How to welcome a new nanny?

[Anonymous]

I had a baby two months ago and found a great candidate to be her nanny. She is starting part time for two weeks and then will take over after that. She starts on Monday. Is there any special way that any of you welcomed or were welcomed to your first day of work?

[Anonymous]

So sweet of you to ask! I started working with one of my favorite nanny families when their child was an infant, and the day I started the family gave me a $15 gift card for the neighborhood coffee shop. They said they'd love for me to take baby on walks in the stroller in the neighborhood and to feel free to pop into the coffee shop with her any time. I thought that was a lovely gesture!

[Anonymous]

We emailed asking what drinks and snacks we should have on hand for him, but he was too shy to tell us in the beginning. So we just tossed a pad and pen next to the fridge and started keeping a handwritten grocery list so he'd add to it. Then we'd just stock the food on the list.

Oh, the first few times of coming over we made sure to slip him a dog treat to give the dog, so she would like him a lot.

[Anonymous]

Any of the above is really nice

Opening your fridge/pantry (snacks and drinks) really shows you are welcoming the nanny into your home. Simple but works wonders

[Anonymous]

My nanny families asked about snacks and drinks as well.
They were really nice (still are) and doing the first couple of weeks, we really got to know each other: shared about our families, places we traveled to, favorite shows- WE just did everything to make each other feel comfortable (and welcomed), as this was a new beginning for all of us.

[Anonymous]

Definitely ask about snacks and drinks to have on hand. Our nanny had a major sweet tooth, so I'd always add some of her favorite cookies to our grocery orders just for her. I think it shows that you care and that you are interested in their lives.

[Anonymous]

All the PPs have great ideas. Small gestures go a long way, I still remember when I moved in as a live-in mother helper in college and the family had put a vase with a lovely bouquet of lillies in my room and that was over a decade ago.

[Anonymous]

Offer her snack, tea assortments, coffee,
Buy her baked goods hand lotions so much hand washing when caring for babies.; take her out to eat. I had a mom boss that would sometimes come home 2 hours early and take me out for ice cream or even dinner. She would take over her sons care completely and allowed me to eat and relax. We would chat and laugh then she dropped me home.

[Anonymous]

We live at the beach so we got our new nanny a beach towel in her favorite color (I had to ask about that) with her name on it.

We also do the food/drink thing.

Over time I've paid for her car to get cleaned when I knew she'd been driving the kids around a lot (because they are obviously messier than she is).

Also random things like a dog calendar that I saw once that had a Frenchie on it (she has a Frenchie). The kinds of things I'd do for my friends.