The Official Blog of Morningside Nannies

The ABC’s of Backup Care

For working parents, having consistent, quality childcare is a priority. But even the most dedicated, responsible childcare provider may become sick, experience a personal or family emergency or require the day off to attend an important meeting or event.

Having a backup care in place can mean the difference between a calm and chaotic response when the need to make alternative childcare plans presents itself.

When considering backup care, we encourage parents to follow these ABC’s:

A. Anticipate the Need.

Sometimes we’re so busy focusing on how much our nannies resemble real-life superheroes we forget that they have their own health and personal matters than need attention. Just like anyone else, nannies can catch the flu, be summonsed to appear for jury duty or deal with family emergencies. Anticipating the need for backup care can set the wheels in motion for developing a comprehensive backup childcare plan.

B. Brainstorm the Solutions.

When it comes to backup care, parents have a variety of solutions at their disposal. For many parents, asking a spouse to stay home from work or calling a family member or friend and asking for help is the first option. These can also be the most cost-effective options. For other parents, early and late childcare programs provided by the school may be suitable solutions. However, for parents who can’t miss work, don’t have family and friends who are available to help out and do not have access to school based childcare, utilizing a Morningside Nannies backup care provider can be the easiest solution. With a single phone call to our office, the Morningside Nannies team can arrange for a prescreened nanny or sitter to provide same day childcare in your home.

C. Connect With Your Contacts.

Once you’ve brainstormed your solutions, you’ll want to connect with your contacts. Reach out to local friends and family and ask them if you can add them to your emergency care contact list. Preregister with the school’s early and late care programs, if possible, so you aren’t left completely tons of paperwork at the last minute. If you’re not already a client, contact our office at (713) 526-3989 and register with us so we can learn as much about your childcare needs as possible, which can speed up the process of finding a qualified backup care provider for your children when you need one.

Having a solid backup childcare plan in place can help to ensure that you secure childcare when you need it most. At Morningside Nannies, whether you need long-term or short-term care, we are here to help you find the right childcare provider for your family.

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4 Reasons to Give Your Nanny a Raise

Many parents wonder when it’s appropriate to provide their nanny with an increase in salary. While employers are not under any legal obligation to offer their employee’s a salary increase, most realize to attract and retain high quality employees, doing so is required.

Parents typically provide their nannies with an increase in pay for four main reasons. These reasons include: to compensate for a cost of living increase, to adjust pay to reflect compensation for an increase in duties, to increase pay to care for an additional child and to acknowledge a job well done.

Cost of Living. Wages are generally adjusted to account for inflation and local pricing. In the corporate world, cost of living increases are often based on the Consumer Price Index. Cost of living increases are typically given once per year and account for a two to three percent pay increase.
Increase of Duties. While a well drafted written work agreement addresses a nanny’s duties and responsibilities, occasionally after employment has begun, minor changes to the agreement need to be made. If the nanny’s duties and responsibilities are increased, her pay should also be increased. For example, if you’ve decided you’d like your nanny to take on household management duties but only hired her to take on child related duties, an increase in pay would be appropriate.
Addition to the family. Unlike daycare centers, parents pay a nanny per family, not per child. However, if a child is added to the family during a nanny’s contract, a pay increase is warranted. Typically parents offer a five to ten percent pay increase when the nanny is responsible for caring for an additional child.
Merit. Like other types of employees, nannies are rewarded for outstanding performance with a merit raise. Typically occurring after a yearend review, parents, on average, provide a five to seven percent merit raise increase per year to nannies who have provided excellent service.

Some parents and nannies opt to include clauses on raises in their work agreement so that the nanny understands what type of pay increases she may be eligible for. Since raises aren’t required, other parents prefer to address opportunities for increases as they arise. However you choose to address raises, compensating your nanny fairly and rewarding her for a job well done will always be appreciated.

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The Benefits of Offering Paid Time Off to Nannies

Under the law, employers have no legal obligation to offer benefits to their employees. However, most employers, even household employers, find that offering basic benefits, like paid vacation time and sick time is crucial to attracting and retaining top quality household staff.

At Morningside Nannies, we encourage parents to offer at least paid vacation and paid sick time to full-time nannies. We also encourage them to contribute to their employee’s health insurance premium if they are able. Since contributions to health insurance premiums are with pre-tax dollars, doing so has financial incentives for both parents and nannies.

