Thriving as a Nanny in a Work-From-Home Environment

Working as a nanny for parents who work from home (WFH) presents unique challenges and opportunities. With remote work becoming more common, more nannies are running into unusual work setups than ever.

Understanding how to navigate these dynamics effectively can make your job more enjoyable and successful – and can brighten your kiddos’ day, too. Here are our best tips on how to set clear expectations and establish trust, making sure you and the family you work for have a harmonious relationship.

Setting Clear Boundaries with WFH Parents

Clear expectations and boundaries help establish trust and make it easier for you and your nanny family to work together in harmony.

  1. Establish Expectations Early: During the interview or when starting with a new family, discuss and clarify expectations. This includes understanding the parents’ work schedules, the designated areas for work, and where you and the children can spend your day. It’s okay for you to ask questions about how the parents have prepared for this as well as what their expectations are. 

  2. Communicate Your Capabilities: Assure the parents that you are fully capable of handling daily challenges and caring for their children. This is another area where you should ask questions during the interview – how do they view your autonomy and ability to make judgment calls when they are in the next room? What you’re really asking is, will you be able to do your job effectively?

  3. Set Physical and Temporal Boundaries: Work with the parents to establish times and zones within the home where their presence is minimal, so the children understand when they should not disturb them. If the parent can do into a home office that’s off-limits to you and the kiddo, great. Can the parent stay there but come out at lunch to have lunch with you and the kiddo? Great!

Building Trust and Handling Situations Independently

Showing that you can handle situations and manage the day-to-day is a huge part of building trust from day one. The more trust, the less the parent will feel the need to intervene. 

  • Proactive Communication: Keep the parents informed about the day’s plan and any issues that arise. This transparency will reassure them that you are in control and attentive to the children’s needs. You can even text them if something happens and the kiddo is crying, especially in the beginning, just to let them know things are okay and you are handling it. 

  • Establish a Comfort Routine: It can be strange for a kiddo to know their parent is in the home but not be able to go to them. If your charge is struggling to adjust to the WFH arrangement, work with the parents to develop a routine or signal that helps the child transition from being with the parent to being in your care. This could involve a special goodbye at their workspace or a specific activity they start the day with you. It may be easier if you go out to do an activity out of the house as you say goodbye to the parent. 

 
 

It’s Not Easy for Parents, Either

It can be frustrating to work for a work-from-home parent who runs out the second the child cries, has a hard time separating, or feels like they’re micromanaging your every more. Don’t forget to see things from their side, though. 

Recognize that for parents, separating work from family life when both occur in the same space can be tough. They're not stepping in because they doubt your competence, but because it’s instinctive to respond to their child's cries.

Solution:

Encourage a team mindset where both you and the parents feel comfortable discussing and adjusting caregiving approaches as needed. Collaborate on solutions and routines that may be helpful, for both adults and kiddos. Maybe you can agree on a warm-up period where they check in more or you have specific routines, and then slowly phase them out as everyone’s confidence grows and your relationships are stronger. 

Is This the Right Job for You?

Not everyone thrives in a set up where the parent works from home or is a stay-at-home parent. Before applying, consider if you can manage the dynamics of a WFH situation. This includes:

  • being flexible yet assertive with boundaries

  • being okay with the parent being around but not always available

  • managing your activities without the usual full privacy of the home

During the hiring process, check in on whether your caregiving style aligns with the family’s expectations and needs. A WFH arrangement often requires a nanny who is very self-driven and comfortable making day-to-day decisions but who is also flexible and comfortable with having the parent in and out of the space during the day. 

If You’re a Great Nanny, Join Us!

If you’ve read through this and thought, “Yes! I’d be the perfect nanny for a WFH family” and you’re on the lookout for a new nanny job, we want to hear from you. At Smart Sitting, we are always looking for new, exceptional nannies and babysitters to connect to professional childcare jobs. We help you find just the right job for you and then continue supporting you through our community. If you have what it takes, apply via the button below. 

Ps. Don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter, with everything you need to know to make childcare into an awesome career for yourself.

Cajsa Landin