What is the difference between a babysitter and a nanny? This is a question I have been asked many times over the last 21 years. Usually nannies ask me because they are frustrated when they are paid as a babysitter when In fact they are a nanny. A caregiver is not a babysitter just because an employer wants that to be their relationship. The distinction is based on a number of criteria. These criteria include the job description, the age and experience of the caregiver, the hours of work, the nature of the employment relationship and the commitment between the employer and caregiver.
Babysitters tend to watch children on an on call basis whereas nannies are usually hired to work on a permanent predictable schedule. Sitters will often be hired for the weekend or evenings and tend to have a more casual relationship with the family. Generally babysitters are not responsible for any duties outside of childcare and are often even paid just to be in the home while the children are sleeping. The majority of babysitters are teenagers or college students with less direct experience and training than a full time career nanny.
Babysitters are usually paid a lower salary than nannies and they are not considered employees. This means the employer is not required to make remittances for income tax etc to the federal government and not required to follow many of the labour laws set by your province or state.
Nannies are paid a salary or hourly rate that is negotiated with the employer before the job offer is finalized. They usually sign an employment contract outlining duties and details of the position. Nannies are also entailed to overtime pay and vacation pay and often receive additional benefits like use of a car, bonuses and medical coverage.
Before you begin your search for childcare it is important to know what you are looking for— nanny or baby sitter. Regardless of which type of childcare provider you select communication is the key to a good relationship. Whether you hire a nanny or babysitter it is important to clearly outline your expectations to avoid a break down in communication and misunderstandings.

Many working moms are taking advantage of changing technology and are working from home. This has obvious advantages. Your commute is non existent which allows you to spend more time with your children and pay less for your nanny. The challenge is developing a working relationship with your nanny which allows her to still maintain control of her work environment. This requires self-discipline, organization flexibility and consistency. The following tips may be helpful.
• Set up a separate space for the home office. Ideally one with a door that can be closed so your child cannot interrupt you when you are working.
• Say goodbye in the morning – as if you are leaving the house.
• Talk to your children about your work schedule. Explain that you will be working while the nanny spends time with them and if they need anything they need to ask their nanny
• Set up a structured schedule. It will be much easier for children to adapt to a nanny if there is predictability and consistency.
• Encourage the nanny to take your children to the park, community centre, library or out on walks.
• Resist the temptation to go to your child if they are crying or calling you. Even if they knock on your office door it is important for them to know that you are working and your nanny is in charge.

It is also important to communicate with your nanny on a regular basis about her working environment. If there are problems both you and your nanny need to feel comfortable about discussing these concerns and working together to come up with workable solutions

When I started writing this article I went on the internet and googled “nanny cams” Most of the search results where sales oriented but I did manage to find some disturbing articles and videos. One in particular was of a woman in the US who has been accused of abusing an 18 month old child. The video (although only a few seconds long) was very disturbing. I reflected on the past 21 years since I opened my agency and the changes in technology that allow us, as parents, to monitor our caregivers. Is this right? Is this ethical? It is legal in Canada (without audio).

My children are older now and when we had a nanny, surveillance cams where not popular.  To be honest, I would never have considered using one anyway. I have to admit that I have always had an office in my home so my level of confidence was obviously different from a parent who had to leave their children alone in their home with their nanny. I will also admit that I used to run around the park near our home in mid day to observe my nanny with my children (notice how I didn’t say spy)

Over the years as an agent my advice to employers (regarding this issue) has always been the same. “If you think you need a nanny cam to observe your nanny’s behavior than obviously trust is an issue and you shouldn’t employ that particular nanny”.

Are nanny cams just part of society’s transition to the ever dreaded big brother syndrome or are they a legitimate tool we can use to protect our children?

Instead of nanny cams I have suggested other ways to monitor your children’s safety when they are being cared for by your nanny

Surprise visits.
Obviously you don’t want to make a habit of this but if you are really concerned about your children drop by in the middle of the day and see how thing are going
Nanny overlap
Have your old nanny spend time with your new one. Obviously this will not be an entirely objective observation but your old caregiver may notice odd or disturbing behavior.
Talk to your children
If your children are old enough ask them about their day and how they feel about their nanny. Obviously if they don’t like her on a certain day because they have been justifiably disciplined you have to take their opinion in perspective.
Neighborhood watch
If you have neighbors who are at home during the day let them know if you have a new nanny and ask them to discreetly keep an eye out for unacceptable behavior in the back yard, or at the local park etc.

It is also a good idea to spend time with your nanny during the transition phase of her employment. As a parent, you may be able to pick up signs of disturbing behavior and it is a good idea to go with your instincts. As always, it is crucial to properly screen your nanny and check references thoroughly .Our agency also does criminal records checks and asks for a drivers abstract. Keep in mind that, although your nanny will be working without direct supervision, she is an employee with feelings and pride. Spying on her and scrutinizing her in a way that indicates you don’t trust her can erode the employment relationship. If you don’t trust your nanny for any reason and you cannot resolve the issue by discussing it, it may be time to look for a replacement

Conducting a nanny search can be a stressful and daunting process. Finding a nanny for twins or triplets is even more challenging. When sourcing and recruiting for a family there are several screening issues that need to be addressed. As with any employment recruitment, it is important to assess the candidate’s commitment to past positions, reliability, communication skills and organizational ability. When interviewing a nanny it is also important to properly assess the applicant’s childcare knowledge (safety, creativity, disciple, nutrition etc) When interviewing nannies to work for a family with twins or triplets there are specific screening issues that need to be addressed.

