Trial day with Nanny...what to do?

[llamallama]

Hello

I was hoping for some tips on what to do with a potential nanny on our upcoming trial day?

My vague plan is baby/toddler group in morning followed by typical lunch at home, nap time, then some play time at home?

We haven't 100% decided on whether to employ this Nanny or not, we will be paying her for trial day with the aim that it will help me decide. I have slight reservations about her lack of confidence and interaction with baby at interview, but maybe that's not the appropriate time to judge that anyway?

Two "complications"

• She wouldn't be starting till September hence baby is much younger than she will be when she starts. Ie she doesn't crawl yet but could be walking by Sept!
• we are in the process of moving into the area so can't actually have trial in our home, though could Nast ourselves at relatives house for the day instead? Or just stay out and about?

Any tips from either perspective? How much should I be doing?/asking Nanny to do?

Nappy changes, lunch cooking, dressing etc?

nappy changes, lunch, dressing, the lot

afterall, you are paying her.. its a trial

she should be convincing you to hire her, by her actions / performance

Hi llamallama, Im a nanny. I think your idea of going out to a baby/toddler group is a good idea or prehaps something similar and then maybe having lunch out (as you say you cant go back to your house) and ask the nanny to feed the baby. If you went to a relatives house would they be there and would there be baby toys, books etc? To be honest if i were you I would probably just go with until after lunch instead of the whole day and then if you liked the nanny ask her another day to come over to play with the baby at the relatives house or another child friendly place. Are you planning on being around the whole time? I wouldnt like this atall with a baby as it is very different than a toddler/small child that will talk back/chat etc I would not be very confident to sing nursery rhymes, read books, generally chat to the baby while the parent was there well I mean in the same room. When i started my current job I met up with the family first kind of like an interview one evening - we had previously only e mailed, then we arranged that i would go over to spend some time with the children, the mum was around but not if you see what i mean, she did some ironing, cooking, popped to the shop etc. My charges were 16months at the time and it would have been very hard if she was there because they didnt no me and were clingy to their mum but as soon as she wasnt in the room and they were distracted they had a nice time with me. You say you had slight reservations over her interaction with the baby, she could be like me and not as confident around adults when talking to the baby. If this really concerns you if i were you i would somehow try and be nearby like my boss did but not actually there see how they get on. I would also make sure you have made it clear what you actually want the nanny to do. To be honest if it were me i like being thrown in at the deep end and just starting, I hear of nannies having a week hand over etc.

Baby/toddler group won't really give the nanny a chance to interact/show what she can do whereas going for a walk in the park or playtime at home will. I agree with iluvkids that she should be convincing you, so make that possible by giving her opportunities to.

The advantage of being in a home is you can pop in and out of the room, so she doesn't need to feel shy and inhibited.

I would stay at your relative's home with her all day, and just venture out for a walk. Going to a group with her is difficult on many levels, and will make her feel she is being judged not only by you (which is a given) but by your friends there. If she doesn't get the job, she might be embarrassed that she failed a public interview/trial. If you want to judge her confidence levels you'll be able to see from how she chats with you (and hopefully your DH if he can pop by for a while) during the day.

• Nappy changes
• Playing, read a book,
• Just one or two nursery duties (put a small pile of baby's clothes away/tidy up toys) - which will give you an idea of how thorough and intuitive she is.
• Prepare and give some food, have her sit down to lunch with your baby while you're not at the table (if possible). This will show you how she interacts at a very important socialising time.

Throughout the day leave them alone together for at least two short periods (even just 20 - 30 minutes) while you pop into the next room, kitchen, upstairs to get on with a job. You will be able to hear whether it is going smoothly or not!

Just chat with her throughout the day, get a sense of her values, ethics, childcare opinions...

To be frank, a trial day is basically a very long interview. I've done trial weekends with nannies before. They can be pretty demanding for the nanny, having to be in 'interview-impressing mode' for a stretch of 8 hours. Not many jobs require such long interviews! However, they are a great way for you to make your mind up, followed by the one-month trial period (during which you can both terminate the contract without notice) agreed, of course.