Editorial Team
Things a Professional Nanny Wants Parents to Know
Written by: Jada Rashawn is a Professional Nanny and Nanny Consultant for Sittercity
Caregivers are the backbone of a functioning economy and society who enhance not only the lives of children but the parents and families they support. The smallest interaction with a caregiver can change how kids see the world. It makes pick-ups, drop-offs, feedings, and naps more than just what they are. The best caregivers build worlds where children grow, experiment, and play. They create spaces where children feel seen, confident and worthy.
As we navigate and transition into post-pandemic life together, the relationship between parents and caregivers must be strengthened through increased transparency and communication. After all, we have the same goal — raising the best children possible.
Here are 3 ways parents can begin to strengthen their relationship with caregivers:
Avoid Discriminatory Hiring Practices
To avoid discrimination throughout the hiring process, parents should keep an open mind when interviewing candidates and not make assumptions. Parents should go into the hiring process with a clear understanding of the qualifications required to perform the job and avoid using language in the descriptions that could potentially exclude experienced caregivers from a job they are qualified for.
Prioritize Frequent Check-Ins
Being in regular communication with each other is an important part of a supportive family and caregiver relationship. A regularly scheduled performance review is a great way for parents to give invaluable feedback on their caregiver’s work and it’s a dedicated opportunity for both parents and caregivers to discuss bigger issues and topics —such as fears or concerns that may be more personal.
Revisit Roles and Responsibilities to Find Balance
Taking the time to ensure that everyone is on the same page about the details of a job by outlining them in an agreement shows your caregiver respect. By having an established agreement, contract or clause, you’re recognizing what is and what isn’t your caregivers’ job and gives everyone a reference point for when job responsibilities get blurry. If you’re not sure what type of support your family needs, there are resources available to help you identify and find the right caregiver.
I trust Sittercity, America’s first online source for in-home care, because of its mission to help families manage the mental load of finding high-quality, trustworthy, and enriching child care solutions. Sittercity has created a free Planning Assistant tool to help parents identify and understand the type of individualized support that is best suited for their family. In just two minutes, the Planning Assistant helps parents determine the type of child care that will best support their needs, where to find it and how to ask for it.
As a caregiver myself, I believe that through increased communication and thoughtful planning, parents and caregivers have the opportunity to work together. And also build a support system that actually works.
Jada Rashawn is a Professional Nanny and Nanny Consultant for Sittercity, America’s first online source for in-home care. She is on a mission to help others live a life of less stress and more joy. By finding valuable products and resources for millennials and parents. She is a connector, supporter, and advocate for those seeking community. For the past 11 years, her career has been in the professional nanny industry. And helping successful families thrive in their home life. She’s experienced her fair share of adversity and challenges and possesses endless amounts of love and patience as a result.