The Official Blog of Morningside Nannies

Making Morning and Evening Transitions a Cinch

For parents and nannies, the daily morning and evening transition, more accurately described as the changing of the guard, can be quite stressful. If it happens too fast, the children may feel like they forgot to say goodbye, which can lead to an off start to the next segment of the day. If it takes too long, the children may resist the change, making the transition more dramatic and tantrum filled than it needs to be, leaving everyone to start the next segment of the day on a low note.

So what’s the solution?

At Morningside Nannies we encourage parents and nannies to work together to develop a simple routine that they follow during the morning and evening transition.

In the mornings this may include:

Keeping the pre-nanny morning routine consistent. Knowing that his nanny is going to show up to get him out of bed or right after breakfast will help him to understand what to expect in his day.

Creating a positive association with the arrival of the nanny. If a child is sitting happily, watching his favorite Thomas the Train episode, shutting it off right before nanny comes in will be a recipe for disaster. Instead, have the nanny join him to finish watching his favorite morning show and they can shut it off to start their day together.

Have a special goodbye mom or dad ritual. “See you later alligator, in a while crocodile” followed by a high five and a fist bump may be all it takes to establish a fun way of saying goodbye. A hug, handshake and hearty wave can help encourage successful separation.

In the evenings this may include:

Keeping the pre mom or dad arrival routine consistent. Perhaps the last thing the nanny does before mom or dad arrives home is to give the kids a bath or read a story to them. Knowing that mom or dad will arrive after a specific activity can help children to anticipate what comes next.

Having mom or dad change into “play clothes” when returning home. Nothing signals its mommy time like cozy clothes that are designed to be climbed on. By coming in and getting changed you are signaling to the kids that you’ve transitioned from work to home and are ready to focus on family.

Having a special goodbye nanny ritual. Singing a short goodbye song., chanting a special phrase you’ve come up with together or beeping the horn before you drive away can help the kids to disconnect and move onto mom and dad time more successfully.

While it can be tempting to give just one more hug or high five, prolonging transitions often does more harm than good. Saying goodbye and then following through by leaving signals to a child that she’s in safe and in competent hands. For moms who feel anxious, calling home ten minutes after you’ve left can help ease anxiety. You’ll likely hear lots of giggles and laughter on the other end of the line.

Some children just have a tough time separating and transitioning. With patience and consistency overtime they should more easily adjust to the routine. If a child continues to have a challenge separating and doesn’t calm down after a parent has left, evaluate the routine and the quality of the connection the child and nanny share.

Posted in Advice for Nannies, Advice for Parents | Tagged child care, transitions | Comments Off

5 Pillars of a Healthy Nanny and Employer Relationship

When you think about it, there’s hardly a more intimate working relationship that exists than that between a nanny and her employers. The nature of the work and the workplace naturally lend themselves to employers and employees developing a deeper relationship than those engaged in many other types of working arrangements. For this reason, defining the nanny and employer relationship and the boundaries that govern it can be a bit complex and subjective.

In some families, the nanny is treated like a cherished member of the family, invited to family celebrations and included in all family events, while in others, the nanny is treated like a valued employee, the line between employer and employee never being crossed. While neither is necessarily right nor wrong, the attributes of one will likely feel more comfortable to each party.

Regardless of which of these attributes the relationship takes on, however, there are certain traits that are found in every healthy nanny and employer relationship.

At Morningside Nannies, as parents and nannies enter into new working relationships we stress the importance of building them on these five pillars.

Trust

Parents and nannies must work together to develop and foster a culture of trust. Both parties must be willing to trust each other and must be confident in each other’s intentions and abilities.

Building trust starts with being honest, setting and honoring boundaries, being reliable, keeping your word and by being transparent.

Trust isn’t developed overnight. It can take weeks, months or more to develop. It can also be broken overnight.

