Using an agency to help you with finding a nanny
Ready For The Understatement Of The Decade?
It isn't easy being a parent.
Juggling the vastly different demands of your home and career is challenging enough. Add to that the rewarding but exhausting work of parenting, and the balancing act can become nearly impossible to master.
Looking for a helping hand to get you across the tight wire?
That's where Fulham Nannies come in.
Whether you need temporary or short-term assistance or you're looking to hire someone on a full-time basis, a nanny can be the practical, hands-on solution to your need.
Today, we're sharing a few of the many reasons why it pays to invest back into your family by bringing a nanny on board. If you're considering these services for yourself, read on!
1. Qualified Care at the Last Minute
Did your usual nanny call in sick? You can't take the time off work and just stay home and you have a full schedule to get through. What do you do when the nanny is sick?
You could hire a qualified, experienced and reputable temporary nanny to fill in for you, instead. Available on a short-term basis, these nannies are no less reliable than full-time nanny staff. Rather, they go through the exact same rigorous validation process before joining our agency.
We require that all of our applicants share their official ID, complete a police check, and undergo a first-aid document check. We'll also call and verify all of their referees to make sure they're an ideal fit for the job (and your family).
2. A New Perspective and Ideas
Whether you take a temporary nanny along as an extra set of hands during your family holiday or you hire a Live-in one to help out around the clock, you'll find that everyone in your family will benefit from the fresh perspective they bring.
Professionally trained in their craft, our nannies can suggest simple adjustments to your routine that can help your brood grow. For instance, they might know a new educational game to play, a great picky-palate-friendly meal to try or gentle techniques for behavioural management.
These might not be groundbreaking revelations but for families that feel stuck in a rut, they can spark creativity and encourage ongoing exploration.
3. Different Hiring Options
Through our agency, we offer two different kinds of solutions. These include:
- Live-in nannies
- Live-out nannies
In addition to these two main options, you can also select from among the following choices:
- Temporary nannies
- Permanent nannies
- Part-time nannies
- Full-time nannies
The bottom line? We're ready to work around your schedule, however hectic and crazed it might be at the moment. From a few days to weeks at a time, you'll work together with your nanny to create a timeline that meets both of your needs.
Keep in mind that all of these nannies will work inside your home. In any situation, their goal is to attend to the well-being of your child. That's the case whether they retire to a different residence or their own room on your property when the workday is done.
In addition to child-related household duties, your nanny will also look for opportunities to encourage educational and social development in your children.
Let's explore how the two main setups work in greater detail.
Live-in Nannies
As the name implies, a Live-in nanny lives with your family full-time. Also called residential nannies, they're there to help with morning breakfasts, evening tuck-ins and everything in between. In most cases, Live-in nannies will officially be on the clock from early morning up to late evening. In addition, they'll also babysit two times per week.
In exchange, as their host family, you'll provide them with room and board in addition to their salary. This usually consists of a personal bedroom and bathroom.
The good news? While it might seem more cost-prohibitive to hire a full-time nanny, you'll find that you actually save money in the long run. This is because the lodging you provide is factored into your salary costs.
If you have space at home to accommodate this request, the reliable yet flexible assistance is a major benefit.
Live-out Nannies
On the other hand, a Live-out nanny does not live with your family. Instead, they'll visit your home and provide support for a pre-determined amount of time, returning back to their home when the job is complete.
Most Live-out nannies in London begin work between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. and finish around 7:00 p.m. Need a little help getting the kids ready for school while you get ready for work? Looking for someone to take care of school pickup, homework, and dinnertime? A Live-out nanny is there at the right times, taking all of those duties off your shoulders.
4. Household Management Support
Despite your best efforts, it can be nearly impossible to stay on top of the kids' mounting pile of laundry, keep their rooms and bathrooms clean, organize their daily schedule and keep up with all of your parenting duties.
By allowing a nanny to step in and help, you can remove some of the burden off your shoulders. This expert will be qualified and experienced, able to help with the smallest of children. You'll also come home to clean rooms, fresh laundry and their dinner made.
As parents, we aren't meant to walk this journey alone. When the realities of day-to-day life set in, it can be overwhelming, to say the least. You don't have to suffer in silence, only devoting a half-hearted effort to household duties. It's worth the investment in employing a nanny to save both your surfaces and your sanity.