The successful candidate should have formal childcare training and/or many years of experience (several of which should be with multiples) They should also be very patient flexible, organized and have excellent communication skills.
Written and oral communication skills and organizational ability are some of the most important skills to access when screening a nanny to care for infant twins or triplets. One of the challenges when caring for multiples is developing and following an efficient routine. It is also important to maintain an inventory of supplies in various locations throughout the house. The caregiver must be very organized and capable of keeping a journal.
Triplets are usually born premature and may have some health issues. They may spend some time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit after birth. Because of this, it is often necessary to hire someone with a nursing background or extensive first aid training
As the children get older and more independent the job becomes a little easier. They play together and entertain themselves. Because they do everything at the same time and are at the same developmental stage it is easy for caregiver to plan activities throughout the day. Caring for twins or triplets is a lot of work no doubt about it, but it is also a lot fun!

As with any employment situation, there may come a time when an employer has to terminate their employment relationship with their nanny.. When an employer runs into difficulties with his/her nanny I try to encourage them to work through the issues especially if the employee has developed a positive relationship with the children. Generally the problems can be assessed in two ways-teachable issues and non teachable issues. Teachable issues are things like cooking skills and housekeeping skills. Non teachable issues often relate to a person’s general personality and are usually difficult to change. Some examples are reliability, creativity, energy level etc. Both teachable and non teachable problems can create difficulties in an employment situation but one is far more difficult to remedy than the other.

If your nanny lacks certain skills that are teachable there is a possibility that, with an effort on their part and patience from your end, these problems may be dealt with. For example if your nanny is not a good cook and cooking is an important part of the job you may want to send her to cooking class. If, however, the problems stem from her personality or life style (as with non teachable issues) then it is less likely that you will have success.
Some issues like reliability, if address immediately, can improve with effort from the caregiver and good communication skills from the employer. But a nanny’s energy level and outlook on life is certainly more difficult to address as these are life style and personal issues that are often hard to change and may involve too much time and effort on behalf of the employer. After all your priority is to employ a nanny who is suitable for your family and can provide safe and engaging play for your children.
Common sense dictates that these issues should be addressed during the interview and screening stage of your nanny search but sometimes people can present very well in an interview yet their job performance is not in keeping with this original assessment. There are two ways to avoid this type of problem. The first is to be very diligent and thorough when checking references. Ask the previous employer specific questions with regard to areas that are very important to you. Ask about personality and how the nanny bonded with the children. Secondly, it is always wise to have the short listed candidate come back after the initial interview to spend time with the children. This will give you an opportunity to see them interact with your children in your home and view their response to her.
Unfortunately even with diligence and thoroughness there are often times when you realize the nanny you have hired is not right for your family. Though this may be a very stressful experience for both your family and your nanny it can also be a learning experience which will provide you with additional tools to recruit and screen applicants in the future.

The Canadian federal government has proposed changes to the Live-in Caregiver Program. The Live-in Caregiver Program lets qualified individuals come to Canada as temporary workers to provide care for children, the elderly or disabled in private homes. If a live-in caregiver meets requirements, he or she can then apply for permanent residence in Canada after two years.
The main problem with this program has been the exploitation of caregivers by employment agencies who charge exorbitant fees to find these caregivers employment.
Not only will the new regulations make it easier for live-in caregivers to apply for permanent residence it will also give them more protection from abuse or exploitation.
The changes that will make it easier for live-in caregivers to apply for permanent residence in Canada and will include:
• eliminating the second medical exam before becoming a permanent resident
• allowing live-in caregivers who work overtime to apply for permanent residence sooner
• increasing the time that live-in caregivers are allowed to complete the work requirement for permanent residence from three to four years.

These changes will also protect live in caregivers from exploitation by prohibiting employers from using employment agencies that charge caregivers fees for their services.

Families and Nannies do have other alternatives. There are websites that do provide the same service as most of these agencies. These sites charge less than $100. Canada Immigration does a thorough interview of each applicant so it is not necessary to pay an agency an exorbitant fee for this service.

When considering hiring a live in nanny there are definite pros and cons you should consider.
You’ll find that there are some perks to having a childcare provider live with you. Though it’s not for everyone, if you’re considering a live-in nanny, here are the advantages
1.Having a live-in nanny is more affordable than one that is live-out. You can negotiate a lower salary in exchange for providing room and board. Also, most live in nannies are relatively new to the country and have entry level salary expectations.
2.Usually live in nannies are more flexible with regard to hours worked and additional hours that may be required if you travel and/or need over night care.
3.Live in nannies are sometimes be more available for additional hours with short notice as they are not required to commute to their place of employment.

The are also some challenges when employing a live in nanny that should be addressed.
1.Most live in nannies are on the “live in Caregiver program” which means you must apply to Service Canada so that the offer of employment can be assessed. This can be a time consuming and confusing process which involves approval from three government agencies. For more information regarding this process please go to

http://www.opti-mum.com/overseas-paperwork-processing.html

2.Although it is nice for your nanny to become a member of your family there are sometimes problematic issues with regard to privacy for both your family and your nanny. If you do not have private self-contained accommodation your nanny will be living in your home using your kitchen and coming and going on her time off. If is important to set some clear guidelines with regard to her having friends and family over to visit or stay in your home.

3.If your live in nanny is from another country she may get lonely and rack up an extensive phone bill. She may also lack a social life and may need assistance and guidance with regard to networking in the community to make contacts. It is a good ideas to hire someone who already has an established social life and/or supportive family near by and will not rely on you to solely provide this for her.
In both live in and live out arrangements the most important issue is two way communication before and during your nanny’s employment with your family. Clearly explain your family life style and house rules when you are making the employment offer. This will decrease the likelihood of misunderstanding and miscommunication and will ultimately lead to a more successful employment arrangement

Nannies who feel overworked and unappreciated usually don’t last. It is important to have consistent and reliable childcare as constant change can be very stressful and difficult for your family-especially your children. Because of this, it is often worthwhile to make an effort to address any reasonable concerns your nanny may have and make an attempt to find solutions. In most cases common problems that occur have a relatively easy solution.
Interfering Parents. Nannies sometimes encounter a situation in which a parent interferes with their relationship with the children when it comes to disciple. This is especially evident if the mother or father works at home or does not work. This can cause a great deal of frustration for the nanny and confusion for the children. Sometimes the children start to question and challenge the nanny’s authority.
It is important to tell your children that when they are with their nanny she is in charge. If your children come running to you because they don’t like the way she is dealing with a discipline issue the children need to know that you support the decisions their nanny is making. Before she begins the position it is important to discuss your discipline philosophy so she clearly understands what works for your children and what is important to you. In fact your discipline philosophy should be a topic of discussion in the job interview.