Mutual Respect

Parents and nannies must have mutual respect for each other for the employment relationship to succeed. Both parents and nannies must value the role each person plays in the household and in the lives of the children.

Mutual respect means having value for each other’s boundaries and each other’s time. It means backing each other up in front of the children, praising in public and criticizing in private. Having mutual respect means treating each other with concern, fairly and courteously, especially in front of others.

Mutual respect can be established from the start of the relationship.

Open Communication

Parents and nannies must work to foster an environment where open communication is appreciated and valued. Open communication allows nannies and parents to share information, concerns and aspirations as they work together to raise the children.

To keep the lines of communication open, parents and nannies can establish a quick morning and evening debriefing routine, maintain a daily log, have a daily check-in time and hold a weekly or monthly meeting.

Parents and nannies should encourage each other to bring up concerns as they come up, to ask questions and to share feelings or concerns with confidence that they’ll be listened to.

Commitment

Parents and nannies must make every effort to honor their commitments. In any relationship, when issues arise walking away can seem like the easy solution. Parents and nannies will experience ups and downs in their working relationship and as long as the child’s safety isn’t of concern, trying to work them out can often be the best solution.

If parents and nannies don’t commit to addressing problems and honoring their commitments, it can be easy for one party to be fearful the other will walk away, which adds unnecessary stress and strain to the working relationship.

When it is known that both parties are vested in the relationship and committed to it, there’s a willingness to invest the time and energy required to improve the working relationship.

Healthy nanny and employer relationships are worth establishing and maintaining. When the employer and employee relationship is healthy, the parents, the nanny and most importantly, the children, benefit from it.

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

Work-Life Issues Nannies and Parents Should Discuss

When it comes to nannies and families, certain issues come up that are unique to working in a private home. Issues surrounding social media use, computer and phone use, personal errands, getting out of the house and meals are likely to be problematic if the topics aren’t addressed between a nanny and her employer up front.

At Morningside Nannies, we encourage our clients and nannies to have discussions about these five work-life related issues.

Social Media Use

For some nannies and parents, posting images on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter depicting their daily comings and goings is second nature. For others, they’ve been proactive and have purposely kept images of themselves, their children or their charges off of the Internet.

When it comes to sharing images and information on the Internet, not all parents and nannies feel the same way. What one person views as a checking-in with friends and family, another may view as a major safety violation.

It’s important for nannies and parents to discuss what’s acceptable and what’s not when it comes to sharing information and images on the Internet. Some parents are fine if the nanny talks about the child by first initial only and only posts images where you can’t see the child’s face, others won’t allow any sharing of images and information and still others give the nanny free reign so share whatever she feels appropriate because social media gives them a way to keep up with their nanny and child’s daily adventures while they’re away.

Phone and Computer Use

With technology that can keep you constantly connected, it’s no surprise that most nannies will have smart phones, iPods or other pocket-sized devices. While most nannies understand that personal calls should be kept to a minimum during working hours, what’s acceptable and what’s not when it comes to being online or on the phone is something that nannies and parents must hammer out.

Most parents recognize that nannies work long hours without lots of adult interaction, and as such, allow them to use the computer and phone during their downtime- when the children are napping or resting.

While most nannies realize the importance of not talking or texting when driving, it is always good to issue a reminder that when at playground, on a play date or otherwise interacting with the children, the children need their caregiver’s undivided and uninterrupted attention.

Since some parents enjoy getting regular texts and images from their nannies and others don’t, it’s important for parents to clarify expectations with regards to their nanny’s phone and computer use. To do so parents and nannies should have a conversation about what each feels is appropriate and come to an agreement about talking, texting and web surfing during working hours.

Personal Errands

It’s no secret that nanny’s work bankers and doctors hours. For many nannies, it’s impossible to get to the bank, the post office or make a doctor’s appointment outside of her working hours.

While some parents prefer the nanny take the day off to do her errands and schedule her appointments, others prefer the nanny take their child along with her to complete her errands, if she is willing, instead.

