On the Job
What important things should I learn in my first days?
Communicating with your employers
How to dress for work:
Most nannies dress in their own clean, conservative clothing to work.
Nannies should dress in clothes that are appropriate for the daily
activities. For example, in the summer, live-out nannies should bring a
bathing suit to work to be prepared to go to the beach or the pool.
Sometimes nannies may wear a dress or skirt and sandals in the morning to
work, then change into sneakers and jeans when they go to the playground
or on a hike in the afternoon. Typically there is nothing wrong with
wearing jeans to a nanny job. But, nannies should always dress
conservatively and avoid wearing large jewelry, low-cut shirts, and belly
t-shirts.
There are some positions that require a nanny to wear a uniform. When
required to wear uniforms it is the employee’s responsibility to launder
and maintain the clothing, not the employer’s responsibility.
Before starting a new nanny position caregivers and parents should sign a work agreement, fill out necessary tax paperwork such as Form W-4, and fill out and submit any applications for benefits being offered to the new employee. See Nanny taxes and Nanny benefits below.
Most nanny placement agencies should be able to provide employees and employers with essential paperwork such as a sample work agreement, daily logs, permission for treatment forms, and emergency phone number forms. Others may be purchased from businesses located online, nanny newsletters, or in book stores.
Experienced nannies recommend memorizing emergency phone numbers for the family immediately after starting the job. We also recommend keeping the emergency phone number listing near the phones in the home and in your purse or pocket at all times. Have the nanny carry health insurance numbers for the children and permission to treat forms with her at all times.
Parents should show new employees where they keep their fire extinguishers, where the main water can be turned off, how to use the fuse box, and alarm systems. The first day on the job is also a great time to do a fire drill with the family. Parents should also show new nannies how to adjust the heat and air conditioning in the home as well.
Nannies should be informed about any and all allergies and treatment protocol needed for each child they will provide care.
Caregivers should also ask the parents for each child's favorite songs, foods, security blanket or doll, games, and activities to help them bond with the children the first few days and weeks on the job.
It is probably a good idea for one parent to stay home a day or two on the nanny's first days. They can run errands together and the employee should also have an opportunity to go it alone. Any questions the nanny has can be jotted down if you're not there.
It is also a nice idea to introduce the new nanny to neighbors, friends, and other nannies. This way they will know her by sight and she will know who the normal faces are in the neighborhood. Also visit the local parks, pizza joints, grocery stores, schools, and the pediatrician's office to make her feel comfortable with the new environment.
With that said, most Nannies will agree that housework directly involving their charges is usually their responsibility. Therefore, keeping the children's rooms clean, doing their laundry, preparing their meals and cleaning up the dishes after the meals is usually part of the job. But don't assume anything, discuss this in your interview and make sure it is in her job description and contract.
Now, if you'd really like her to vacuum the house once a week, prepare some dinners, or do more than just the kids laundry these things really need to be brought up during the interview. You should ask how she feels about doing these tasks and listen carefully to her response. If she gives a half-hearted answer of "Oh, that's ok." and you sense she's not really too thrilled about the idea, discuss it. "I get the feeling you may not like the idea of the added housework." It is best to really try to get an honest answer from her now, then find out two months from now that it's too much for her to handle and she's leaving for a job that doesn't require all the extra sweat.
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All nanny placement agencies recommend nannies use a daily log to help communicate with parents. A daily log (for a sample click here) is typically a three ring binder kept in the kitchen, near a phone. The daily log should contain all emergency phone numbers, schedules, and any emergency information that may be needed such as health insurance numbers, allergies the children have, and medications children may be taking.
Nannies should list what the children eat each day on the daily log sheet. When working with infants caregivers should record the times and amounts the infant eats, when and how long they nap, and how many times their diapers were changed. Any change in feeding or diaper changes should be noted.
When working with older children, nannies should list the indoor and outdoor activities of the children, homework completed, and their mood during the day.
Parents love when nannies list developmental milestones or describe funny moments with the children.
Communicating with your employers:
It is a good idea for nannies to meet weekly with at least one parent without the children present. A weekly meeting is an opportunity to talk to one another about the children or any issues that come up about the job. Although most meetings will be simple and brief, nannies and parents can bring up any issues during that time each week.
During these meetings nannies and parents will get to know and like each other better because they have both taken the time to communicate. This is a relationship maintenance practice which ensures that both parties value their relationship.
Before speaking with employers about a job related issue nannies should think about what they want to say and present their statements in a professional and respectful manner.
Employers should ask their nanny placement agency for nanny evaluation forms to help guide them through raise and salary negotiations.