INA - International Nanny Association

INA - International Nanny Association

INA

Frequently Asked Questions :: A Nanny for Your Family


Answers to questions parents often ask about in-home child care

Prepared by the International Nanny Association
©2002 International Nanny Association
All rights reserved.

Thank you for contacting the International Nanny Association (INA) about professional in-home child care. INA is a private, non-profit educational organization for nannies and those who educate, place, employ and support professional in-home child care.

We believe the care of children in a home setting is a serious career and deserves to be recognized as a profession. INA has developed a Nanny Credential Exam to assess and to encourage the positive development of nanny related skills and comprehension.

Many families are choosing the convenience of one-on-one care that hiring a nanny provides. As you consider this child care option for your family, we hope that this pamphlet will answer most of your questions about hiring a nanny.

We also would like to extend a warm welcome to you and hope that you will become a member of our organization.

INA Definitions For In-Home Child Care Providers


What is a nanny?

A nanny is a child care specialist. A nanny's workplace is in a family's private home and his/her job is providing one-on-one attention and the best possible care for the family's children. The work may be full-time or part-time, and the nanny may or may not live with the family. The nanny's role is to provide support to the family by serving as a loving, nurturing and trustworthy companion to the children. A nanny tends to have special child care skills and a deep love and understanding of children. A nanny offers the family convenient, high quality care to meet each child's physical, emotional, social and intellectual needs.

What does a nanny do?

A nanny is responsible for the complete care of their employer's children. Duties include tending to each child's basic physical needs, meal planning and preparation, laundry and clothing care, organization of play activities and outings, providing behavioral guidelines and disciplining when appropriate, intellectual stimulation, language activities and provide transportation when required. Housekeeping responsibilities are primarily child related. A nanny must be able to communicate well with both children and parents. Depending on the individual family, the nanny may be treated as an employee, a cherished friend or as a member of the family.

Who are nannies?

The International Nanny Association has adopted basic standards for nannies, specifically:

  • A nanny must be at least 18 years of age.
  • A nanny must have completed high school or the equivalent.
  • A nanny must be in good general health, with proof of immunizations and, where required, negative TB test and/or chest x-ray.

Nannies are unique with varied characteristics and personalities. A nanny can be as young as 18, or more than 70 years old. Most are female, but some are male.

Although training and experience may vary, all qualified nannies share a genuine love and respect for children. It is every nanny's hope to find a family to work for that is respectful and supportive.

Most nannies seem to fall into three categories:

  1. Young, single persons with babysitting and/or daycare experience who are interested in working as a nanny for a year or two. These nannies may currently have a job that doesn't offer the same personal rewards that being a nanny and caring for children would offer or they may be taking a break from college or suspending a long-term commitment to another career. These nannies are usually active, energetic and open to sharing life with families different from their own.
  2. Older, more mature persons who may have raised a family of their own and who are drawn to in-home child care because they enjoyed caring for their own children. Education, background and life experiences are varied.
  3. Individuals who consider themselves child care professionals and specialists. Some nannies have degrees in early childhood education or elementary education or have a specialized nanny training certificate. Many have worked several years as nannies. Persons in this group consider being a nanny a lifetime career.

A growing number of nannies are beginning to seek temporary assignments and emergency care situations because they want to specialize or maybe they like the freedom and diversity of caring for many children.

What kind of help do you need?

Every family has its own special needs and child care requirements. Does your family need a nanny who lives with you and shares your home? Would you prefer a nanny who lives out? Do you want full-time child care help, or does your schedule or budget dictate the need for a part-time nanny? Do you expect the person who works in your home to take care of your child/children and also clean the house?

Before you even begin to look for a nanny, make sure you have realistic expectations about in-home child care. A nanny is not going to come into your household, wave a magic wand and make everything perfect. The nanny will not be a substitute parent who not only takes care of the children, but also does all the housekeeping, cooking, shopping and chores.

Keep in mind that a nanny's primary responsibility is child care; the nanny may or may not be willing to do light housekeeping. As much as you would like to have someone clean your house and look after your children and your family, it will be the exception if you find one person who can and will do both jobs well.

You must develop a list of priorities to help you choose the best nanny for your family. What qualities are important to you? Flexibility? Enthusiasm? Independence? A good sense of humor? Do you want someone young and energetic who actively plays with your children? Would you prefer someone older with more life experience?

How much experience and/or education is important to you in the nanny who will care for your children? Be clear about what specific skills your nanny must have. Does the nanny need to be able to swim, drive a car, cook, help with homework, care for a premature infant? Should the nanny know first aid and CPR?

One person may not fulfill all of your criteria, but by considering your priorities, you will have an idea of the nanny best suited for your unique situation. Be aware that your family's needs are likely to change as your children mature. The nanny you want now may be quite different from the one you'll want a year from now.

What salary and benefits can a nanny expect?

We have found that pay and benefits for nannies vary widely according to geographic region and the nanny's qualifications and experience. Beginning salaries for live-in nannies just starting in the field usually range from $250 to $400 weekly. A trained nanny can expect a salary of from $350 to $1,000 weekly.

