8) General Lack of Respect and Consideration

Sometimes a family is so immersed in the demands of working and raising children that they neglect to treat their nanny with respect and consideration. Some of the most important points to keep in mind when employing a nanny are:

Respect the nanny’s schedule. Give her plenty of notice if you’ll be running late, and pay her for extra time she works.

Be clear from the start as to what her responsibilities are, and do not let these grow unless you openly discuss any changes with her and gain her agreement. Make sure she is compensated for additional responsibilities.

Although the nanny may fall head over heels in love with your child, her primary reason for working is to pay her bills and bring about financial security. She may love her work, and love your family, but she has her own aspirations and needs apart from your family.

It is important that a nanny receives a yearly review and raise. It’s important that she is given adequate notice when asked to work an evening or weekend. It’s also important that she can decline to work extra hours if she has plans.

Although the nanny loves your child and your family, she is not a family member and does not want to know the details of any personal issues regarding your marriage, your financial situation, etc.

The nanny loves your child but she probably will notice if a parent comes home with shopping bags from expensive stores, a new car, etc. and she hasn’t had a raise in a year.

Nannies are much more impressed by the size of your heart than by the size of your house. Most nannies would much prefer to work for a warm, fair, considerate employer in a modest home than one who treats them like a possession in an extravagant home.

Most parents would consider the above points to be simple common sense, but surprisingly, many nannies leave positions for the above reasons, even though they love the children. Keeping a good nanny requires the attention and care that any relationship requires to grow and thrive. If you keep these points in mind, your children will have the stable childcare they need for optimum emotional development.

To get more tips on hiring and retaining a nanny go to: www.safeandsoundnannies.com

Dr. Ann Wycoff is founder of Safe and Sound Nannies, a full service agency, and The Nanny Answer, an online, do-it-yourself nanny screening service.