Tag Archives: Nanny

How to Hire a Nanny: What to Know and How a Nanny Agency Can Help

Hiring a nanny is a huge commitment for a family and one that shouldn’t be entered lightly. British American Household Staffing (BAHS) is here to take the headache out of the entire process by providing personal attention, expert advice, and a roster of thoroughly screened nannies.

Below is a general outline of what to expect when you begin the process of hiring a nanny.

What Nanny Is Best For Your Child(ren) and Lifestyle?

Understanding your family’s specific needs are necessary in order to recognize your perfect nanny. A few questions to consider are:

  • What are the ages of your children?
  • Would a nanny specialising in education and tutoring be ideal?
  • Does your family travel extensively?
  • Do the children need full-charge care?
  • Would a high-energy nanny that can keep up with busy schedules be best?
  • Or would your children thrive with a calm, quiet presence?
  • Do you employ other staff in your home and need a team player, or a nanny that works best autonomously and knows what to do with little direction?

 

Beyond the basic nanny duties, many experienced candidates bring further expertise. Depending on your needs and a nanny’s qualifications, your home may benefit from one of the following kinds of nannies:

 

Full-Time Nanny

The most common kind of nanny is one that works full-time with one family. The nanny’s exact schedule depends on the family, but full-time nannies most often care for the children while the parents are at work and/or handling household management beyond childcare. A full-time nanny will be comfortable working with other household staff, coordinating calendars, planning activities for the children, preparing food for the children and keeping all of the children’s areas neat and tidy.

 

Part-Time Nanny

Part-time nannies offer much needed support for busy families that need afterschool or weekend childcare. Afterschool pickups and transportation for older children are usual responsibilities for part-time nannies.

 

Nanny-Tutor

Many of BAHS’s nannies have extensive backgrounds in education and childhood development. A nanny-tutor will be able to prioritize educational activities and work with each child’s unique learning styles to foster an engaging environment. Many nanny-tutors also speak a second or third language and can instill a multi-lingual environment for your child(ren).

 

Travel Nanny

For on-the-go families, a nanny well-versed in traveling is essential. A travel nanny will know how to pack, arrange travel, manage children through transit hubs and be able to problem solve in an unfamiliar environment when necessary.

 

Nanny/Personal Assistant

The nanny that can take on personal assistant tasks can be a big help for busy families with older children that don’t need as much attention. Your nanny/personal assistant’s first priority will be childcare, but when the children are at school or afterschool activities, the nanny will be able to help out in other ways around your home. Errand running, calendar coordination and household organization tasks can be given to a Nanny/PA, sometimes called a Family Assistant.

 

Newborn Nanny

Nannies that specialise in newborn care have extensive experience with newborns, infants and toddlers. They will understand the specific needs of each child’s development stage and be able to navigate each stage’s unique challenges.

 

View the full post on British American Household Staffing’s blog. 

What Does a Live-In Nanny Do?

Why hire a live-in nanny?

Juggling work and family is a never-ending cycle of deadlines and to-do lists. Your schedule is filled to the brim: working in the day, picking the children up after school, taking them to their different activities, going home, cooking, cleaning, preparing the children’s food for the next morning and when the children are asleep ordering everything online, tidying up, trying to get some sleep, then starting all over again.

Do you think back to the time when your calendar actually had time in it for yourself, when you could go to the gym, sleep in, or order in? Juggling children, a partner, and a job can seem impossibly hard. Well, it doesn’t have to be with the right support structure in place.

We recommend hiring a live-in nanny or nanny/housekeeper for busy families with school-aged children. The house will be organized, children taken to school, picked up, meals prepared, and you will have time to breathe. You can get to the gym and on weekend days maybe sleep in. It isn’t impossible.

Some families ask “why not an au pair?” Au pairs are popular ideas, but finding a good caregiver is like winning the lottery. You could win a good one but most of the time they are almost young enough to be your own child and as carefree as when you were a late teen. Au pairs do not require the same amount of training or experience as a nanny. While this can be an adequate addition to your family, it’s better to make one hire that will last long-term and be an investment in your children’s development and success.

So, how does a family hire a live-in nanny or nanny/housekeeper and how are weekends covered, too?

View the full post on British American Household Staffing’s blog. 

Happy Mother’s Day

As we take an optimistic step into spring and welcome Mother’s Day, this Sunday 9th May, we also share a mix of feelings with this traditional holiday.

Whether we have a biological mother, a foster or an adoptive mom, a grandmother, aunt, sister or godmother, having a maternal figure in our lives provides us with warmth, wisdom, tradition, comfort and guidance.

Those of us lucky enough to have them round the corner, will be blessed to share the day with them, albeit masked up for understandable healthcare measures. Many of us will be sadly still  separated by the ongoing travel restrictions and left with long distance florist arrangements and FaceTime calls. There will be some of us who will raise a glass or light a candle for those who held our hands and now our hearts.

