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They say it takes a village to raise a child. However, in today’s society, many parents aren’t able to rely on their family network to help with childcare and may consider hiring a nanny. Having someone in your home, focused solely on your children, who can work around your life and parenting style and, in some cases, take on other household tasks can be a fantastic option for the modern family.
Unlike Mary Poppins, the practically-perfect nanny doesn’t just fly in and weave their magic. Hiring the right nanny takes time and is more akin to searching for a life partner, than an employee. Yet, unlike the corporate or dating world, the childcare industry has been starved of technology-rich options to help refine your search. That’s why I set up myTamarin after the birth of my second child.
When looking for a nanny people often start with a huge wish-list of “skills” as if they were hiring for a business. However, the relationship with your nanny is going to be an incredibly intimate one. A nanny not only nurtures your children while you’re away but sees your dirty laundry (literally and figuratively!), so you need someone you can absolutely trust. Your compatibility in terms of family values, parenting style, personality and communication may be more important than years of experience or how many languages they speak.
Before making the decision to hire a nanny, both parties also need to understand what their roles and responsibilities are. Nannies come in all shapes and sizes so it’s worth thinking about whether you want them to live in or live out, be focused solely on the children, or to take on other tasks. It may be that a Nanny-Housekeeper or Nanny-PA might be a better fit, particularly if your children are a little older.
Just like any other employment relationship, when you hire a nanny, you’re entering into an employment contract. The nanny will be entitled to statutory holidays, sick pay, pension and even overtime on some occasions.
For more information and advice on finding the right nanny for you, visit myTamarin.com.
Ready to start your nanny search? Here is our guide on How to interpret nanny CVs and profiles.
Tamarins are monkeys who parent in family groups – like a village – helping each other while children are small.
Are you ready to join our village?
Parents sign up here to begin your nanny search.
Nannies sign up here to find your next family. Alternatively, you can send your CV to hello@mytamarin.com and we will be in touch!
This article was first published in Slick Mummy.
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