The Official Blog of Morningside Nannies

How to Monitor Your Nanny

When you leave your child in the care of another, whether it’s at a daycare center or home with a qualified nanny, it’s only natural to be concerned about the quality of care that they receive while you are away.

At Morningside Nannies, we strive to educate parents on the importance of continually monitoring the quality of care that their children receive. When parents take an active role in monitoring their children’s care, everyone benefits. Parents are reassured that their children are well cared for, nannies are empowered to discuss problems and concerns, which can create a better work environment, and children benefit from having their nanny held accountable to higher standards.

At Morningside Nannies we encourage parents to:

One of the best things parents can do to ensure that their children receive quality care is to hire a qualified nanny. Morningside Nannies only represents the most qualified nannies and since 1992 has been matching the best nannies with the best Houston area families. If you’re searing for a nanny or want to update your nanny’s background check, call a Morningside Nannies placement specialist today at (713) 526-3989. We’re here to help you find and keep the right nanny for your family.

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8 Ways to Prevent Common Childhood Injuries

While some childhood injuries are not preventable, many common injuries that occur during early childhood are. By taking a few simple and practical precautions, parents and nannies can work together to minimize the risks of preventable childhood injuries and help to create a safe environment for children to confidently explore.

1. Properly store medication.

   To prevent accidental ingestion medication should be stored out of the reach and sight of children. Store medication in a locked safety box placed on a closet shelf to prevent the kids from accessing it. Even topical medications should be under lock and key.

2. Use the right car seats the right way.

   By some estimates 90% of car seats are used or installed incorrectly. Don’t have a relaxed attitude about car seat safety. Be sure that all children are in the right seat, facing the right direction every time they go for a ride. Contact a child passenger safety technician to inspect your car seat installation. You can find a local tech by visiting www.cert.safekids.org.

3. Keep sleep spaces safe.

   A baby’s crib should have nothing but the baby inside. Instead of using a blanket, opt for a sleep sack that will keep him safe and warm. Keep the air in his room circulating using a fan and keep the room temperature between 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure the crib or bed is away from all windows and that all window covering cords in the room are tied up and out of reach. If you’re using a bassinet or crib be sure that it meets current safety standards and that the crib mattress is moves to the lowest position once your baby begins to roll over.

4. Always practice touch supervision near or in water.

   Whether you are putting the kids in the bath or letting them play in the kiddie pool in the backyard, always be within an arm’s reach of the children. When giving a bath, gather all of your supplies ahead of time so you’re not tempted to leave the kids unsupervised to get something. If there is a pool in the backyard, be sure it is fenced in and the gate lock is fully functioning.

5. Keep chemicals away from the kids.

   While it can be convenient to store cleaners and detergents under the sink, doing so can be a real hazard. Keep all cleaners and chemicals in locked cabinets to prevent accidental burns, ingestion and poisonings. Children should not have access to any toxic supplies.

6. Enforce bike safety rules.

   Insist that the children ride the appropriate sized bicycles and that they do so with a well-fitting helmet. Be sure that children are familiar with bicycle safety rules and that they only ride on safe, bicycle friendly paths and areas.

7. Sore firearms under lock and key.

   In addition to teaching children that guns should not be handled, firearms and ammunition should be stored in locked cabinets so that children do not have access to them.

8. Serve age-appropriate food.

   Prevent choking risks by not serving popcorn, whole grapes and hot dogs, hard candy, globs of peanut butter and large chunks of food to young children. Be sure vegetables and meats are tender and cut into small pieces before serving. Grapes should be quartered and hot dogs sliced lengthwise prior to cutting across. Children should remain seated and be closely supervised when eating.

While nannies and parents may have different safety standards when it comes to childproofing the home and participating in activities, most will agree that doing what you can to minimize unnecessary risks to the children is essential.

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Can I Give My Nanny Time Off in Lieu of Pay?

When it comes to working overtime, many parents and nannies assume that instead of being paid for the additional hours worked, a nanny can be given the equivalent of hours off instead.

When it comes down to law, this simply isn’t true.

Nannies are protected under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Since nannies aren’t classified as exempt workers, the labor laws outlined in the act apply to them.

These laws state that non-exempt employees:

1. Must be paid at least minimum wage for every hour worked.
2. Must be paid overtime at the rate of 1.5 times their hourly base rate for all hours worked over 40 in a 7-day period.  Live-in nannies are not covered under this federal mandate, however in some states, excluding Texas, live-in nannies must also be the paid the overtime differential.

