Nanny Canada

If your family has two or more children, childcare performed by a nanny is likely to be a money-saver. Pay rates in this case range from the minimum wage ($8.00 per hour in B. C.) to about $10.00 per hour. At the lower end of the scale, the cost of having a nanny is comparable with that of keeping two children in day care.

Even if you have one child, a live-in nanny still have an advantage. You can confidently leave for work in the morning without rushing your child to a the day care. If you are on shift work, a nanny can adjust her hours to accommodate yours. Also, beyond the care for your children, some domestic chores can be performed by the nanny allowing you to spend more quality time with your children after a day’s work. These criteria also apply to a live-out nanny who visits your home daily. However, a live-in has the advantages of never arriving late for work and having little chance of canceling at the last minute.
Do you have more questions? Visit our Forum: CAREGIVERS in CANADA.

The biggest bonus in this case is that nannies are less likely than other types of caregivers to switch employment. Therefore, a nanny can give your child a sense of consistency. Between one and three years of age, children establish strong bonds with caregivers. At this stage, a child’s language skills are too undeveloped to understand why the childcare arrangement has changed. When a nanny suddenly leaves, a toddler may react with aggressive behaviour or retreat into babyish activities like thumb-sucking. The child is displaying bewilderment over the loss.

From age three to six, a child will be more understanding but will still experience distress if a favourite caregiver leaves. This happens often with informal baby-sitting arrangements. Even at day-care centers with prescribed child-minding philosophies, staff turnover is high. Live-in nannies are more stable because leaving their jobs means leaving their homes.

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Finding a Nanny For Your Family

by Andrea Taylor / BC Parent Magazine

Childcare is one of the most important decisions working parents have to make. If you have decided to hire a nanny, you may not be aware of your options for an in home caregiver. What are you looking for? You may want to sit down and make a list of all your requirements. Depending upon your children’s age, you may want to involve them in this part of the process.

Your options for finding a nanny are agencies, advertising in the newspaper or through a recommendation. Nanny agencies are numerous. Some will provide you with referrals and others will act as a screening service. Most will provide assistance with contractual agreements. They will let you know what your rights are and the rights of your employee. They will have done reference checks and conducted interviews; only sending those applicants they feel will be suitable to your family. The final decision does of course lie with you and you may go back to the agency if you are unhappy with the after a probationary period. Any professional service would provide you with all the information you require to make an informed decision.

The interview stage should involve you, your partner and your children. The first part of the interview is spent getting to know each applicant asking about their interests and experience. After an informal time you may want to ask what they would be doing with the children giving them scenarios to see how they would handle certain situations.

Parents may make an agreement that without them both being one hundred percent certain, they would not hire a person. If you have the time take it, because your nanny is the most important employee you would ever hire. Having a nanny, the right one for your children, can be a rewarding relationship for both your children and the nanny. This unique relationship is a partnership with you and your partner in raising your children.
Do you have more questions? Visit our Forum: CAREGIVERS in CANADA.

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