Getting your nanny job off to a good start: our top 5 tips

You’ve landed your next nanny job - congratulations! Welcome to the start of your new nanny-parent relationship.

Parents nowadays are more likely to be working from home, which means you’re more at risk of stepping on their toes than ever. This can all be avoided by developing a good relationship with your employer, but where do you begin?

In this article, we’ve compiled a list of our top tips on how to develop a positive relationship with your employer that will stand the test of time. 

Don't be afraid to ask questions

Whether you’re new to nannying or have years of experience among the best nannies from a top nanny and childcare agency, you’ll know that every placement can be radically different from the next. Therefore, it’s important that you learn as much as you can about your new environment as early as possible. Get yourself clued up on everything you can about the child (or children) you’ll be looking after: do they have any allergies or intolerances? What’s their routine at the moment?

It’s also worth making a note of where everything is in the house. If not offered first, ask the parents a tour of the home so that you know how everything works and where to find essentials, such as nappies and medicines, are kept. Don’t be afraid to jot everything down in a notebook - it’ll be a handy reference guide, and will show your new employer that you’re taking your job seriously!

Be clear on what's expected of you

Even if you know what your role entails, be sensitive to the fact that your understanding of your nanny services and how something is done can be totally different to the parents’. 

Before starting your job, review what your duties are and highlight any that you think you need more clarity on. For example, if you have been asked to cook healthy meals for the children, devise a meal plan and check it through with the parent. In doing so, you can learn what the parents want you to be feeding their children. Do any of them have a favourite food to incorporate into the menu, or does it even matter? Is there something they will refuse to eat?

Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification; it’ll show that you’re being proactive in your role, plus it could prevent any awkward encounters in the future.

Communication is key

Regardless of whether you're live-in or live-out, you'll be spending a lot of time in the house, meaning it's more likely you'll be seeing the parent on a regular basis as working from home becomes more popular. As both parties will be spending more time in the same space, it's important for nannies in UK to establish good channels of communication to avoid conflict.

One thing to immediately establish is how to communicate with the parents if something isn't working or is troubling you. By knowing how to approach them on these matters, you'll be more likely to work together to find a solution that works for both of you.

If something is bothering you, we recommend gently pulling one or both parents aside at the end of the day for a quiet conversation on what's wrong and what you think could be done differently. Try to see why things are done the way that they are, and be ready to negotiate in some cases.

For when you or the parents are out of the house, make sure you fully understand how the parents want you to get in touch with them. Ask them for both their mobile and work phone numbers in case of emergency, and check how often they’d like you to communicate with them. They may want a phone call every lunchtime with updates throughout the day via WhatsApp, or may only want you to get in touch if it’s urgent. 

Be open to change

Even the most thought-through plans don’t always go as expected, so it’s important to make sure that you’re prepared for change. While you may have initially agreed to a certain number or days or to a certain list of responsibilities, if your employer's situation changes - for instance, they got a promotion which requires them to stay at work for an extra hour on Mondays - it can be beneficial for you to be open to flexibility. Not only is there a chance you'll be rewarded for your hard work, but your employers will also be likely to praise your flexibility in your reference when you're looking for your next role.

However, if you're really not happy with the changes, we highly recommend arranging a sit down conversation with the parents to talk about what your concerns are and why you feel this way. Be prepared for some push-back and be open to negotiation. It’s important to try to be as flexible as possible to keep everyone happy, and honesty is always the best policy. 

Ask for feedback

Since your relationship with the parent is going to be long-term, you want to be keeping in check with what their expectations of you are and if there is anything else you can do to improve. Feedback is an imperative part of any job as it allows you to have someone else objectively review your performance to tell you what’s working and what isn’t. For instance, the parents may love the fact that you sing to the children while you cook for them, but they may think you’re giving them too many naps a day, causing them to struggle with sleeping at night. 

These feedback sessions also act as a good opportunity for you to pitch new ideas to the parent. You might suggest setting up a playdate with another toddler their child met at the park earlier in the week, or have found a new educational app you think they might be interested in. This will show that you’re thinking of new ways to engage the child, leaving the parent satisfied that their bundle of joy is in good hands.

Building a lasting relationship over time takes work, but little and often works wonders with the best nanny agency in UK. However, if at any point you find yourself struggling to establish a good relationship with a parent, get in touch with us at hello@mytamarin.com or on 020 3432 0234 and we’ll give you some pointers. We act as a neutral intermediary between you and your employer and are happy to help you through any issues you may be facing.