Inducting your new nanny

When you hire someone to look after your children in your home, you owe it to the nanny, and to yourself, to have a very clear picture of exactly what the nanny's duties will involve.

If this nanny is taking over from a previous nanny, it is a good idea to have a week or two handover. Or as the employer you may need to take a week off to settle the nanny in with your children and home.

Some areas to think about are set out below:

Your children

1. What are their likes and dislikes?

• Favourite toys, books and characters
• Special soft toy friends or comforters
• Any allergies or regular medications - how and when to administer
• Food - what are their favourite dishes and what do you prefer them to eat
• Who are their nearest and dearest - grandparents, cousins, aunties, uncles and friends

2. Go through:

• Routines (sleep, play, bath time, eating)
• Approach to discipline
• Television
• Taking telephone messages and making calls
• Dealing with people who come to the door
• Petty cash/expenses
• Nanny diary - how will you correspond with each other at the start and end of the day.
  
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General

1. Around the house:

• Kitchen - how does the cooker/washing machine/microwave work?
• Where do you keep your vacuum cleaner and cleaning products?
• Where is your first aid kit and medicine?
• Where is your sewing box?
• Locking up procedures - alarm codes
• If the nanny is live in - does she need a shelf for her own food etc

2. Introduce your nanny to your:

• Neighbours
• Playgroups, swimming classes, NCT etc
• Children's teachers and play workers
• Children's friends and their carers and parents
• Any other people who are important to your family

3. Prepare a contact list:

• Phone numbers to include parents' work and mobiles; neighbours; school; doctors; grandparents; friends
• Will your nanny always be able to contact you at work?

4. Equipment check and demonstrations

• Car seats - correctly fitted into car (check with her car and your car)
• Pushchairs, buggies and highchairs - collapsing demonstrations
• Tour of the local area: local parks, library, shops, swimming pools, schools, playgroups, doctors, hospital