Tag Archives: nanny

Why You Need A Nanny

January 24, 2017Au Pair Services, Child Care, Nanny Services, Placement Agencynanny, nanny services, steps to hire a nannyEva Klenoff

Why You Need a Nanny

Many young women are faced with the decision of whether or not to pursue their career if they have children.

One argument women give in favor of staying home is that the cost of child care is so high, that after paying the nanny, not enough money is left over to make a job worth while.

However, there are counter arguments to this logic. Even if the cost of a nanny does not leave much over after you are increasing your chances for future success by not leaving the workplace. If a woman leaves her career for several years, she often returns to start at the lowest rung. Sometimes many changes and innovations have occurred leaving the returning individual at a significant disadvantage.

There are several ways of cutting the cost of a nanny. If you only need part time coverage, or if you have only one or 2 children, you may share a nanny with a friend or neighbor.

For women who assume the total care of household management and total care of their children, the assistance offered by a nanny can be a lifesaver. Often a mom’s schedule involves transporting children to various activities all at the same time. You may also have young children who would prefer to stay home instead of being taken along to all of your necessary errands.

It can also be stressful to keep children busy and entertained while attending to other necessary duties. A helping hand from a nanny or au pair can be very useful. There is no reason to assume, if you find the right nanny, that your children will not be happy and well cared for.

If you can avoid stress by getting some help, you will enable yourself to be happier and more relaxed so that both you and your children will be better off.

Eva Klenoff

Eva has helped families find quality care for over 34 years. Founder of Europa Domestics which remains one of the few remaining agencies offering personal service directly with the owner. You will always speak directly to Eva which ensure you get the best expert for your staffing needs. Europa Domestics currently serves New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, & Philidephila since 1974

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How A Nanny Changed Our Lives – Find The Perfect One Today!

December 29, 2016Au Pair Services, Blog, Child Care, Nanny Servicesfind your mary poppins, nanny, nanny services, steps to hire a nannyEva Klenoff

How a nanny changed our lives!

One of my clients, who is a working mom, called me to request a new nanny. She had called me several times on prior occasions, and I was always successful in finding a lovely girl for her.

On this occasion she seemed quite overwhelmed. She needed somebody very intelligent, resourceful, energetic, and she needed her immediately. She had four children between the ages of 9 and 15.

I found a lovely European girl who was interested in a live in job with older children. This seemed to be a perfect fit but I did not realize how perfect. It was a match made in heaven.

She sent the following email to someone and cc’d it to me.

“Our nanny, in her 20’s, entered our home and our lives have changed.The nanny is quite an extraordinary girl who has great discipline and a lot of common sense. She is a strong role model for the children.”

It was a lengthy letter going into detail about how this young girl changed the dynamics and life style of the whole family.

“This nanny keeps a very healthy diet even if it means eating something different from the rest of the family. When everybody snacks on ice cream and chips, she eats fruit instead. As you know, we are all somewhat overweight. The nanny created a game, which was a contest to see who could lose the most weight. She encouraged the kids to exercise and jog with her. The children seemed eager to improve their appearance and just needed a nudge and a lot of praise. They wanted to please her!”

“When I saw how the attitude of my children changed about eating and exercise I was shamed into falling into line. It seems the nanny is a wealth of information about nutrition. On another front, the nanny changed how the kids interact. They were always fighting and yelling at each other. She taught them to take a breath, wait until they calmed down and then clearly explain why they were upset. It seemed that most disputes could be settled when the kids calmed down, presented their feelings in a logical way and she would mediate. I think Mary Poppins has entered my life.”

God willing, maybe you can find such a nanny for yourself!

Eva Klenoff

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Keep An Open Mind When Looking For A Housekeeper or Nanny

August 11, 2016Blog, Child Care, Housekeeper, Nanny Serviceschild care, Europa Domestics, housekeeper, nanny, nanny services, steps to hire a nannyEva Klenoff

I have been running a housekeeper / nanny service for the past 40 years, and because of my qualifications in this field, I believe that I am an expert in finding the best help for people.

The single biggest mistake that people often make is in the way that they narrow down the field of possible candidates.