A nanny's work week usually includes 40 to 60 hours, with two days off each week. Nannies who do not live with the family and work part-time may be paid an hourly rate of $7 to $20, or earn a weekly salary for full-time of $350 to $1,000. When a nanny works more than the hours specified in the work agreement arranged with the family, (click here to purchase the INA Family/Nanny Agreement) the nanny generally is paid more money or receives extra time off. Many live-in nannies enjoy the benefits of free room and board, which usually includes a private room and often a private bath, two weeks of paid vacation each year, paid major holidays, often health insurance and the use of a car. Benefits for live-out nannies, other than room and board, are usually the same as for live-in nannies.

Just like any other employee, a nanny should expect to pay Social Security and Federal income tax on earnings. (A nanny's employer is also required by Federal law to pay the employer's portion of Social Security tax on salary, and most states require payment of state unemployment taxes.)

Are nannies trained?

INA strongly supports the need for specialized training for people who provide in-home child care. The reality is, however, that the tremendous demand for nannies in the United States and other countries has promoted a situation in which many nannies with no formal training are currently working in this field.

Many training programs exist for nannies in the United States, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand. They generally include classroom courses in child development, nutrition, family dynamics, safety, play activities, first aid and CPR, and may also involve interaction with young children under instructor supervision. They vary in length, type of training offered and cost. For example, in Great Britain, home of the "classic nanny," training consists of 2,200 classroom and practicum hours over a 2-year period. At the end of training, the British nanny takes a national examination to be certified as a nursery nurse.

In the U.S., Australia and New Zealand, nanny training ranges from 6-week training programs to one-year certification programs, to college programs that offer associate's or bachelor's degrees. If you are able to locate a trained nanny, b sure to ask about the type and duration of the nanny's training.

Many educators and nanny instructors are members of INA. We suggest that you contact them about their nanny training programs listed in the INA Annual Directory of Nanny Training Programs, Nanny Placement Agencies and Special Services to find out about program requirements and availability of their graduates.

Are nannies from England or other countries available?

INA receives many requests from Americans who want to hire trained European nannies. U.S. immigration laws make it virtually impossible for non-American nannies to find work in the U.S. The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service rarely grants work visas to foreign nationals to work legally in the United States as nannies.

Nannies who travel to the United States on tourist visas and accept jobs as nannies are working illegally; their employers are subject to fines, and the nannies themselves can be deported.

A handful of cultural exchange programs operate in the U.S. to assist families interested in hiring foreign au pairs. Child care workers who visit the U.S. for a year through these programs usually are here for a cultural exchange. This is not a work program.

Where do you find a nanny?

You can look for a nanny in many places, including help wanted ads in newspapers and magazines, bulletin boards and referrals from friends. These approaches can be time-consuming and also can result in negative experiences. We suggest that you contact nanny training programs about the availability of their graduates or that you take advantage of the services offered by nanny placement agencies.

A placement agency is a service company that matches the skills and qualifications of nannies with the needs of families looking for in-home child care. The agency charges a fee to locate and screen nannies for you to consider hiring for your family. A reputable agency will carefully consider your needs and preferences when helping you find a suitable candidate. Placement fees range from $800 to $5,000 and should include a provision to replace the nanny or refund a portion of the fee if the placement does not work out within a certain period of time.

As part of its screening process, the agency should verify the nanny candidate's personal and employment references and previous child care experience. Many agencies also take nanny fingerprints, check for a criminal record, check the driving record and require a blood test, TB test and/or request a doctor's statement that the candidate is in good health and free of contagious diseases. Some agencies also require psychological testing or evaluation. In the U.S., the agency should verify that the candidate is an American citizen or is eligible to work legally in the U.S.
Just as the agency will want to ensure that nannies referred to you are suitable candidates, for the nanny's protection, the agency may also ask you for references. Most agencies will assist you in preparing a job description that summarizes your family's job duties, comprehension package and other important considerations.

Many placement agency owners are members of INA. We suggest that you select an INA member if you decide to use a placement agency's services to help you locate a nanny.

How do you interview a nanny?

Interviewing a nanny is extremely important, and many potential problems in the employer/employee relationship can be avoided if the interview is properly conducted. If you only learn two things about interviewing let them be these: 1) depend on your intuition; and 2) interview twice before hiring.

Be prepared to ask the right questions to tune into your feelings, since feelings are usually a good indicator in choosing the right nanny. Alth9ough you need to know about experience, training, background, specialized knowledge, driving record, etc., the more personalized questions will reflect your own priorities and be key to a successful match. "What if" questions are often helpful.

When describing family expectations, be specific about duties, hours, salary, time off, etc. Seeing and hearing the candidate's reaction can provide valuable clues. Observe the nanny with your children. How do they interact? Is the nanny quiet or loud, shy or outgoing? Do the children like the nanny?

Carefully weigh all information, double-check references (even if they come from an agency) and interview the candidate(s) you like a second time. Listen to your intuition and remember that this person will be a part of your private life. Is this the person you want in your home working with your children?

How do you maintain a good nanny/family relationship?

A good working relationship starts with fair terms of employment, benefits and incentives, and a work agreement that defines your and the nanny's expectations about duties, wages, hours and working conditions. The International Nanny Association has a Family and Nanny Agreement, available for purchase. Most agreements change over time; you should set a target date for reviewing your arrangement with the nanny.

Communication is key to fostering a good relationship with your nanny. Take a few minutes each day to talk with your nanny and ask the nanny to keep a daily log to track events. Listen to the nanny. Deal with any problems as they occur, before they get out of hand. Keep the lines of communication open, and, above all, express your appreciation often.

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