If a nanny is out doing errands for the family, some parents won’t mind if the nanny makes a stop to deposit money in the bank or pick up a coffee from Starbucks while others would consider such acts a major violation of trust.

It’s important for parents and nannies to fully discuss what’s allowed and what’s not when it comes to running personal errands on the job.

Getting Out of the House

Most nannies expect that they’ll be allowed to transport the children to and from activities and outings. Nannies who have taken a position and learn that their employer’s had different expectations, may become a bit disspointed.

Some parents are comfortable with their nanny driving their children anywhere and everywhere, others have rules that allow non-highway driving only. Still others may only allow the nanny to transport the children if absolutely necessary.

Having a discussion about transporting the children is essential to ensure both parents and nannies are on the same page. In addition to transportation rules, if the nanny is driving her vehicle it is essential that the nanny confirms her automobile policy covers transporting children for work and if it doesn’t the necessary policy changes are made. If the nanny is using her vehicle, she should also be reimbursed in accordance with the IRS mileage reimbursement rate. If the nanny will be using a family provided vehicle, the parents should ensure the nanny is listed as an additional driver.

Most parents understand that it is healthy for both the nanny and child to attend play groups, age-appropriate outings and activities together. Interacting with peers provides for opportunities for social growth and development. Discussing the parameters of how interactions can take place can ensure that the nanny and child form healthy bonds with their peers.

Meals

It’s no surprise that nannies eat a meal or two on the job given the number of hours they work each day. But when it comes to eating the family’s food, it’s different strokes for different folks.

Many parents have no issue with the nanny preparing and sharing meals with the children. Others prefer their nanny to bring their own food to work with them. Still others set aside a special place in the fridge and pantry for the nanny to stockpile her staples. But even the most casual parent who gives the nanny open access to the fridge may have specialty foods that are off limits to everyone else.

Discussing expectations when it comes to eating on the job is important. Even employers of live-in nannies who provide room and board as part of their nanny’s compensation package should discuss food rules with their nanny. Some parents just have the nanny pick up what she wants to eat when doin the grocery shopping for the kids, others prefer the nanny to leave a list and still others simply provide a cash fund each week the nanny can use towards meals.

Determining what the expectations are of each party can prevent negative issues from arising in theworking relationship. Adding an addendum to the written work agreement outliting the resolutions you’ve come to can ensure that everyone undrerstands the mutally agreed upon expectations.

Posted in Advice for Nannies, Advice for Parents | Tagged nanny rules | Comments Off

4 Ways to Cut Nanny Costs

Many parents love the idea of nanny care but the sticker price, not so much. Fortunately, for those parents who want their children to have attentive and personalized care by a highly qualified provider, there are ways to reduce payroll costs and make in-home childcare more affordable.

At Morningside Nannies, we’re often asked how parents can reduce the costs of nanny care without sacrificing the quality of care. While parents can opt to hire a less experienced caregiver at a less expensive rate, that isn’t always the answer. In fact, we encourage parents to consider these four ways of cutting their nanny payroll costs that don’t involve slashing the nanny’s hourly wage rate.

Pay On the Books

Paying your nanny legally isn’t optional. Yet when parents learn that paying their nanny legally will result in about 10% of the nanny’s annual income in tax obligations, many opt to pay off the books and skirt their tax responsibilities. What they fail to recognize, however, is that in addition to having to pay hefty fees and back taxes when caught, parents who pay their nanny legally have access to significant tax savings and credits that can offset those out-of-pocket expenses. In fact, in some cases, the tax savings can actually be more than the employer’s share of taxes. Using a reputable nanny tax and payroll service can ensure you maximize your tax savings.

