your nanny, remain perfectly satisfied with the care and concern she is able to show, consistently, to your children. Keep in mind, as well, that closeness, in general, has its own set of drawbacks.

Your Nanny Isn’t Your Therapist

A common complaint amongst nannies is lack of boundaries. The problem is, once lines are crossed, it’s difficult to reestablish them. For example, after a hard day at work, you might want to open a bottle of wine, complain about your day, hash-out the latest event concerning your in-laws, or discuss your inability to drop those last 10 stubborn pounds. Even the kindest nanny will lend an ear, now and then, out of common courtesy and respect. However, you certainly can’t assume your nanny enjoys hearing the details about your latest litany of personal issues. Not to mention, you may be potentially burdening her with things she doesn’t want to know about in addition to all of her other duties. (Not to mention, you might even be sharing annoyingly revealing details about yourself as a person). As a parent and employer, you might even regret what you said at a later date.

It’s best to keep personal matters between your colleagues, hair dresser, trusted friends or family members. This way, you are keeping your personal business to yourself and your nanny won’t feel obligated to oblige you in taking on your latest rants.

Thanksgiving Dinner

If your nanny has traveled half-way across the country to maintain employment with your family, there’s a chance things could become dicey around the holidays. Do you invite your nanny to the family affair at your parent’s home? Do you let her stay at home, alone, yearning for the company of her own distant family? Thanksgiving, for most families, tends to be a relatively all-inclusive holiday which is the ideal time to extend the olive branch. Before you take any steps, first take your own family dynamic into consideration: Will your family gathering be big, casual, family-oriented potluck? Or is your family’s holiday a major, formal sit-down affair? If your nanny is more on the reserved side, she might prefer to stay at home and have a peaceful afternoon to herself, or spend the day with friends she has made in the area. If you do invite her and she declines your offer, take solace in the fact that you did extend the invitation. On the other hand, should you desperately require pure, close family time, and you do not invite your nanny, don’t lose sleep over the fact. Your nanny will certainly live (it’s only one day out of the year).  

Vacation Time

Some families absolutely love bringing their nanny along to assist with childcare on family vacations. It’s always helpful to have an extra set of hands. On the other hand, some families relish the opportunity to get away and have peaceful, relaxing ”alone time.” Adding another person to the mix is solely up to you. Remember that your nanny is a paid employee and fully under the impression that she is hired to do a job. Whatever instructions you present to your nanny, she will most likely accept them, pleasantly, and go about her business. If you feel awful about neglecting to invite your nanny on family trips, keep in mind the reality of your nanny’s situation: She is pretty much glued to your home and your children 24-hours-seven-days-a week-365-days-a year. With that in mind, there’s a pretty good chance she might actually prefer to stick around and do some house-sitting. This will allow her some much needed personal time and uninterrupted peace and quiet (which everyone relishes once in a while).

Round the Clock Coverage

A big misconception that comes along with a live-in nanny is that you have around the clock coverage. Think again. Although many nannies are physically present five-to-seven days out of the week, it isn’t mentally healthy or physically possible for a nanny to be continually on-call. Some parents push this expectation to the limit and even to a breaking point. If, after a few months on duty, your nanny begins to mysteriously disappear all weekend, only to return late Sunday night or early Monday morning–consider this an enormous hint. Nannies can realistically assume that they will be working 12 hours a day, although 14 hours is not unheard of. As parents, you absolutely must be thoughtful of your nanny’s schedule and the fact that she does have a personal life outside of your home.

What is a Tricky Nanny Situation?

A “tricky” nanny situation is anything that rubs you or the parents the wrong way. It might be an insensitive comment (either absent-mindedly placed or purposefully placed); an overly vocal and passionate debate regarding politics or religion, misplaced money, a vanished set of diamond earrings, imagined flirtations between husband and nanny, etc. When situations of this nature arise, it is best to attack them, directly, on the spot. If the family and nanny do not address issues, immediately, with apologies or honest conversation, there is a very good chance these unfortunate situations will fester, build-up and ultimately ruin an otherwise healthy and happy work partnership.

