The summer holidays are approaching fast, which likely means you’re busy planning family vacations! You’ve probably been hearing buzz in your parenting circle about travel nannies; around this time of year, we start to receive calls from clients requesting short-term vacation nannies. If you’re trying to decide whether or not this kind of nanny is right for you, take a look through our guide!
What is a travel nanny?
Travel nannies are childcare providers who are hired specifically to go on vacations with families. They specialize in short-term trips and as such are experts at quickly and easily adapting to new or challenging situations. These trips can range in length, anywhere from 1-2 weeks to a full summer. Travel nannies can be a godsend on family vacations, especially if you have several children of varying ages.
Why might a family hire a traveling nanny?
Families hire travel nannies for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, parents need a vacation too! Traveling with children can be exhausting, and many parents return from trips more tired than they were before they left. Hiring a travel nanny can help alleviate some of the stress and allow the parents to have some time alone together.
For some families, their full-time nanny is unavailable to come along on the vacation, so they need temporary care. If your children have dissimilar interests or differ greatly in age, hiring a nanny to help out can allow you to celebrate each child’s individual interests and personality—and have some valuable one-on-one time with each of them separately.
What should I keep in mind when looking for a travel nanny?
If you’re hoping to hire a nanny to accompany your family on vacation, there are a few key things you’ll want to consider.
First, and most importantly, allow yourself as much time as possible to interview potential travel nannies. We suggest beginning your search 1-2 months before the date of departure. This will give you the opportunity to bring the nanny for a trial day in your home, to see how he or she interacts with your children. Your nanny will be spending a lot of time with your family, in close quarters, so you want to be sure his or her personality and energy level meshes well with yours.
Once you’ve found the perfect nanny, the next step is to draw up a nanny contract. This will cover hours on duty, childcare and family assistant responsibilities, compensation, any additional expenses that you will be responsible for, and other trip details. In addition to the hourly wage, most families will pay for the nanny’s travel, meals, accommodations, and the activities she does with your children or the whole family.
Keep in mind that the nanny will likely be eligible for overtime if she works more than 44 hours in a week. It’s important to make sure she has time away from the kids, so she doesn’t get burnt out. Remember, this is a job for her; even though your family is on vacation, your nanny is not.
What’s the best way to find a travel nanny?
Travel nanny agencies, such as the Nanny Authority, place short-term and temporary nannies for families going on vacation. When you use an agency, you can be sure that the nannies you meet have been through an in-depth screening process. The agency will conduct a detailed interview with each candidate and verify their references before ever referring them to you.
When you decide to make an offer, reputable travel nanny agencies will conduct a comprehensive background check, including a nationwide criminal check, sex offender registry check, social security trace, and driving check, should your nanny be required to drive on your vacation.
If you have more questions or are looking to hire a short-term vacation nanny, contact us today!