Very often an employer will call me to ask my assistance in finding a housekeeper or nanny for their home and say, “ my last girl was in her 20’s, from Poland and she was great. Please find me the same thing.” After further discussion I realize they will allow no latitude. They do not want anybody younger or older or from any other country of origin.

Conversely, I may get a call saying,” I just had the worst experience. I had a woman in her 50’s from Trinidad and she was awful. Don’t send me anybody in that age group and definitely do not send me anybody from Trinidad.”

I certainly can understand somebody’s personal experience in this type of situation, but as someone who has dealt with thousands of employees, I am confident that these people are compromising their chances of finding the best possible worker.

The best applicants can come from anywhere and be of almost any age. Preconceived ideas based on limited experiences are simply counterproductive. I have found the best and worst applicants coming from the same country.

Another suggestion I would make is for am employer to consider an applicant for housekeeping or child-care who has been out of the work force for a while.

Sometimes I interview a woman who has been a mom and homemaker and would now like to do the same type of work and get paid.

If an employer is at home and can monitor the ability of the person they hired, they should consider someone who does not have references in that field but has plenty of personal experience.

If your goal is to find the very best candidate to watch your children or clean your home, you should keep an open mind and make an effort to expand the pool of people from which to choose.

Eva Klenoff

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Should your Nanny also be your Housekeeper?

March 18, 2016Housekeeper, Nanny Serviceshousekeeper, housekeeping, nannyEva Klenoff

Learning Disability, Infantry

Is it reasonable to expect that the person who cares for your children should also maintain your home? The answer depends on many factors.

The first factor to consider is whether both parents work full-time. If the nanny is on her own as the caregiver, you cannot expect as much housekeeping to be done as you can when a parent is around at least part of the time. Other factors, which must be considered, are how many children are being cared for, what are their ages, and just how much time and effort is required for the housekeepingl

You can probably expect very little care for the home if there are 2 or more children who require care. If, on the other hand, most or all of the children are in school part of the day, you can expect the nanny to do some cleaning.

A logical way to determine a realistic set of expectations, would be to put yourself in the nanny`s situation and see what you could accomplish in a day when you are caring for your children. If all your energy is sapped by child-care, you should not expect the nanny to do more than you are comfortable doing.

If there is a several hour gap when children are napping or in school, perhaps some cleaning or cooking could be expected.

At the time of the interview you may tell a prospective nanny that you expect a certain amount of housekeeping. The employee may turn out to be an amazing nanny but she lets you know that anything beyond child-care is simply overwhelming and she is not prepared to do both. You must then decide if you are willing to accept that situation.

Only if your nanny has a bloc of hours with absolutely nothing to do should you expect substantial housekeeping to be accomplished. A Superwoman might do both simultaneously, but it is not realistic for you to expect that.

Assess your Situation:

How many hours is your nanny on her own with the children
How many children do you have and how old are they
How much time is the nanny spending on errands and just basic chores relating to the children.

It is also very important to be as clear and specific as possible at the time of the interview to let the nanny know what is most important to you and how you expect her to allocate her time.

Eva Klenoff

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Your Nanny Just Gave You Two Weeks Notice!

February 16, 2016Nanny ServicesnannyEva Klenoff

Your nanny just gave you two weeks notice!

You and your husband have very demanding responsibilities at your full time jobs, and your nanny just told you that she has accepted another position and is giving you two weeks notice. You start to hyperventilate. You are barely managing your life as it is; work, home, and children, not to mention any badly needed leisure. You ask if she could give you more time to try to find somebody new because two weeks is just not enough time, but she says no. The best thing you can do is to call a nanny service and explain your dilemma.

Is there anything you could have done to prevent this calamity or could you have seen this coming? Maybe. When an employee who is usually enthusiastic and engaged suddenly seems detached you need to take notice. Or when your employee who is usually very agreeable begins making unreasonable demands such as asking for more time off or becoming very inflexible, you should consider these changes as warning signs which must not be ignored.

With a busy work schedule you know that 2 weeks in not enough time for this very important endeavor. You don’t have many options so you spring into action. On the one hand you want your next hire to be chosen carefully without feeling like you are under the gun. One of your options is to ask the nanny agency if they have people who are interested in just filling in for short periods while you carefully look for a permanent person in the event that becomes necessary.