Being underpaid.: This is one of the main reasons a nanny will start to look for employment elsewhere. Unfortunately they are often not confident enough to bring up their concerns regarding this matter. It is important to pay your nanny based on the market rate, their experience and education and the job description. If this does not happen she may feel under valued from the start and may be influenced by peer and family to look for other employment. It is also important to give your nanny pay raises, pay appropriately for over time and give bonuses to let them know you appreciate a job well done. •

Too Much Housework Sometimes employers will ask their nanny to do a great deal of housework. First off, it is important to remember that a nanny is not a housekeeper. She will engage in light housekeeping duties –like general tidy up, laundry, sweeping and simple meal prep. If you want to hire someone to do your housekeeping and take care of your children you can hire a nanny housekeeper. It is important to remember that even a nanny housekeeper cannot and should not be expected to do heavy housework if she has young children to care for and there is no time to do the housekeeping safely. If your children are older and in school, or if you have one child who sleeps a lot, there is time for housework. If you are a mom or dad at home and you will be taking care of the children for scheduled periods then housekeeping expectations are acceptable. In the nanny interview make sure the applicant has an opportunity to discuss what they are willing and not willing to do when it comes to homework. Tell her what your expectation are and when you would like this work to be done. Once your nanny or nanny housekeeper has started, make sure you have a clear job description and stick to it. We often receive complaints from nannies who say they are asked to do more and more housekeeping tasks that where not originally agreed upon.

No free time or privacy: When you have a live-in nanny, she will be living in your home but she will need her own time and privacy. It is important that you do not assume she is available to work beyond her work hours with little or no notice and without additional pay. Make sure you tell your children that your nanny’s living area is her private space and they should not be entering it unless they are invited. Your nanny needs her time off to rest and relax so she can come to work feeling refreshed and enthusiastic.

Communication Breakdown: It is extremely important to have open and honest two way communication with your nanny. If this does not occur small issues can become problematic very quickly. Make sure you are very clear with your nanny about what you expect with regard to this issue. Encourage them to come to you if they have a problem or concern. It is a good idea to keep a nanny journal. This allows both you and your nanny to communicate clearly and avoid sticky notes and forgotten verbal instruction. It is also important to have regular follow-up meetings with your nanny (when the children are not around.) These should happen daily and /or weekly in the first three months of employment. At the three month point it is a good idea to do a formal review. You can download a performance evaluation from our website. The evaluation focuses on areas the nanny is excelling and areas where some improvement is required. Keep the tone of this review positive and allow your nanny ample opportunity to give feedback and discuss their concerns.

The internet can be an effective venue to match families looking for childcare and nannies looking for work. Most families are honest and fair and are looking for the best care for their families. However, it is important to learn safe internet job search skills to protect yourself against possible dangers and scams.
Identity theft is not that common but it does happen. It is important to make sure you do not provide the following information on an online application.
• Social Insurance Number or Social Security Number (this should only be provided to your employer once you have been offered a job)
• Date of birth
• Names and phone numbers of References
• Copies of birth certificates or other identity documents
• Bank account information
Money scams are far more common. This type of scam may promise you salaries and working conditions that are too good to be true. They sometimes offer to hire you without even talking to you directly. They may offer you a salary advance and ask for banking information to deposit the cheque.
When you speak to a potential employer on the phone it is important to get a sense of how comfortable they are with your desire to remain cautious and careful during the interview process. If fact, they should see this as an indicator of your professionalism.
If you have any hesitation about going to the family home for an interview it is a good ideas to conduct your first meeting with the family in a public place. If you do go to the family home make sure you leave the name, address and phone number with someone as a precaution. Ask if you can speak to their former nanny or childcare provider. The family will want to do reference checks on you so they should not object to this.
A nanny is wise to think through safety issues before accepting a job offer. We hear so much about families being concerned about leaving their children in the care of a relative stranger. Nannies considering relocating and living with their employer need to be just as cautious.