Since the Fair Labor Standards Act requires that nannies be paid for every hour worked, providing nannies time off in lieu of pay is not legally permitted. When it comes to providing employees compensatory time off in lieu of pay, doing so is legally limited to employers of public, government employees only.

As a non-exempt employee, nannies cannot be paid a straight salary per workweek. While nannies and employees may talk in terms of salary, to be compliant with labor laws, a nanny’s salary must be broken down into base and overtime wages. For example, if a nanny earns $600 gross per week for 45 hours of work, the compensation would be a base wage of $12.63 for the first 40 hours and an overtime wage of $18.94 for the remaining five hours, totaling the $600 “salary”.

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act nanny employers are also legally required to track their employees work hours. Working hours include all of the time the nanny is at the employer’s home and required to be available for work.  Having the nanny write her start time and finish time in a logbook each day is sufficient for record keeping.

If you have questions about how to pay your nanny, we’ve got you covered. The nanny pay specialists at Breedlove and Associates, Homework Solutions and GTM Payroll Services, Inc. offer complimentary consultations to clients of Morningside Nannies.

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What to Do When Your Nanny Gets Pregnant

Even for parents who have employed the same married nanny for several years, learning that their nanny is expecting a baby of her own may come as a huge surprise. In fact, upon learning the news that their nanny is pregnant, some moms end up feeling a bit guilty because they don’t react to the news in the way they would have thought.

The first reaction to learning that your nanny is expecting a baby may be panic. Although you know your nanny loves children and will make an amazing mom, your first thoughts may center on how this news will affect you.

Take a deep breath. Don’t panic. Chances are, your nanny is panicking enough for both of you.

While expecting nannies are typically over the moon with excitement about their pregnancy, they also are likely worried about job security and how they’ll manage being a working mom themselves.

While at first you may consider a pregnancy announcement to be the precursor to your nanny giving notice or you giving your nanny the pink slip, a pregnancy announcement doesn’t have to signal the end of your working relationship. In fact, there are many reasons why you may not want it to be the beginning of the end of your time together.

If your nanny has been with you for several years, transitioning to a new caregiver may not be something that you want or are even willing to do. This is especially true if your nanny has been with your children since they were born. If this is the case, determining if continuing your working arrangement is feasible may make sense.

If you have an only child, the thought of having a built-in playmate for your child may be attractive. Perhaps you wanted your child to experience having a sibling, but providing him with one isn’t something you’re ready to do. If these cases, exploring the possibilities of an ongoing relationship may be worth doing.

If your budget is stretched but you still require nanny care, keeping your nanny on may be a win-win for both of you. Your nanny may be willing to take a pay cut or forgo a raise if she’s able to bring her child to work with her. You’ll still receive customized, consistent care and your nanny will reap the benefits of not having to find and pay for childcare.

Whether you and your nanny decide to continue your employment relationship or not, you’ll need to discuss future plans. These plans may include securing back-up care should your nanny become ill or be put on bed rest during her pregnancy, hammering out a maternity leave plan and planning for your nanny’s temporary or permanent departure.

If you do decide to continue your working relationship, you’ll need to create a detailed work agreement that outlines expectations with regards to managing care, sharing supplies, caring for ill children and salary and benefits.

Since most nannies will want to bring their babies to work with them, you’ll need to decide if such an arrangement will work for you. While some parents may worry that their nanny will favor their own child or become overwhelmed with caring for two or more children, most seasoned nannies have experience caring for multiple children of varying ages and will handle the situation with professionalism and care.

Whether you need a back-up care provider, help formulating an amended work agreement or wish to begin a new nanny search, the staff at Morningside Nannies is ready to assist you. Contact one of our placement specialists today at (713) 526-3989 for assistance with your care needs.

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How to Let Your Nanny Go

Nannies play an integral part in the lives of the families who employ them. Whether it’s due to disappointing job performance, a personality conflict or a change in financial status or childcare needs, letting a nanny go is never easy.

If you’re preparing to let your nanny go or are considering it, there are a few steps you can take to make doing so easier.