When interviewing people, make sure that you know how long that employee has remained at previous positions. You don’t want somebody who makes a habit of jumping from job to job at unacceptably short intervals. You must realize that if the salary, which you offer, is not consistent with her expectations, she will likely be searching for another position even though she accepts your offer for a short period of time.

Before you make your choice, arrange for your prospective new nanny to come on the weekend if you cannot do this during the usual workweek in order to see how she interacts with you and the children.

If it turns out that you like more than one candidate let your second choice know that if things don’t work out in the first few weeks with the person you have hired you will let her know.

Its important to avoid being held hostage by your nanny because she knows how much you depend on her, so it is best to be very clear at the outset what you are offering, and what you expect. Be clear about salary, overtime, paid holidays and sick days. Discuss your expectations specifically with regard to her duties about full or light cleaning. Make a list of the chores you expect her to take care of. Anticipate situations, which might occur and tell her your thoughts and expectations and ask her to do the same.

Eva Klenoff

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How To Create A Loyal Nanny

September 28, 2015Nanny ServicesnannyEva Klenoff

A happy nanny is a loyal nanny!

The most important thing that you can do to keep your nanny happy is to make sure that you are paying a competitive salary. You do not want your nanny to be at a playground and discover in a conversation with other nannies that she is being paid several hundred dollars less than they are! If you are seeking help through a nanny agency, they can surely advise you on what the going rate is . Otherwise, ask friends what the going rate is for an experienced nanny with good references.

Make sure that her schedule is consistent with the going standard on vacations. Usually a two week paid vacation is acceptable. Discuss which national and religious holidays you will offer and pay for. Make sure that she approves of this schedule, and make sure that she considers it to be fair. You don’t want resentment, which may lead to future disagreements

If a nanny or Au pair is living with you her accommodations should be pleasant and comfortable. At the very least, she should have a closet, bureau, window and TV in her room. A private bathroom is desirable but not necessary.

If you want to create an atmosphere of warmth and inclusion, offer to have her share meals with the family or ask if she would prefer her privacy at meal times. Just make sure it is her choice. Offer to include her at family outings.

Discuss what her food preferences are and be sure to buy them when you doing the marketing. Let her know you value her opinion on matters concerning the children. Discuss possible solutions dealing with children’s issues.

If your Au pair is from another country show an interest in her customs. For instance, you could ask if she would like to cook something that she is familiar with from home.

If your Au pair seems lonely, try to find local girls that she might befriend. You could put the word out among friends and neighbors who similarly have a nanny living with them.

Periodically ask your Au pair if she would like to discuss any issues that might improve the daily routine.

If a situation arises where you feel you must reprimand or instruct the nanny about a matter, do it in a sensitive way. Try not to create an adversarial or confrontational situation.

Remind the children that it is important to be polite, cooperative and considerate to the nanny. Explain that you are doing your best to provide for the smooth functioning of the home and you depend on the nanny’s help.

Your peace of mind and happiness depends on the loyalty of the nanny. So make sure she’s happy!

Eva Klenoff

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Understanding Nanny & Housekeeper Rules

June 30, 2014Housekeeper, Nanny Serviceshousekeeper, nannyEva Klenoff

Most families in the United States have full-time jobs, so it makes sense that there is always a need for housekeepers and nannies. Of course, allowing someone to take care of your child and home takes planning and coming up with precise ground rules. There should be a straightforward action plan, nanny & housekeeper rules, and goals that should be completed on each shift.

The Honor System

Nannies and housekeepers have unique jobs. They are trusted with their employees most important items, wealth, children, and more. Since there is not a lot of supervision with this job, employees should use the honor system. Nannies and housekeepers should be trustworthy people. Nanny and housekeeper rules should state that any type of theft will be prosecuted by the proper authorities.

Stay on Task

The job itself should always be the top priority for a housekeeper or a nanny. Outside guests should not be able to enter the residence unless permission was granted beforehand. A nanny should always keep track of where the child is at all times too and know exactly what he or she is doing.

