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If you’d like to keep your nanny long term, here are a few things you don’t want to ask them to do • Cook family meals every night. (cooking for children is a typical job responsibility.) Some nannies love to cook and you may pay a nanny extra for cooking dinner for your family. But […]

Pitfall #3: Underpaying a Nanny Hiring a nanny rather than using a daycare is a luxury for many people. It’s understandable that a family would look for the best rate possible when hiring a nanny. Her employment is typically a long term commitment, and her pay represents a substantial monthly expense to the family. Unfortunately, […]

7) Poor Relationship Boundaries Between Family and Nanny. Boundaries are a uniquely sticky topic when it comes to nannies. Most families tell me they want their nanny to be a “part of the family”. After all, the nanny will be caring for the most important person in their lives. Nannies also love the idea of […]

5) The family underpays the nanny. Nannies are typically not very good negotiators. The best nannies are in the childcare profession because they truly love children, not because they’re hoping to make a lot of money. However, they need a secure income so they can practice the profession they love. Nannies are frequently not highly […]

Reason #2: The family frequently gives their full time nanny the “day off” without pay, OR pays her for the day but takes it out of her vacation days, OR gives the nanny erratic hours when the nanny expected consistent hours upon hire. No matter how much your nanny loves your family, she needs consistent […]

Understanding Nanny Taxes Tax Obligations When you hire a nanny, you are considered by the IRS to be a Household Employer. As a Household employer, you have both Federal and State tax liability. Your nanny also has the typical tax liability that comes with being a wage earning employee. As an employer, you are required […]

Nanny Databases Nanny databases have allowed families to find nanny candidates on their own. They’re the electronic equivalent of placing an ad in a newspaper. They provide a low cost alternative to using an agency, but as with any low-cost alternative, they come with pitfalls such as requiring extensive time and effort to find the […]

During the current economic recession, most families are especially cost-conscious. It’s understandable that they want to be conservative with their nanny’s salary. But scrimping too much on your nanny’s salary could result in high nanny turnover or less-than-wonderful childcare. The quality of care during your child’s early years is crucial to his or her healthy […]

When you’re conducting a nanny search either on your own or through an agency, here are a few ways to assess personality traits in a nanny candidate: Longevity in previous jobs. Look at her employment history and remember that past performance is the best predictor of future performance. You want a nanny who has the […]