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Furthermore, the nanny contract should specify working hours and whether or not you expect some flexibility in terms of when you will return home each evening or when you need your nanny to be on-call. When you specify hours, you need to include how many hours per week qualify as overtime and what wages nannies will receive for additional work.

The following list itemizes important issues to address and include in the nanny contract:

• Salary—state the nanny's base salary as well as the family's expected timeline for salary reviews based on the nanny's accomplishment of agreed-upon goals.

• Benefits—how many sick, personal and vacation days will the nanny get? Is there a provision for paid time off in case of personal or health emergencies? Will the amount of time off increase based on the time the nanny works for the family?
• Set the expected schedule of hours and include provisions for pay and necessary requirements for notification if special circumstances require extra, unexpected hours.
• Rules for use of the family car, including provisions for automobile insurance—if the nanny will be using her own car, detail the amount of mileage the family will pay.
• State which children the nanny will be responsible for during what hours. One child may be in school every weekday, while an infant will be at home with the nanny all day, every day.
• State the children's out-of-residence activity schedule, including times that the nanny will be responsible for transporting them to and from school, activities and the residence.
• Boundaries for family-approved approach to discipline; i.e. time-outs, loss of phone or television privileges, etc.
• An outline of expected chores and housework—stating that "light housework" is expected is not specific enough! Itemize specific chores that you would like the nanny to complete and how often.
• Expectations for children's arts and crafts and other supplemental, educational activities, including tutoring and specialized learning projects.
• Expectations for meetings to review children's activities/daily accomplishments. Setting recurring daily, weekly, or monthly meetings encourages ongoing communication between parents and nannies.
• Rules for obtaining permission to leave the house, or take children outside of the residence, other than for outlined expected activities.
• An agreement concerning the nanny's mealtimes and what food items will be provided for the nanny in accordance with his or her dietary needs.
• An agreement concerning the children's dietary needs and what meals the nanny is expected to prepare.
• Expectations for overnight care—how often it is expected and what additional pay will be provided per hour.