Politics, Religion and Other Personal Beliefs

You prefer Obama and your employers prefer McCain. You are a Christian nanny who goes to church on Sundays; the family has never been inside a church temple. You are an advocate for strict gun control, the father of the household stores a gun in his dresser drawer. You drink only on the holidays, the mother drinks a bottle of wine, nightly. You get the picture. When there are obvious differences in opinion and lifestyle amongst you and the parents in the home, it can often lead to tension, misunderstandings and all-out debates. But, it doesn’t have to be this way.

The main thing to remember is that both, the parents and nanny, have to maintain a level of respect for one another’s personal choices and opinions. There’s the wise corporate working world advice that clearly states: ”Refrain from all discussions of politics and religion in the workplace.” Well, there’s a darn good reason for this sound advice–it alleviates unforeseen circumstances at the source.

Same goes for the nanny, and parents: Personal differences are the last thing that should sabotage your work relationship. Instead, for all practical purposes, keep your discussions focused on matters within the household, such as the children, the day’s activities and weekly schedule. In doing so, you will avoid the temptation to blurt out something better left unsaid.

“Harmless” Flirtations

It’s a fact of human nature that as adults we all face daily temptations and even the possibility of sexual come-ons. The problem, within the household, is that when uncomfortable situations arise (even a hint of questionable conduct) they can wreak havoc on an otherwise perfectly happy home life.

It’s not unheard of for a mother to become unglued by a younger sitter’s good looks, charm and all too-perfect body. As a nanny, there’s not a lot you can do other than clothe yourself as non-seductively as possible. With that stated, who likes to walk around looking unkempt and frumpy? The bottom line: It’s wise to use good judgment with regard to how you dress and display yourself in front of the children and your employers (nobody really wants a bunch of cleavage, staring in their faces, anyway). As a nanny, if you are craving this sort of attention then save it for the bar scene on the weekends when you are off-duty.

As far as your relationship with the mother and father in the home: It is best to keep your relationship confined to business parameters. Avoid the occasional cocktail with the family as it will only lead to loose tongues and looser inhibitions. The children are your purpose for being in the home, so keep your focus confined to that area.  

The Internet and Long Distance Calls

If you are a live-in nanny, or even a part-time nanny working in the home, do your part to show respect for the family’s personal property and household equipment. If you are granted the opportunity to utilize the Internet, make darn sure you are keeping your Internet searches clean and respectful. One simple unsavory Internet search or one regretful email can all but end your nanny career (by the way, families will often track your email keystrokes and Internet histories. Be smart and professional when on the job). 

As far as personal phone calls, if you need to make a long distance phone call, be certain to let your employers know and offer to reimburse them when the bill arrives, and keep calls at a minimum (you should discuss this with your employer). Better yet, use your own cell phone or home phone for communication purposes. In doing so, you will keep things within the home simplified and separated, avoiding potential issues, altogether. Above all, never take outright advantage of privileges offered to you by your employer. In many cases, parents are not bothered by the money aspect, but rather they are disturbed by the uneasy feeling that you are taking advantage of their thoughtful offers.

The General Feeling of Deception

The feeling of deception, real or imagined, can really put a tremendous strain on the nanny-family bond:  Items continually come up missing; drawers appear to be rifled through, clothing comes back from the dry cleaners with stains, alcohol bottles emptied over the weekend, etc. As a nanny, keep your business centered, as much as possible, in your own room. It is assumed that your room is your personal space. So, with all due respect, extend the same courtesy to your employer (this will alleviate unnecessary misunderstandings and finger-pointing).

All Fingers Point to Nanny

Yes, there is an undeniably huge issue at hand: It’s tricky living in someone else’s home and having the outright burden of cleaning up after every member of the family on a daily basis; washing, folding and putting away clothing in each family member’s personal dresser drawers and closets, being asked to comb the house for a set of missing keys, digging through drawers and lifting couch cushions to located a child’s misplaced cell phone or wallet, etc. As a nanny, these extra chores can put you in compromising positions. One day a situation escalates: A set of gold cuff-links has disappeared from the master bedroom. Suddenly, everyone in the family conveniently points a finger at you, the nanny. As if you had any interest digging around in the father’s underwear drawer! Really? But, what are you going to do about it? 