In today’s busy world, parents are working harder than ever to meet their obligations. And as working parents, they want to feel confident that their children are receiving the best care possible. Children receive care in a variety of settings including their homes, the homes of neighbours or relatives, and family or group childcare settings.
Each option has advantages and disadvantages. A parent’s choice is dependent upon lifestyle, budget, personal preference and available options in their location. Here is a rundown on the most popular types of childcare and their advantages and disadvantages.
Family Child Care
Family childcare programs are located in the caregiver’s home. The home-like, family-centered atmosphere provides an easy transition for a child departing home for the first time. The smaller group often allows for spontaneous and flexible programming and activities. Young children can form friendships with other children and are cared for by one or two consistent adults. The intimate care provided in this setting makes it possible for the caregiver to assist the child through various transitional development periods like toilet training and learning to drink from a cup.
Family childcare programs that are not licensed through the Provincial Community Care Facility Act and Child Care Licensing Regulation can provide care for up to two children (unrelated to the caregiver). Licensed family childcare programs can provide care for up to five children (plus two of school age) aged from infancy to 12 years.
The cost of this type of care ranges from $500 to $800 per month depending on the age of the child, location of the program, qualifications of the caregiver and whether or not the facility is licensed.
The primary disadvantages of this type of care can be the restricted hours and the preparation, time and energy that are required in transporting the child to and from the caregiver’s home. Some parents also find the caregiver-to-child ratio too high for an infant.
Group Day Care
There are two categories of group day care programs:
a) group day care for children aged under 36 months and
b) group day care for children aged from 30 months to school age.
Different licensing requirements exist for the two categories. Group daycare centre hours are sometimes up to 13 hours a day, offering parents more flexibility for drop-off and pick-up times. Staff are required to have training in Early Childhood Education from an approved institution or college.
These centres often offer an excellent preschool education program thus improving the transition from day care to elementary school. If a centre is located near an elementary school it will often offer drop-off and pick-up service for children needing half-day care while enrolled in kindergarten. Full-time care in this type of facility will cost between $600 to $1100 per month.
The disadvantage to this type of care is that some children have a difficult time adapting to the larger environment of a group daycare. Also children with special needs or behavioural problems sometimes need more specialized care. As with family childcare programs, group day care may not be economical when two children from the same family require care.
Nannies
A nanny provides personalized care in a child’s own home. She will involve them in creative play, learning, stimulation and socialization. Nannies will engage in light housework. A nanny/housekeeper, although primarily responsible for child care, will also engage in unrelated household duties. There are many advantages to employing a nanny, including convenience and the upkeep of the family home. Children cared for in their own home are less likely to become sick, due to the reduced risk of communicable disease. The nanny has the freedom to take the children to activities outside the home and is able to provide more individual time to each child.
The disadvantage for many is economic. The cost of a nanny can be beyond the means of working families: between $1300 and $2500 per month. The salary range is dependent upon the job description and the nanny’s experience. Even if parents can afford a live-in overseas nanny, they may not be able to provide the accommodation required, or may not feel comfortable having someone outside their family living in their home.
Nanny Sharing
Here’s one way to reduce the cost. A nanny can work for two families at the same time (nanny sharing) thus lowering the cost to each family. This can be a preferred alternative for parents with an infant, as the child receives more personalized care than in a family or group childcare environment. And the cost, although more than daycare, is significantly less than hiring a nanny for one child.
The main disadvantage to nanny sharing is that it can be tricky for two families to arrange a workable situation. Employers should be sure they agree on a reasonable work schedule, vacation dates and monetary division of statutory holidays.
When searching for appropriate childcare it is important to research all the alternatives. Your final choice will depend upon your lifestyle, budget, preferences and the available options in your neighbourhood. A good place to start looking is the childcare resource and referral programs in the Lower Mainland. They are an excellent resource for both parents and caregivers.

Many parents become overwhelmed when recruiting and screening nannies. Often this leads them to rely on a stereotypical idea of what makes the perfect nanny. But even though Mary Poppins may seem to have a lot to offer, parents require more that a spoon full of sugar and a song to meet their expectations.
Although the recruiting and selection process can seem complicated, it is manageable when you break it into these smaller stages: telephone screening, resume review and the interview process.
Telephone Screening
Advertising for childcare usually results in many telephone enquiries. This is a good time to assess language ability and ensure that the candidates meet your basic requirements (ie: live in or live out, part time or full time, salary expectations, experience and availability). Ask only the short-listed applicants to forward a resume and ensure that they have good references that can be contacted to verify past employment.
Resume Review
Screening resumes will save you time as you will be selecting only qualified candidates for interviews.
Here are some guidelines for reading and interpreting resumes:
• Does the applicant have childcare or early childhood education certification?
• What other educational designations does the candidate possess (first aid, food safe, cooking classes etc)?
• Examine related childcare experience. Focus on the past 5 to 10 years.
• Look for volunteer work that may have enabled the candidate to acquire knowledge and develop skills that may be useful as a nanny.
• Pay close attention to gaps in work history and make sure the applicant has a reasonable explanation.
• Look for patterns in a candidate’s work experiences (like frequent career changes, employment instability and short term work assignments without legitimate reasons for leaving positions).
• Does the candidate live close to your home and if not, do they have reliable transportation?
• Remember that first impressions from a resume can be misleading. You may find a very good candidate from an incomplete resume if you pursue the missing links and information gaps. But be sure to do this on the phone before arranging an interview.

The Interview
Once you have short- listed to a small number of applicants, send them a detailed job description before you start to interview. This will allow you to spend less time talking about job details and more time listening as the candidate discusses qualifications and experience. While interviewing, pay attention to past experience. Remember, the best way to predict future behavior is to examine past behavior. Creating behavioral- based interview questions will help you assess the applicant’s childcare knowledge.
Safety, discipline philosophy, creativity, time management, nutrition, organizational ability and communication styles are important subjects to consider. Here.are some questions you might ask:
• Tell me about a time when you were caring for a child who was acting out. What steps did you take to address this behavior?
• In your previous nanny positions what type of activities did you plan and provide for the children?
• Can you describe a time in a previous position when you had a conflict with an employer and what steps you took to rectify the situation?
During the interview it is important to verify information from the resume. Try to follow up a yes or no answer with an open-ended question in order to gather more information. Discuss your childcare philosophy only after you have asked the applicant these questions. Otherwise they may answer in a way that is compromised by their knowledge of your preferences. Ask all candidates the same questions in order to make comparisons based on the same criteria.
Although it is important to incorporate the children in the interview process it is less distracting for you and the candidate if you conduct the information gathering portion of the interview while the children are being taken care of by someone else. They can meet the candidate near the end of the interview. You might also ask the nanny to come back and spend a few hours with your children on a different day. This will give you a sense of how the nanny and children will interact.
Finally it is also important to trust your instincts. Balance facts gathered in the interview with your intuition. Sometimes you just know when an applicant is the right one, (or the wrong one.).

How to communicate with your nanny

When we follow up with our clients and nannies once their employment relationship has begun sometimes there are problems to address in the first three to four months. The most prevalent problem I encounter is a break down in communication.

