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Welcome to Nanny Tips
Hi, I'm Susie McGee, one of the hundreds of writers here at LifeTips.com. Enjoy these 424 Nanny Tips! If you’re a business, why not hire the expert writers at LifeTips? And if you’re a writer, apply for freelance writing gigs.
Babysitting Tips for Teens
New to babysitting? Start by being a babysitter to just one child. Meet the parents and the child ahead of time so you can all get to know each other and decide if the arrangement will be a good fit. Its also not a bad idea to consider spending the day with the kids and their mom or dad before you spend a night alone with the child. You can learn about the child's daily schedule, favorite activities and food preferences. Before the parents leave, make sure you know all of the emergency numbers and a number that you can reach the parents at if need be. Some basic safety tips for sitters include never opening the doors to strangers. Also, never tell anyone on the phone or at the door that you are "just the sitter". Approach your job professionally and respect the parents' home and valuables. Before the parents are expected home clean up any messes you and the child have created and tidy up the main living area. Make sure to leave the house in the same or better condition than when you arrived. The parents will appreciate your respect for their space.
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Nanny Tip: Summer Nanny Safety Tips
If you’re about to take on the role of “summer nanny” keep in mind the seasonal related safety issues that can come up. This is especially helpful if you’re new to being a nanny, or are faced with watching kids who are quite young.
1) Beach time! There’s nothing like the warm breezes off the ocean. Kids and adults wiggle their toes beneath the sand until they hit that spot where the sand is damp and cool. People bring picnics. Kids make sandcastles. People fly kites. There’s a lot going on at the beach, making it fun for kids, but a little tiring for the summer nanny. Park your picnic basket further away from the water and keep a close eye on the kids.
2) Bee stings and sunburns. Both of them are easy to get. Before venturing out on that first field trip to the park or the lake, ask the parents if their kids have any allergies or if they’re on any medication. Some medications cause skin to burn much quicker than normal. If the child has never been stung by a bee, pay careful attention. Anaphylactic shock can really put a damper on the day.
3) Bring a bag of first aid goodies wherever you travel with the kids during the summer months. Salve, bandages, antibiotic ointment, a small bottle of Calamine lotion, some baby wipes, and lots of water to drink are essential.
4) Make sure you’ve got your cell phone with you. If an emergency occurs, you can at least immediately call for help.
Being a summer nanny has many rewards. However, you can never afford to underestimate the importance of safety.
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Finding the Right Nanny for Your Family
You can find the best nanny in the world in terms of qualifications, experience, and even education, but if she doesn't have a good relationship with you and your children, she won't be the right nanny for you. So, how do you go about finding a nanny that will fit into your family? Consider the following points:
Your nanny should be willing to answer any questions that you might have pertaining to her experiences, her education, her training, and her philosophy on childcare.
Your nanny should meet and even exceed your expectations pertaining to the job duties you've determined to be beneficial for your family.
Your nanny should follow the specific guidelines you've set concerning your child's daily schedule and any behavior issues that might arise.
Your nanny should understand that any and all misunderstandings or problems within your household should be brought to your immediate attention.
Finding a nanny doesn't have to be difficult if you are clear about your expectations and willing to open your home to someone who will become like a member of your family.
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Nanny Tip: How To Keep A Good Nanny
Finding a nanny that you and your family feel comfortable with is hard enough, but how would you feel if your neighbor or best friend stole her? Nannies have to live, and if a better offer comes along, there’s nothing stopping them from moving on.
That’s where nanny contracts can help. A nanny contract won’t give you a lifetime commitment, but it could mean the difference between having enough notice to find a new nanny and leaving you high and dry. Contracts are a great way to boost communication between you and your nanny, allowing for periodic “check-ins”. You can build into the contract a time to get together again and discuss any pay increases, etc. That alone could make a huge difference in how long you’re able to hold on to your nanny.
The nanny contract can include as much, or as few, details you want. With nanny contracts, more is better. They should at least include rate of pay, job expectations, hours of work, any overtime expectations and compensation for that, and whether the nanny will have use of the family car. By building a follow up clause in the contract, you’re giving the nanny the message that she’s important to you. Knowing that there’s an opportunity coming up to renegotiate salary and benefits could mean the difference between keeping her, or having her take another job offer.
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Documenting a Nanny Contract
In many cases, families and nannies seek the extra protection that documentation of a nanny contract could provide. While the nanny contract may not be that legally binding if taken to court, there are some instances in which the contract should protect the interest of both the employing family and the nanny. Immediate termination or resignation, abuse, withholding payment, lapsed insurance policies, and other issues may need to be resolved within a court of law. Because of this, it is important to document the nanny contract. This can be done in a number of ways, including the following:
If the parties involved are using a nanny agency, the agency should keep a record of all nanny contracts and agreements.