You Need Approval to Discipline

Nannies often shift into the role of the parent when they are left in charge. They should not turn into disciplinarians though. Instead, their job is to keep the children safe until the parents come back home. Nannies should never punish the children under their care unless there are specific punishments discussed in the ground rules.

Keep the Line of Communication Open

Nannies and housekeepers always need to answer the phone when the parents or homeowners are calling. Not answering the phone will just make parents anxious and can lead to job loss if it is an ongoing behavior.

No Detours

If a nanny drives a child to school or picks up a child from school or any event, the nanny should not have to do anything else at this time. Nannies should not be running personal errands unless they have asked permission beforehand from the parents.

Clean Up Your Mess

In a house with children, it is important for the nanny or housekeeper to clean up after themselves. If you leave trash behind, this is not only disrespectful, but some trash can actually be dangerous to children and the residents in the home.

Eva Klenoff

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Nannies And Mothers – The Working Relationship

June 27, 2014Nanny ServicesnannyEva Klenoff

Countless Nanny -mother relationships become challenging and complex. The employee and the employer live different lifestyles, but both parties strive to create a happy, clean and safe environment where the child will thrive. Working hard to create a genuine, professional working relationship and forming a positive way of communication, which works for both parties could help see nannies and mothers through numerous years of happy child care.

Spell Out Expectations

It is vital to establish a satisfying nanny-mother relationship. Outlining expectations, recording and defining responsibilities, working hours, wages and holidays set the benchmark. Nannies and Mothers must agree to the terms and conditions to avoid future disputes. The employer should clarify the nannies role, it is best not to use indefinite terms such as preparing snacks and carrying out light household duties. Employers who request daily text-message updates regarding the welfare of their child should arrange this with the nanny. Consistency is a useful form of discipline; however, child disciplinary methods should be discussed beforehand. Monica Bassett is the author of a book entitled “The Professional Nanny” and the content within the publication explains the Nanny is not there to replace the parent; she is there in addition to the parent.

Create a Weekly Schedule

A percentage of parenting websites suggest nannies and mothers meet for weekly planning discussions. Both nanny and mother should voice opinions and concerns during these sessions. Regular meeting between nannies and mothers are useful, as they help to avoid exasperation and misperception. The nanny may not wholly agree with the parenting and discipline regime, however, she should respect the parent’s wishes. A nanny who is totally opposed to a certain parenting method should speak out during the weekly planning session.

Learning to Communicate

Countless overworked women employ nannies, but a percentage of these mothers fail to express their expectations, hence the nanny’s role is unclear. This can result in a less than ideal working relationship and passive-aggressive communications. In short, goals and expectations are not met, opinions are ignored, conflicts remain unresolved and concerns are left unexpressed. Mothers must remember that nannies are not mind-readers and a qualified nanny will always take a professional approach and be willing to compromise.

Nannies and Mothers should decide how to communicate, whether it is via a text message, an email or a face to face meeting.

Respect the Schedule and give the Nanny Space

Nannies have personal lives too, and employers who will be late home from work should give the nanny notice, it is only polite and fair to offer to pay the nanny for the overtime worked. The nanny is responsible for being prompt and efficient; however, she should not be expected to step in at a moment’s notice. Employers should implement a back-up plan for emergency childcare. Parents should tell nanny about routine changes, which will affect her, such changes include school camps, change in parents work schedules, vacations and day trips.

Nannies and Mothers should make every effort to get along well, hence welcomes, conversations and farewells should be sincere. A confident nanny will feel comfortable at work and this creates a secure and happy environment for the child.

Eva Klenoff

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How To Ensure A Smooth Transition For Your New Nanny

June 25, 2014Nanny Servicesnanny, nanny servicesEva Klenoff

Special Child Care Services, Nanny Serivces It can be stressful to have a new caregiver, both for the child and the parents. Your little one may be very upset that his or her favorite nanny is leaving, or in the case where this is a first nanny, when a parent will not be present all day. Planning ahead can help with ensuring a smooth transition.

