What makes an indispensable, great nanny?

[Anonymous]

I am a pretty great nanny in terms of loving, teaching and caring for my charge. I am appreciated and very well paid by my current employers but would like to make sure I am also indispensable as my current charge gets older and before they have a second baby.

Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.

[Anonymous]

It likely will depend on the strong bond that you have formed w/your current charge & his/her parents acknowledging how solid it is.

It sounds to me like you are already doing everything right + that your Nanny family already realizes that you are truly worth your weight in pure gold.

[Anonymous]

Interesting question, but the answers are different for everyone. And priorities change as time goes on.

So best advice is to schedule regular meetings to stay on top of what's going on.

[Anonymous]

I have greatly appreciated our nanny taking over all household ordering (paper towels, toilet paper, dish soap, etc) as well as my child's supplies and grocery shopping for the whole family.

[Anonymous]

I really appreciate how there is never any drama from my nanny. If something is wrong, it's brought to our attention. If they see potential for a problem they fix it or bring to our attention.

I also really appreciate how much the nanny guides our children towards us. "That's a great picture - your mom is going to love it!" "Since Daddy's home with a cold, should we pull the weeds in the garden for him?"

[Anonymous]

It's good for parents to encourage their children to do polite things for their nanny. And for nannies to reciprocate.

[Anonymous]

I echo the "no drama". I have young women working for me in the office and it is one drama after another. Our Nanny, thank God, is older and the most drama-free human I have ever met. She has a smile on her face when she arrives and when I come home. She is a joy - truly.

[Anonymous]

Nanny here but I think the big difference between a good nanny and one the family can’t do without is a customer service attitude. My current boss would do anything to keep me, and he told me once that he knew how lucky he was to find me when, a few weeks after I started, he came downstairs and noticed the kettle boiling. He asked if he could use some of the water for his tea and I said, “It’s for you. I noticed that the first thing you do is always turn the kettle on so I wanted to save you time.” I think too many nannies think they are going the extra mile but are really thinking in terms of how they like to help, vs thinking about the family and what kinds of help that specific family needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I echo the "no drama". I have young women working for me in the office and it is one drama after another. Our Nanny, thank God, is older and the most drama-free human I have ever met. She has a smile on her face when she arrives and when I come home. She is a joy - truly.

We have a guy nanny and zero drama. It's a beautiful thing.

[Anonymous]

I appreciate that our nanny is flexible. My work world is insane and as much as I try, it is not always possible that I am right on time. Maybe ten minutes early or ten minutes late at the most but I love that I never get attitude from our nanny about it.

[Anonymous]

This is really a joke. I was an excellent nanny who went beyond my duties, I never complained, or fought with my employers and I was let go. I was told one reason but I not sure that was the true. I too thought that I was indispensable, I never took sick days, was always on time.... I loved and care for the children as if they were my own. People don't ever think that you are indispensable in these jobs some people just care about getting their children raised and could care less about you. Don't mind the fake words, and laughs/smiles in your face.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is really a joke. I was an excellent nanny who went beyond my duties, I never complained, or fought with my employers and I was let go. I was told one reason but I not sure that was the true. I too thought that I was indispensable, I never took sick days, was always on time.... I loved and care for the children as if they were my own. People don't ever think that you are indispensable in these jobs some people just care about getting their children raised and could care less about you. Don't mind the fake words, and laughs/smiles in your face.

No nanny job will ever last forever, PP. You sound so bitter and resentful. Would you really have given less if you knew the outcome of your position? You do your best and let the chips fall where they may.

[Anonymous]

Always be a part of the solution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is really a joke. I was an excellent nanny who went beyond my duties, I never complained, or fought with my employers and I was let go. I was told one reason but I not sure that was the true. I too thought that I was indispensable, I never took sick days, was always on time.... I loved and care for the children as if they were my own. People don't ever think that you are indispensable in these jobs some people just care about getting their children raised and could care less about you. Don't mind the fake words, and laughs/smiles in your face.

Dude, are you unfamiliar with how jobs work? It's a JOB. Needs change. That's life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Always be a part of the solution.

+1.