What You Should Do During Your Nanny’s First Days

If you’re employing a nanny for the first time or transitioning to a new employee, the first few days are critical to a successful relationship for you and your worker.

This is a time when your nanny should become acquainted with your household and family environment. They should become accustomed to the nuances of caring for your children, their schedules, family routines, and more.

Plan to spend some extra time with your new nanny over their first few days to help with the transition. The time and preparation you spend now will pay great dividends down the road with a nanny who is confident, comfortable, and engaged with their job.

Your nanny’s first days are an opportunity to get know each other better, treat one another with respect and professionalism, and begin to establish trust.

Here are 13 ideas for your nanny’s first days to help this period go smoothly, make your nanny feel at ease in your home, and lay the groundwork for a healthy work environment.

1] Introduce your nanny to the members of your household. In particular, take whatever time is necessary for you to encourage your children to become familiar with their new nanny.

2] Introduce your nanny to your neighbors.

3] Take your nanny on a tour of your community. Point out grocery stores, pharmacies, parks, playgrounds, libraries, urgent care centers, your pediatrician’s office, and more. These are the places your nanny may need to take your children while on the job.

4] If your nanny will be picking up or dropping off your children at school, sports practices, or music lessons, notify school personnel, coaches, and teachers that your nanny is authorized to transport your children. You may even want to introduce your nanny to the people they’ll interact with at these locations.

5] Make sure your nanny’s name is listed as an authorized person to pick up your children from school. Submit any forms or documentation ahead of time.

6] If your nanny will be using your car, spend some time reviewing the vehicle. Make sure they are comfortable driving your car before they start transporting your children. Let them drive — with you as the passenger — any frequent routes they’ll take like home to school and back.

7] Practice placing your child in their car seat and ensure they are restrained properly. If a car seat becomes dislodged or loose, your nanny should know to go to your local police or fire station to have it re-installed.

8] Review all household policies and procedures in the employee handbook, contract, and/or, work agreement. Make sure there is a clear understanding of these policies. Also, go over the job responsibilities as they were detailed in the job description.

9] Discuss household rules on visitors as well as personal phone, television, and Internet use.

10] Go over all safety procedures, first aid kits, alarms systems, and emergency contact information. Important phone numbers should be entered into your nanny’s mobile phone and posted in a designated area.

11] If your nanny is expected to cook meals, clean, do laundry, or other tasks, show them how to operate your appliances such as a stove, washer, dryer, and other equipment.

12] When your nanny is on their own, check in with a quick phone call to see how things are going. Be mindful of meal and nap times.

13] Ask your nanny to start a daily log. Enter important events, questions that arise, and food or supplies that need to be replenished. You should review the log with your nanny at the end of each workday.

At the end of your nanny’s first week, take some time to discuss how it went. What is going well? What could have gone better? Are there questions or concerns? This will help clear up any issues early on and reduce future problems.

For more guidance on finding, hiring, and retaining household help, read How to Hire a Nanny and check out GTM’s resource center for household employers.