What Makes A Wonderful Nanny?

A wonderful nanny is someone who provides more than basic childcare and safety, and who is also able to foster a relationship with each child. Under the care of the best nanny, a child will grow in confidence, learn important social skills, and develop an appetite for learning.

There are lots of families looking to find the most wonderful nanny they can for their child, but truly wonderful nannies can prove hard to find. If you add in requirements for professionalism and communication skills, the pool of available candidates gets even smaller. That’s where nanny agencies can come in very handy.

Here are some tips on how to identify the best nanny, not just for your child, but also as a partner to you and your family.

Genuine respect and affection for children 

A great nanny should have a genuine affection for the child or children they’re caring for. They must have a real interest in their well-being, growth, and development. They also need to enjoy spending long periods of time with them and partaking in the child’s favorite activities. 

Training and qualifications

Many nannies have devoted many years to learning and building careers in childcare, with some having achieved high-level qualifications in early years care and education, including degrees. We would also encourage all families to consider nannies who have been trained in areas such as child first aid and pediatric CPR, as this means they can provide basic care in medical emergencies.

Patience and understanding 

Children can be unpredictable and challenging at times. However, great nannies have the patience and understanding to remain calm, empathetic, and professional when challenges arise. 

Reliability and trustworthiness 

Parents tend to invest a great deal of time in finding the right nanny to look after their children. Nannies need to be punctual, dependable, and trustworthy. They need to follow all the instructions that are given to them by parents and act in a caring and responsible manner whenever they are caring for the children.  

Outstanding communication skills

Nannies often have lots of important information to pass onto parents during caregiving sessions. They may need to relay information about illnesses, eating, drinking, behavior and learning onto parents. They should provide families with updates as soon as there’s any important news to pass on, share any concerns that they might have and listen closely to parents and their children. They should also remain contactable throughout their nannying sessions. 

Adaptability and flexibility

A key difference between nannies and babysitters is that the former are a lot more flexible. New challenges can arise at any point when you’re working as a nanny, and you may need to change your plans at short notice to meet the needs of families with children. 

Creativity and imagination

Keeping children entertained for several hours at a time requires a great deal of creativity. Great nannies have the imagination to consistently come up with new activities and games that will keep children’s minds stimulated. 

Safety awareness

Nannies need to remain vigilant at all times in order to keep children safe. They need to be prepared for many eventualities, and stay alert and protect them from danger whether they’re at home, taking a walk, visiting the park or elsewhere.

Respect for boundaries 

It’s very important for nannies to form strong bonds with children, but they also need to respect boundaries and maintain their professionalism. This means respecting the privacy of the family and always following any house rules that might be in place. 

Being a positive role model 

Nannies can have an incredibly positive influence on the children that they care for. A good nanny should set the best example they can when it comes to their behavior and attitude. 

Committing to continuous learning 

Many nannies are still learning new things even after many years in the role. Having a commitment to continuous learning can help you provide the best possible service that you can. Attending courses and workshops every so often are just two ways to ensure you’re continually updating your childcare knowledge once you’ve successfully applied to for a role in nannying. 

Welcome to Sommet Nannies, a nanny agency with presence in Boston, Chicago, Washington DC, New York and nationwide. We help busy families find dedicated and caring college-educated nannies.