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A nanny can be a life-saver in so many different situations. When you have a last-minute event to attend, when you need to stay late at the office, or even when you’re not feeling well, a good nanny will handle everything for you, leaving you confident your child is n the best possible hands and you can focus on the task in hand.
Of course, you’re going to need to find the right nanny first!
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Agency Help
You may want to consider using nanny services, you’ll find the nannies have all been checked and are properly qualified and experienced. This will make it easier for you to select the right candidate as all you need to worry about is whether you’re going to get along with them, or not.
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Know What You Want
You can’t hire a nanny unless you know what you need them for. This is more than just your working hours. You need to decide on how flexible the nanny needs to be, what unexpected issues are likely to arise, and even how you’ll decide they’re right for your child.
Only after you’ve thought about this can you start the hiring process.
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Interviewing
Even if you’re using an agency you’ll need to have a short interview with the prospective nanny. This is a good opportunity to check references, find out about experience, and, most importantly, simply to chat. For you and your nanny to feel comfortable you both need to get along, if you can’t chat with them easily they are not the nanny for you.
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Health
You about to leave your child in the hands of a comparative stranger. It’s a good idea to check their health background. You’ll need to know if they have any issues that you should know about. That means any health problems that could affect your child or their ability to look after your child.
It’s also a good idea to see if they have any healthcare experience or knowledge, you never know when they may need to provide medical care for your child.
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Write It Down
Once you’ve decided on a nanny you need to draw up a contract and both of you need to sign it. This should be a legal document that covers what you expect from the nanny and ensures you both know where you stand.
If there should be any dispute the document will ensure that you can resolve any issue quickly and fairly. This will give you both peace of mind.
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Work On It
Finally, your nanny will become an important part of your family. That means you need to work daily on improving the relationship between you and your nanny.
Simple things like checking they are okay, asking about their day, and communicating about issues will help you to build a bond. This will inspire loyalty and even better care for your child, giving you the confidence to do your job properly, knowing your child is being well looked after.
1 Comment
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Hi Ruth, your insights on hiring a nanny are invaluable. Your emphasis on knowing what you want, conducting interviews, checking health backgrounds, and establishing clear contracts are crucial steps. Your advice to work on building a relationship with the nanny resonates well. Thanks for sharing!