Ideas to have a new nanny feel welcomed?

[Anonymous]

If you leave the house a mess, it happens sometimes. But don’t make a habit of dirty dishes everywhere. My previous nanny family would leave the dishes from last nights dinner in the coffee table with wine glasses and food still on them! Charge was a crawling baby and I would have to move all the plates so he wouldn’t pull them and get hurt !

[Anonymous]

Another nanny here. The OP sounds like a really thoughtful poster but as a first-time nanny employer you can see from this thread what can happen, even unintentionally. Basically, don't make extra work for the nanny is the best gift /welcome you can give.

Just be dependable. No dirty dishes, no lateness. All conversations happen on duty day hours. I used to have an employer who tried to keep me another 15-30 minutes to ask about the day and to plan the next day (food, activities for the kids?). I told her I had to leave on time; it got to the point where I had to have my coat on and purse/bag on my shoulder and met her at the door when she would arrive at 5:10 instead of 5. Then she tried to call or text me in the evening with those conversations we should have had on duty day; I finally told her the evenings were for my family and why don't we just extend my duty day to 5:30? (and pay me accordingly). Sometimes you just need to hit someone over the head with plain words.

I also recommended she have an emergency back-up family/friend in case of being late due emergency, since I would not always be able to stay even for true emergencies. Should not happen more than 2x per year, right?

[Anonymous]

Don't be micromanaging parents. Or you nanny will be hating this job already.

[Anonymous]

Don't cheap out on pay. Build the necessary time into her day and pay her for it. You will run late from time to time so plan for it.

I don't think you need to be "fun" per se. You had a special breakfast. Give her the WiFi password for her downtime.

No job creep.

Leave the house the way you want to find it.

[Anonymous]

I'm starting a new job next week and due to the whole Covid sitch we haven't gotten to know each other in person very much. I will bring a mask as the only time we've met in person we all wore one outside. Obviously I won't be able to run out and grab lunch but I don't expect NF to provide my food either. Is it ok it I take up some small space in your fridge and pantry to store some stuff? I'm very excited to start a new position and equally nervous about this whole new situation.

[Anonymous]

Also is there something I can bring for the kids not food related? Like a book or something?

[Anonymous]

Nanny here. I brought a book, inscribed with the date, on my first day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm starting a new job next week and due to the whole Covid sitch we haven't gotten to know each other in person very much. I will bring a mask as the only time we've met in person we all wore one outside. Obviously I won't be able to run out and grab lunch but I don't expect NF to provide my food either. Is it ok it I take up some small space in your fridge and pantry to store some stuff? I'm very excited to start a new position and equally nervous about this whole new situation.

Nanny here. Bring always your lunch; this is very professional and also avoid you deal with food issues with them in the future. If they offered you are welcome to help yourself with snacks or so take it like a very nice perk of them. I don't think they will say No if you want to keep your food in their fridge. But space in their pantry? It's better if you ask first as all families are not the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm starting a new job next week and due to the whole Covid sitch we haven't gotten to know each other in person very much. I will bring a mask as the only time we've met in person we all wore one outside. Obviously I won't be able to run out and grab lunch but I don't expect NF to provide my food either. Is it ok it I take up some small space in your fridge and pantry to store some stuff? I'm very excited to start a new position and equally nervous about this whole new situation.

Nanny here. Bring always your lunch; this is very professional and also avoid you deal with food issues with them in the future. If they offered you are welcome to help yourself with snacks or so take it like a very nice perk of them. I don't think they will say No if you want to keep your food in their fridge. But space in their pantry? It's better if you ask first as all families are not the same.

Ok thanks. In the past I've been able to pick up lunch out during the day but during the current conditions that won't be possible. I will ask them about it but I don't want them to think I'm asking them to provide me food because I'm not. I guess I'm more concerned about all of us being in the house together which is new situation for me due to covid and I appreciate the OP's post and was just trying to figure out what I could do on my part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm starting a new job next week and due to the whole Covid sitch we haven't gotten to know each other in person very much. I will bring a mask as the only time we've met in person we all wore one outside. Obviously I won't be able to run out and grab lunch but I don't expect NF to provide my food either. Is it ok it I take up some small space in your fridge and pantry to store some stuff? I'm very excited to start a new position and equally nervous about this whole new situation.

Nanny here. Bring always your lunch; this is very professional and also avoid you deal with food issues with them in the future. If they offered you are welcome to help yourself with snacks or so take it like a very nice perk of them. I don't think they will say No if you want to keep your food in their fridge. But space in their pantry? It's better if you ask first as all families are not the same.

Ok thanks. In the past I've been able to pick up lunch out during the day but during the current conditions that won't be possible. I will ask them about it but I don't want them to think I'm asking them to provide me food because I'm not. I guess I'm more concerned about all of us being in the house together which is new situation for me due to covid and I appreciate the OP's post and was just trying to figure out what I could do on my part.

It's always good and better don't expect food/lunch from them. And I got you, good luck since sometimes you will have to get use to even have lunch in front of them. Expect lot of changes in this new position.

[Anonymous]

I know I know but the new family I'm dealing with who of course I don't know much about seem to be very aware of new changes as well in a welcoming manner. I think they get it. Would it be weird if I bring them a food gift (safely packaged) on my first day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know I know but the new family I'm dealing with who of course I don't know much about seem to be very aware of new changes as well in a welcoming manner. I think they get it. Would it be weird if I bring them a food gift (safely packaged) on my first day?

Yes! Yes, bringing them food would be both weird and inappropriate!!!

Your gifts to anyone in that house are for the children ONLY.

[Anonymous]

I am an employe. I pay my nanny a fair on the books salary. She does childcare and (gasp) light housekeeping. I guarantee 50 hours a week and if I am 15 min late I pay for a full hour. If less, I pay extra half hour. It works for us. I hate to admit it but I also hire nannies who have no childcare responsibilities. The privilege of having a nanny IS that I don’t have to rush to pick up my kid. As long as I compensate her for her time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know I know but the new family I'm dealing with who of course I don't know much about seem to be very aware of new changes as well in a welcoming manner. I think they get it. Would it be weird if I bring them a food gift (safely packaged) on my first day?

Yes! Yes, bringing them food would be both weird and inappropriate!!!

Your gifts to anyone in that house are for the children ONLY.

Exactly. No good idea to bring that. This is out. It's common for a nanny give gifts only for kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you leave the house a mess, it happens sometimes. But don’t make a habit of dirty dishes everywhere. My previous nanny family would leave the dishes from last nights dinner in the coffee table with wine glasses and food still on them! Charge was a crawling baby and I would have to move all the plates so he wouldn’t pull them and get hurt !

There is never an excuse for leaving a mess for the nanny to clean up. You leave a neat house and kitchen. You never ask her to do anything for adults as she is a nanny not a maid. Do not call 30 minutes after you should have been home to tell her that you are going to be late. You wouldn't put up with the nanny being late so give her the same courtesy.

Basically, treat her as you wish to be treated with respect and courtesy. She is an employee, not your best friend so do not tell her your personal problems.