When parents offer basic benefits they are able to attract a higher caliber of candidates. Seasoned, professional nannies rarely accept positions that don’t provide at least paid vacation time and sick time. Attracting top-notch candidates often requires a competitive salary and benefits package.

Parents who provide basic employee benefits are able to retain their employees. Although it’s not law, within the industry it is standard for parents to provide their nannies with paid vacation and paid sick time. Typically nannies receive two weeks paid vacation and three to five paid sick days per year.

Nannies understand that their employers depend on them so that they can fulfill their work obligations. Nannies who work for doctors, lawyers and others who can’t miss work often sacrifice their own health and wellbeing so that their employers’ schedules remain uninterrupted. When nannies have access to paid vacation and sick time, it promotes wellness and self-care. When a nanny is able to seek medical care, rest and recover from an illness, she’s able to return to work at full capacity sooner.

Paid time off can also help to prevent burnout. On average, nannies work 40 to 60 hours per week. Paid vacation time encourages nannies to recharge so that they can provide the best care to their employer’s children. Like all employees, nannies need a break from their jobs and those who can’t financially afford to take a break won’t, which can increase the risk of burnout and decrease the quality of care children receive.

It is industry standard for employers to follow the 52 weeks rule. Full-time nannies expect to be paid 52 weeks per year, whether there employers need their services or not. If a family opts to vacation without their nanny, for example, their nanny should still be paid her normal wages.

As parents consider a compensation package, they should carefully consider the advantages of offering of basic employment benefits. In addition to providing paid time off and health insurance benefits, some nanny employers also opt to provide their nannies with contributions towards their retirement.

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All About Light Housekeeping

In the nanny world there are no two words that cause as much confusion as the phrase “light housekeeping.”

Light housekeeping is a phrase that’s commonly used to define picking up around the house. But what picking up means to parents and what it means to nannies can be two totally different things. To some people vacuuming the floor daily may be considered light housekeeping, while to others, it would be considered far from it.

Light housekeeping, when it comes to nanny and parent lingo, is defined as picking up after yourself and leaving the home in the same condition you found it in. It refers to normal and typical daily cleanup.

If a nanny and child were outside playing and tracked mud into the kitchen or if the child spilled milk on the floor during breakfast, for example, cleaning up the mess on the kitchen floor would be considered light housekeeping. Mopping the floor as a regular daily or weekly task, however, would not be considered light housekeeping.

By default, light housekeeping is part of a nanny’s typical duties and responsibilities. Nannies are responsible for undertaking all tasks related to providing childcare. If parents require their nanny to take on additional housekeeping tasks, like dusting or doing the parent’s laundry, they’ll need to discuss these expectations during the interview process with their nanny candidates.

Most nannies typically go above and beyond the call of duty to be helpful employees. If they notice a something needs to be done around the house, they’ll likely lend a helping hand and take care of it. When these occasional gestures become expected, however, nannies may become resentful. It’s important for parents and nannies to have a clear understanding of housekeeping expectations and to not allow additional household responsibilities to creep into the nanny’s list of duties.

At Morningside Nannies, we encourage parents to avoid using the term light housekeeping and to instead provide a bulleted list of atypical household tasks that they expect the nanny to undertake. This may include things like vacuuming daily or changing the bed linens weekly. Having a written work agreement that clearly defines the nanny’s housekeeping responsibilities can help to avoid miscommunication and misunderstandings.

Some nannies will gladly assist with housekeeping tasks while others will flat out refuse. If parents require the nanny to double as a housekeeper, they must ensure that the nanny has adequate time to perform the tasks when the children are not in her care and they should compensate her accordingly. Parents may also wish to consider hiring a housekeeper to take on the additional housekeeping tasks.

In addition to nannies, Morningside Nannies places daily, weekly and even full-time housekeepers. Contact a placement specialist today at 713.526.3989 to learn more about our housekeeping services.

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Is a Nanny Share Your Solution to Finding a Quality Part-Time Provider?

For parents seeking part-time childcare, sharing a nanny can be a cost effective option. Sharing a nanny secures parents the childcare coverage they need and allows the children to receive the consistent, quality care they deserve.

