While nannies are superheroes, we must remember that under the mask and cape, they are also human. Like any other profession, when worked to the bone, nannies can begin to experience burnout. It’s essential to learn the signs and prevent this for the overall well-being of not just your nanny but also your family’s health. When caregivers are exhausted and stressed, this can affect the children and parents; soon enough, no one is feeling their best. Here are some of our tips for preventing nanny burnout:
Offer Clear Expectations and Open Communication
Before even looking for a nanny, writing clear guidelines and expectations for their job responsibilities is always a good idea. Be as detailed as you can, but remember that it’s okay for these to change as both your nanny and your family figure out what support is needed through practice. When this happens, communicate this change clearly so your nanny isn’t left playing catch up or stuck between contradicting responsibilities. Since these can and often do change over time, it’s important to create a space of open communication where your nanny can bring up issues and ideas without fear of anyone’s reactions. Try scheduling a bi-monthly check-in to see how things are going and if any adjustments need to be made.
Honor Their Schedule and Respect Their Personal Time
If you’re struggling trying to find time for breaks throughout the day for your nanny, remember that often, even a 10-minute pause can help your nanny to re-center and collect themselves on hard days. This can be when your kiddo is occupied with a nap or activity, or maybe mom or dad can step in momentarily. While we know it can be tempting to feel you may need to find additional tasks for nannies to make up for free time, please remember that working with children is a very active job that requires one’s attention and a lot of energy. Your nanny deserves a little downtime!
It can be tempting to constantly ask your nanny to stay past their agreed-upon end time, schedule off days, or even contact them often outside of working hours. Try to avoid this unless it’s an absolute emergency. Like with other jobs, nannies deserve to have their schedules respected so they can rest, recharge, and take their well-earned personal time to focus on their lives. This is one of the main issues that can lead to nanny burnout, which can lead to resentment and exhaustion.
Provide Paid Time Off, Sick & Personal Days
While a profession in childcare can be gratifying, at the end of the day, it is just that—a profession. When someone’s life becomes their job, this often leads to dissatisfaction with life as a whole. Encourage your nanny to pursue hobbies, further education, or just spend more time with friends and family. Offering paid time off ensures that your nanny can take a much-needed break, and then they can return to work recharged and ready for the day.
Encouraging your nanny to explore outside passions can often lead to growth in your children as well! Say your nanny loves to learn or play music or enjoy nature—this helps them become a better-rounded person, and if they so choose, they can share this passion with your children. Who knows—maybe you have the next Mozart under your roof!
Express Appreciation Regularly
Something as simple as saying “thank you” or a simple token of your appreciation like getting your nanny a favorite meal or small gift can go a long way. Once in a while, try a more significant gesture, such as giving them an extra PTO day or a weekend at a lovely spa! This also helps parents and kids not take their nanny’s hard work for granted!
Create a Comfortable Work Environment
Make sure your home is welcoming to your nanny. This can mean giving them their own space, even if it’s just a cabinet. Ask them what food or drinks they enjoy, and keep a few things in the kitchen for them. These small touches can reassure your nanny that they are respected in your house.
Know When it’s Time to Bring in Extra Help
While in idea mode, thinking something like “Oh, they can do all the cooking too” or “I might as well ask them to do the cleaning while they’re at home” can be easy, but remember, in practice, these tasks may be much more challenging to take on. Taking care of children, especially multiple children, is a full-time job in itself, and sometimes, you may even need to consider another nanny, depending on what their responsibilities look like! Even a weekend babysitter or a housekeeper who comes in once a week can make all the difference in the world to maintaining the promise of longevity in your nanny’s position with you. Many families we work with like to have (or often need) the security of 7-day coverage. For those, we usually recommend additional hires in the form of a weekday and weekend nanny OR (and this is becoming much more popular) rotational nannies who work a full schedule of, say, one week on and one week off.
By actively preventing nanny burnout, you are promoting a happier and healthier home environment for not only your nanny but you and your kids as well! Positivity and good energy are contagious, and maintaining a healthy work environment is a massive part of keeping your at-home superhero strong! Are you still looking for your perfect nanny? Contact us at Nanny Authority today! Email info@nannyauthority.com, call (973) 466-2669, or visit www.nannyauthority.com.