Pitiful situations of this nature actually happen on a fairly consistent basis, so be prepared. The only thing you can do is make a matter of fact statement that you didn’t see anything of the sort. And, if you had, you would have made it a point to return it to the logical place where it belonged as you always do (and where it should have been in the first place!)

If the employer wants to blame you–fine. Don’t get angry or defensive. When the item turns up, the individual who lost it will, hopefully, issue an apology and clearly realize that you are a nanny and a human being with a true sense of integrity.

Nannies and parents: Again, it all goes back to respect for each other’s personal property. If everyone is honest and respectful, this will alleviate almost every potential issue that could strain an otherwise solid nanny-family relationship.

Resist All Temptations

Let’s say you are putting your employer’s freshly washed, folded clothing away when you spot a new bottle of perfume on her dressing table. You’ve wanted to try it out for a long time, so you think: “Why not just one squirt?” One little squirt isn’t that big a deal, right? Sure, but that is beside the point. First of all, the item isn’t yours and wasn’t offered to you. Secondly, who’s to say that one little squirt won’t lead to a squirt the next day, the following day, as well as on the weekends? If you must, go ahead and pick up the bottle and smell the perfume. Then, take your paycheck on Friday and head to Macy’s and buy two bottles if you like. You get the point? The best policy is to stick to your own property and mind your personal space and business. Avoid temptations at all costs.

Here’s the reality of the situation at hand: As a mother, you want to find someone who is dependable, nurturing, supportive and spirited–who will take care of your children as if they were her own. But, wait. Isn’t that a lot to ask? And, aren’t you paying the nanny to do just that? Being a nanny is a job after all, but it can become quite a confusing situation for everyone involved.

Mothers, Resist the Guilt Trip

It’s natural for nannies to wake up in the morning; make breakfast, pack lunches, get the kids to school, pick them up and play an occasional game of basketball out back. If not the parents engaged in these activities, then who else but the nanny? As a parent, you pretty much have to learn to cope and accept the fact that your nanny is there to read to your children at bedtime and enjoy fun conversations while driving the children back and forth from soccer practice. The fact of the matter is that you hired your nanny to assist in carrying out these daily deeds.

You may feel subordinate, at times, in the company of your skilled caregiver, or, maybe even jealous of your nanny’s special bond with your children. All said and done, with time, you will come to accept and appreciate your nanny’s extra set of hands and know that that regardless of the circumstances–your children are bonded to you for life.

Comfortable Delegation to Nanny

Delegation doesn’t come naturally to a lot of people. There is the old saying, “If you want something done right, do it yourself.” As a parent, you must learn to abolish this statement after nanny is hired. Once you leave the house for the day, make it a point to focus on your work day and trust that your nanny is competently attending to matters with your children, home and pets. Forget about micromanaging your children’s schedules, your nanny’s schedule and masterminding every point in between. This will get you no where fast and even drive you crazy at a point. Not to mention, your caregiver may begin to feel like her efforts are all for not if you continually undermine her authority. Relax and enjoy the fact that you have a hired hand to assist with the day’s activities. When you come home, your children will be there for you with open arms just as you left them in the morning. Children are intuitive enough to understand the sacrifices you make.

Nanny as Disciplinarian 

When the nanny and you sit down in your very first interview, it’s important to establish basic lines with regard to the best way to handle disciplinary practices. There’s always going to be time to adjust the rules; as incidents arise this creates the perfect forum to discuss the situation for the next time around. Still you need to address specific parameters from the get go: Do you approve of time-outs? What about other forms of punishment? How about withholding a favorite snack? No more sleepovers with that best friend for the rest of the month? Hammer out these disciplinary details with your nanny, from the beginning, to avoid potential issues and misunderstandings.

Softy vs. Hard Line

As a parent, you might find it convenient to play “the good mom” while the nanny takes the hard line with regard to disciplinary tactics. If this is the way you choose to handle things, hold on. Not only are you going to lose respect and credibility with your nanny and your children (yes, children are that perceptive), but you are creating nothing less than complete confusion and hard feelings for everyone involved.