Allow Time for Adjustment
Your child will be attached to the person who cared for him or her previously, be it a parent or a nanny. Be sure to let your child know why the change is occurring and allow him to feel sad if necessary. In some cases, it is beneficial for the child to stay in contact with their old nanny.

Your child may be able to help find a new nanny by adding his or her input on what characteristics a caregiver should have. Your child can also be involved during the selection process and interviews.

Inform Your Nanny

A new nanny has a lot to learn, so allow for some transition time. Let the new nanny know what your child likes and dislikes and what he used to do with his other nanny. The more information given, the faster the process will go.

Stay Consistent

When a new caregiver enters the picture, you should do everything possible to give her the tools to keep your child on schedule. Naps and meals should be at the same time every day, following the schedule your child is used to. This includes what is acceptable behavior and any limitations you place on foods, electronics, etc. The overall consistency will help your child feel safe and secure.

Transition Gradually

There’s no need to make the change an abrupt one. Instead, have the new caregiver visit for short periods of time while you or a familiar nanny are there. This will allow your child to get used to the new person and create a bond. It is important that parents show that they trust the nanny when you are all together. This will help your child understand that this is someone to trust.

Make Adjustments as Needed

Children are constantly in flux and this can be confusing for them. If you are only occasionally bringing in the nanny, this can be difficult to adjust to. Instead of doing just three full days of childcare, you might want to change to five days a week, reducing the hours, so your child has a consistent time when their nanny is around. This will depend greatly on your job and how well you can make your schedule work for you. Many nannies will prefer daily jobs, as well.

How to Say Goodbye

Teaching your child to say goodbye to a favorite person for the time being. It can be very difficult for a small child to understand that you are coming back at a specific time. It’s a good idea to say goodbye as a child is heading out to the park or to do something fun. They’ll feel like they are the ones about to have fun rather than being abandoned. You should also let your child know that you are going somewhere and tell him when you will be back again. Don’t drag out the goodbye, even if the child is upset. Make it fast and definite.

Need Help?

Call (646) 760-2367 to speak to Eva for 1 day quote or contact us for your information. You can also request an immediate callback by filling out form on the right.

Eva Klenoff

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What To Ask When Interviewing A Nanny

June 23, 2014Nanny Servicesnanny, nanny servicesEva Klenoff

Knowing the importance of conducting a proper interview is one of the key things you will need to have so as to find the kind of nanny that can provide you with the care you need for your child. This is true regardless if the prospect nanny comes is referred by a friend, an agency or someone you met in an online community for nannies such as Care.com.

Since a nanny is often hired in a long term basis and in-house,properly interviewing a nanny can help you make the right decision.

The first step that you need to do is do an initial interview over the phone. This way you can get a preliminary assessment on the applicant and decide if its worth setting up an interview in person. In the phone interview, ask about the nanny’s background and experience in child care, her certification and her preferred work schedules. Put in mind though that judging a person through a phone conversation can be tricky so keep the interview conversational and if you like what you hear, schedule the in-person interview.

Make sure to make a list of questions you need to ask such as the nanny’s skills, child care philosophy and history of employment. Also, don’t forget to ask about personal things such as her hobbies and family background. Allow the potential nanny to ask questions as well so you can determine if you can communicate with each other well.

For the interview, you can ask the potential nanny to come to your house. However, if you feel like it is too much inviting someone you barely know at your home for an initial interview, you can conduct the venue at any convenient place you like such as a your local coffee shop or deli. In fact, anywhere will do as long as it is quite enough to talk.

Interviewing the nanny outside your home puts the nanny in a less-intimidating territory and put her at ease. If all is well during the interview, you can then invite the prospect nanny to your home and meet your child

Do not end the interview without asking the following questions:

Where was she last employed? Does she have any official document such as certification papers proving she is a qualified and trained nanny.

Does she have any experience in dealing with children in an emergency scenario? What are here methods in dealing with tantrums? What are here views in child discipline?

What are the usual activities she has in mind for your kid? Is she okay with accompanying your kid to school activities?

Before you say yes and hire the nanny, make sure to do a background check first and determine if the nanny does not have criminal records. These are the things that you need to do before finally letting someone into you home and give full access to your children.

Eva Klenoff

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