Rules/Guidelines For "Nanny"

I would recommend writing up a contract. I watch another child and we did this. Ours includes some of the following:
hours
fees
sick days
paid holidays
personal time off
notice of termination (for either party)
doctors info for your child
etc etc
I just looked up nanny contracts and then took that info and tweaked it for my situation. This process helps to clarify uncomfortable topics like fees and what if one of you should terminate services. Good luck.

fist off.. YIPEE for you... im thinking about this!!~ and soo womderful to have found someone to be with the kids, thats usually the hardest part..
I would totally say have sometype of schedule.. (my girlfriends, both did diff and learned) one didnt give alot of scheduling and then was disapointed that she hadnt done or isnt doing it.. WELL tell her!!~ the other had a "family meeting" once a month, to see how things were going, comfortable w/the needs.. to be met..etc.
So, it you like certain things certain ways tell her~have a mock schedule of your usual day...and yes, some lee way is also nice, i would think.. tells her you trust her ideas and judgement!~
Good luck to you..
S.

What has worked for us is having a list of things and then letting the nanny and child(ren) work together (as they get older, of course), on setting up their days, meals, etc. So for food, I'd have a list of what they could and could not have for breakfast. I had the nanny write down generally what they had so that we could increase, change, not repeat on days, etc.

For activities, we have a list of things, places, times/days, etc that they can go as well as a general list of in home things. As the kids get older, we'd share info on what new things we were trying, etc.

As far as other tasks, such as children's laundry, picking up toys, and so on, we discussed all of these things up front.

The key to a successful nanny relationship, in my opinion and experience is communicating. We talk daily - one of us giving updates or making a suggestion or asking a question.

First, I would definitely think about the areas where you are absolutely clear on your opinion and that are nonnegotiable to you. People differ on many things and you don't want a misunderstanding about expectations to disrupt an otherwise good childcare arrangement.

Be it which types of foods are off limits (choking hazards or allergies), what you deem unsafe (cooking on the front burners, kids not in car seats), dispensing of medications, over the counter or prescription (are any ok drugs provided allowed without her asking you first?), should she have child CPR and first aid certification (she may ask that you pay for the class), appropriate discipline (time outs, what else is ok).

Second, be very clear about work items like in any job. THe hours expected to work, pay per hour or week, how you'll deal with overtime (>40 hours per week), whether you are paying her taxes or not, what is the expectation regarding notification for taking time off (sick or vacation), what happens if she is running late, what happens when you are running late, is "babysitting" on the weekends possible if separately scheduled, when you take a day off do you pay her for not coming to your house (on this I say yes unless described as unpaid time when you first make your agreement), etc.

I had a nanny until my husband decided to stay home due to a company change. I loved her and we still see her regularly. However, it was tons easier to talk with her about things that we discussed up front than about issues that came up later than I sometimes felt "silly" talking about.

Good luck!
Ruth