As a parent, your life may be quite chaotic. The weeks of a working parent rush by in a whirlwind of activities, from addressing the needs of the children to preparing for that job report to driving all to their leisure activities on schedule. You must often think to yourself how easier it would have been if you had some extra helping hands. Right?

Well, a live-in nanny is all you need as a helping hand to care for your kids! For some families, a live-in nanny is all that is required to help restore stability to their lives and enhance their parental work-life balance.

What is a Live-in Nanny?

A Live-in nanny is a full-time childcare provider usually au-pairs who lives full time alongside your children, essentially becoming a part of the family. A live in Nanny’s food, room and board are provided by the host family. Live in Nannies tend have at least five years of childcare training and may also have childcare certifications. Their work as nannies is not the same as a live out nanny as it is a 24-hour job that must be done 5 days a week, along with some weekends and 2 days off. However, weekend babysitting might be considered as extra time and can be charged more, and the fee should be negotiated and settled upon prior to the start of the job in a form of a nanny contract

Should you hire a live in Nanny?

Yes, you should hire a live-in nanny if you’re a family with working parents, especially if your job requires you to travel and be away for multiple nights. Families with 2 working parents often find themself short of hands to help with the day-to-day challenges that come with raising young children. From feeding, school drop off, to pick ups and the children’s various activities there just no way parents working outside the home can do it all. Hiring a live-in nanny provides a helping hand with providing the children with a stable routine, ensuring that someone will be there to help with their day-to-day requirements, from breakfast to school and activities.

What do you need to know before hiring a live-in nanny?

A Few things should be noted that you need to know before hiring a live-in nanny

• The Live-in Nanny will be living full time in the home
• The Nanny must be provided with her own bedroom, a room must have a window to be considered a bedroom.
• Although a live-in Nanny cost less than a live out Nanny, parents are responsible for financially providing the nanny with her meals.
• Live-in Nannies do not work 7 days a week, 2 days off must be provided. The order of the 5-day work week can be of your choice, example Wednesday thru Sunday with Monday and Tuesday off.

What is the Role of Live-in Nanny?

Employing a Live-In Nanny may be an excellent alternative if you require full-time, in-home care for your children. Live-in Nannies may assist your kids in day-to-day activities such as preparing breakfast, getting to school on time, keeping the children’s things neat, meal preparations, greeting them at the end of the day, and transporting them to various practices and playgroups. They may also make your evenings more pleasant and beneficial by motivating your children to build excellent study routines, maintain adequate cleanliness and evening routines.

Following is a detailed list of what is the role of a live in Nanny

Tidying: They are responsible for cleaning up after your children and themselves. Washing clothes, bedmaking, cleaning up their playrooms, dishwashing, and perhaps some other minor housekeeping. Some nannies charge extra for housework. It totally depends on nannies if they do extra household work for free or charge for it.

Looking after the kids: the nannies are supposed to look after the kids at all times. Dropping them off to school, picking them up, feeding, and bathing the kids are all key responsibilities of live-in nannies.

Playing a role in child development: The live-in nanny will utilize her expertise and abilities to help kids flourish via playtime. She will engage children in activities such as imaginative art projects, constructing work, dancing, storytelling, and other opportunities to learn.

Tutoring: Assisting children with their academics and organizing entertaining activities such as arts and crafts.Nannies  are responsible for setting studying schedules for the kids though it is still the parents responsibility to make sure the kids do well in school

Disciplining the kids: Live-in nannies are also responsible for disciplining the kids. Nannies, alongside parents, set necessary consequences for the kids when discipline is necessary due to lack of obedience. They are required to follow set discipline agreement in the absence of parents to control the children’s behavior.

Parents once an agreed method of discipline is set, it is best not to change that agreement since it confuses the children on the authority of the nanny and can make a nanny’s jobs harder by having misbehaved kids.

Routine setting: It’s the nanny’s duty to sit down with the families twice a week and organize the child’s agenda. Education, physician’s visits, piano lessons, birthday parties, and playdates must all be scheduled. It will be your responsibility to ensure that the youngster arrives at all these locations as scheduled.

Housework/cooking: a live-in nanny may or may not do other household work depending upon the contract signed upon hiring! A Nanny is not expected to handle major housekeeping, household meals, family laundry, or any other duties unrelated to the kids as she is not a maid except if specifically requested and consented upon in her agreement.

