How to pick a proper nanny

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), Dec, 1994

Although they have been popular in Great Britain for decades, nannies just now are becoming a serious child care option in America, according to Wanda Draper, a child development expert at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Just as nursing and other similar professions are requiring more education, the decade of the 1990s is ushering in a new type of nanny--women (and even men, on occasion) who have been certified through college-level programs.

"When it comes to hiring a nanny parents have a lot of options," she points out "Obviously, the most desirable candidate is a professional, certified nanny who has had experience and/or who has completed a college program that requires at least 16 weeks of training, with an additional 150 to 200 hours of supervised internship working directly with children." The curriculum should have included the highlights of child development, behavior and guidance, infant care, food preparation, nutrition, first aid, safety, and educational activities for youngsters.

Unlike an occasional baby-sitter, the nanny becomes an extension of the family, whether she lives inside or outside the home. Nannies build lifelong emotional and psychological attachments to the children. Because of this, parents may want to have a nanny applicant work for them over a weekend or for a few days on a trial basis in order to get acquainted. "Share family backgrounds and discover as much as you can about the personality and style of your potential employee, keeping in mind that she will be putting her best foot forward. A probationary period of four to six weeks is a good idea, as it can offer both the nanny and the family time to discover if the match is a good one."

To avoid many potential misunderstandings, any concerns the parents or the nanny may have about salary, job hours, duties, behavior on the job, etc. should be addressed in a written contract prior to starting the position. For instance, if the nanny is to perform some household tasks, they should be specifically outlined in the contract.

Above all, as with any employer and employee, good communication is a must. Understanding the terms of employment up front, then maintaining constant communication about what each party is doing, can lead to necessary adjustments in the routine. "This tactic prevents small misunderstandings from becoming serious problems for the parents, the nanny, and, most importantly, the children," Draper notes.