If the parties used a lawyer, the lawyer should have the nanny contract signed and notarized before filing the contract and issuing a copy to each party involved.
If the parties have drawn up the nanny contract without any legal aid, they should sign the contract before a notary public, and each party should be given a copy of the nanny contract.
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Nanny Tip: No Free Nanny Background Checks
In most cases, you really do get what you pay for. When you’re looking for help completing nanny background checks, don’t expect to buy a discount package from anyone. In a world full of shortcuts, this is the one place where you want to go the distance. After all, this is someone you’ll be trusting with your children. Relying on a nanny cam to monitor what goes on in your home really isn’t the answer. Ultimately, nobody can give you a 100% guarantee that the new nanny you’ve hired is going to be perfect in every way. But you can at least ensure that there’s no criminal past.
Nanny screening services are available at various costs. Paying anywhere between $50 and $200 isn’t unusual. It usually depends on who is doing the nanny screening and how deeply they’re going to delve into the past. There really are no free nanny background checks. If you’re hiring a nanny through a placement agency, the fee you paid for the membership might include the cost of background checks, making it appear to be a “free” service.
You might be able to shop around for the best prices in nanny screening services, but pay attention to what you’re actually getting for your money. Ideally, you should be paying for a service that will do a complete criminal and background check.
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Advantages of Hiring a Live In Nanny
While families are often hesitant to hire a live in nanny, there are some distinct advantages of doing so. These include the following:
A live in nanny can provide flexibility with working hours. If something unexpected occurs, a live in nanny can be there to pick up the slack.
Live in nannies can provide a nurturing relationship that is based on the day to day interaction and care-giving that the child receives from the live in nanny.
A live in nanny can help parents manage their home life more efficiently, providing support and assistance when needed.
A live in nanny can provide round the clock care when a parent has to be away from the home for a day or more.
Live in nannies will ease the exhaustion that midnight feedings can bring to new moms and dads.
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Nanny Tip: Nanny Finders and Background Checks
Conducting a nanny search can create a lot of anxiety for the parents. This is someone who will be working (and sometimes living) in your home. This person will be responsible for the safety, care, and emotional well being of your children. Naturally, you’re going to have some concerns.
There are many online nanny finder agencies that can help you find a nanny, but it’s important to understand that nanny finder agencies may not do much initial screening. Non paying members can browse names, photographs, and sometimes view a limited profile. However, they can’t contact a potential nanny. At that point, you can choose between different membership packages, some of which may offer screen services for a higher price than a basic membership package.
The extra money paid for an online nanny finder agency might get you a background check that includes a child abuse registry check and a criminal records check. Nanny finder agencies are great, but if you decide to go it alone, take the time to enlist the services of a lawyer and have background checks completed. The nanny understands it’s nothing personal. Doing your due diligence up front could save you unnecessary surprises down the road.
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FICA Nanny Tax Rules
The FICA nanny tax rule involves 15.3% of a nanny's wages. This percentage should be divided up between the nanny and the employer, with each one paying half or 7.65% of the total amount. The half which the nanny is responsible for paying can be paid one of two ways.
An employer can withhold the nanny's 7.65% tax from her paycheck. This is the same method an employer uses for his or her employees.
In most cases involving domestic help, however, the employer may pay the nanny in cash without withholding any of the nanny tax. If this is the case, you are responsible for paying the entire 15.3%.
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5 Steps to Quality Childcare
Five good steps to choosing quality homelike childcare are as follows: Start looking as far in advance as you can. Finding high quality childcare options can take some time. Search by calling your nanny referral agency or speak with friends and family who have children in childcare. If you visit a daycare center, make sure to take a list of questions to ask the staff about the facility. Think about what you saw and make the best choice for your child/children based on your personal priorities. Finally, stay involved - call, visit and do what needs to be done to be sure you are receiving quality childcare.
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Driving Ms. Nanny
Most families require that the live-in nanny be able to drive the children. Whether it is a to play date, the doctor's office or to preschool a nanny needs t be able to drive. It is a good idea that you obtain your have a driver's license before applying for a home child care position.
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Part Tme Nanny Sharing
Part time nanny sharing is a relatively new idea that is often overlooked. Part time nanny sharing occurs when two or more families are able to share a nanny in one of two ways:
One way to participate in part time nanny sharing is to team up with another family to hire the same nanny. In this case, the nanny would work so many hours for one family, and then she would work so many hours for the other family.
Another way for nanny sharing to work is by hiring a nanny who will watch the children of both families at one or another of the family's homes. Both families will be expected to pay the nanny's salary for either method.
