Hiring a Live-In Nanny -- All you need to know
Hiring a live-in nanny may be a wonderful option if you are
looking for flexible, full-time, in-home child care. Live-in nannies can help
get your children off to school in the morning, greet them when they finish
their school day and bring them to practices and play-dates. They can also help
out in the evenings by encouraging good study habits and proper hygiene in your
children.
If you travel extensively, work the evening shift or are away from
home overnight for any reason, live-in nannies can provide overnight
supervision. Moreover, live-in nannies can help you deal with all-night
screaming infants while you get back on your feet and back into your daily
routine after giving birth.
If you are considering a live-in nanny, it is important to take
your time during the hiring process and to get to know as much as you can about
the person whom you are considering for employment. Unlike a live-out nanny, a
live-in nanny will be living in your home, so you will need to determine if her
habits, mannerisms and lifestyle are compatible with everyone in your family.
Before hiring a live-in nanny, talk to other parents who have hired a live-in nanny and
find out about their experiences. During the hiring process, outline in detail
the schedule you will need your nanny to follow and exactly what chores and
duties you expect your nanny to fulfill. These details should also be outlined
in the nanny and employer work agreement.
To find the nanny for your family, you will have to be both honest
and realistic in your expectations for what duties you think a live-in nanny
should be asked to take on. Negotiate a fair salary and make sure that your
potential live-in nanny is comfortable with the housing arrangements you plan
to provide.
A few important things to remember when you are looking for a
live-in nanny is that you are not hiring a housekeeper or a personal assistant
(That is, of course, unless you specify that you are interested in hiring
someone willing to fill more roles than in-home childcare itself. In this
case, you may want to look specifically for live-in nannies who are also
housekeepers) and that live-in nannies are not on-call 24/7. Just like live-out
nannies, live-in nannies should be presented with a work schedule and must be
paid for each hour that they work. In some states, live-in nannies must also be
paid overtime.
Finalizing Your Search for Live-in Nannies
When you hire a live-in nanny, you may be hiring a dedicated childcare professional who has previous live-in experience or a young, relatively
inexperienced childcare provider who has never lived outside of her parents’
home. Live-in nannies may hold degrees in early childhood education, may be
healthcare professionals, or may be experienced nannies who have decided that
they prefer live-in working arrangements. For a talented, creative individual,
working as a live-in nanny is a challenging and rewarding career.
Once you’ve decided to hire a live-in nanny, you’ll need to be
sure that your home can accommodate an additional adult. Make sure that the living quarters for your
live-in nanny are adequate and comfortable, and that the living quarters allow
for privacy during your nanny’s off hours. Typical nanny accommodations include
a separate, furnished bedroom and a private bath. Your live-in nanny should not
be living in an unfurnished basement or expected to share a bedroom with the
children.
Most live-in nannies will expect two consecutive days off per
week, and you should negotiate a fair work agreement that includes rules for
overtime, time off, vacation and on-call hours.
If you want your live-in nanny to perform duties beyond in-home
childcare, such as light cleaning or meal preparation for the family (which
could also be considered a nanny/housekeeper), help with business duties or
personal assistant work, be sure that your nanny has enough time at home-when
the kids aren't around-to finish the tasks that you expect. And when it comes
to overtime or additional duties, your nanny should be given extra
compensation.
A live-in nanny is not only a talented caregiver, but will
likely become a family friend for life. Take care that you are fair and honest
with your nanny. From working out the contract to solving disagreements, it is
extremely important that you build a trusting relationship with your live-in
nanny.
Join us and start your search for a live-in nanny today!