When it comes to sharing a nanny, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all model. In fact, a nanny share arrangement can be as flexible as you need it to be. For parents who need a nanny in the evenings, sharing a nanny with a family who utilizes her during the mornings and afternoons may be a great solution. For parents who require daytime coverage, sharing a nanny with another family during those hours can also work well. For parents who work a Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule, sharing a nanny with parents who need coverage on Tuesday and Thursday can be a suitable arrangement. Depending on your child care needs, you may opt to find another family with coordinating or complimentary care needs.

In addition to splitting the childcare expenses with another family, a nanny share has other benefits. In a nanny share children have a built-in playmate, which can foster socialization and the development of a close friendship. Parents also gain support from another set of parents who they can bounce parenting ideas off of and even trade babysitting duties so both sets of parents can enjoy an occasional sitter-fee free date night. With four parents if the nanny gets sick or needs a day off, there is also a built-in backup plan if parents are willing to take turns taking days off from work to pinch hit for their nanny.

Many professional nannies aren’t interested in taking on part-time work only, so finding a qualified part-time nanny can be challenging. Securing a nanny full-time hours by finding a family who has complimentary care needs or meeting her salary requirements by coordinating with another family opens up the door to a larger pool of qualified candidates to choose from.

Of course, to make a nanny share work, both families have to be willing to hammer out the logistics, interview a nanny and negotiate when it comes to parenting style and expectations. Working out the details like where the nanny will provide care, what will happen if one of the children gets sick and how it will be handled when one family takes a vacation will take some consideration and forethought. Drafting a written work agreement with the other family and then together with the nanny can clarify roles, responsibilities and expectations.

At Morningside Nannies we are seeing an increasing number of families interested in nanny share arrangements. If you’re interested in learning more about sharing a nanny, please contact a placement specialist at 713.526.3989.

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Developing a Household Binder

For many busy families, organizing important household can be a challenge. In addition to organizing basic household information, families with nannies typically have three adult schedules and several children’s schedules to coordinate and manage.

Having a family binder can ensure all important information has a home and can easily be accessed by both parents and nannies. Make your own household binder by adding printed sheets of information and plastic sheet covers and baseball card sleeves to a three ring binder.

The following is a list of information that can be helpful to include.

Children’s Information

Name
Date of Birth
Allergies
Medical Issues
Medications
Clothing Sizes
Immunization History
Authorization to Treat Form
Schedule and Routine

Children’s Contacts

Children’s Pediatrician
Children’s Dentist
Children’s School
Children’s Playmates
Children’s Coaches/Teachers
Pharmacy
Local Library
Local Venues Visited

Insurance Contacts

Children’s Medical Insurance Card
Automobile Insurance Policy Information and Agent Contact
Homeowner’s Insurance Policy Information and Agent Contact

Emergency Contacts

Fire Department
Police Department
Poison Control
Poison Control
Local Hospital
AAA
Mother’s Complete Work Contact Information
Father’s Complete Work Contact Information
Neighbor Complete Contact Information
Local Family Member Complete Contact Information
Out of State Family Member Complete Contact Information

Household Information

House Rules
Alarm Code
Utilities Contact
Landscaper Contact
Plumber Contact
Election Contact
Housekeeper Contact
Auto Mechanic Contact
Baseball Card Sleeve for Holding Business Cards, Library Cards and Museum Passes
Take-Out Menus

Schedules and Calendars

Family Calendar
Parents Work Schedule
Nanny Schedule
School Schedule
Carpool Schedule
Yearly Calendar
Dates to Remember

Depending on your family and household, not all information will apply, you may wish to add more or you may not be comfortable making information like your homeowner’s insurance information readily available to your nanny. The neat thing about a household binder is it’s your to customize however you see fit.

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The 5S’s of Returning Back to Work

Even if you know you have chosen the best childcare provider, returning to work after welcoming a new baby requires a bit of getting used to. Whether you’re going back to work because you financially have to or because you want to, you’ll likely experience a mix of happiness, sadness, guilt and doubt.

