Choosing a Nanny feels like one of the hardest things you will ever have to do, but it needn’t be. We thought it would be good to compile some advice for you as to the kind of characteristics you should look out for when it comes to choosing a Nanny. Admittedly, a lot of this will be down to your intuition so we will not patronise you, but hope you find this useful.

First and foremost, does the potential candidate genuinely love children? This is obviously a prerequisite for any person involved in the childcare industry. It sounds obvious but surely the love of nurturing a child and seeing him or her grow needs to be one of the biggest signals for the type of person whom you would like to look after your child or children.

Next, we would like for pragmatism or common sense. Remember your Nanny is an extension of you when you’re not around so they need to be able to deal with situations in the same way. If a misbehaving child needs to be disciplined, the challenging behaviour should be left to fester. Action needs to be taken decisively, in the same way, that you would.

Then there are the other practical considerations. Is the Nanny punctual for instance? Most people in London hire a Nanny because both couples are working. If the Nanny isn’t living in your house, are they going to turn up on time? An obvious, but a very important point.

Another point you might want to consider is — are they flexible? We all know things, can sometimes be a little hectic and with the busy lives we all lead today and that an extra hour here or there might be required. Would the Nanny be willing to accommodate?

Are they fun? When you’re at home with your children, much of the blissful family time we spend together with our children is based around having fun. Do you get the sense that they would be willing to play and share joyful time with your child?

Lastly (but far from least) are they trustworthy? Remember the Nanny in question will not only be looking after your children but also sharing your home. This is often hard to gauge in an interview setting but you can rest assured that our rigorous vetting and reference checking process will ensure that any Nanny whom we represent will be.

A controversial study conducted by an American scientist called Jay Belsky in 1986 caused a huge debate. His hypothesis suggested that babies who were taken from their parents (or mothers, more specifically in his study) showed increased signs of disobedience and aggression in later life. So controversial was this study that Belsky felt compelled to leave the US due to the negative response he received from parents and other academics.

Benefits of One-on-One Childcare

We’re not trying to be political here or fan old flames but, in our opinion, a dedicated professional caring for your child will stand them in better stead. All of our nannies are DBS checked and fully qualified. Their qualifications include not only pastoral care; they are also trained to help your child’s cognitive development.

Nannies – An Extension of You

Using a Nanny will also mean you can brief them on how to deal with the idiosyncrasies of your child. We often hear from parents who have tried nurseries who’s instructions about what their child would like to eat, for instance, have fallen on deaf ears. If your child loves peaches and not pears, this can be catered for. Or if your child likes to be read to before their nap time this can also become part of your nannies brief.

Preparation for KS1

For older children learning the basics of reading, writing, and numbers prior to the big next step that can be reception or a nursery affiliated with a school will stand them in great stead. Your nanny will be able to facilitate this very important phase of their cognitive development. And, of course, receiving tuition in a one on one setting is beneficial.

Part of Your Family

As a family run business, we appreciate the importance of family. A stable family life and home are one of the greatest gifts you can give a child. We often hear from our clients that the nanny we have placed for them really become just like a member of the family. All of our Nannies are interviewed personally by us, so as well as all of the legal and professional checks what is often in the front of our mind is how well the potential candidate will gel in a family life context.

We have probably all experienced how music can affect a child’s mood; violins making a child cry or a snippet of their favourite programme instilling a fit of the giggles. But, did you know that music has been proven to increase a child’s cognitive ability?

Not just for sleep

Music can often be used to soothe babies to sleep (the ubiquitous Twinkle, Twinkle in a child’s toy) and, here at Nannies Plus Us, we know of parents using their iPhones to play Debussy’s ‘Clair De Lune’ to a soothe a baby to sleep. Music shouldn’t just be used to help children sleep though.

A 2016 study at the University of Southern California’s Brain and Creativity Institute revealed that exposure to musical experiences in childhood; accelerate brain growth, especially a child’s cognitive ability. Another study by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation (NAMM Foundation), found that learning to play an instrument even improved a child’s aptitude for mathematics.

Not just for academia either

Sharing music with your child should be a joyous experience. Have you played your toddler your favourite song? Signing and dancing with your toddler is, or should be, one of the most elemental and fun things you can do together. So, in order for both you and your toddler to benefit from the power of music you don’t have to shell out for expensive music lessons.

Instruments for toddlers

Of course it’s an old joke that if you don’t like someone you should give his or her child a drum, so here are some suggestions that could get your toddler interested in music and be able to retain some of your sanity…

1. Recorder – a great start to the world of woodwind and very cheap
2. Ukele – perfect for toddlers little hands and a great introduction to string instruments
3. Chime bar – gets kids used to the idea of notes and its relatively easy for them to tap out a simple tune
4. Percussion kits – not quite the drum (we wouldn’t want to put you through that pain!) – great fun for younger toddlers
5. Plastic trombone – perhaps a better choice for the older toddler (3+) who has some experience with a woodwind instrument

The web can be awash with information around what you should feed a toddler.  Of course, you would expect a lot of what you should feed a young child is just common sense and, like hugging your old child as often as you can, is just instinctive. So, rather than just point you to some recipe ideas for fussy toddlers on Mumsnet, we thought it would be interesting to speak to a Nursery Nurse to see what the experts think is the best food to feed those growing minds and bones.

We spoke to Nursery Nurse, Emma Dixon to get her view. Emma has been in childcare working at a Nursery since 2013 and manages a room of up-to 20 two to four year olds.

What works for breakfast?

“This totally depends on the child, their likes and dislikes — often it’s what ever they will eat! We find that porridge is great – for giving the children loads of energy and we can add stuff to sweeten it (like honey) as well as fruit which ensures they always get their five a day. Failing that wholemeal toast with honey or jam is a good option.”

What about snack-time?

“Fruit, fruit and more fruit. Introducing children to fresh fruit at this age sets an important precedent for the children as they get older and into adult-hood. Bananas work really well in the morning, before playtime. Bananas seem to be the most popular fruit for children between two and four.”

What about the fussy ones, how do you get them to eat?

“There’s no easy answer to this one. Some children are just fussy but we find that persistence often pays off. Children can be contrary and ‘no’ or ‘I don’t like that’ will be the automatic answer to a question. However, if we ask the same question the next day the response might be different. If all else fails toast is our go to ‘get the child to eat hack’. Children of this age are clearly very much influenced by their peer group so we find that good behaviour when it comes to eating is often rubbed off on their peers.”

What would be your ultimate piece of advice to a parent of a fussy eating toddler?

“Don’t be disheartened and keep trying! A bit like potty training you need to be persistent. Reinforce good behaviour with positive affirmations – ‘you finished your apple – such a good girl’. Also, if you have a really fussy child, try presenting the food in question in a different way. For instance, we once had a boy who didn’t like apples when they were presented to him in slices but loved the apple when we gave him a whole one – ‘a big boy apple’ he used to call it.”