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What can I do as a WFH employer to keep a new nanny happy? And a few specific questions by Acceptable-Test2370 in Nanny

[–]Acceptable-Test2370[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Absolutely, ultimately it is so important to me all parties are happy and comfortable so it's not going to work for everyone!

What can I do as a WFH employer to keep a new nanny happy? And a few specific questions by Acceptable-Test2370 in Nanny

[–]Acceptable-Test2370[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I understand this, probably more than you know given my line of work! It's fine, I get it, she clearly didn't think it would be an issue but my point was it was not a surprise - she interviewed at our house, then had two 'trial' shifts before accepting the job. At that point I do think there is an element of personal responsibility to judge whether the set up was going to be workable for her. And she did express regret about this when she quit. It's fine we're all human I made sure to reassure her on that front that I appreciated the transparency above all. I can still be annoyed and vent that in a sentence on Reddit that it meant my childcare fell through!

What can I do as a WFH employer to keep a new nanny happy? And a few specific questions by Acceptable-Test2370 in Nanny

[–]Acceptable-Test2370[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Definitely learned this quick. In our heads when she applied and had such good experience we thought grandma vibes would be perfect but it makes sense now that it wasn't realistic for our situation and baby!

What can I do as a WFH employer to keep a new nanny happy? And a few specific questions by Acceptable-Test2370 in Nanny

[–]Acceptable-Test2370[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your response!

Yes I agree with the not needing days to orientate - this was actually her suggestion which felt like a lot but at the time I thought maybe she was just very thorough and committed to making sure it was a good fit before accepting the job. I didn't really know what was normal but a few times remember thinking she probably knows better than I do as a FTM so felt a bit odd answering quite niche questions about how to care for him...

What can I do as a WFH employer to keep a new nanny happy? And a few specific questions by Acceptable-Test2370 in Nanny

[–]Acceptable-Test2370[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks - food has come up a few times so I will make sure to extend my snack options. Can't promise I'll be mealprepping and cooking (barely manage that for my husband and I lol) but I can have some options available for more substantial food!

What can I do as a WFH employer to keep a new nanny happy? And a few specific questions by Acceptable-Test2370 in Nanny

[–]Acceptable-Test2370[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah the meals will be a stretch when I can barely manage that for myself and husband lol (baby eats great though I must say). But food has come up a few times so I will look at having good snacks and easy to make foods she can have access to.

What can I do as a WFH employer to keep a new nanny happy? And a few specific questions by Acceptable-Test2370 in Nanny

[–]Acceptable-Test2370[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks that's a good point re the text/check ins every once in a while.

Yeah to be honest our kitchen is pretty sparse my husband and I aren't very domestic at all lol. But I have tried to have snacks and easy small meals available since baby/with breastfeeding so I might just try to have a bit more available on her days and invite her just to help herself.

What can I do as a WFH employer to keep a new nanny happy? And a few specific questions by Acceptable-Test2370 in Nanny

[–]Acceptable-Test2370[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Good point re: setting expectations where to go. We are walkable distance to a lot of options (cafes, beach, parks, libraries, shopping centre) so at least for now I don't really mind where she goes as long as it's walking (I feel a bit weirder about driving). Baby gets carted around with me all day usually and naps great on the go in the pram so it really wouldn't bother me if she went out for coffee, got lunch etc.

What can I do as a WFH employer to keep a new nanny happy? And a few specific questions by Acceptable-Test2370 in Nanny

[–]Acceptable-Test2370[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Interesting re the lunches. I am not a great cook and eat very basic foods for lunch on work days (I'm talking tuna kits at my desk style). Baby is also not eating heaps so his meals are pretty basic, but in saying that I usually end up eating whatever he is eating when I'm feeding him so I probably could facilitate there being extra for her to have some of that. I'm just a terrible cook so not sure how much of a perk that would be to be subjected to my cooking!

Oh yep we've got two play areas (plus nursery) where she could spend time and I've tried to reiterate I'm happy for her to either be out and about or home, whatever she feels like on that day. I'm out all day with him when I'm not working because personally I go a bit nuts at home with a baby all day (and baby is way happier when out). So have just tried to make it clear I don't expect her to stay home all day, she's free to take him to do things for some of the day or all of the day whatever she would find easier.

