Benefits of Hiring a Nanny
By Babysits
•
7 min read
Did you ever want a Mary Poppins or Nanny McPhee figure in your life growing up? Or are you finding it hard to juggle parenthood along with the other obligations in your life?* Well maybe it’s time to consider hiring a nanny for your kids! At a glance, finding a nanny can seem like a more expensive and daunting option compared to other childcare services. However, this doesn’t have to be the case and there are in fact many benefits to hiring a nanny on top of that! To find out the reasons why you need a nanny, keep on reading…
*Don’t worry, we all feel this way sometimes. You’re doing great! ;)
1. Nannies can be cost effective. Hold up, aren’t nannies more expensive? Not necessarily, especially for families with multiple children. Daycares typically charge per child whereas nannies are usually paid in a lump sum fee. On top of that, if your child is sick and isn’t able to go to daycare for a day you’ll still have to pay (+ try to get time off work, etc.), whereas a nanny will be able to continue caring for your child at home as usual.
Tip: It may also be possible to organise a “nanny share” with another family if you only need childcare part-time.
2. Nannies are experienced caregivers. In most cases, nannies already have a good amount of childcare experience under their belt, and may also have professional training or qualifications related to childcare development or teaching. It is also common to expect nannies to have a First Aid certificate. All of this experience and training means a nanny will be well prepared to deal with any situation that may arise. Moreover, hiring a nanny could be particularly beneficial for first-time parents as they’ll be able to reassure and help you with any queries you may have during your child’s development.
When you are interviewing a nanny, please make sure to always double check their qualifications and references.
3. Nannies help reduce the morning chaos. We all know that getting kids out the door in the mornings is no easy feat! With a nanny it means you have an extra pair of hands (and eyes and lungs…) to help get the kids to school on time. Or even better - if your kids aren’t school-age yet then having a nanny means there’s no pressure to get them out the door at all!
4. Nannies help maintain a safe and familiar environment. For some kids being separated from their families even for a short period of time can be pretty scary at first. Having a nanny means your child can start to become familiar with a new person but in the safety of their own home. They’ll have all their favourite toys and comforts readily available to help soothe them if need be. And it also means you don’t have to worry about your kid fighting over toys with other kids, getting sick or lice easily, being bullied, etc.
5. Having a nanny means the family can set the tone and rules. Parents know their kids best - their nap times, what they will and won’t eat, how much time they need playing outside, etc. A nanny can adapt to your family’s routines as well as your overall parenting style, meaning that there will be less inconsistencies for your child.
6. Nannies reduce the number of pick-ups and drop-offs you have to make. Trying to balance each family member’s schedule can be stressful to say the least, especially if you don’t work the traditional 9-5 hours. Hiring a nanny means you’ll no longer have to get up at the crack of dawn to be able to drop the family off at three different locations before the dreaded rush hour strikes. You’ll no longer have to say “no” to your kid’s latest dream of wanting to take up piano lessons because it clashes with your work schedule. And you’ll no longer have to pay those pesky fines for picking your child up late from daycare. How great would that be!
7. Nannies don’t just offer childcare. Of course all families and nannies should discuss beforehand what is and isn’t to be expected when working. However, it is common for many nannies to also offer some light housework, meal preparation, homework assistance, etc. Imagine coming home from a hard day’s work to a clean house!
8. Nannies can provide one-on-one attention. In daycares, nurseries, and creches, it’s hard for the staff to give as much attention to each child as they would like. A nanny is better able to understand your child’s needs, notice if anything is “off” or if your child has any new interests or talents. If you like, your nanny can even send you texts and pictures of highlights during the day so you don’t feel like you’re missing out!
Furthermore, having one-on-one attention can be especially beneficial for children with special needs.
9. Nannies are there for the long term. Firstly, this is great because it means there is less turn-over for your children to adapt to. They can properly get to know and fully trust one person. Secondly, it means you don’t have to worry every week about finding someone new last-minute to look after your kids!
10. Nannies can be a part of the family. Many families say that their nannies start to feel like family after a while. Additionally, having another adult in your kid’s life who they know they can rely on and trust can surely only be a good thing for their self-esteem and confidence.
We hope this article has given you some insight into how wonderful nannies can be! And if you want to start looking for one already then you can check out our nannies in Ireland here.
Important things to remember:
As being a nanny is a full time job, it is advisable to write up a contract of employment to keep both you and the nanny covered.
You can also use our Intake Form as a guide to help you cover some important questions when interviewing nannies.
If you're hiring a nanny (or any kind of home help) in Ireland you are now required to register online as an employer with Revenue.
If you’re wanting to find a nanny job for yourself, then you can check out some available nanny jobs in Ireland here:
