3 Things Your Family Placement Specialist Wishes You Knew About Starting to Work with a Nanny
As a long-time nanny agency serving unique and wonderful families by connecting them with stellar childcare professionals, we’ve seen thousands of new working relationships blossom. Starting to work with a nanny can be both exciting and daunting, and while there is lots of information out there about hiring a nanny, there just isn’t that much about how to navigate the early days of this relationship.
Turning to the Experts
Since the Smart Sitting team is full of experienced and skilled childcare matchmakers, we thought, who better to give you the inside scoop than our Senior Family Placement Specialists, Janine Cunningham?
Armed with the insight of having seen countless families and nannies through the early days of working together, she’s been able to distill these three things that can really solidify your relationship and set your nanny up for success. Without further ado, let’s hand over the reins to a real childcare expert.
1. Give Clear Directions for the Nanny's Work
You may be a fairly easy-going family, or want to show your nanny that you trust in their expertise and experience in caring for kids, so you kick off day one saying, “Do what you think it best!”
Meanwhile, your nanny is eager to align with your family's needs and values, and wants to create a seamless transition for your kiddos into this new day-to-day. Without direction, expectations, or just a list of family rules or daily schedule, the nanny has nothing to go on and no way of knowing how to best match your family.
A nanny working with Smart Sitting has made it through a rigorous vetting process (did you know that only 5% of applicants to our network make it all the way through?), so they are experienced and skilled at caring for children. However, that also means they understand that all families are unique and what works in one family isn’t necessarily best for all families.
Solution? Communicate, communicate, communicate:
If possible, set aside some time during the trial or in the first few days to go over your family’s basics. Or, take time before the nanny starts to write them down on paper or in an email. This can include:
family schedule
disciplining techniques
parenting values
nap and food routines
or anything else that happens in your daily life
expectations of what the nanny should have done by the end of the day
Avoid vague instructions, such as “Do what you would normally do.” “Normal” is different for every family.
2. Give Feedback - Both Good and Bad!
Feedback is a powerful tool in shaping a successful nanny-family relationship. Often, families hesitate to provide feedback, especially in the early days. Remember, your nanny values your input - both the praise and the constructive criticisms - and sometimes it’s easier to course correct early on, before routines and habits have settled in.
One thing we notice in this industry is that it’s easy to forget the power of positive reinforcement. If your nanny does something you appreciate, let them know. This could be as simple as acknowledging their effort in preparing a healthy meal or their patience in handling a tantrum. They’ll feel bolstered in their role and appreciated, and will know to be mindful of keeping up those efforts.
Conversely, if there's an area for improvement, communicate this respectfully and clearly. Such openness fosters trust and continuous growth. Setting up regularly scheduled check-ins can be a great framework for both sides to know that you’re on the right track and nothing is left unsaid.
A quarterly review, or something that makes sense for your schedule, can give both you and your nanny an opportunity to check in on how things are going without creating the stress of bringing up the need out of the blue.
3. Give It Time
If there’s one thing I really want to stress with a new working relationship, it is to give it time. Patience is key in the initial phases of working with a new nanny. The first week, month, and even six months can be a period of adjustment for everyone involved - including the nanny, the children, and you as parents.
The nanny-parent working relationship is such a unique employment situation. It’s not just a matter of being new at an office and learning new tasks. It’s also building new relationships, especially with little humans whose hearts and emotions give them big feelings, and rightfully so. Don’t be discouraged if your kids aren’t taking to the nanny instantly, or if it takes a while for everyone to settle into the routine and ease. Trust that it’ll get there.
“We want you to lean on us for this kind of support.
This is what we’re here for! Everyone on the team has either worked as a nanny or hired a nanny, so we understand the intricacies of that working relationship and what it takes to create the truly special bond that can appear between nannies and families.”
— Janine Cunningham, Smart Sitting
Eyes on the Prize
The bottom line is, your nanny wants to be an extension of your parenting. By providing clear directions, offering ongoing feedback, and allowing time for adjustment, you're setting the stage for a harmonious and effective partnership, that will serve your family in so many ways.
How can we help you?
Does finding a nanny feel like a terrifying, enormous task? Or do you know just what you’re looking for in a caregiver but want guidance and assistance in making it happen? Janine and the rest of the team at Smart Sitting are ready to support you from start to finish - and beyond - devoted to ensuring you find the right nanny for your family and then helping you navigate that relationship in a way that is seamless, supportive, and constructive for everyone.
If you’re looking for a nanny, fill out a family application via the button below, and we will take it from there. Then, you can feel free to reach out to us for advice, support, or simply to share your experiences. And keep an eye on the blog for more inside information from Janine and the team!