Offer Your Nanny Health Insurance

If your nanny requests that you contribute to her health insurance premium, don’t panic. In fact, you may wish to jump at the opportunity. Contributions towards an employee’s health insurance premium are considered non-taxable income. This means that neither the nanny nor the nanny employer is responsible for paying taxes on the funds contributed to health insurance. By reducing the amount of your nanny’s taxable salary, you’re also reducing your employer tax obligation, which can save you a significant some of money.

Share a Nanny

Perhaps you’re interested in all of the benefits nanny care has to offer, but the price tag that comes with it turns you off. Consider sharing a nanny with a friend, neighbor, co-worker or family member who is also in need of childcare. While working out the logistics of sharing a nanny can be a little complicated at first, with a solid written agreement with both the nanny and the other set of parents, it’s completely manageable. You’ll cut your nanny care costs in half, you’ll still benefit from the flexibility and convenience nanny care offers and your child will reap the benefits of having an attentive childcare provider who can focus on meeting your child’s unique needs.

Hire a Nanny Turned Mom

It should be no surprise that many qualified, experienced and veteran nannies eventually become primary caregivers of their own children – and don’t want to leave their child in the care of another. Yet those same dedicated, highly referenced and exceptional nannies often have the most difficult time securing employment after they’ve had a child of the their own. Most professional nannies have experience caring for siblings and contrary to what some may believe, won’t be overwhelmed caring for another child along with their own. In fact they are used to juggling the needs of multiple children and if given the chance, most will prove that they won’t play favorites. If you’re looking to secure a qualified nanny at an affordable price, consider hiring a nanny who wishes to take her children to work with her. Many nannies will be willing to accept a lower hourly rate considering the benefits that come along with being able to bring their child own to work with them.

If you’re considering hiring a nanny for your children but aren’t sure about the costs involved, give one of our placement specialists a call at 713.526.3989. We’re here to help you find the best solution to your childcare needs.

Posted in Advice for Parents | Tagged nanny costs, nanny payroll, paying nanny | Comments Off

7 Interviewing Tips for Parents

Interviewing nannies is a multistep process. While it starts with our staff prescreening candidates and only presenting to you those nannies who are qualified to fill your position, it ends with you personally interviewing those nannies you are interested in for hiring consideration.

The interview process provides an opportunity for you to gather information about a potential nanny. The more information you gather the more educated and informed your hiring decision will be.

While it can be awkward to ask a potential caregiver pointed questions about her experience, child care philosophy and family background, doing so is important and our nannies are prepared to answer most any question that you may ask.

As you interview a potential nanny, keep these tips in mind:

Use the telephone interview to go over the basics. A telephone interview provides you an opportunity to share more about the position and learn more about the caregiver’s qualifications and interest in the job. You can use the telephone interview to weed out any candidates that don’t seem like a good fit.
Hold your first in person meeting in our office or in a public space. We encourage parents to conduct the first in person interview without the children present in a public space, like a coffee shop or in the comfort of our office. Doing so allows you to better focus on learning more about the candidate.
Take notes. Create a folder for each candidate. Store the information we provide in each candidate’s folder along with a few blank pages of paper. Take notes during the phone and in person interview and write your overall thoughts about each candidate after your interaction.
Ask open-ended questions. Rather than asking yes or no questions, ask open ended questions like “Tell me about your nanny experience” to glean additional information and insight. Use open-ended questions to ask follow-up questions when you don’t feel like you’re getting enough information.
Phrase questions to address what a candidate has done, not what she would do. Instead of asking “How would you spend the day with my child?” ask a nanny candidate “How did you spend a typical day when caring for your previous charge?” When you phrase questions based on past experiences, you’re more likely to glean information that points to a candidate’s typical patterns of behavior.
Encourage the candidate to ask questions. Parents and nannies work together as a team, so it’s important that nannies also gather as much information as they can to determine if a job and family is the right fit. Asking candidates if they have any questions for you can open the door to learning more about your family and your childcare needs.
Gauge your connection. Even the best nanny isn’t the right nanny for every family. When interviewing a nanny, it’s important to consider how you feel about the candidate. It’s important to choose a nanny that you’re comfortable being around and whose personality, morals and lifestyle complements your family.