One thing for sure, whatever our situation, story or journey, we will all be united in gratitude to those who played a strong part in getting us here.

Read full post on British American Household Staffing’s blog. 

Expecting and New Parents: Resources for Welcoming a New Baby

This week, the team here at British American Household Staffing has put together a collection of resources for new and expecting mothers, based both on personal experiences and years of working with new parents.

And, of course, should you require a newborn care specialist, nanny or any other household staff to help ease the transition of welcoming a little one into your home, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at anytime.

Recommended Items for the Home and Nursery

BÉABA Baby Food Maker: This French, sleek, small and minimal appliance is a must-have for new moms. It can steam and purée fruits, vegetables, meat and fish to the right consistency for any age.

View the full list of recommendations on British American Household Staffing’s blog.

 

Keep Moving: Physical Activities for Families

As we enter the final month of winter, many of us are counting down the days until the official start of spring. However, as we look forward to the warmer days ahead, it is important to continue to take care of ourselves and our loved ones while inside during the remaining winter days. The team here at British American Household Staffing has put together our list of top ways for families to stay active and spend time together, even in bad weather. One hour of physical activity per day is ideal to boost mood and energy, increase quality of sleep, build confidence, and promote overall health.

View our suggestions on the BAHS blog. 

Safe Socializing: Virtual Playdates, Games and Classes

As much of the country continues to experience more winter weather, as well as various degrees of lockdowns and restrictions, many parents are struggling to come up with creative ways for children to safely socialize, both with friends and with far away family members. The team here at British American Household Staffing has put together our list of top interactive games and classes that children can participate in together, from afar.

View the list on British American Household Staffing’s blog. 

Nurture Creativity: At-Home Activities for Children

As families settle into the new year, with the holidays behind us and summer still months away, it is a great time to encourage children to explore their creativity at home. Sit down with your child and ask them if there are any new skills they’d like to try or ideas they’d like to pursue; with plenty of time at home and more virtual options than ever, it could be the time to learn an instrument, pick up a second language, or add more creative play to each day.

View our recommendations, from story time to outdoor play to digital museums, on the BAHS blog. 

Luxury Lifestyle Magazine Features Anita Rogers

The Luxury Lifestyle List: Anita Rogers, Founder And CEO Of Luxury Estate Staffing Company British American Household Staffing (BAHS)

BY LLM REPORTERS ON 4TH JANUARY 2021

Anita Rogers was recently featured in the UK’s Luxury Lifestyle Magazine. Full article below or view on LuxuryLifestyleMag.co.uk.

We caught up with Anita Rogers, founder and CEO of luxury estate staffing company British American Household Staffing (BAHS), which provides nannies, governesses, chefs, butlers, housekeepers, yachts and private aviation for high-net-worth clients across London, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Miami.

My car of choice

Porsche. Being a gallery owner in New York [Anita Rogers Gallery], I’m a very visual person and Porsches are like works of art in my eyes. I actually don’t drive, I never learned! I lived in cities like Athens, Rome, Dublin, London and New York where driving wasn’t needed. When I moved to LA in 2018 all my friends had Porsches, they drive so smoothly and look so artistic.

My favourite holiday destination

Spetses, Greece. My father, Jack Martin Rogers, was an artist who moved to Greece in the 1960s, so I was raised there. We would always live in large, traditional mansions as the architecture was beautiful and the light was perfect for my father’s painting. As an adult I still visit Spetses for the summers and I consider it to be my homeland.

My gadget I can’t live without

The Tunable app for my harp. I was a professional opera singer for many years and my classical harp was my ‘second’ instrument. It has 47 strings so it’s impossible to tune by ear. When I finally get some well earned down time from BAHS, I spend it in my New York apartment playing my harp whilst looking out at the Empire State Building.

My go to fashion brand

Maje. Their pieces are romantic and feminine and, being an opera singer, I’m drawn to clothes that nod to traditional dresses. When I host my BAHS team for daily briefings on our household and hospitality service, I feel comfortable in Maje dresses, plus they are perfect for my gallery evenings that cater to serious art collectors so I feel their timeless style also works perfectly with my clientele.

My airline of choice

Wheels Up. They have been aviation saviours during the pandemic and their service is impeccable. I’m constantly flying from New York to LA and to London for my company’s estate assessments. Wheels Up have become our first choice when booking private jets and our most preferred when recommending to our high-net-worth clients who desire to travel in style with privacy to and from their estates that we look after.

My favourite watch brand

Cartier. My signature perfume is Cartier and so is my jewellery. Their watches are timeless, classic and elegant. I’m forever on the clock because of back to back meetings so I treasure my yellow gold Panthère De Cartier watch and it complements every outfit.

