How To Keep Your Nanny Happy (And Be a Good Employer)

All bosses aren’t created equally. Think of the best boss you’ve ever had in your career… and the worst. What sets them apart? 

When you’re a new nanny employer, you may know that you need to pay fair wages and provide good benefits. However, there are other ways to be a good employer so that your nanny will want to stick around.

Be flexible

Letting someone care for your children means giving up some amount of control. That can be pretty difficult if you prefer to be in charge. However, being a little flexible is crucial to being a good employer. For one thing, nannies don’t like to feel micromanaged, like they can’t be trusted to care for your child on their own. Isn’t that why you hired an exceptional and qualified nanny, anyway? 

Give your nanny the freedom and flexibility to do their job. Maybe you let them choose what outings or activities to do with the kids on certain days. Or, maybe you let your nanny deal with a toddler meltdown or temper tantrum in their own way, rather than how you’d approach it. As long as you and your nanny are on the same page with the big things, like discipline strategies and expected duties, a little flexibility on your end won’t hurt you. Don’t second-guess your nanny’s decisions. That’ll only suggest to your nanny that you don’t have the confidence in them to do things right. 

Communicate often

Good communication is key in any relationship, whether it’s professional, platonic, or romantic. Why? You cannot expect the other person in a relationship to know exactly what you need if you don’t communicate them out loud, and vice versa! Frequent, honest communication helps your nanny understand what you and your children need so they can perform well at their job. And you can be the best employer possible when you talk to your nanny about what they need to do that job.

We’ve talked about the importance of regular check-ins with your nanny before. With regular check-ins, you set clear expectations, work through any issues early, and build a foundation of trust together. It’s especially important at the beginning of a nanny-employer relationship to make regular communication a habit. Be a good employer by routinely communicating with your nanny. Over time, you’ll naturally build trust and good feelings toward one another.

Give respect and recognition

Nannying may not be like a traditional office job, but that doesn’t mean your nanny shouldn’t be treated as a respected, valued employee. That’s what they are! If you don’t give the respect and recognition that your nanny deserves, they may look elsewhere for it.

Thank your nanny for the work they do, with simple verbal thanks to small gifts to annual bonuses. Respect your nanny’s boundaries and needs. Your nanny shouldn’t be asked to do extra housework, errands, or other duties that aren’t in their contract. If your nanny can’t work on certain days, or before and after certain times, respect that. And of course, be mindful of the way you talk to your nanny, especially in front of the children. Being yelled at or talked down to by your boss is humiliating and hurtful. Treat your nanny the way you would want to be treated in their position.

Find a nanny with A Perfect Fit

Now that you know what it takes to be a good employer, you’re ready to find the perfect nanny for your family. A Perfect Fit can help. We match qualified, skilled nannies to great families in Phoenix, Dallas, and Denver. Get started with our process now!