One important distinction to note? Nannies are not housekeepers. Their sole focus is your children, as it should be. This means that while they're more than happy to help out with household duties such as cleaning and cooking, those efforts will be focused on the children.
5. A Calmer Home Atmosphere
Do you find yourself rushing home from work with job duties still fresh on your mind? If so, staring at a pile of toys in the playroom, dirty socks in the back of their nursery and an empty fridge in the kitchen can leave you feeling hangry, dialing for pizza delivery in no time at all.
Both a Live-in nanny and Live-out nanny can help turn your home environment into the tranquil and calming space of your dreams.
How?
While they aren't obligated to actually cook for the whole family, taking care of the children's meals alone is a feat!
In addition to cooking for your kids, they'll also take the time to tidy up after your little ones on a regular basis, ensuring that no messes are allowed to accumulate and grow. In addition, they'll head to the market with a list full of healthy and nutritious ingredients to make scrumptious meals for their tiny bellies.
What happens next?
You're able to come home to a relaxed spot that makes you feel immediately at ease. As a result, you're able to be a more gentle, even-tempered parent and partner.
It's no secret that it's easier to snap when we feel stretched to the limit, and our loved ones, unfortunately, receive the brunt of the stress, most of the time. When even a little bit of that chaos is calmed, you're able to approach parenting from a different angle.
6. New Mum Maternity Support
The days and weeks directly following the birth of your bundle of joy can be some of the most blissful of your life. At the same time, they can also be some of the hardest. Being suddenly thrust into this new position of "parent" can be joyous and overwhelming, all at once.
That's where a maternity nurse can make a world of difference.
Whether you're looking for specialist care to help you navigate the newness of a newborn, a nursing consultant to help you learn those ropes, or simply someone with advanced knowledge and expertise in this area, your nurse can do it all.
Even if you don't need the advanced medical care that a hands-on maternity nurse provides, your nanny is also adept at handling most childcare duties. This might include preparing and sterilizing bottles, coordinating a feeding and napping routine, and even shopping for and preparing pureed baby food.
In other words, you're never alone. You'll be able to find your footing in this beautiful and crazy season of life with a reliable and qualified expert leading every step of the way.
7. A Professional Partnership You Can Trust
Once you've found the nanny of your dreams, you might be wary about the exchange of power. Will you suddenly take a backseat as someone else with more experience steps in? Or, are you supposed to act like a boss, dictating every situation?
The answer to both questions is a resounding "no."
When you team with one of our nannies, you're exactly that: a team.
You'll work on a one-on-one basis with your nanny to come up with a plan of care that all parties feel comfortable with, keeping your children's security and protection top of mind. As your relationship continues, you'll find that such open communication isn't only helpful in the beginning, but it's critical to maintaining a successful and rewarding partnership down the road.
8. A Custom Fit for Your Family
There's no one-size-fits-all nanny. While all of the nannies registered with us are qualified, experienced, trustworthy and professional, we know that every family is different. Your needs and expectations for childcare support might be different than your neighbors, and that's perfectly OK.
That's why we take the time to understand your requirements fully before we work with you to hire a nanny. We'll also make sure your geographic details align with ours, as we're centered in South West London and West London only.
Then, once you've officially registered your nanny vacancy with us, we'll go to work finding your custom fit. Along the way, we'll steer clear of any confusing pay structures or underhanded fees. In fact, you'll only pay for our services if we find a good match for your family among our team of candidates, and that candidate accepts the offer.
Not sure which qualities you should prioritize in your search for candidates? Check out our recruitment guide to get started! Here, we outline all of the traits that qualified nannies should exhibit. You'll also find helpful interview questions that can help guide your discussion, with key topics ranging from personal background questions to inquiries on their discipline style.
Once you've found the right fit, you can also participate in a trial day with your chosen nanny. This can last for one half-day, one full day or two full days. During this time, you can take a back seat and watch as both you and your nanny assess whether it's a good fit.
Childcare Your Whole Family Can Trust
Through our stringent application vetting and reference checks we prioritize quality and trustworthiness at every turn, and only select nannies who do the same.
When you're ready, head over to our Parents Registration Form and fill out your information. Our services are free to try with zero obligation and no sign-up fees. Find out for yourself what makes our approach so special!
