please help,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[SAMS73]

My new nanny started few days ago. She seems alright. She is fine with the little one. I have had few hours on my own - went to gym, friends place etc., but was always within 5 minutes reach. Going back ft soon but am dreading it. DD seem to be settling well. Cant let it go( all the horror stories you hear haunts you).She seems to be a sensible person and I have been quite friendly with her, explained what we do for the baby etc.,Any adv how to be professional but at the same time friendly.Dont want her interpreting my friendly/laid back attitude as a sign of weakness and therefore exploiting it.TIA.Sorry for the ramble

glad seems to be going well

of course you are dreading going FT, you are leaving your little one with a stranger

you say she sounds sensible, so trust your gut instincts

cousre she wont find your laid back attitude a sign of weakness - tbh she will prob be relived you are relaxed/friendly

and try NOT to keep calling her during your working day

if there is a problem sure she will call you

i have never nannied or used one, but i reckon the advice of start as you mean to go on could be useful to you.

Good luck.

I think communication is the key to a good employer / employee relationship. Make sure you set aside time once a week to talk about the job, how things are going, things you think are important etc. It's often the little things that add up into something bigger if they're not ironed out in the beginning. I don't mean in a 'sit down and grill the poor girl' way more a relaxed chat over a cup of coffee where you listen to any views your nanny may have too. Set the boundaries from day one by all means but if you give her a little freedom to do her own thing and show her you respect her as a childcare proffessional, hopefully she will respect you in return and look after your DD as you would want. I'm sure it will all be fine.

Thanks everyone. I doing some shopping etc., and have text her twice in two days (approx 3hours out each day ). DD seems to be settling well. She has not maintained a dairy for the baby but I guess that I am around most of the time. Do you think I should insist on having one as quite like to know what my DD has done during the day.

if you want a diary then tell her

i personally dont do a diary but thats just me - i tell mb at end of day what we have done

my last job wanted a diary, and i did one but was basic, as in when slept, what they ate and what we did

I kept a diary for a lot of the children I nannied for. I would write in when they slept, what they had to eat and where we went that day. One family had a pad which the mum would write notes in for me if they weren't important enough to speak to me about but still wanted to tell me.

A lot of my mums would ring me at least once a day and I didn't mind at all. I also could ring them when I wanted for anything at all.

thanks for all the adv