The Nanny Bible

The Nanny Bible

By Morgan on Thu, 03/14/2019 - 21:54
kid couch

 

  1. Respect your nanny’s time. This means unless it’s an absolute emergency do not contact her after hours. Little Susie can’t find her stuffed animal that she sleeps with every night? Not your nanny’s problem. You need a sitter for a Saturday night out with friends? Again, not her issue. Wait until you se her the next day to ask. If you’re worried about forgetting (because I know someone had that thought) simply set an alarm.  

  1. Acknowledge your nanny’s anniversary with your family. Each and every year. I’m not talking any BS little cotchkey tokens of your appreciation. Do as much as you can if she’s good to your family and your children love her. Most importantly make sure to give her card that tells her exactly how much her contribution is appreciated.  

  1. Come home on time. Do not be perpetually late. Minutes add up to hours and she should be paid for those hours. If you’re over fifteen minutes late LET HER KNOW and then pay her for her time. Nannies have lives too and aren’t just meant to serve your family. They have people and things they need to get to, and its an inconvenience when you are always late to relive them.  

  1. If your nanny does something you don’t like tell her. Self explanatory right? Nope, it seems not.  

  1. Don’t talk shit about your nanny in front of your children. Kids repeat things. These are facts.  

  1. When you add tasks for your nanny add money. For example, because I know you moms are lurking-if when she started working you didn’t think to ask her to bathe your kids nightly, give them dinner, and fold your laundry and you’ve gradually added those tasks to her to do list then GIVE. HER. MORE. MONEY. Yes, weekly.  

  1. Nannies and housekeepers are not synonomous. Nannies do kid related things. Housekeepers do household related things. Nannies are also not personal assistants (unless that’s what you discussed at the beginning of your time together) This means do not ask her to do anything unless its related to the kids.  

  1. Do not micromanage. It’s annoying af- plain and simple. It also conveys to your nanny that you don’t trust her to do her job. Lay out your expectations in the beginning and then let her do her job.  

  1. Just because your nanny does something once out of the kindness of her heart doesn’t mean that you should start expecting it all the time. Who raised you people? Definitely  

  1. Spoil her. She’s with our kids all day and you know how that goes right? For some of you, she's with them because you’d rather not. So don’t just say you appreciate her, show her. Saying thank you is nice but when’s the last time you took a thank you to the bank? This looks different for each family but give her random paid days off, bring her a smoothie, a cup of coffee, hell a Gucci bag. But heres the key. If you treat her exceedingly well she will go above and beyond for you. She will voluntarily ask if you need a date night, happily organize the playroom, and then some.