For example: Let’s say you are naturally laissez-faire and tend to walk around, outdoors, a lot of the time barefoot. If your children see you doing this on a regular basis, then they will assume they can do it, too. However, your hired nanny instructs them, under all circumstances, to put shoes on their feet before going out the door. What?  Practically speaking, doesn’t good common sense dictate that it’s in the best interest of your children’s safety and health to wear shoes outdoors? Talk about confusing. How are your children supposed to know what to do when you as a parent are doing the exact opposite of what is instructed of them by their nanny?

Situations of this nature need to be ironed-out with your nanny on a case-by-case basis. If a nanny is doing her very best to protect your children and look out for their well being–what is she to do when you undermine her authority and good efforts as a caregiver?

Give this some thoughtful consideration and then do your best to figure out the proper example to set for your children, at all times–just as your nanny was hired to do when she accepted your job offer. Period.

Typical Nanny Duties

In broad terms, a family will expect a hired nanny to attend to all matters that relate to the care of the children in the home (note the usage of the word ”broad”).  Typical nanny duties might include:

• Breakfast, snack and dinner preparation
• Preparing lunches for school
• Taking the children to school
• Attending to homework
• Reading to and playing with children 
• Picking up children from school
• Transporting children to after school activities
• Playing soccer, basketball or other activities
• Changing diapers
• Light to heavy housekeeping and laundry

Here, again, keep in mind that daily duties assigned to a nanny are largely dependent on your individual situation: The activity level within the home, the children’s ages and interests, as well as parental need for assistance with home maintenance will greatly affect your responsibilities as a nanny.

If you are a live-in nanny, your work and living situation will most likely be completely different than that of an after-school nanny, hourly babysitter or live-out nanny. There are obvious pros and cons to each childcare position, highlighted, as follows:

The Live-in Nanny

The live-in nanny has the most precarious duties of all nanny positions. A live-in nanny is fully a nanny in the truest sense of the word. Here’s why: A live-in nanny is a consistently contributing, living member of the household. You cannot escape! You will be asked to assist with any number of activities that arise in a week’s span (and, chances are, you won’t even be asked to help, but rather it will be assumed that you will capably handle these household matters). Examples of such weekly tasks might include:

• Personal family errands
• Grocery shopping
• Household maintenance calls
• Scheduling appointments
• Walking the dogs
• Feeding household pets
• Driving children to and from school
• Transporting children to after-school activities
• Package delivery
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner preparation
• School lunch preparation
• Laundry duty
• Housekeeping
• Watering plants
• Answering the phone and door, etc.
• Anything else that may unexpectedly come up while on duty

While this is quite a load of work, the trade-off is a weekly salary in addition to free room and board. If you plan to live with a family, keep in mind that you must be relatively adaptable, flexible and open to doing what it takes (within reason) to help make the household operate smoothly.

Typically, your live-in nanny day will begin at 6:30 a.m. At this time, you will assist with getting the children ready and off to school. Breakfast and school lunch preparation are standards for the morning hours. Live-in nannies often transport children to school and then spend the remainder of the day (usually a 5-hour time slot) attending to matters in the home such as laundry, general housekeeping tasks, pet duty, watering of plants, etc. When school is out, around 3pm, it’s typically your duty to retrieve the children from school. Evening hours are generally comprised of homework, transport to after-school activities, tutoring and possibly dinner preparation a few times a week.

Live-in nannies generally work 12-13 hour days (6:30 a.m. to 7:00 pm). However, this time frame is subject to change on a daily basis, dependent upon the schedule of the parents of the home. Some parents are highly regimented while others are more laid-back in their daily operating patterns. This can be good and bad for the live-in nanny; there are days when you may be off-duty at 5pm and other days when you might be on-duty until 11pm. In this case, it’s imperative to communicate with the parents to keep abreast of their scheduled plans for the day and night. 

