How to make a live-in Nanny feel comfortable
Whether it’s college friends moving into the same apartment or a couple deciding to share a roof with each other, moving in with someone is a big change. Even if you’ve known that person for years, there are still things you’ll have to get used to once you both call the same place home. Not surprisingly, it’s an even bigger change to move in with someone that you’ve just recently met.
Because that’s the situation most live-in nannies find themselves in, it can be a lot to handle. Since the last thing you want to do is create more stress for your new employee, here are some tips for making your nanny feel as comfortable in your home as you are:
Make Sure She Knows Her Space is Private
A simple but effective way to make your nanny comfortable is to let her know that even though she’s under your roof, her room is all hers. Make it clear that you won’t ever be going through her room or walking in without knocking first.
Tell Her She Doesn’t Need to Hide Out
After working for eight hours, it’s going to be natural for your nanny to want some alone time. However, let her know that she doesn’t need to stay in her room every single night of the week. Once she’s settled into your home, if there’s a night when you and your family are going out to do something, be sure to tell her that she’s more than welcome to invite a friend over to hang out with in the living room or backyard.
Invite Her to Do Fun Things with Just You
Even if it’s just once a month, invite your nanny to go to lunch, coffee or dinner with you. Since this will give you time to talk with her one-on-one, you’ll be able to really get a feel for how things are going and be aware of any issues that may need to be addressed.
Take Time to Learn About the Little Things
What type of movies does she like? What are her favorite snacks? Taking the time to learn the little things about your nanny can make her feel very comfortable in your home. For example, if you rent a movie to watch that you know she’ll also love, let her know that she’s welcome to watch it in the living room with you.
Ensure That Transportation is Available
For people who are hiring their first live-in nanny, transportation is one element of this arrangement that’s easy to overlook. Since your nanny may be a very young adult, she may not have her own form of transportation yet. If that’s the case, you’ll want to figure out an arrangement that allows her to get where she wants to go after work without creating any unnecessary burdens or stress for your family.
John Wisenheimer blogs for www.nanny.net which is a website that connects parents and nannies that are looking for nanny jobs.
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