Interviewing can be stressful for both parents and nannies. Even parents who are skilled interviewers can be uneasy interviewing a candidate for a household position. For nannies, being in the limelight can be a bit uncomfortable. As a result, during the interview it will take a few minutes to warm up.

Once you’ve decided on a favorite candidate or two, we encourage you to hold a working interview to get a sense of how the nanny would fit into your family’s life. During a working interview the nanny should be compensated her normal hourly rate for her time. Most working interviews last from one to three days.

Need help with the interview process? Contact one of our placement specialists for resources to help you hold a successful interview. We can provide sample questions and additional tips to help you make the most of your interviews.

Posted in Advice for Parents | Tagged nanny interview, nanny search | Comments Off

8 Ways to Make a Great First Impression

Making a good impression is essential to landing the nanny job that you want. In a competitive job market being well-prepared for your nanny interview can mean the difference between getting the job offer and not. In addition to being prepared to answer questions about your childcare philosophy and nanny experience, there are a few other things you can do to make yourself standout as the best candidate for the position.

Show up on time. When it comes to working as a nanny, the importance of being punctual can’t be overstated. If the nanny arrives late, the parents will likely run late too. Leave yourself enough time to arrive a few minutes early. If you are unsure of where you are going, do a trial run the day before.
Dress for the job. Toss your suit to the side and pull out your best pair or pressed khakis and a flattering polo or knit top to wear to your nanny interview. Dress comfortably, casually and conservatively to send the message that you’re prepared to get on the floor and play with the kids.
Be well-groomed. Take inventory of your appearance before heading out the door. Be sure that your hair is away from your face, your nails are clean and your clothes aren’t wrinkled. Avoid heavy makeup and strong perfumes.
Bring a resume. Bring an updated resume with you to your interview. A simple two page printout that includes your contact information, a personal statement and profile, a photo, your skills and qualification, short overviews of your previous nanny positions and your reference contact information, along with a quote attributed to each reference from any letters of reference you may have will help you to stand out. Be sure to check your resume for spelling, grammar and formatting errors.
Have current CPR and first aid certification. Show that you are prepared to handle an injury or emergency by keeping your CPR and first aid certification current and by showing proof of your certification.
Be polite. Be sure to be friendly and use your manners. Parents want their children to be polite and well-mannered and they’ll be looking for a caregiver that can model and instill these in these virtues in their children.
Interact with the children. If the children are present, make an effort to engage them. Offer to hold the baby, read a book to a toddler or have a tea-party with a preschooler. Parents want to know that you’re able to connect with their kids.
Show interest in the position. Be enthusiastic about the opportunity to work for the family. Look the parents in the eyes when you speak, talk about why you love working with children and share what made you decide to become a nanny. Prior to leaving the interview, let the family know you are interested in the position and if the parents have requested additional materials be sure to fulfill their request promptly.

While most interviewees fail to send a thank you card after the nanny interview, we encourage all Morningside Nannies to send a thank you note. Sending a thank you note either by email or postal mail keeps you fresh in the parents’ mind, provides you with the opportunity to share any additional information you’d like the parents to consider and reiterates your interest in their position.

Posted in Advice for Nannies | Tagged job search, nanny interview, nanny job | Comments Off

25 Characteristics of a Great Nanny

At Morningside Nannies we often get asked “What makes a great a nanny?” When we provide a list of characteristics that we look for in a nanny, many parents and caregivers are surprised to learn just how exhaustive our list is.

Being a great nanny requires more than a genuine love of children. Nannies work long hours in private homes and most often work no supervision or daily oversight. Parents depend on their nannies to keep their children safe and well-cared for and to provide the highest level of childcare so that they can fulfill their personal or professional commitments.