We always recommend that both our clients and nannies take a business approach to their employment relationship at the core of which is establishing an employment contract. Other helpful aids are a nanny journal, childcare profiles and scheduled brief meetings to discuss the position (including a three month performance review).

Employment contract
Such an agreement should limit misunderstandings regarding employment conditions, making sure that all parties are on the same page now and in the future. Issues covered in the employment contract can include salary, benefits, hours of work, main duties and responsibilities, vacation entitlements, use of a vehicle and travel with the family.

Nanny Journal
Most nannies we interview like the idea of using a nanny journal. The purpose of this journal is to encourage communication between employer and employee.
If this isn’t possible introduce a diary system which allows the nanny to record the events of the day including appointments, meals, social outings, sleep times and medications as well as the child’s developmental steps.

Child profile
A child profile is designed to ease your child and your nanny through the initial transition period. You can download this form directly form our website if you are a member. These forms address the child’s eating habits, preferred activities, sleeping routine and the parent’s philosophy with regard to discipline, safety and nutrition

Schedule brief meetings
Many nannies cite poor communication as a reason for leaving a position. So it is important to take time at the beginning and the end of each day (in the first two weeks) to meet with your nanny briefly. If possible do this when the children are not able to hear this discussion, especially if they are older. After this initial period is over consider a weekly review which involves an informal discussion allowing both parties to give and receive feedback.

Provide positive feedback and praise for a job well done; conversely, if you are unhappy in any way with the nannies performance, discuss this immediately.
These meeting can gradually become less frequent as your confidence and trust in your nanny increases over time.

Although all of the above suggestions are useful it is important, during the interview and screening period to thoroughly assess your nanny with regard to her communication skills. You may want to ask situational questions to asses the applicant’s ability to communicate. Discuss a negative scenario that you may have experienced with past caregivers and ask the applicant how they would handle the situation and communicate to resolve it. When checking references always ask how the nanny communicated with the parents and the children.
Open and honest communication is extremely important in any employment situation. It is especially important when you hire a nanny. Small misunderstanding can often lead to more problematic ones due to lack of communication.

As in any employment situation, it is unprofessional for an employee to make too many personal phone calls while they are being paid to do a job.

Unfortunately it is often very difficult to know if your nanny is using the phone and employers often must rely on a somewhat unreliable source –their children.

This is a difficult situation as it also puts the children in a position that could be detrimental to their relationship with their nanny.

If you think your nanny may be phone-obsessed to the point of it being dangerous for your kids than this issue must be addressed immediately. Talking on the phone too much means she is likely too distracted to keep track of your children. The following tips could help resolve this problem

• Make sure you are very clear about your position (as an employer)with regard to phone use (both home and cell)
• If your nanny is a live in and you think she will be making long distance calls make sure the nanny and you have an arrangement with regard phone use to payment. It is wise to have this agreement in your employment contract
• Purchase a cell phone that you will pay for or offer to pay for. Make sue it is in your name so you get the bill. This way you can see what calls are being made to your nanny and what calls she is making during her work hours
• If you have no other alternative you can carefully ask the children if they have seen their nanny talk on the phone but make sure you do it in a casual way so your children do not know you are concerned about this issue

Finally it is obvious that being direct and honest is always the best approach if you think your nanny is speaking on the phone too much especially if you think it is effecting the quality of care she is providing to the children. This can be a difficult and sensitive situation but you certainly do not want to get to the point where your children and neighbors are spying for you

Often when we hire a new caregiver it is because there is a change in the dynamic of the family or your present nanny is resigning from the position.
This can be a very difficult time for the children especially if a new child is coming along.
Recently I received a call from one of my clients who had hired a nanny through our agency about two years ago. She was upset that her nanny was leaving but also very happy for her good fortune (as she was leaving the province to get married) I immediately thought that it would be somewhat challenging to find a caregiver who could take the place of this nanny who had become part of their family. She had developed a wonderful relationship with the children. My client’s main concern was how her children (5 and 3 ) were going to adjust to a new caregiver especially when a new baby was due right around the time their nanny was planning to leave.
I found another nanny for the family with in a few weeks, That was the easy part. The harder part was to help the family shift these two children into life with the newly appointed nanny.
The goal in this case was to help the children feel safe and comfortable with their new caregiver We know that this may take some time. The new nanny was a professional and understood that the children might act out and may or may not be in full control of their emotions after “losing” their nanny. In this situation there are several ideas that I suggested to the family to help the children and the new nanny with the transition.
• If the child is older involve them in the process of hiring a new nanny. When we do in-home consultations we will often ask the children for their input –like what kinds of things they like to do with their nanny and where they like to go
• Begin to mention the nanny’s name in the days leading up to her arrival. Tell them that their nanny can’t wait to see them.
• Have your child “take the lead” in terms of showing their new nanny around your home. Encourage them to describe activities they like, what the dog does, or stories about some fun things that they’ve done in or outside your home.
• Make the arrival of your nanny as a big and fun event for your children if they are old enough to understand. Have your children draw welcome pictures in the nanny’s room and/or make her a card. Ask them what they think their nanny likes to eat and have them help you bake cookies for a special nanny arrival party.
• Try to keep the children’s schedule the same for consistency. This way the children do not experience too much change at onceGive your nanny information about each child-like what activities they like to do, what foods they like and even what discipline philospies work
• Try to arrange a overlap of care.If possible start your new nanny one to two weeks before the first one leaves. This is benifitial as a trianing period and also allows the children to spend time with both caregivers which is a better stepping stone then an immediate transfer from one caregiver to another. The children will see that the nanny they love and trust is working with and trusts the new caregiver which will also help ease the transition. If this is not possible it is a good idea for the children’s mother or father to be involved in this transitionary period.
• The new nanny should develop and initiate creative and fun ideas to do with each child individially. One idea is to make a going away gift for the nanny who is leaving.
• Be patient. Children can be very blunt and sometime cruel. An experienced nanny will understand that the anger and frustration that the children are expressing is not agaisnst the new nanny but becsues of their loss of the old one
Finally, acknowledge your children’s attachment to their previous caregiver: If your children had a strong bond with their previous nanny, understand that in order to bond with a new nanny, your children must come to terms with the loss of the previous caregiver. Explain the reasons for the transition. Talk to your children about their feelings toward their beloved nanny, and if possible, continue to maintain contact with her.

