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Hiring a Live-in Nanny? Read This First

Part one of a two-part series

by Jessica  |  4179 views  |  2 comments  |        Rate this now! 

2.) Live-in nannies are often just out of high school and may not have their own car. Providing a family car during working hours is essential, of course, so the nanny can run errands for you and pick up the children from school, if needed. But also make sure they have the use of a car after hours, so they can go out with friends and have a life of their own, otherwise you'll have a burned out, homesick nanny on your hands.

3.) Perks, while not required, can go a long way in ensuring your nanny is happy with her new job. Nannies are often willing to do light housekeeping, run errands, take children to and from school or the bus stop, do your grocery shopping, and help keep your household running smoothly. Adding her to your family gym or club membership, getting her a library card, and providing spending cash so she can take the kids to the pool or the movies once in a while will help her feel appreciated.

4.) Treat her well. Take her out to lunch or dinner once in a while, just the two of you. Leave the kids home with dad or a neighborhood sitter. Spend some time just talking and getting to know each other. Learning to live with a stranger can be difficult on both sides; make sure you spend some time kickin' back sans the kiddos.

5.) While not all nanny employers offer it, many provide health insurance for their nannies. This can be as simple as adding her to your family plan, or you may want to talk to your health insurance provider and request information regarding providing employee benefits.

6.) Wages vary depending on experience and where you live. You can expect to pay a live in nanny anywhere from $300 to $800 per week. If you end up locating an out-of-state nanny, you'll need to pay for her plane tickets to meet you and to live with you.

Coming up next: Don't have the space for an extra person to live in your home? There are plenty of live-out options (really... I've tried most of them).

About the Author

Jessica is an entrepreneur raising three noisy children in the middle of potato country. A self-taught freelancing web designer, Jessica also owns and runs a business with her husband, Very Baby. She likes dark chocolate, dislikes most forms of housework, and writes about her daily life at Kerflop.com.

Read more by Jessica

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2 comments so far...

  • Thanks JamieMamie! I feel like my own experience as a nanny helps me be a much better employer to mine ;o)

    Flag as inappropriate Posted by Jessica on 13th February 2008

  • Jessica - I finally read your article and it is spot-on! I have worked as both a live-in and live-out nanny and enjoyed both, but the live-in was the hardest. If my nanny family had taken some advice from you it would have be perfect! I'll work for you anytime! People looking for a nanny should take your advice - it will help both the nanny and the family have a very good experience.

    Flag as inappropriate Posted by JamieMamie on 8th February 2008

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