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.