The After School Nanny

If you are hired to handle what is known as “after school nanny duty” you will most likely have the children under your charge from the moment school is out until the parents return from work (Some nannies also have the responsibility of attending to children in the morning hours while the parents prepare for work and get out the door. This often requires breakfast and school lunch preparation, in addition to seeing that the children get safely transported to school via car or bus). While the parents are at work, a nanny is able to handle her own, personal duties throughout the day. When school lets out, around 3pm, a nanny is back on duty, again, either picking the children up at school or meeting the children at home upon bus delivery. Late in the day, homework and snack time are usually the topics of focus. General tidying of the home and light laundry duty may also be requested and appreciated by parents. Part-time nannies who work this sort of schedule must be dependable and punctual.

The Live-out Nanny

Live-out nannies are required to be extremely punctual and dependable (reliable transportation is also a prerequisite). You will report to the family home at 8am-9am to attend to the children while the parents prepare for the work day. It is a fair assumption that most live-out nannies are often in charge of younger children who do not require the demands of school transport, etc., (unlike live-in nannies).  The all-day care of young children, under the age of five, or pre-school age, requires tremendous diligence, and responsibility. In this situation, a daily routine will mostly be comprised of breakfast preparation, reading, playing, meal preparation, diaper changing, assisting with bathroom detail, nap time as well as walks to the park or time at the local play center. Upon arrival of one or more parents, the live-out nanny is allowed to return home for the day, usually no later than 6-7pm.

Mother’s Helpers

A mother’s helper, which also falls under the nanny category, has an interesting dynamic to uphold: She must report, daily, and assist a mother with all that pertains to childcare in the home. This situation requires a flexible, adaptable person, as well. You will be working, almost always, under the supervision of the mother of the home. More often than not, mother’s helpers are hired to assist when a mother simply has too much to handle within the home (usually after the birth of a child or when there are more than one or two particularly demanding young children in the home under the age of 5). Daily duties vary, but may include:

• Breakfast, lunch and dinner preparation
• reading to the children
• taking children on walks
• playing with children
• laundry duty
• Some general home housekeeping  

As a mother’s helper, your days are more flexible, as there is always a parent in the home. On the average, your day will start at 9am and end around 5pm. This is an ideal situation if you do not mind working almost continually supervised. If you prefer to work with a degree of autonomy, fully in charge of children without a watchful eye, this is probably not the sort of nanny work to pursue.

The Babysitter/Nanny

Often times the terms “nanny” and “babysitter” are interchanged. The main differences are as follows: A true working nanny maintains a consistent, daily, presence in the life of a family. A nanny is often almost considered a part of the family due to the fact that she is so depended on, needed and appreciated. A traditional nanny is also awarded her salary, for the entire week, when that week’s service is completed.

A babysitter attends to matters of childcare for a family, but more so on weekends, an occasional afternoon or after-school.  Babysitters, just like nannies, provide childcare while the parents are away from the home. On a typical weekend evening, a babysitter might arrive at the family home around 6pm. At this time, she will greet the parents and children, as well as receive any special instructions (bedtimes, potential health issues with the children, dinner and snack suggestions, etc). When the parents depart from the home, a babysitter will spend her evening hours playing games with children, reading bedtime stories, watching movies, making snacks and finally, putting the children to bed. Once the children are in bed, a babysitter might do some tidy work around the home (the home should at least be in the same condition as it was when she arrived). When the parents return home, the babysitter is paid on the spot and free to go home.

Questions to Get the Family to Open Up

The following list of questions will help you to better evaluate each nanny job opportunity you find yourself interviewing for. Above all, take your time and ask questions that hold relevant meaning to you. In doing so, you will be able to better match-up with a family that will help you achieve happiness, meet your career goals and exceed your lifestyle expectations.