As you prepare for your transition back into the workforce, consider these tips:

Solidify your childcare arrangements. If you’re not confident in your childcare provider, you won’t be able to focus on your work. For parents who wish to handpick their childcare provider and have the most control over how their baby spends her day, hiring a Morningside Nanny is the most suitable option.
Set up a routine. When it comes to managing kids and career, a routine will allow you to maximize the time in a day. Wake up a few minutes before your baby so you can tend to your own morning needs before having to tend to his. You’ll also want to do what you can the night before, including getting your clothing out for the day. If you opt for daycare, rather than an in-home provider, you’ll also want to be sure your baby’s bag is packed and ready to go the night before too.
Schedule time for yourself. Whether you pencil in a time-out to soak in the bathtub or return a phone call to a friend, add an appointment with yourself to your daily planner. If you don’t take care of your own needs, you won’t be able to take care of the needs of others.
Skip the guilt. Morningside Nannies team member Michelle LaRowe often says “guilt is mommyversal.” If you’re making the best decisions for your family, that’s all that matters. Whether you work or stay home, you’ll always find something to feel guilty about. Give yourself a mental break and allow yourself to enjoy being at home and work and embrace the additional love from others your baby receives.
Surround yourself with support. When you’re managing work, home and family, it’s important to surround yourself with supportive people and services. When managing home, delegate what you can. Do your grocery shopping online, order take-out once a week; use a dry cleaner that picks up and drops off and signup for Morningside Nannies back-up and temporary care services so extra help is always a phone call away. And when family and friends ask how they can help, let them know. Whether it’s bringing over a meal or snuggling with your baby while you catch a nap, they’ll truly be glad to help.

The Morningside Nannies team is dedicated to helping parents find the right childcare solutions for their family. Contact a placement specialist today at 713.526.3989 to learn more about how hiring a qualified nanny can benefit your family.

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5 Solutions for Common Problems Nanny and Employers Face

Even in the best of relationships an occasional problem surfaces. This is no different in the relationship between a nanny and her employers. Fortunately, in the nanny and employer relationship preventive measures can eliminate or minimize most common problems nannies and parents face.

Some of the most common problems we hear about at Morningside Nannies, and our solutions to them, are included below.

Problem 1: Changing of Expectations

By nature nannies are caretakers and helpers. It’s not unusual for a nanny to go above and beyond the call of duty and tackle tasks outside of her required ones if it means lending the parents an occasional hand. However, when a nanny unloads the clean dishes in the dishwasher upon arrival because mom is running late or folds the parent’s laundry because she has to do the kids linens and they are in the dryer, these gestures can become expected daily tasks, and when that happens resentment can settle in.

Solution: Having a written work agreement that outlines the nannies duties and responsibilities can help to prevent job creep. If parents require the nanny to take on additional duties and tasks, speaking directly to the nanny about them can help to ensure everyone understands the new expectations. If the tasks are outside the scope of the work agreement, the nanny should be compensated accordingly.

Problem 2: Payroll Issues

There’s nothing worse than having to ask for your paycheck at the end of the week or to receive a paycheck that’s for less than the anticipated amount. Nannies who have to remind their employers to pay them may feel resentful for having to ask to be paid or to have the amount corrected.

Solution: Parents should provide a logbook for the nanny to track her hours in and the hours tallied in the logbook should be used to calculate the hours worked. Parents should consider utilizing a payroll service like Breedlove & Associates to handle their payroll needs or using direct deposit to pay their nanny promptly on a the scheduled day.

Problem 3: On Time Arrivals

Parents depend on nannies to arrive on time so that they can meet their personal or professional obligations. Nannies depend on parents to arrive home on time so that they can end their workday and fulfill their own commitments. While of course parents understand that nannies can be late due to no fault of their own and nannies understand parents can get tied up at work, if being punctual is an ongoing problem, it’s going to create stress and tension in the nanny and employer relationship.

Solution: When providing the nanny with her schedule parents should avoid presenting the best case scenario. If they’re scheduled to get off of work at 6 but they know that rarely happens, they should adjust the nanny’s hours accordingly. Nannies should allow adequate time to get to work in the morning and make an effort to arrive a few minutes early so that they are ready to begin their day at their scheduled time.

Problem 4: Miscommunication

Miscommunications can arise when parents and nannies don’t fully communicate scheduling changes, expectations or information. Forgetting to tell a nanny that an afternoon playdate has been scheduled or assuming mom passed along the message that dad would be late that evening can be problematic.

Solution: Setting the stage for effective communication is important. Having a logbook or journal, a family calendar, a morning and evening debriefing session and weekly meetings can help to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Problem 5: Presenting a United Front

When addressing behavioral issues with the children, if the parents and nanny aren’t united in their behavioral expectations, setting of consequences the children will sense a crack in the parenting team and will take advantage of it.