Nanny Sharing

About 20 years ago I was faced with a common dilema. How do I find safe, reliable care for my 7 month old baby girl. I called daycares and nanny agencies but was unsatisfied with the results.

I was shocked to find that the nanny agencies did not do criminal records checks and did not interview applicants to assess childcare knowledge.

With that in mind I started my own agency.–Optimum Childcare and Nannies. I had been working as a social worker before my baby was born so I had a solid foundation of knowledge and as a mom I was able to understand how it felt to enter the daunting task of finding childcare.

I knew that it is important to have an original and unique idea when starting a business so I started to brain storm. What are the main concerns and issues that parents face when finding childcare.

-safety
-reliability
-quality care and education
-reasonable cost
-convenience

The solution I came up with was nanny sharing. I started an advertising campaign and received a lot of attention from the local media.

Nanny sharing is a great alternative to daycare.-especially if you have one child. It is slightly more expensive than a daycare but offers the convenience of keeping your child in your family home (or alternating homes with the shared family). There are many nannies seeking employment who have early childhood education degrees and diplomas. The salary range for this type of care is $15 to $20 per hour (the salary range varies depending on the number of children and the qualifications of the caregiver). There can be two even three families involved so it is more reasonable than hiring a nanny on your own.

Your home is a better environment for children and protects them against communicable disease. The ratio of care giver to child in a nanny sharing situation is lower than a daycare so there is more personal care.

For more information about nannies and nanny sharing check out our website at www.opti-mum.com

How Much Should I Pay for Childcare?

People who work taking care of children receive a wide range of compensation. Some people earn as little as $35 per child per day, for day-homes, and some earn over $18 per hour, more than double minimum wage. As a parent, how do you decide how much you should pay for childcare? How does the difference in cost effect the quality of your childcare? Here is a short guide, based on cost, to help you decide what kind of childcare is best for you.
$35 per day – Dayhomes

Day homes are commonly run by stay at home mothers who offer to take care of children, in addition to their own. They are inexpensive because they are a way for mothers to make money when they would otherwise have been taking care of only their own children for free. They are a great option for people on a tight budget but often don’t offer the structure or professionalism of a daycare.

$8(minimum wage) to $12 per hour – Introductory level care

Minimum wage is often paid to people who have very little experience and no childcare educational background. It is possible to find a childcare worker who is young, creative and responsible who you could pay minimum wage.

$14 to $16 per hour – Moderate experience or education

If you are willing to pay more than minimum wage for childcare then you can afford someone who has 3 – 5 years of experience or who has recently graduated from a early-childhood education program. The quality of their care will be higher than someone with no experience.

$18 per hour or higher – Career nanny

You should only pay someone $18 per hour or above if they have many years of experience and/or a strong educational base such as a teaching or nursing degree. If you can afford a nanny with this level of experience it is a worthwhile investment.

Following the lead of Alberta and British Columbia, the province of Ontario has proposed a new law to protect nannies from exploitation by employment agencies. The legislation is an important step forward towards protecting nannies from being charged exorbitant fees by nanny agencies. In Alberta and British Columbia it is illegal for a Canadian nanny agency, or their affiliates overseas, to charge nannies a fee for finding them a job. Often nannies are charged their life savings ($5,000-$10,000), and often the savings of their entire family, to be brought to Canada to work under the live-in caregiver program. Once they get to Canada they work for minimum wage and are often made to work unpaid overtime, sometimes working up to 60 hours a week.

Most nannies in Canada are very familiar with their rights: what they should be paid, how many hours they are expected to work before overtime kicks in, or that overtime exists at all. But many nannies who come to work in Canada from overseas are not aware of their rights, and because they often speak English poorly and are isolated from friends and family they have limited opportunities to educate themselves. These conditions sometimes lead to exploitation. The legislation is an important step towards protecting nannies in Canada because it means they can work here without losing their entire life savings and it means that only reputable and ethical agencies will be able to find them employment. Working with good agencies is the best way for workers to protect themselves from exploitation and unfair treatment such as un-paid overtime, being paid less than minimum wage and even working for employers who are verbally and emotionally abusive.

I encourage anyone who reads this blog to please send an email to political representatives in Ontario to show your support. These workers deserve better and your support will help protect not only nannies in Ontario, but all nannies in Canada.

Today’s modern family is busy, hardworking and spread pretty thin. Many of us need some extra help now and then, especially when it comes to childcare. Finding the right nanny is one of the most important choices a family can make. Choosing the right person will benefit your children, the dynamic of your house and your sanity. Choosing the right nanny service is a key first step toward finding the right person to add to your family.

If you are a busy family trying to make ends meet an online company is probably your best bet. Signing up on an employment website is relatively inexpensive (around $60) and will give you access to lots of people you wouldn’t have been able to find on free websites like Craigslist. Online employment databases also offer extensive profiles that give you way more information than Craigslist or Kijiji ads.

If your family has more money to work with you may be able to afford to hire a human resources specialist ($1000-$1500) to help you find the perfect employee. This option is more expensive but worth every penny if you would prefer to leave the work of sifting through hundreds of potential employers to a professional. Human resource professionals working for good nanny service will also have a “nanny network” to draw from when finding you a nanny. This is a super valuable resource that can’t be found on online.

