Nannies for Life

Features of the best nanny.

 

A great nanny genuinely loves the company of children. Nannies spend most of their day with little adult interaction and should really enjoy their time with the children.

A great babysitter has an optimal understanding of child development. Nannies are childcare specialists and are responsible for providing children with developmentally appropriate experiences.

A great nanny advocates for the children in her care. Nannies are willing to talk if their children's well-being is compromised or if something is not in their best interest, while recognizing that the parents have the final say.

A great nanny has a lot of energy. Nannies are responsible for actively involving the children in their care and should have the energy to do so.

A great nanny has a lot of patience. Nannies spend countless hours with children and must be able to handle children's moods and behaviors without losing their temper or becoming externally irritated.

A great babysitter conveys confidence. Nannies are solely responsible for the children when they are in care and must put the safety of the children first.

A great nanny is a good communicator. Nannies need to effectively transmit and receive information from parents and children. Strong communication skills are required.

A great nanny is flexible. Life with children can be unpredictable. Nannies must be able to adapt to the situations they face.

A great nanny is understanding. Nannies are dedicated to caring for others. Compassion and understanding are primary.

A great nanny has a loving spirit. Nannies are responsible for supporting and encouraging children and must be able to foster their development.

A great nanny is reliable. Parents rely on nannies to fulfill their responsibilities.

A great nanny is responsible. Nannies are responsible for the children in their care. They must be able to demonstrate quality child care.

A great nanny is trustworthy. Parents depend on nannies to be able to work and to have a little time for themselves. Nannies are trusted to do their jobs well and provide exceptional care.

A great nanny is respectful. Nannies and parents may not always agree on parenting practices or decisions. Nannies should be respectful of parents and their practices and honor the authority they have.

A great nanny has good judgment.  Nannies share responsibility for children's health and development and must be able to make the best decisions.

A great nanny is organized. Nannies have many responsibilities throughout the day and must be organized to ensure that they fulfill their duties and complete their tasks.

A great nanny is self-motivated. Nannies have no one looking over their shoulders constantly offering praise for a job well done. Nannies must be motivated to always do their job to the best of their ability.

A great babysitter is prepared to handle an emergency. If children fall or an accident occurs, they must know how to react. Nannies must know how to handle an emergency in case it occurs.

A great nanny is creative. Nannies must be able to connect with their imagination.

Una gran niñera es proactiva. Cuando se trata de disciplina, seguridad y satisfacción de las necesidades de los niños, las niñeras deben ser más proactivas que reactivas.

A great nanny has a spotless criminal record. Nannies help raise children to become good, law-abiding citizens and serve as role models for the children in their care. Because of the intimate nature of the job, nannies should not have a history of criminal activity.

A great nanny has strong morals. Nannies help shape a child's worldview and establish his or her inner compass. It must be evident that nannies know right from wrong and must have great values.

A great nanny is able to form a connection with children. To develop bonds with the children in their care, nannies must be able to connect with the children.

A great nanny wants to be. To work as a nanny, the caregiver must love the nature of the work. Those who look to the nanny because they cannot find other types of employment rarely stay in the field for long.

A great nanny is committed to caring for children's lives. Nannies influence the children in their care and must recognize the important role they play in children's lives. While of course a nanny, like any parent, will have the occasional day when she is less energetic, in general these characteristics are clearly important  in a great babysitter and should be highly valued when evaluating a current or potential caregiver. If you are considering becoming a nanny or are already working as a nanny, we encourage you to continue to develop these characteristics so that you can become the best nanny.