Nanny knows best
Nannies are employed by parents to look after children in their own home. They offer a personal type of childcare, tailored to the needs of the family.
Nannies need careful recruitment. There are no legal requirements for a person applying for a job as a nanny, and nannies are not registered or checked by anybody other than you the employer.
You must satisfy yourself that the nanny is safe, competent and has a suitable personality. Always interview potential nannies, and take up references. You can also draw up a contract to formalise the arrangement you make with your nanny.
Nannies work in different ways:
Live-in nannies live with the family they are working for. You will need to provide them with free accommodation and meals. Your home will also be the nanny’s home. Fixed hours and duties need to be set, although your nanny may do some babysitting by arrangement.
Daily nannies come to your home every day to look after your child. Babysitting may be arranged for the evenings, in exchange for extra pay.
With a nanny share, two families share the costs of a single nanny, who looks after children from both families. Local branches of the National Childbirth Trust (Head office: Alexandra House, Oldham Terrace, London W3 6NH. Tel: 0181 992 8637) hold nanny-share registers, as do some nanny agencies. If more than two families share a nanny, the nanny needs to be registered by the local authority and receive health and safety checks. A contract between the nanny and the nanny-share family is advisable.
Mother’s helps are employed by parents to help run the home and look after the children. They usually live near the family, and come in for a set number of hours per week. They are not usually trained, but they may be experienced.
1 | 2 | 3 | next
printer friendly
send to a friend
Delicious
Digg
reddit
Facebook
StumbleUpon
Horoscopes| Message Boards | Quizzes | Newsletters | Join
iVillage Ltd is a UK company registered in England & Wales (3837269) at 80-110 New Oxford Street, London WC1 1HB
