What Are Your Tips Related to Part-time Nanny

I work from home full time and have had a nanny since my daughter was 3 years old. To be succesful make sure where ever you are working is off limits to your son - an office or bedroom with a closed door: you want to make sure he gets the feeling you are not there and the nanny has the full authority when you are working. There will be moments when you will just want to go out and intervene - stop yourself - let the nanny handle it - if she can't let her know she can always come you. I personally let the two nannies I have had use my car - its a large SUV and I know that it is maintained and also so they are not using there own gas. There have been times that I need to go out on appointments so I do have a 2nd car seat for her to use her own car in those situations. I think the running errands is fine - so long as the child is up for it and the nanny is confident taking the child out to stores etc, 2.5 can be tricky at stores sometimes. The cooking dinner thing is really above and beyond the duties of a nanny - you are paying for her to watch your child not be a house keeper or prepare your dinner. Picking up after the child is normal and expected but above that you would need to set those expectations before she starts working. Having food she likes in the house is nice but my girls have always brought something or gotten lunch when out and about.

Having been a nanny, here's some answers based on what worked for my families and myself:

I think you have to be very clear about what you want when you write out your contract.And you should have a contract. Wages, hours, limitations (no childcare on days that your son is ill, but maybe your care provider still gets paid-- I had this written in so I wouldn't lose income), expectations for activities/conduct (if you have strong feelings about phone calls, texting, tv, anything....) you need to talk about this in advance. Make everything crystal clear. My contracts with clients were always pretty detailed about what was mutually expected and very specific as to tasks. If it were me hiring someone, I would not have them run errands with my child: if the child falls asleep in the car, then she's stuck either leaving the child in the car and running in (I see people do it, I don't, but people do) or waking the child to run the errand. Also, the same for dinner: I wouldn't want my childcare provider doing much other than playing with my son, making his food/cleanup of kid-generated messes made while the provider is there.

I didn't have families buy food for me. Their cupboards were always open, but I felt like it was my job to provide my own lunch unless I was having what the child was having.

A couple of extra tips: have a routine with your provider to transition your child from your care to hers, and then stick with that. Everything Sarah suggested is spot on. One thing that worked for me was to have some clear communication with the work-at-home parents; one mom had the traditional scarf on the doorknob for 'do not disturb' times when she was on conference calls or knee deep in her work. I would then just slip a note under the door.

And lastly, and this is said with much love: when your childcare provider is there, go away. Coordinate with her if you want to take a regular coffee break so she can move the child to play in another room before you come in. It's so hard to have to move children away from their parents all day; the child begins to feel that *I* am keeping them from their parent, and that hurts my relationship with the child as well as the parent. It doesn't mean you have to be invisible, but honoring space requires everyone's cooperation.

Enjoy being able to work in relative peace and with limited interruptions.

If I'm reading your post correctly, you'll be in the house while the nanny is there watching your son? If yes, the most important piece of advice I have is: STAY IN YOUR OFFICE!! Don't pop out of the office several times a day to check in on your son or say hi or make lunch. It will seriously disrupt their routine and your son will be extra whiny because he wants mom, and knows mom is right around the corner.

Other advice: yes, ask for the foods she likes and have those lunch options. If you have food you don't want her to eat in your fridge, label it - or perhaps have one shelf of foods she can eat. Yes to having her run errands occasionally. It will allow her to get out of the house with your son and they'll probably both enjoy it. I'm not sure about preparing dinner... maybe have her do your son's laundry instead? I like the idea of asking the nanny to do a little more than just watch your son - but not cleaning or anything. Our nanny was in charge of keeping our girls toys organized, planning crafts, running a few errands, and doing their laundry. But she was a horrible cook so I never wanted her to do that!

As for the car - either way would make sense, as long as you're comfortable that her car is safe. However, if you do allow her to use your car, make sure your car insurance will cover her if she gets into an accident. Since she's an employee, that may change the amount you pay for insurance, rather than just a casual driver like a friend or family member.

1. Be clear on the hours so your nanny knows when things are DONE
2. Be clear about what happens with sick child (call you at work if your son has a temp? will you take your son to doctor if necessary or do you want/expect your nanny to do this?)
3. What if Nanny gets sick (ie has a fever)?
4. What if you or your son is ill?
5. Look into taxes - you can apply for household employer number and take out social security (and pay your matching amount) as a household employer or have an employment agency do this for you...this allows for your nanny to later claim social security for work performed. I learned how to do this- it is the law to do this if your nanny earns more than a certain amount every month. This does not apply to someone who babysits for you once a month because their dollars earned is below the threshold.
6. I agree that it is nanny's job to be with your son - not to do dishes or housework or cooking meals. If you prepared the food ahead, you could ask about having her throw something already prepared into the oven for you so it is finishing cooking as you walk in the door...
Important to make your nanny feel appreciated as your household employee (incredible convenience of not having to drive your child someplace as part of getting ready for work on work days!) - I paid bonus at holiday time and tried to make sure that my vacation times were spelled out way ahead of time.

so far all the answers have been great advice. You do need a contract with her, that way everything has been stated and agreed upon. I think you need to ask her if she would like to run errands instead of telling her. If she agrees then that is great for you. I don't think you should worry about what kind of food she likes. I was a professional nannny for twenty years and when I went to work I brought all my food, lunch and snacks. I did ask if I could have a shelf to put staples for me. If you are asking the nanny to cook for you and your husband and making something different for the child is not the right way to go, but if it is something that your child is going to eat and she just needs to make more of it that is okay. If you nanny is going to be driving your car you will need to put her on your insurance and if she is going to be driving her car you will need to reimburse her. Plus, she will need to talk with her agent and let her know that she is using her car for work and a child will be in the car, some policies are different. Plus, you should leave some cash in a cookie jar/drawer/dish so if she wants to go somewhere with your son she will not have to ask for money. I think it is great that you have someone that you already know. I hope all goes well.

those are all great questions and should definitely be decided between the two of you before you start....the buggest issue is taxes. if you are doin gthis under the table she has to understand she cant file taxes and you need ot undrstand you cant claim the expense on your taxes. if you do then she will be required to pay all the taxes she didnt all year and you will have to pay all the taxes an employer has to pay. a nanny cant ever be considered an independent contractor so they cant 1099 . the law is written so their is no way around this. make sure this is clear before you guys start to avoid a huge problem and huge expense later one. id also expect you to have an illness policy where if your child would be too sick to attend day car they are too sick to be with nanny. also what to do when you are off of work? does she still get paid? most nannies get paid regardless. they also get 2 weeks paid time off. youd have to pay a daycare as well so its not like this is costing you more. again have the discussion and though some things may seem unfair to you if she is a good sitter make sure you are able to keep her or she will find someone who is going to do these things for her. i left a family once because of these things. good luck!