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Live-in Nanny’s Accommodation

A live-in nanny is given separate housing frequently as part of the babysitting package. She/he should have own bedroom and bathroom. Nanny’s room should be outfitted with a computer, as well as a desk, and should have plenty of storage capacity. House regulations should be communicated to the nanny from the start and included in the nanny’s contract.

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Live-in Nanny’s Mealtimes

The nanny eats the meal with the rest of the family! The food she gets is paid for by the employer, and all the details are mentioned at the start of hiring! The nanny should specify what kinds of foods she or he likes, Asian, for example, if she/he is from Asia or whether she/he has any unique dietary needs. The nanny has the right to request certain foods within a fair limit specified by the employers.

How much does a Live-in Nanny Cost?

How much does a live-in Nanny cost? well it all depends on the family location. Most nannies cost around 400 dollars a week with the average pay being $12 -$16 an hour and can increase base off the location, number of children and the Nanny Education Level. However, the increase will not be dramatic. A live-in Nanny in New York will have a higher cost then a Live-in Nanny in Ohio. Nannies who work more then 40 hours a week have to be paid Overtime as is required by Federal law.

Other than their salary, there are several other things to financially consider. Room and board costs for a live-in nanny may not increase as substantially as you would anticipate if you already had an additional room and bathroom in your house. Other factors, such as the size of your house and the pricing of water and energy in your area, can already have a slight influence on your monthly cost.

What is a reasonable salary for a live in nanny?

$450-$500 a week is a reasonable starting salary for a live-in Nanny. The expertise, training, and licensing or education of a live-in nanny are all factors that influence their pay. You should expect to pay extra for a nanny who has more experience or job-specific abilities. Your nanny’s compensation is influenced by the work itself. Nannies who care for several children at the same time usually earn more. Jobs that need nannies to do housework or run errands should compensate them appropriately.

Right to Vacation for your Live-in Nanny

Live-in nannies are entitled to at least two annual vacations with no salary cuts. Vacation time is taken at a mutually convenient time with the family. Some families decide on vacation time by combining their vacation week with the nanny, with the nanny choosing a week of her liking. If the family wants their nanny to accompany them on vacation, this must be addressed and consented to before the start of work. All travel costs, as well as meals and the nanny’s weekly compensation, must be provided by employer in that case.

What should Live-in Nannies do other than Work?

A live-in nanny should understand that the house they live in isn’t their residence, no matter how comfortable they are with their family. What a live-in nanny chooses to do outside of work is their choice. They must be conscious of how they use their leisure time, when they return home, who they bring over, and so forth. If you’ve ever shared a house with mates, you know how important it is to be considerate to your neighbors. A good nanny would always be conscious of this.

What are the Qualities of a good live-in nanny?

Following are some of the qualities to look for in a nanny:

• Children’s adoration (nanny’s most important quality is her true affection for children)
• Promptness
• Tolerance
• Flexibility
• Good Language Skills
• Reliable
• Energetic Nature

Finding a Nanny with a Perfect Fit

Finding a perfect nanny can be a difficult process. Look for hiring agencies around you and online. Talk to the agencies about your requirements for the nanny! Once they find potential candidates, you will be notified. You can then do a background check for that nanny and even do interviews to know them in detail. It can be confusing but follow your guts and choose the one that best meets your requirements and needs.

You must be both honest and practical in your expectations for what Live-In Nannies should do in order to select the perfect individual for the position. Make sure your potential Live-In Nanny is happy with the living conditions you propose to give by negotiating a reasonable wage.

Choosing a budget and all set requirements beforehand with your partner will make the hiring process easier than ever. When you know what you are looking for, you will surely find it in no time!

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Conclusion

You are employing a devoted childcare specialist when you hire a Live-In Nanny. They are the people who have chosen to make a career out of looking after children. Serving as an in-home child caregiver is a very demanding and satisfying job for a skilled and talented individual but is not an easy one. They would require your care and support from time to time as well.

Just make sure that your house is prepared to receive someone who provides full-time in-home care for your children. A Live-In Nanny should be not only a skilled caretaker but can also become a lifelong family friend. Maintain an open and honest relationship with your Live-In Nanny and enjoy extra hands as your kids grow.