Nannys First Day

[JBrowneB]

Our live out nanny starts work with us soon. We have a 6 month old baby (our first) and never had a nanny before so a bit apprehensive! I will be working from home to start but gradually going back to the office.

I would love to know some do's and don'ts for the first day and/or week, and what are the essentials I should cover with our nanny? Really keen to get it right and for it to work for everyone. What is the norm regarding live out nannies and lunch/food? Our baby is obviously not eating full meals yet so she will not be cooking daily for our child.. I don't cook every day/eat at regular times and often don't have time for lunch with work calls.

I read a welcome pack is a good start, with contact numbers, details, baby routine, and duties expected of the nanny. I would like her to feed, change and play with the baby, make bottles and do babies laundry when baby naps, if possible.

Many thanks for any advice -really want the nanny to be happy and comfortable so would be grateful for any tips!

I'm a nanny and on my first day I like to know things like;

• children's routine
• how the washing machine/dishwasher/oven work
• alarm codes
• where the fuse box and stopcock are
• where you keep spare nappies, loo rolls, wipes etc

The best handover you can do is to show her round the house, tell her a bit about the baby, give her chance to ask any questions then let her get on with it with as little interference from you as possible. A good nanny will have no problem getting straight into the job and it's so much easier than having a parent hanging around. Children tend to settle quicker too when parents are not around.

With regards to food, I have it written in my contract that I am provided with one meal a day. Usually I bring something with me from home, but it's nice to ask the nanny if there is anything in particular that she would like for sandwiches/light lunch, ditto any particular drinks she likes.

Do spend some time having a general chat, going though current routine, explaining any appliances work, giving them a house key (or other way of getting in to the home without disturbing you whilst you are working). Buggies can be fun... do show how it collapses. You will quickly get a feeling for if you are being too detailed with them or not by their reactions, so at that point ask them what they need to know.

Let them spend as much time with baby without you there. They need time to interact, so baby feels comfortable with them.

Provide lunch, hot drinks etc. Ask your nanny about what they want you to get in with regards to food. They may prefer to bring their own but it is more typical that the employer provides in my view. It is often something that is specified in the contract. Explain about how you do things, have a way of indicating that certain things in the fridge are not be to used - if that applies. Generally I would say that nannies are fairly good at making lunch for themselves, and the children in their care (when age appropriate) from whatever is available in the fridge, freezer and cupboards.

You feed your nanny - sarnie jacket soup etc

she will eat with your child as gets older

Don’t micromanage

don’t keep coming in to room as your baby will want you, you leave, bsby cries and nanny has to deal with this

pay on time and make sure not late back when back at office

contract with duties - anything child related the nanny should do

Leave your home which is their workplace clean and tidy and she should do the same

Thanks all, this is very helpful. In your experience, where does the nanny prefer to spend their time or does it just depend on the set up of the particular household? ie do they end up in the nursery/childs room a lot or would they be in the kitchen/living room more often, etc?

I haven't nannied for years but when I did I generally spent time in the living room/play area with baby. I usually went for a walk everyday (I was in Oz so took baby to the beach etc).

Also kitchen for food prep, bottles etc. As baby will be weaning soon that will increase quite quickly as presumably the nanny will do most of baby's meals.

I also did baby groups, music class, baby sensory etc.

I didn't generally spend time in baby's room apart from nap times and to put away laundry etc.

A list of baby groups/age appropriate activities or venues in the area might be useful if you're looking for the nanny to take baby out. Particularly if there are any you already attend that it might be nice to continue.

All of the things covered above are great,
but also is she using her own car or are you providing one? A nanny kitty was useful for toddler groups soft play etc.
Are you happy for her to have play dates at your house, happy for her to go to other houses with children who have nannies?
I find these things useful to iron out early on

Yes we had £50 in cash in a sandwich bag in the kitchen with a little notebook and I'd keep a note of what I took when and what for. A bit like petty cash!

I used their car and petrol so that was easy.

The baby I nannied is a doctor now!

Where I work there is a playroom, but we spend most of the day in the open plan kitchen/family area. The dining table is useful for drawing and crafts, the tiled floor means that messy play is easy to clean up and I can chat and play with the children whilst I'm cooking.
in my experience, children's bedrooms tend to be just for sleeping.

Playroom or living room or both

not in child’s bedroom