Step 1:

Consider your reasoning. Are you letting your nanny go because she did something wrong or because of no fault of her own? Terminating the employment of a nanny for cause will be handled much differently than terminating a nanny because the family’s care needs or financial situation has changed. If you suspect your nanny of wrongdoing, depending on the infraction, the proper course of action may be immediate termination. If the nanny is being let go because there is a personality conflict or for circumstances outside of her control, developing a termination plan often makes more sense.

Step 2:

Develop your termination plan. If immediate termination is required, the nanny should be presented with her final paycheck and all household items such as keys and credit cards should be collected. If the nanny is being let go for other reasons, you’ll want to decide on the workout plan. If you’re moving, for example, helping with the transition may be part of the work out plan.  You’ll also want to decide on her final work date and when and how you plan to tell her that she’s being let go. The longer your nanny has been employed by your family, the longer her phase out typically will be.

Step 3:

Tell your nanny. Once you’ve solidified your termination plan, you’ll want to set aside time to tell your nanny. If she’s not being terminated immediately you’ll want to set up a meeting to discuss her termination when the children are not present. You may wish to consider telling her on the last day of her workweek so that she has time to process the information before returning to work. When you tell your nanny the news, provide a brief and clear explanation for why she’s being let go. During your conversation, you’ll also want to discuss with your nanny what, if anything, you want her to tell the children when you’re ready for them to know.

Step 4:

Tell your kids. After you tell your nanny you’re letting her go, you’ll need to break the news to the kids. If your nanny is being let go for no fault of her own, you may wish to tell the children together so you can frame the information in the same way and reinforce that her leaving is no one’s fault. If you’re nanny is being dismissed because she’s done something wrong, you’ll want to provide a simple, straightforward reason for letting her go.

Step 5:

Provide an opportunity for closure. If your nanny is leaving on good terms, provide closure to your family and your nanny by having a farewell celebration. Sharing a special meal together provides an opportunity to talk about the time you’ve spent together and what your future relationship will be like. If you’re letting your nanny go for cause, you’ll need to determine if it’s appropriate for her to say goodbye.  When it’s time to say goodbye, it is important to remember that the children have a separate and independent relationship with their nanny and they may feel different about her departure than you do. When talking to the children about when they’ll see their nanny next, be careful not to make promises you can’t keep. You won’t want to tell your children your nanny will still babysit, for example, if you have no intentions of using her as your sitter.

Step 6:

Tie up loose ends. On your nanny’s last day you’ll want to present her with her final paycheck and severance pay, if applicable, a letter of reference and perhaps a goodbye gift. A framed photo of your nanny with your family will serve as a nice memento. Some parents prefer to conduct an exit interview and also give their longtime nanny’s a cash bonus. On her last day you’ll want to be sure you’ve collected any of your belongings and that any of hers are returned.

When letting your nanny go you’ll always want to be mindful of the conditions of her work agreement and be sure that they are met. If your work agreement has a provision for two weeks’ notice, in some cases it may be best to pay her in lieu of working out her notice.

At Morningside Nannies, we support our clients beyond the initial placement. If you’re a Morningside Nannies client and are considering letting your nanny go, we’re here to provide you with support. Give a placement specialist a call today at (713) 526-3989 to discuss your situation.

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When Nannies Administer Medication

When it comes to caring for children, it’s not uncommon for kids to develop illnesses that require either over-the-counter or prescription medications. For families with nannies, the responsibility of administering may be shared between the parents and the nanny.

To prevent medication mix-ups, it’s essential that there is a clear, written policy in place for both parents and nannies to follow with regards to administering medication.

First and foremost, the policy should include a statement that articulates that the nanny should only administer medication, including over-the-counter medication, with the parents’ consent. This consent should be in writing or given electronically via text or email to prevent verbal miscommunication.

Second, all medications should be properly stored in their original packaging with prescribing orders and kept out of reach and sight of the children.  Any included instructions should also be kept with the medication along with the proper dosing instrument, usually an oral syringe or a calibrated cup.

Third, medication duties should be clearly defined. The fewer number of people responsible for administering medication the less likely a mix-up is to occur. If a child is scheduled to receive a morning, afternoon and evening dose of medication, assign who is responsible for administering each dose.

Fourth, the instructions should be clearly presented. Parents must be sure that their child’s nanny clearly understands the instructions for administering the medication. She should be able to articulate back what the medication is for, the correct dosing instructions and how the medication should be given, handled and stored. She should also be made aware of potential side effects and be able to articulate what conditions would require immediate medical attention.

