Tips while entrusting your child with an extended family

Entrusting your child with an extended family like grandma, uncle, aunt et al, can be more satisfying rather than with a nanny or stranger. A child care provider who is related to you might prove to be advantageous, depending on the type of arrangement you have with them. Here are some proactive measures that you need to ensure effective and positive relationship.
Set your expectation from day one: What do you expect from the arrangement? Do you have certain foods that are musts and no nos. Who provides the food and diaper? It’s better to be clear no on these lines before starting on actual care.
Whose house will the child care services be occurring: In such a set up, the relatives prefer to take care of their kid at their own place. Check out for the safety standards in such case.
Discuss Money: It’s not always easy to discuss monetary aspects with grandparents. But it’s better to be clear in this regard. It’s better to discuss monetary aspects and hours of care.
Be very clear on the Dos and Donts list from the beginning. Keep in mind that while you may have definite preferences and rules, your relatives may not have picked up on those. And, be prepared to be somewhat flexible. If the relative is caring for other children as well, it is unfair to expect that she will be able to keep up with all the different preferences, especially at mealtimes.
Let relatives be just that when not in the official child care setting: Don't take advantage of your loving family by expecting them to watch your child at family functions and other events. Let grandma go back to being grandma, and not the "caregivers" during holidays and other special events.
You can even find a baby sitter or find a nanny online as backup option.

How to search for a nanny

Have you decided to hire a nanny but don’t know where to start? This tip sheet outlines the process for you, offering ideas on how to find a nanny, hiring, and keeping a great nanny.

Know What You Need and What You.re Offering: Before you begin your search, take the time to answer three key questions. One, what are the requirements of my job (e.g. hours, responsibilities)? Two, what type of daily environment do I want for my child? And three, what type of person can I (or can I not) develop a positive parent / nanny relationship with?

Develop a Written Job Description Now that you know what you.re looking for and what you.re offering, it’s time to put that information together into a written job description.

Choose a Search Method The search method you choose, full service agency, online nanny job site or self search, depends on how much money and time you can afford to invest in your nanny search. The general rule of thumb is that the more money you invest, the less time you need to invest.

Narrow Down Your Candidate Pool Once you start your search and begin receiving inquiries from nanny candidates, you’ll need to decide which candidates you want to pass on and which ones you want to learn more about.

Interview Nannies: Once you.ve identified the candidates you.re seriously interested in, it.s time to start in-depth interviewing. It’s important to go beyond the standard interview questions and really explore who the nanny is both as a person and as a caregivers. An in-depth, probative interview is crucial in deciding if this nanny is the right nanny for you.

Reference Nannies: Once you’ve interviewed a nanny, the next step is to contact her references and get their perspective on which she is as a person and as a caregiver. It’s crucial to talk to a wide variety of references – past employers as well as co-workers or nanny colleagues, teachers, clergy, friends and family. Each person will have different information to offer you, allowing you to put together a more complete and accurate picture of who the candidate really is.

Perform Background Checks: Before a nanny begins work, make sure all recommended background checks have been run on her. Don’t assume your placement agency or online job site has done the work for you. It’s up to you to make sure the background checks done on your potential nanny provide the information you need to make an informed hiring decision.

Develop a Nanny / Family Contract Developing a comprehensive nanny contract is the single most important step you can take towards building a successful, long-term nanny / family relationship.

Welcome Your New Nanny: Investing a little effort into welcoming your nanny will reap great rewards. Give her an empty drawer in the kitchen or common area, give her a tour of the area, and introduce her to neighbors, teachers, and play date moms. Letting her know you.re happy she’s your new nanny will get your relationship off to a great start.