It's Time to Change Your Nanny - Signs of a Poor Caretaker

Opting for a nanny is one of the best alternatives available to working women for the care of their children when they are not home. However, employing a reliable and trustworthy nanny is something that parents should concern themselves with, especially when utilizing the services of the nanny for the first time.

Leaving your child with a trustworthy nanny will make you feel confident about the safety and security of your children. In order to find a suitable nanny and to figure out whether or not the nanny is really serious about her profession and doing her job properly, you need to a check few things. Be on the look out for the following warning signs, which are red flags for an irresponsible and/or unprofessional nanny.

Know the signs of a poor nanny: It may take quite some time to identify and recognize signs of good qualities, but bad qualities are very distinct and can often be recognized quickly. Following are the signs of a poor caretaker.

•Sudden change in the child's behavior and/or appearance:

If your child looks untidy, ignores personal hygiene, or behaves unusually, there could be a problem with your childcare. These kinds of sudden changes may be a result of the nanny’s lack of attention in caring for the child or reflective of a strained relationship between the child and the nanny.

•Lack of bonding between nanny and children:

In the beginning, the child may be apprehensive about spending time with the nanny. But, if the same apprehension continues for quite some time, it may be a clear indication that the nanny is not providing the kind of warmth and attention required to build a good rapport with the child. Lack of bonding between the child and the nanny is not a healthy sign.

•Children often fall sick/get injured:

While it is quite common for children to fall ill from colds and the flu, and to it suffer from occasional small cuts and bruises from playing, frequent occurrences of such things can signal improper childcare.

Poor hygiene and frequent injury can be reflective of a nanny's irresponsible behavior, negligence and/or lack of concern towards the child. These kinds of issues should be addressed immediately to save the children from serious accidents.

•Conflicting stories:

After returning home parents are often anxious to hear how their little one spent the day, both from the child as well as from the nanny. If you find conflicts between the nanny and the child’s version, it’s time to take a closer look at how the nanny is caring for your child. Though it is common that children are unable to remember all the activities they have done during the day, regular conflicts in details can be a sign of mismatch of dishonesty on part of the nanny.

•Disobeying your requests:

Mothers tend to give instructions to the nanny regarding the care of their children. These instructions may look simple, but are important to follow. A good nanny will follow your instructions and requests without question. But, some nannies may choose to ignore your instructions and do things their own way. Certain instructions, such as those related to food and or medication, can be critical and if not followed could hurt the child. As such, not following your instructions is something that should not be tolerated.

•Non-approved visitors:

Having visitors that have not been approved can be common with young babysitters who like to bring in their friends with them so that they have company. However, older more experienced nannies may also engage in such activities. Having non-approved not only demonstrates poor manners, but is also very unprofessional behavior. Moreover, they are more likely to less attentive to the child as they are likely busy chatting with their guest.

Don't hesitate to talk to your nanny should you notice any of the above mentioned signs. Ask if she has any kind of issues or problems with your rules, and check-in regarding her relationship with your child. Should any issues arise, discuss your concerns openly with her, and if appropriate you may decide to give her a second chance assuming she is willing to change her behavior and act in accordance with your rules. However, if she is unwilling to adhere to your rules, and does not want to change her behavior, it would not be in your child’s best interest to have her continue on as your nanny.

Reputed referral agencies may help you hire reliable nannies:

With all the difficulties that can occur when hiring a nanny, it is often better to act proactively and work with a reputable nanny referral agency. Agencies refer nannies only after conducting thorough interviews, job screening, reference checks, and background checks. Hence, chances of getting a poor caretaker are quite less when hired through a reputable nanny referral agency.

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