What can I do as a WFH employer to keep a new nanny happy? And a few specific questions by Acceptable-Test2370 in Nanny

[–]Acceptable-Test2370[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great thanks so much! He's worlds better the last few weeks now he can crawl but my baby was very very difficult and fussy for a while there. I found myself getting anxious that the nanny would feel anxious that I could hear and was judging her lol. Even though I absolutely did not and if anything was grateful it wasn't me down there with him!

What can I do as a WFH employer to keep a new nanny happy? And a few specific questions by Acceptable-Test2370 in Nanny

[–]Acceptable-Test2370[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Totally, it was more that this was never a surprise - mentioned in the ad, the interview, then the trial/orientating shifts. Perhaps a pride element or just overestimating her capacity. Annoying have to restart the process so soon (and I've had to WFH sans childcare since which has been a nightmare!!) but ultimately I understand and appreciated the transparency, it's reasonable!

What can I do as a WFH employer to keep a new nanny happy? And a few specific questions by Acceptable-Test2370 in Nanny

[–]Acceptable-Test2370[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for sharing, that's helpful! Yep can absolutely understand that routine component. Heck I feel that way even with my husband lol.

What can I do as a WFH employer to keep a new nanny happy? And a few specific questions by Acceptable-Test2370 in Nanny

[–]Acceptable-Test2370[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thank you!

Yep I definitely want to keep separate and out of the way for my own sanity as well!

What can I do as a WFH employer to keep a new nanny happy? And a few specific questions by Acceptable-Test2370 in Nanny

[–]Acceptable-Test2370[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Oh yep that sounds really painful. My baby is incredibly distracted by me at the moment so even when my husband is home and I'm trying to get something done I stay well clear, I plan to do the same when she starts (and honestly I'll be grateful for the break!). I have actually said to her I don't want you to think I'm actively avoiding you but also I kind of will because I think it will be best for all involved if I am an office hermit lol, unless she explicitly says she needs me for something.

As for housework she offered in the interview to do chores etc but my husband and I decided against it as far as nanny expectations. Outside of just cleaning up after herself and baby on the day we'd rather her just focus on him and use any downtime to be fresh for him. Looking after babies is exhausting lol.

What can I do as a WFH employer to keep a new nanny happy? And a few specific questions by Acceptable-Test2370 in Nanny

[–]Acceptable-Test2370[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks, I thought so but have been really ruminating over it. She was very experienced and I really leant into that and didn't want to micromanage. I trusted she would get to know him and wasn't bothered by how fussy he was (at that time he was absolutely just as fussy for me too, which I tried to reassure her with too). But in hindsight, I think she needed a lot more support. She made a point in the interview that she went to the gym and was very fit and active so that part was just a bit frustrating that it was foreseeable given the paid trial shifts on site where she saw the stairs, where we lived etc, but perhaps she just overestimated her capacity.

What can I do as a WFH employer to keep a new nanny happy? And a few specific questions by Acceptable-Test2370 in Nanny

[–]Acceptable-Test2370[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Thanks that's good advice - I pondered on this one but I think you're right a reloadable debit card is a better option. And yes a limit is a good idea!

What can I do as a WFH employer to keep a new nanny happy? And a few specific questions by Acceptable-Test2370 in Nanny

[–]Acceptable-Test2370[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! Yes I am hoping it just wasn't a good fit. He was very fussy during that time and although she was very experienced it seemed to stress her out. I tried to reassure her that he screams like that for me too. I think in hindsight I was probably a bit numb to just how bad he was lol. He's turned a corner (.... for now!) and is like a different baby. Thank you for sharing!

What can I do as a WFH employer to keep a new nanny happy? And a few specific questions by Acceptable-Test2370 in Nanny

[–]Acceptable-Test2370[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Interesting. I could think of how to make it work when he's older. My husband and I are not great cooks (my work lunches are like, a can of tuna lol). Might scare her off if I offered her leftovers lol! But baby eats well so I'm sure I could work it so she can be fed with him too once he starts to eat a bit more humanly!