XP: Preparing for the nanny to start

mariamaria

For those of you who hired a nanny, what stuff did you do to prepare your house and kids for him/her to start? I'm planning to have her come a day or two before she starts so we can talk through things and she can spend some time with my kiddos, but looking for any other tips or things that worked for your family. I'll be puting emergency contacts for her and list of things my DS1 enjoys doing as well as food preferences, etc.

costa2011

We are doing the same thing. We're having her come the week before I go back for a trial run, just a couple of hours a day. I made out an emergency contact sheet and also jot down things that LO likes to do, read, play in her gym, etc. I also wrote down things that work for me to get her to stop crying, etc.

asyph107

She did a few half days with me home, getting to know where everything is, seeing what the favored foods, toys, games, etc. At the time she started we just had DS1 so it was much different than it is now. During her second and third half days I made sure to run an errand to give her alone time with DS to see how it went. I also made sure a copy our our contract, emergency contact list, and consent for her to sign for emergency medical treatment for DS was on the fridge. I still keep those there and updated with both kids names on it. 

We also have her keep a journal (notebook) of what the kids ate, did, napped, etc. that day, and what we are running out of for the kids that I may need to get. 

Good luck! I'd just say be home and available but let the nanny take the lead so you can be comfortable that she is ready when you need to go. I felt like it was hard to let someone just stay at my home with my kids but now after a year and a half my boys LOVE her and run to play with her when I am getting ready to leave.