1. Can you tell me a little bit more about how a typical day or week goes around your home?
2. When do you usually head off to work and arrive home for the day?
3. Do the children participate in many after school activities?
4. Will I be in charge of driving the children to events after school and on the weekends?
5. How do you usually handle situations when one of your children falls ill?
6. Do you take the children to the school in the morning, or will that be my duty?
7. Will you have time and energy at day’s end to cook, or would you like my assistance in that area?
8. What sort of childcare tasks will I be performing on a daily basis?
9. Is there a chance you will have more children, or is this the end of the line?
10. Can you tell me a little bit about your personal childcare philosophies?
11. What measures do you take in terms of disciplining your children?
12. Do you have pets? Will I be asked to help care for your animals?
13. When can I expect to be on-duty and off-duty? Or, is every day a little bit different?
14. Will I be asked to navigate the children in the city and on the freeways?
15. Can you tell me a little bit about what your family likes to do together?
16. What sort of foods does your family enjoy? Do you have a favorite food at mealtime?
17. How about housecleaning? Will your nanny expected to handle light housekeeping duty?
18. What type of daily communication do you prefer? Will it be easier to reach you via phone or email?
19. What are your plans for the long term? Will you need my help for potentially longer than two years?
20. Can you describe a time when you were upset with a childcare provider and what steps were taken?
21. Why did you part with your former childcare giver?
22. Can you tell me about your favorite caregiver for your children? Why did you like her? 
23. Have you ever lived with a nanny in your home, before? Do you have any apprehensions?
24. Honestly, are any of your children particularly challenging, and how so?
25. When are you looking to hire your nanny of choice and when can she expect to begin working?
26. Are there any benefits you could possibly tell me about?
27. Do either you or your husband travel, frequently? 
28. What is an example of a typical day in your household?
29. Will breakfast and lunch preparation fall under my hat during the school year?
30. What are summers like at your home? Do you sign your children up for summer activities?
31. What else do I need to know about your family culture and environment?
32. What are some of your pet peeves when it comes to childcare?
33. Are there any characteristics you see as “must haves” when hiring a nanny?
34. Do you have a car for your nanny to use for transporting your children?
35. What sort of weekly salary are you considering for the nanny you hire?  
36. Do your children have particular hobbies or sports interests?
37. Do you consider your home an active household or a more laid-back environment?
38. What do you think might be the most challenging aspect of the job for the nanny you hire?
39. How regimented is your household? Are your children always on a strict schedule?
40. Are you most interested in having a nanny live in the house or do you prefer one who commutes

Getting Answers to Your Questions

As interviews go, naturally, the parents of the household will be asking the majority of the questions. Still, it’s just as important, if not more important, for you to know what you are getting into when considering the ultimate employment ramifications within each household. Understand that every single home is different and every parental unit will have a varied philosophy when it comes to childcare and child rearing.

Questions and Statements to Get Nanny Talking:

1. Will you tell us a little bit about your experience working with children?
2. Tell me about any training or education you possess in the field of childcare…
3. What ages of children do you typically care for? Do you have a favorite age?
4. How many children are you comfortable caring for?
5. If our children became ill, how would you handle that situation?
6. Tell us about any experience have assisting children with homework…
7. Tell us about your experience preparing meals and snacks for children…
8. What sort of childcare tasks are you used to performing?
9. Why are you interested in working with children?
10. Do you have an established childcare philosophy on discipline?
11. What sort of childcare tasks are you accustomed to?
12. Tell us about your experience with pets…do you like animals?
13. Do you feel you are more of a morning person or a night person and why?
14. What sort of experience do you have navigating with children in the city and on the freeways?
15. Can you tell us a little bit about what you like to do in your spare time?
16. Can you think of a time when you were patient with children in a trying situation?
17. If we asked you to babysit in the evening, from time to time, would that work for your schedule?
18. Tell us about your experience working unsupervised…Are you comfortable working on your own?
19. What are your plans for the long term? Are you interested in attending college?
20. Can you describe a time when you had to use your own judgment when dealing with children?
21. What did you want to be when you were growing up and why?
22. Can you tell us about a favorite babysitter, growing up? Why did you like her?
23. Have you ever lived with a family before? What did you like and dislike about that arrangement?
24. Do you have any phobias or fears that you can think of?
25. Do you have any questions for us?

The Importance of the Mutual Interview

Keep in mind that you will want for your nanny to have time to ask questions of you, as well. As interviews go, usually the hiring party is in the driver’s seat asking the majority of the questions,  while the prospective employee does the talking. In the case of the nanny interview, you will want your candidates to walk away from the interview with a strong sense of you and your family’s requirements, as well. After you are finished asking questions, always present the unselfish, question, “Do you have any questions for us?” This will show your nanny that you are interested in answering her questions, and eager to hear what she wants to find out about you and your family.