Choosing a nanny is one of the most important things you can do for your baby.
Choosing a nanny is one of the most important things you can do for your baby.After all, if you are returning to work, this is the person who is going to be caring for your baby for a large chunk of every day – and sometimes parts of the night too. We show you how to find the perfect person.
Firstly, you and your partner need to sit down and work out exactly what help you will need. If you’re going back to work quite soon after the birth, a live-in nanny is probably best, so she’ll be on hand all of the day. Discuss if you want to handle night feeds yourself – especially if you’re still breastfeeding – or if you’d prefer to have help at night-time, too. If you’re working part time you may consider a nanny share with another family – in which case, you’ll all have to agree as to how you share her and how you’ll handle last minute problems and changes of routine.
There are really two ways to go about finding a nanny:
Agency
Register with a couple of agencies, at least six weeks before your start date. They will do all the searching for you. They will charge a fee but if you’re busy or inexperienced, you’ll find their help invaluable and it’s probably best to get your first nanny via an agency. Nannies registered with an agency will usually be well trained and come with a host of other skills apart from childcare such as cooking, driving, first aid and sometime seven self-defence too! You also peace of mind, as the agency will ensure that all checks such as CRB checks have been done and references followed up.
Go It Alone
If you choose not to use an agency, you’ll need to advertise for a nanny, look in the classifieds or find one via word of mouth. Make sure when placing an advertisement what you are clear about what you need, are willing to pay and any other special requests you have. Ask for her to contact you with a CV and a covering letter, then speak to a few on the phone to get a feel as to who you like best. Then you can arrange to interview two or three.
Legal Information
If you’re employing someone, you must have a contract of employment to protect both sides and to pay them properly, including organizing their tax and national insurance. You must register as an employer and set up a PAYE scheme, as well as filling in an annual tax return. You can find more details here
If this seems rather daunting, it might save you time and trouble to use a payroll service. Look at Nanny Tax
Interview techniques
Unless you’re used to interviewing for work, this may the first time you have had to employ someone – and it can be tricky! This is also a person who you’ll have around your house for many hours per day, so you’ll need to get on with her. Things you might want to talk through:
- Your views on discipline and routines.
- Food: if you or your family has any dietary requirements, can your nanny follow these?
- Can she drive and will she like your pets?
- What’s her usual routine for the day and what activities will she do with your baby?
- Would you prefer someone who has skills such as another language or has experience with twins or more?
- Ask her about why she likes working with children and what her favourite jobs have been.
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Discuss how much you’d like to know about your baby’s day and if you want a blow-by-blow account. Explain that you don’t want to miss out on milestones, not that you’re checking up.
Expectations
- A nanny should help out with some household chores that involved the children – cooking their meals, washing their clothes and tidying their rooms. But remember, she is not a cleaner and is not there to pick up after you .
- She is entitled to time off and you shouldn’t bother her when she’s off duty – even if she’s at home.
- She’ll expect her own room and bathroom. Make sure you have the facilities.
- She should have money that’s for use on the children – for example, for shopping for their food and personal items, taking them to classes and on public transport. Talk about how she should manage that and if you want receipts for everything.
- You’ll also need to think about what might go wrong and how to handle that. Have a clear notice period on either side and agree on holidays, sick leave and pay and how you handle performance problems. Remember that if you take her on holiday with you, that’s not time off for her – so don’t take it out of her holiday entitlement!
Night Nanny
Some new parents need a bit of help just in the early days so a night nanny is ideal. Faye Norton, a former night nanny and director of Faye And Lou, says, “If you need help and support in the first few days, you can benefit from a night nanny. You may have had a difficult labour or pregnancy, may have older children, or your baby may be suffering from reflux or wake many times during the night. You might want support with breastfeeding and sleep routines.” Night nannies will come to your home in the evening, help you settle your baby for the night and then look after them when they wake, feeding with your expressed milk if you like. Faye continues, “A good night nanny will have lots of hands-on experience with babies and with mothers and an extensive knowledge of sleep patterns, the baby’s and mothers health and sleep safety. She can offer gentle guidance without dictating to the mother, should be sensitive to the mother’s needs and listen carefully to how the mother wishes her baby to be cared for and what kind of help they want from her.”