My favourite restaurant

Eleven Madison Park. I love their menu and the fact that it sits at the base of a historic Art Deco building near the Flatiron Building. It offers exquisite service and also private dining, so I often choose to meet some of my high profile BAHS clientele who come to us wanting their estates fully staffed. It’s also the perfect setting for drinks with art collectors following one of my gallery events.

My guilty pleasure

Desserts! Hot chocolate pudding with double cream and sticky toffee pudding and custard. My mum is a patisserie chef so I was raised on French and British desserts. Scott’s of London is a favourite of mine to indulge my sweet tooth when I fly back to take business meetings with my BAHS clients and staff in the UK.

My favourite way to give back

Through Restore, a non-profit to help victims of human trafficking in the US. I’ve spent time in countries like El Salvador and I can see how easily people can become vulnerable and trafficked. It’s a campaign very close to my heart.

Photo credit: Hunter Canning

Hiring Household Staff During the Pandemic

Written by Roxanne Carrion

I think we can all agree that 2020 will be well and truly the year that we all take a well earned deep breath! It will also be the year that forced us to reassess our lives amidst the chaos of what we could and could not control. It broke work commitments, projects, deadlines and family get-togethers. However, perhaps once the dust has settled, this year may be actually remembered as the making of us rather than the breaking of us. The year that took away our comfort, our freedom, our variety, but in return, gave us back the seclusion and space to explore new directions.

When our GPS discovers a problem up ahead, it simply re-routes to get us to where we are going. At British American Household Staffing we pride ourselves on being a navigation that can re-route you when lost or struggling to get to where you need to be.

At British American Household Staffing we make it our priority to find the silver lining in the cloud that has disrupted so many lives this year. Being one step ahead of the unpredictable nature of life, we have developed an impressive roster of reliable, responsible, and recommended staff to service your household at this crucial time more than ever.

View full post on www.bahs.com

UK’s The Daily Telegraph Features Anita Rogers and British American Household Staffing

The return of the governess… the lady’s maid… and the butler
by Celia Walden
The Daily Telegraph Saturday 28 November 2020
Anita Rogers, BAHS agency founder and CEO, invites you to take a glimpse into the strategies and success behind her premier agency and why the recent pandemic has given clients a new perspective and a desirable domain for a more manageable and comfortable life at home.

Of all the curious comebacks prompted by Covid – sourdough bread baking, pan banging (for the NHS), staycations and the expandable waistband – the return of the governess might be one of the most surprising, at least for the average Brit.

Yet according to Anita Rogers, founder and CEO of domestic staffing agency British American Household Staffing (BAHS), all any ultra-high net-worth family wants for Christmas this year is their very own stern-faced piece of Victoriana.

“We’ve always had a few governesses on our books,” says Rogers, whose 4,000-strong client base spans the globe (the majority of are in the United States, with around a fifth in Europe, mainly the the UK, Switzerland and Monaco).

“But then Covid happened, and suddenly everybody wants a governess! Which makes sense, when you think about the gaps in schooling and structure so many kids have faced over the past few months.”

If you’re conjuring up images of mature matrons in bustles, however, think again. The idea may come straight from the pages of Mary Poppins, “but 99 per cent of the time what we’re being asked for is not so much a traditional governess as a combined teacher and nanny, only with that old-school formality and maturity, and the accolades: the schooling in Switzerland or England, the previous employment in formal homes, and the emphasis on manners and etiquette.”

These days, there’s far more to being a governess than even that. “Many have either a degree in education or multiple teaching certificates in specific subjects, such as music, a language, and teaching English,” says Rogers. “Some families who hire governesses are not first-language English speakers. A governess must be able to teach written and spoken English at a high level, both for the native English speaking children under their care as well as non-native speakers.”

She continues: “Governesses typically look after school-age, preteen and teenage ranges. A governess is occasionally hired for an infant so the infant can get a head start, especially with a second language – this is not typical, though.”

So how on earth does one distinguish between nanny-teachers and the genuine article? “Let’s just say that governesses have an air about them.”

“We’ve seen an increased demand for nannies and governesses with a background in child psychology,” says Rogers. “That’s very, very popular now. It’s about checking a child’s development every step of the way and making sure that they’re hitting all the milestones.”

After more than a decade’s experience in pairing families with household staff, Rogers’s exclusive agency has earned a reputation for being able to meet every need and handle any situation.

Despite the closer bonds between key staff members and what Rogers calls “the host family”, any blurring of the lines is cautioned against. “The best nannies, housekeepers and butlers will know how important it is to become invisible. That doesn’t mean that you’re subservient, just that there are boundaries.”

A respect for those boundaries is one of the things BAHS is on the lookout for in the extensive interview and screening process their 6,000 jobseekers are forced to undergo, when everything from background to credit checks are conducted.

Oh, and should you wish to hire a light aircraft or a yacht – “hugely in demand right now because people can escape the pandemic that way” – BAHS can organise that, too.