If you’re considering hiring a nanny or becoming one, here are 25 characteristics we believe great nannies have in common.

A great nanny genuinely loves the company of children. Nannies spend a majority of their day with little adult interaction and must truly enjoy spending their time with children.
A great nanny has a basic understanding of child development. Nannies are childcare specialists and are responsible for providing the children with developmentally appropriate experiences.
A great nanny advocates for the children in her care. Nannies are willing to speak up if their charges’ well-being is compromised or if something is not in their best interest, while recognizing the parents have final say.
A great nanny has lots of energy. Nannies are responsible for actively engaging the children in their care and must have the energy to do so.
A great nanny has a reserve of patience. Nannies spend countless hours with children and must be able to handle children’s moods and behaviors without losing their temper or becoming outwardly irritated.
A great nanny is safety conscious. Nannies are solely responsible for the children when they are on duty and must consider the children’s safety first and foremost.
A great nanny is a good communicator. Nannies have to effectively relay and receive information from parents and children. Solid communication skills are required.
A great nanny is flexible. Life with children can be unpredictable. Nannies must be able to adapt to the situations they face.
A great nanny is understanding. Nannies are in the business of caring for others. Compassion and understanding are paramount.
A great nanny has a nurturing spirit. Nannies are responsible for supporting and encouraging children and must be able to foster their development.
A great nanny is reliable. Parents rely on nannies so that they can fulfill their obligations. Nannies must be able to be counted on.
A great nanny is responsible. Nannies are accountable for the children in their care. They must be capable of proving quality childcare.
A great nanny is trustworthy. Parents depend on nannies to meet or exceed the terms of their working relationship. Nannies are trusted to do their job well and to provide outstanding care.
A great nanny is respectful. Nannies and parents may not always agree on childrearing practices or decisions. Nannies must be respectful of the parents and their practices and honor the authority they have.
A great nanny has sound judgment. Nannies share responsibility for the children’s health and development and must be able to make choices that are in the children’s best interests.
A great nanny is organized. Nannies have many responsibilities throughout the day and must be organized to ensure that they fulfill their duties and complete their tasks.
A great nanny is self-motivated. Nannies don’t have someone constantly looking over their shoulders offering praise for a job well done. Nannies must be motivated to always do their job to the best of their abilities.
A great nanny is prepared to handle an emergency. Children get hurt and natural disasters and accidents happen. Nannies must know how to handle an emergency if one were to arise.
A great nanny is creative. Nannies must engage the minds of the children in their care. To work as a nanny, imagination is required.
A great nanny is proactive. When it comes to discipline, safety and meeting the children’s needs, nannies must be proactive rather than reactive.
A great nanny has a clean criminal background. Nannies help raise children to become good, law abiding citizens and serve as role models to the children in their care. Because of the intimate nature of the job, nannies should not have a history of criminal activity.
A great nanny has strong morals. Nannies help shape a child’s worldview and set their internal compass. It should be evident nannies know right from wrong and must be of sound moral character.
A great nanny is able to form a connection with children. To develop bonds with the children in their care nannies must be able to connect with children. Nannies naturally make connections with kids.
A great nanny wants to be a nanny. To work as a nanny a caregiver must love the nature of the job. Those who look to nanny because they can’t find other types of employment rarely stay in the field for long.
A great nanny is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of the children in her care. Nannies influence the children in their care and must acknowledge the importance of the role they play in the lives of the children. Nannies must commit to making a positive difference in the lives of the children for whom they care.

While of course a nanny, like any parent, will have an occasional day where she’s less energetic or short-tempered, overall these 25 characteristics are clearly evident in a great nanny and should be strongly valued when evaluating a current or potential caregiver. If you’re considering becoming a nanny or already working as one, we encourage you to continue to develop these characteristics so that you can become the best caregiver you can be.

Posted in Advice for Nannies, Advice for Parents | Tagged best nanny, great nannies, nanny | Comments Off

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