How To Be A Great Nanny

[Anonymous]

Here are my criteria for being a great nanny. I welcome all nannies to add on to my list:

1) A great nanny is engaged and involved with their charges - he/she is loving and caring.
2) A great nanny uses her cell phone and tablet ONLY to correspond with the parents, for emergencies, or for charge related communication (setting up play dates, confirming pediatricians appointments, etc.) NO personal communication.
3) A great nanny is never late.
4) A great nanny comes up with imaginative and educational activities for her charges on her own.
5) A great nanny does all child-related household chores if contracted to do so and as needed when the charge is napping or involved in independent play.
6) A great nanny is knowledgeable about childhood milestones and childhood development.
7) A great nanny is CPR certified and vigilante about child safety.
8) A great nanny always arrives in a good mood (or acts as if she is in a good mood) and rarely shares personal details about her life.
9) A great nanny never forgets that she/he is NOT the parent.
10) A great nanny is NATURALLY GOOD WITH CHILDREN.
11) A great nanny stands up for herself (calmly and respectfully) and will not allow herself to be exploited by any employer for any price.

Just my opinion and how I conduct myself on the job.

[Anonymous]

A great nanny knows her way around a contract and how to negotiate for her needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A great nanny knows her way around a contract and how to negotiate for her needs.

Great point! That is #12

[Anonymous]

A great nanny is clean and pulled together - I met another nanny in the park last week who smelled like she had just run a marathon and slept in her clothes for a week!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here are my criteria for being a great nanny. I welcome all nannies to add on to my list:

1) A great nanny is engaged and involved with their charges - he/she is loving and caring.
2) A great nanny uses her cell phone and tablet ONLY to correspond with the parents, for emergencies, or for charge related communication (setting up play dates, confirming pediatricians appointments, etc.) NO personal communication.
3) A great nanny is never late.
4) A great nanny comes up with imaginative and educational activities for her charges on her own.
5) A great nanny does all child-related household chores if contracted to do so and as needed when the charge is napping or involved in independent play.
6) A great nanny is knowledgeable about childhood milestones and childhood development.
7) A great nanny is CPR certified and vigilante about child safety.
8) A great nanny always arrives in a good mood (or acts as if she is in a good mood) and rarely shares personal details about her life.
9) A great nanny never forgets that she/he is NOT the parent.
10) A great nanny is NATURALLY GOOD WITH CHILDREN.
11) A great nanny stands up for herself (calmly and respectfully) and will not allow herself to be exploited by any employer for any price.

Just my opinion and how I conduct myself on the job.

I would hire and be thrilled with a nanny who just did 1,2 and 3 alone!

[Anonymous]

MB here and I agree with all of these. Although now that DS is a bit older and we are encouraging more independent play, I'm ok if she checks her email or texts or whatever a couple of times during the day.

[Anonymous]

I would LOVE to find a nanny who believed and did these things. If you actually do these things you are truly a great nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would LOVE to find a nanny who believed and did these things. If you actually do these things you are truly a great nanny.

+1 I don't believe you exist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would LOVE to find a nanny who believed and did these things. If you actually do these things you are truly a great nanny.

+1 I don't believe you exist.

Really? Is this necessary? Nannies are contributing something positive here why not let them?

[Anonymous]

A great nanny sets boundaries her herself and does not allow herself to be a doormat.

A great nanny is someone who betters herself by learning new skills, takes classes, keeps up to date with parenting ideas and trends and can implement those into her day if that is what the parent wants.

A great nanny doesn't ask for a raise five minutes after she gets hired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A great nanny sets boundaries her herself and does not allow herself to be a doormat.

A great nanny is someone who betters herself by learning new skills, takes classes, keeps up to date with parenting ideas and trends and can implement those into her day if that is what the parent wants.

A great nanny doesn't ask for a raise five minutes after she gets hired.

Absolutely this. Keep learning and keep getting better.

Your third point was an unnecessary dig and quite ridiculous at that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A great nanny sets boundaries her herself and does not allow herself to be a doormat.

A great nanny is someone who betters herself by learning new skills, takes classes, keeps up to date with parenting ideas and trends and can implement those into her day if that is what the parent wants.

A great nanny doesn't ask for a raise five minutes after she gets hired.

Absolutely this. Keep learning and keep getting better.

Your third point was an unnecessary dig and quite ridiculous at that.

Ok, 10 minutes. How many times have families come here saying the nanny wanted a raise after a couple of months of working or wanted to change a contract that they agreed to. There is a time and place to discuss contracts and raises, not when you are new to your job. They think because Susie gets x amount for working for a family, they should get the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
5) A great nanny does all child-related household chores if contracted to do so and as needed when the charge is napping or involved in independent play. [b]or, even better, involves the children in household chores by having them match socks, put away forks and spoons, or fold napkins, giving them age-appropriate responsibilities and a sense of pride in the state of their home (laying the groundwork for formal chores later).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would LOVE to find a nanny who believed and did these things. If you actually do these things you are truly a great nanny.

+1 I don't believe you exist.

I assure you I am very real and truly love being a nanny.

[Anonymous]

There's actually more than one of us exceptional nannies here.

But I'm guessing that our wages tend to be "exceptional" as well. (I know mine are.) Out of reach for your average family, who therefore must settle for an average nanny.

Such is life.