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How to train your nanny9 May 2007
nanny, nursemaid, nurse - a woman who is the custodian of children The option of leaving your baby at home with your domestic worker as nanny is one that we are blessed with in South Africa. However the need to be sure that the nanny is well trained to give you the peace of mind that your child is not only cared for on a basic level, but also stimulated and safe is one that every mom feels.When is the best time to hire my nanny? As soon as possible as you have no guarantee that ""Mary Poppins"" will be the first one through the door. You may have to try a few people before you find the person that you like and trust and feel is up to the huge task of looking after your child in your absence. What should I look for in my nanny? Hire someone who is honest and reliable and train them. We often look for the perfect nanny - someone who is totally reliable, extremely hard working, knows all there is to know about caring for your little one and is able to keep up with all the housework. All without complaining or getting tired - This is hardly ever achievable - rather look for someone who is honest, reliable and keen to learn - then teach them your way. Start with the basics, be clear, encourage questions and give your selves time From the time that your baby arrives home, encourage your domestic worker to spend time with you and your baby. Show her how to change the nappy, what creams to use and how and when you like the nappy changed e.g. when the baby wakes up or mid way through feeds. Once she has watched you a few times, let her do this with you present so that you can guide her through the process. Move onto showing her how to put the baby to sleep - again being clear and specific about calming techniques such as rocking, dummies or swaddling. Finally teach her how to feed the baby including sterilizing, quantities and timing -specifying when the baby must be fed and how long the baby should be allowed to finish their bottle. Once you are confident that she has mastered the basics and is doing them your way, spend time with her planning her daily routine factoring time for house work, baby feeding, sleep and play time. You may have to lower your standards regarding house work and need to be clear about what must be done each day such as washing dishes and making beds verses ""nice to haves"" such as clean windows and polished silver. It is important that you not only establish the routine, but that you explain the importance of the routine for the child, acknowledging that this routine will give the child security and allow your nanny time to get through her house work. I am almost ready to go back to work and have not left my nanny alone with my baby yet, how do I know she will cope? Give her a chance to get to know your baby and learn what needs to be done. Start by letting her change your baby's nappy - show her how to do this first, then let her do it herself. Slowly start adding responsibilities such as washing and sterilizing bottles, feeding your baby and winding her. Once you are comfortable she can do this. Start popping out to the shops or to meet you friends for a quick cup of coffee - without your baby. Begin by leaving at a time that you know your baby will be restful or in a good mood and leave your contact numbers incase she needs you. Remember that it is very important that your baby has had time to get used to your nanny before you go back to work so that your baby also trusts her and both are relaxed. I have worked hard to get my baby into a routine and want to be sure that my nanny sticks to it What can I do Write up a list of important activities and times and let her watch you through the day, until she understands how it is done - show her more than once and talk about everything as you go along. The list may include sleep time, feed time and wake times. Draw up a simple document for a daily report on how the baby's day went including: Feeds - time, what and quantity, Sleep - when and how long, Play time - when, where, what and how long, Nappy changing - when and details of the contents. Remember to encourage comments and observations as your nanny is spending a lot of time with the child and may be the first to notice changes in the baby such as when the he is finishing bottles very fast and may need to increase the quantities or when the she is ready to change sleep times. That way you will know how much your baby ate, slept and played in the day, as well as whether there are any areas of concern. Remember that babies routines change according to age, mood and a number of less predictable circumstances, make it clear that you would like your nanny to stick to your routine, but encourage her to discuss any issues with you so that you can adapt the routine appropriately e.g. cut down on snooze time, introduce more solids etc. I've hired a wonderful lady, but she just doesn't do it right! There is more than one way to do it. Remember that the person your nanny worked for before you may have had very different standards and ways of doing things. Make time to explain, and where possible demonstrate how you like things done. Write task lists and give feedback - when she does it right as well as when there is need for improvement. While your nanny may be very sweet and nurturing, it is important that she knows how to stimulate your child as the baby grows. Give her ideas for the week and explain why the baby needs to be stimulated. There are many wonderful websites, books and training courses that will give your nanny many ideas of age appropriate developmental activities she can do with your child. In addition to helping your child develop, your nanny will love the change in routine and the opportunity to do something fun during her day. I am worried that she will leave my baby in order to get through all the house work and don't want my child to be neglected. Detail your priorities clearly. Your nanny wants to please you and as such may be overwhelmed by the daunting task of keeping up with the house work as well as taking care of your precious baby. It is your responsibility to set the priorities and communicate these clearly. e.g. ""Please give Sarah all your attention and do what you can when she is sleeping"" OR ""Please make sure that the kitchen is tidy and the beds are made before you do any other house work"" Ensure that she knows what to do in the case of an emergency There is no such thing as a totally child proofed home and accidents do happen. Your nanny needs to be aware of the dangers in the home and trained on what to do in the case of an emergency. Send her on a basic First Aid course that teaches her what to do in the case of cuts, burns, choking and how to stablise the child through mouth to mouth and CPR. Make sure you leave a list of important telephone numbers near the telephone, these should include mom and dad, ambulance, poisoning and fire services as well as a reliable neighbour who can step in and help if need be. Remember that your nanny loves your child and has their best interest at heart. Establish a two way communication and encourage her to tell you what her concerns and observations are. Be careful and constructive with your criticisms as they may make her feel that she does not know what she is doing and this may lead to her being scared of caring for the child, when all you wanted was for her to change the nappies more often. Remember to say Thank you We all appreciate thanks, even when we are just doing our job! « Back to Newsletters |
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