But it’s about more than money. Remember to be patient. Don’t rush into a hasty agreement because you need childcare immediately. Hold out for the right fit and be clear about your expectations. Spending lots of time writing up your online profiles, or application forms for nanny services, will give your potential employees a clear idea about what you expect. It will also help you decide what role this person will play in your family.

Good luck and remember, be patient… the right person is just an email away.

Working as a nanny is a tough job and keeping your kids full and happy with healthy food is a big part of that job. Being a vegetarian myself, I’m always looking for healthy, quick and yummy recipes. I thought I would share some of my favourites with you.

Hummus

Hummus is a blended dip made with chickpeas. It is high in protein, low in fat and super yummy. It can be eaten with bread, pita or chopped vegetables. It’s also a great spread for sandwiches and toast that adds extra flavour and protein – which is super important for health conscience vegetarians. It’s also really easy to make. Just blend all the ingredients together.

2 cups of canned chickpeas

3 cloves of garlic (you can add less or more depending on how your kids feel about garlic)

3 tbsp of lemon juice

1/2 tbsp of olive oil

2 tbsp of water

1/2 tsp of paprika

1/2 tsp of cumin

Another challenge as a nanny is finding fun and healthy desserts to feed your kids. Here is a great recipe for healthy vegan cookies.

Apple Cinnamon Raisin Oatmeal Cookies

These cookies are sugar and dairy free and make a great healthy and yummy dessert!

Preheat oven to 350F

In the order shown below, mix together the following ingredients:

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 tsp of cinnamon

1 cup rolled oats

1.25 cups of unsweetened apple sauce (add extra apple sauce for flatter cookies)

1.5 cups seedless raisins

Place cookies on lightly oiled cookie sheet and bake for 20 – 25 minutes. Makes 12 cookies.

That’s all for today!

More healthy recipes to come…

From one nanny to another… Happy healthy baking!

It is a common question of job hunters: should I try to find a job on my own, or should I apply with a placement agency? And with any job hunt, the answer seems to be the same: it depends on the quality of the agency. This is true of nanny agencies in particular. There are many great companies out there, with reputable and trustworthy employees. But there are also many agencies that will take advantage of your job hunt to make money, regardless of how it effects you or the family you will be caring for. Here are a few tips to remember when choosing a nanny agency:

1) Never pay an agency to find you a job.
In BC and Alberta it is illegal to charge someone to help them find employment. Do not agree to pay an agency fee under any condition. This is especially true of nannies coming from overseas.

2) Look up the agency online.
Enter in the name of the nanny agency to any online search engine and see what comes up. Many agencies have websites, which are worth looking at. Additionally, you will sometimes find news articles about agencies with particularly bad reputations.

3) Look for a referral to an agency from a friend.
If you know someone who works as a nanny ask them what agency helped them find their job. You can also ask former employers which agencies they have used to find nannies. If you don’t know anyone who has a relationship with an agency, ask the agency for a reference. A good nanny agency will have lots of nannies willing to attest to their quality.

4) Avoid nanny agencies that want to send you to several interviews at the same time, because it is likely they are offering the same opportunities to everyone who has applied and has the same availability as you. It is advisable to find an agency that sends you to interviews based on factors besides your weekly availability and this may result in you having less interviews, but you will have a better chance of getting hired. A good nanny agency will pair up nannies and families based on child care philosophy, personality congruence and even sense of humour. Keeping these factors in mind when pairing employer and employee will ensure a great match and a better chance that you will get hired.

Hopefully these tips will help you find a great nanny agency. Good luck job hunting!

A Google search for “nannies” produces 16,500,000 results. It is, to say the least, quite an intimidating prospect to search for a nanny on the internet.

Most of the sites that result from this search are Agencies advertising their services.

They may offer valuable information but there are certain precautions that should be taken when navigating these sites . Work with sites run by professionals, people with Human Resources or Early Childhood Education training. Look for established companies that have been in existence for at least 5 years. Be cautious of sites with outdated information, like employment tax deduction charts.

You will find database websites that offer access to nanny applications for a fee. Use a site that allows access to the database before you pay a fee. If you are using a site to bring in a nanny from overseas be wary of agencies that claim to have branch offices overseas. Sometimes their agents only interview applicants over the phone or through email while charging them outrageous fees for representation. Local chat rooms are also a helpful place for parents to network and find childcare and other families to nanny share.

You can also try free job banks like BestJobs.com or free classified advertising services like craigslist.com. Be sure to include the ages and number of children to be cared for, start date, hours of work, salary range and a brief job description including any housework, meal preparation and driving required. Ask interested applicants to send resumes by Email.

As daunting as this may seem, it is only the first step towards finding the right caregiver for your family. In my next article I’ll cover resume review and assessment as well as initial telephone interviews.

Many parents become overwhelmed when recruiting and screening nannies. Often this leads them to rely on a stereotypical idea of what makes the perfect nanny. But even though Mary Poppins may seem to have a lot to offer, parents require more that a spoon full of sugar and a song to meet their expectations.

Although the recruiting and selection process can seem complicated, it is manageable when you break it into these smaller stages: telephone screening, resume review and the interview process.

Telephone Screening

Advertising for childcare usually results in many telephone enquiries. This is a good time to assess language ability and ensure that the candidates meet your basic requirements (ie: live in or live out, part time or full time, salary expectations, experience and availability). Ask only the short-listed applicants to forward a resume and ensure that they have good references that can be contacted to verify past employment.

Resume Review

Screening resumes will save you time as you will be selecting only qualified candidates for interviews.

