Making your live-in nanny comfortable

If you choose to hire a live-in nanny, remember that not only are you inviting him/her into your home, but you're also providing a home for her. To make her feel comfortable and welcome in your home, consider these items, and ask her if there's anything she needs.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it's certainly a starting point. If she is from another culture, there may be things you wouldn't think of to provide, and she may not feel comfortable asking for it.

• Outline your expectations ahead of time - duties and days/hours required should be discussed, but so should expectations in regards to socializing and having friends over, both during work hours and non-work hours. Would it be a problem if she came in late one night on her days off, or wanted to have someone spend the night?
• A locking door, food and salary are the basic requirements, the nanny should not be expected to share a room with anyone in the family.
• Set clear boundaries on private family time in advance. If you'd prefer to have family-only dinners most nights of the week, find the nicest way to say this. For example, "you don't have to feel obligated to eat dinners with us, I'm sure you want time to yourself at dinner time." You could provide the nanny with a mini-fridge and microwave so she can have her own amenities. 
• To provide additional private time for the family and the nanny, you could consider providing the nanny with her own TV and/or computer so she doesn't have to share with the family in her off hours.
• Nannies need to have off-hours where they can enjoy their time without being called on. Therefore, you can't ask her to take over while you go for a run if it's her day off, unless that's been previously arranged. Respect her and her time off. This applies to the children too; they shouldn't bother her if she's in her own space during time off.

As mentioned, this isn't a full list. There are guidelines that must be followed for nannies working under the Live-in Caregiver Program, but it's common for families to provide above and beyond these minimums to create a comfortable environment for their nanny.

I always encourage families to have open communication with their nanny. This way, you can feel comfortable talking to her about your concerns, and so can she. Lastly, make sure there isn't any confusion about the guidelines listed above; if you want her to make the most of her time off but don't mind her spending additional time with the family if she wants, make sure she understands this.

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