How much phasing in time for new nanny?

[stella1w]

I,m due to go back after a year,s maternity leave leaving a four year old and one year old with the new nanny... How much time should I have her work with me before I return to the office.. I was thinking of seven working days.

Choice is yours and what you feel is right.
I had two days in my current one one.
The one before it was a very long month i did a week with their leaving nanny and then three with mum although she was out and about for two of the weeks.
Then did a week before that but only afternoons.
Then did nothing arrived the night before .
Then did nothing
New job in August nothing but then have known the children for a couple of years.
I did find it handy spending a couple of days getting to know the childrens rountines what their likes and dislikes were food wise any quirks to the house area. Maybe towards the end of the time you have together gradually leave them together ie nipping to the shop getting hair done while nanny takes them to the park or something fun

Depends how experienced your nanny is - if she only has a couple of years experience you would probably want to spend more time with her than a nanny that has 10+ years experience.

I would think that for the former one working week would be fine. Soend the first few days with her and show her the children's routines, where everything is in the house, and where all the local things are such as the school, parks, the library, toddler group, swimming pool etc. Take time to show her how the washing machine/dishwasher works. In the last couple of days arrange to be out of the house for some periods of time - book a hair appointment, do the weekly shop, have lunch with a friend etc. Get nanny to take the children out on her own too.

As an experienced nanny I have had a couple of handovers that have only been a couple of hours/half a day. These suit me fine as once Mum has shown me where everything is I find I can get on with bonding with the children much quicker than when Mum is around.

1/2 a day... maybe a day. How experienced is the nanny? You say they are new, but is that new to you, or are they new to nannying?

Good to hear.. She is young and this is her second job and she suggested a two week phasing in period. I have allowed for seven working days, as any more I am paying her when I am not earning... I will structure it as some have outlined above..
The one year old will be very separation anxiety prone but he will have his older sister there to cushion the blow and she will just want to have a lively interaction with the nanny..
Many thanks...

I think it's a bit odd for a nanny to want a 2 week period with mum around at home.
Maybe she meant a probationary period - though that would be measured in months, not weeks usually.

Perhaps I am being a bit mean, but I have always calculated the phasing-in period based on how long the kids need. Not the nanny.

tbh all my jobs i have been thrown in the deep end and started and parents gone to work

im an experienced nanny and tbh dont need to be shown the 'ropes' - im used to getting on with my job

seems weird she has asked for 2 weeks and tbh much easier to bond with children when parents out of the way