Here are some guidelines for reading and interpreting resumes:

• Does the applicant have childcare or early childhood education certification?
• What other educational designations does the candidate possess (first aid, food safe, cooking classes etc)?
• Examine related childcare experience.  Focus on the past 5 to 10 years.
• Look for volunteer work that may have enabled the candidate to acquire knowledge and develop skills that may be useful as a nanny.
• Pay close attention to gaps in work history and make sure the applicant has a reasonable explanation.
• Look for patterns in a candidate’s work experiences (like frequent career changes, employment instability and short term work assignments without legitimate reasons for leaving positions).
• Does the candidate live close to your home and if not, do they have reliable transportation?
• Remember that first impressions from a resume can be misleading. You may find a very good candidate from an incomplete resume if you pursue the missing links and information gaps. But be sure to do this on the phone before arranging an interview.

The Interview

Once you have short- listed to a small number of applicants, send them a detailed job description before you start to interview. This will allow you to spend less time talking about job details and more time listening as the candidate discusses qualifications and experience. While interviewing,  pay attention to past experience. Remember, the best way to predict future behavior is to examine past behavior. Creating behavioral- based interview questions will help you assess the applicant’s childcare knowledge.

Safety, discipline philosophy, creativity, time management, nutrition, organizational ability and communication styles are important subjects to consider. Here.are some questions you might ask:

• Tell me about a time when you were caring for a child who was acting out. What steps did you take to address this behavior?
• In your previous nanny positions what type of activities did you plan and provide for the children?
• Can you describe a time in a previous position when you had a conflict with an employer and what steps you took to rectify the situation?

During the interview it is important to verify information from the resume. Try to follow up a yes or no answer with an open-ended question in order to gather more information. Discuss your childcare philosophy only after you have asked the applicant these questions. Otherwise they may answer in a way that is compromised by their knowledge of your preferences.  Ask all candidates the same questions in order to make comparisons based on the same criteria.

Although it is important to incorporate the children in the interview process it is less distracting for you and the candidate if you conduct the information gathering portion of the interview while the children are being taken care of by someone else. They can meet the candidate near the end of the interview. You might also ask the nanny to come back and spend a few hours with your children on a different day. This will give you a sense of how the nanny and children will interact.

Finally it is also important to trust your instincts. Balance facts gathered in the interview with your intuition. Sometimes you just know when an applicant is the right one, (or the wrong one.).

In today’s busy world, parents are working harder than ever to meet their obligations. And as working parents, they want to feel confident that their children are receiving the best care possible. Children receive care in a variety of settings including their homes, the homes of neighbours or relatives, and family or group childcare settings.

Each option has advantages and disadvantages. A parent’s choice is dependent upon lifestyle, budget, personal preference and available options in their location. Here is a rundown on the most popular types of childcare and their advantages and disadvantages.

Family Child Care

Family childcare programs are located in the caregiver’s home. The home-like, family-centered atmosphere provides an easy transition for a child departing home for the first time. The smaller group often allows for spontaneous and flexible programming and activities. Young children can form friendships with other children and are cared for by one or two consistent adults. The intimate care provided in this setting makes it possible for the caregiver to assist the child through various transitional development periods like toilet training and learning to drink from a cup.

Family childcare programs that are not licensed through the Provincial Community Care Facility Act and Child Care Licensing Regulation can provide care for up to two children (unrelated to the caregiver). Licensed family childcare programs can provide care for up to five children (plus two of school age) aged from infancy to 12 years.

The cost of this type of care ranges from $500 to $800 per month depending on the age of the child, location of the program, qualifications of the caregiver and whether or not the facility is licensed.

The primary disadvantages of this type of care can be the restricted hours and the preparation, time and energy that are required in transporting the child to and from the caregiver’s home. Some parents also find the caregiver-to-child ratio too high for an infant.

Group Day Care

There are two categories of group day care programs:
a) group day care for children aged under 36 months and
b) group day care for children aged from 30 months to school age.

Different licensing requirements exist for the two categories. Group daycare centre hours are sometimes up to 13 hours a day, offering parents more flexibility for drop-off and pick-up times. Staff are required to have training in Early Childhood Education from an approved institution or college.

These centres often offer an excellent preschool education program thus improving the transition from day care to elementary school. If a centre is located near an elementary school it will often offer drop-off and pick-up service for children needing half-day care while enrolled in kindergarten. Full-time care in this type of facility will cost between $600 to $950 per month.

The disadvantage to this type of care is that some children have a difficult time adapting to the larger environment of a group daycare. Also children with special needs or behavioural problems sometimes need more specialized care. As with family childcare programs, group day care may not be economical when two children from the same family require care.

Nannies

A nanny provides personalized care in a child’s own home. She will involve them in creative play, learning, stimulation and socialization. Nannies will engage in light housework. A nanny/housekeeper, although primarily responsible for child care, will also engage in unrelated household duties. There are many advantages to employing a nanny, including convenience and the upkeep of the family home. Children cared for in their own home are less likely to become sick, due to the reduced risk of communicable disease. The nanny has the freedom to take the children to activities outside the home and is able to provide more individual time to each child.

The disadvantage for many is economic. The cost of a nanny can be beyond the means of working families: between $1300 and $2500 per month. The salary range is dependent upon the job description and the nanny’s experience. Even if parents can afford a live-in overseas nanny, they may not be able to provide the accommodation required, or may not feel comfortable having someone outside their family living in their home.

Nanny Sharing

Here’s one way to reduce the cost. A nanny can work for two families at the same time (nanny sharing) thus lowering the cost to each family. This can be a preferred alternative for parents with an infant, as the child receives more personalized care than in a family or group childcare environment. And the cost, although more than daycare, is significantly less than hiring a nanny for one child.

The main disadvantage to nanny sharing is that it can be tricky for two families to arrange a workable situation. Employers should be sure they agree on a reasonable work schedule, vacation dates and monetary division of statutory holidays.

When searching for appropriate childcare it is important to research all the alternatives. Your final choice will depend upon your lifestyle, budget, preferences and the available options in your neighbourhood. A good place to start looking is the childcare resource and referral programs in the Lower Mainland. They are an excellent resource for both parents and caregivers.

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