There may be a number of reasons why you've decided to hire a weekend nanny. Perhaps you need to work during this time, or maybe you need some child-free time to spend with your partner. Whatever your reasons for choosing a nanny at the weekend, there are several things you should look for to obtain the best fit for your child.
Qualifications and experience are key considerations, and if you look for a nanny using a reputable agency such as Little Ones, they should be able to verify these aspects through references and other documentation. However, choosing the right nanny also involves finding a good personality fit to suit your child.
It goes without saying that a nanny should be friendly, warm, caring and kind, but see how a prospective nanny interacts with your child and assess how well they get on together. Although this may be more difficult to determine if your child is a baby, you can still pick up clues as to nanny suitability according to how well he or she reacts to specific situations when they have contact with your little one.
A nanny should be dedicated to the role, but when you are choosing one for weekend work, you want to be sure they are happy to forego Saturday nights out with friends or lazy Sundays lounging in bed. Be sure to quiz any prospective nanny as to how they feel about giving up their weekend to look after your child, and if you sense any hesitation, alarm bells should be ringing.
Also, take hints from the kind of questions a would-be nanny might ask, such as if they query about finishing early so they can go out at the weekend. This casts some doubt as to how committed they are to giving up their weekends. A good weekend nanny will be happy to fit in duties around your needs, whether it is Saturday or Sunday.
When you meet a potential nanny for the first time, assess whether they turned up on time for the meeting, as this is a good indicator to demonstrate punctuality and reliability. If your weekends are precious and you need to pack in as much as possible with the help of a nanny, having someone you can rely on to turn up to work at the right time will be crucial.
A nanny who looks after children at the weekends may have a different brief compared with those that care for them during the week. Weekends are often about relaxing and having fun, so consider looking for a nanny who will be able to keep your child entertained using creative or imaginative approaches, rather than just sticking them in front of the TV. Ask a potential nanny what sort of activities they would have in mind to keep your little one amused at the weekend.