Solution: Parents and nannies should strive to create a supportive environment. If the parents disagree on the way a nanny has handled a situation, instead of overriding her decision in front of the children, the parents should speak to the nanny in private and provide alternative ways of handling the situation.

Like with any relationship, when a problem comes up, addressing it and working it out as soon as possible minimizes the impact on the relationship. We encourage families to have open and honest communication and to address issues as they arise.

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Rainy Day Fun in Houston

Being stuck indoors when the kids have loads of energy is no fun. Fortunately, Houston is home to many indoor attractions geared towards children. In addition to the local library or mall play space; there are other fun venues that may be the perfect cure to cabin fever.

Visit the Children’s Museum of Houston

Visiting the Children’s Museum of Houston is a great way to spend a rainy day. Open Tuesdays through Saturdays 10am to 6pm and Sundays noon to 6pm, adults and children over one enter the museum for just $9 and on Thursdays between 5pm and 8pm, museum admission is free. With 14 hands-on galleries, children can enjoy a fun and educational interactive experience. Check the museum’s website to plan your adventure and make the most out of your trip.

Head to Happy Playground

Heading to Happy Playground will give the kids a chance to play and party. Open Monday through Thursday from 10am to 5pm and Fridays from 10am to 3pm for open play, kids can run, play and climb in a safe and clean indoor environment. Open play is $8 per child with no charge for adults.

Jump on over to Fun Max Jump In

Jump on over the Fun Max Jump in Webster and let the kids jump and bounce on giant inflatables. With an obstacle course inflatable and an inflatable set aside for younger kids, the kids are sure to get some energy out. Open gym times vary, so visit contact Fun Max Jump In prior to heading out. Open play is $7 per child and adults are free.

Wander over to Wonderwild

Wander over to Wonderwild for the kids Monday through Friday 10am to 6pm (summer hours 9am to 7pm) for open play. For $10 for walkers and $8 for pre-walkers, kids can explore soft play structures, jumping pillow and inflatables. Siblings under 9 months and adults are free. Wonderwild is sure to be a wonderful adventure for children ages 8 and under.

But if heading out isn’t on your agenda, don’t worry. We’ve got some creative ideas for you to try out at home. Consider getting crafty with these three Morningside Nannies staff favorites.

Fill a large soda bottle with rice and add small items like a plastic doll shoe, a piece of hard candy, a broken piece of chalk and coins. Tape the cap shut. Shake it up and see what the kids can find.

Bake a batch of cookies. This deliciously good activity even has an educational component. Reinforce basic math skills by having the kids help with measuring, pouring and mixing. For a twist, have the kids decorate make and bake sugar cookies for decorating.

Make homemade play dough. In a pan on the stovetop mix together two cups of flour, two cups of warm water, 1 cup of salt, 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon of cream of tartar. Heat and stir until a dough forms. Add food coloring or powdered drink mix to add color.

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Changes to the IRS Mileage Reimbursement Rate for 2013

Morningside Nannies encourages parents with nannies who use their own vehicle to transport the children and run work-related errands to reimburse their nannies according to the IRS standard mileage reimbursement rate.

The IRS mileage reimbursement rate is designed to cover transportation costs including gas, vehicle maintenance and vehicle wear and tear during working hours. The miles a nanny commutes to and from work are not eligible for reimbursement.

As of January 1, 2013, the IRS standard mileage reimbursement rate will be $56.5 cents per mile. This amount is one cent higher than the 2012 rate.

Nannies can keep track of work-related mileage by:

Keeping a log book in the vehicle and tracking the starting and ending mileage.
Purchase and use a notepad especially designed to track mileage.
Use an iPhone app like Trip Cubby, Tap2Track or a variety of other available applications.

Once nannies have tracked their mileage for the pay period, they should tally up the miles, multiply them by the mileage reimbursement rate and turn in a reimbursement request to their employers including the number of miles driver, the mileage reimbursement rate and the total requested reimbursement.

Prior to nannies transporting children in their own vehicle, they should confirm that their automobile policy covers transporting children for work. If it doesn’t, the policy should be changed to include such coverage.

Nannies should also ensure that they have proper child passenger restraints correctly installed in their vehicle and that they have a clear understanding on how to safely use them.

Posted in Advice for Nannies, Advice for Parents | Tagged nannies and families, paying nanny | Comments Off

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