Fifth, a log book should be kept and completed. A medication grid should be created that leaves boxes for each dose that must be given. The dosing instructions should be clearly written across the top. For each dose box fill in the exact time the medication was given, the amount of medication that was administered and the initials of the person who administered the medication. The log should be reviewed prior to administering each dose.

Regardless of who is giving medication the basic nursing rule of three should be followed. The medication label should be checked three times prior to giving the medication. The first time when you pick up the medication and remove it from where it’s being stored, the second when you are preparing to give it and the third when you go to give it.

For children who require ongoing medical treatment, parents may wish to hire a nanny with a nursing background. Morningside Nannies represents nannies who have backgrounds as nursing students, certified nursing assistants and licensed practical nurses. To learn more about our current pool of qualified candidates, contact a placement specialist today at (713) 526-3989.

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Turning a Part-Time Job Into a Full-Time One

For many parents, finding a nanny to provide part-time care is a real challenge. Many career nannies require full-time employment, so parents who are recruiting nannies to work less than 30 hours per week can have trouble filling their positions quickly.

There are, however, ways that parents can make their part-time positions more appealing and attractive to qualified  caregivers.

Think in terms of wage requirements. Part-time nannies typically earn more per hour than full-time nannies since benefits and job security are rarely offered. By slightly upping your hourly rate you may be able to meet the full-time wage requirements for a caregiver you wish to hire part-time.

Transition the position to that of a nanny/household manager or nanny/housekeeper. Perhaps the salary requirement isn’t the issue; you simply don’t want to pay for hours that aren’t worked. If you require 30 hours of childcare, but the nanny requires the position to have at least 40, consider how you could use the 10 hours that separate you. Perhaps your nanny can take on household duties and responsibilities like grocery shopping, cooking dinner or running errands or maybe she’ll be willing to double as your housekeeper. If you reduce the hourly rate but increase the hours, you may be able to match the nanny’s salary requirements.

Share a nanny. Do you have a friend who could use a little help caring for the kids? Perhaps you utilize the nanny for the 25 hours of childcare you need and your friend or neighbor uses and pays for the other 15. When sharing a nanny, you may be able to come up full-time hours and full-time pay, making it a win-win for the nanny.

Break the Job into Base and Flex Hours. In addition to your set schedule, consider banking the additional hours to be used as flextime. With those additional hours per week, you won’t have to worry about working late, getting help during bedtime or finding a sitter for date night.

Consider the costs of summer care, sick care and school vacation care. If you’re children are in school and you work, you’re going to need someone to provide care when school is closed, your children are mildly ill and during school breaks. Instead of paying a premium for those services, see if you can stretch your nanny’s schedule and pay to cover 52 weeks of full-time care.  

Hire a Morningside Nannies caregiver. Morningside Nannies has a pool of prescreened and qualified caregivers ready to provide care when you need it most. With our part-time and temporary nannies you only pay for hours you need coverage and for the services you require.

Before writing off the need for a full-time household staff member, reconsider your family’s care needs and budget. In some instances, hiring one full-time employee can be more cost-effective than outsourcing services to a variety of home care and childcare providers.

Whether you’re in the market for childcare or household help, give a Morningside Nannies placement specialist a call today at (713) 526-3989 to find a customized solution to your home and family care needs.

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When Nannies Use Their Cars to Drive the Kids

Each day many nannies drive the children to and from activities in their own vehicles without second thought, but when it comes to transporting children for work if it’s not carefully thought through, it can be risky business.

Whether you’re a parent searching for a nanny willing to use her own vehicle for transporting the kids, or a nanny who currently transports the children in her vehicle, there are a few things worth considering before you continue.

1. Nanny’s Driving Record. Before allowing a nanny to transport the children, a thorough review of her driving record is in order. Being aware of a nanny’s driving history can help parents make an educated and informed decision about letting the nanny transport their kids. Nannies who transport children should always drive responsibly and strive to maintain an untarnished record, since in addition to being the right thing to do, a driving record may be used in hiring consideration.
2. Vehicle Condition. The vehicle used to transport the children should be safe and properly maintained. Vehicles should be able to pass regular inspection and undergo regular maintenance. All safety belts and other safety devices should be working properly and the vehicle should not be in need of repair.
3. Automobile Insurance. Nannies should confirm with their automobile insurance agent that their policy covers transporting children for work. If it doesn’t the additional coverage should be added. Typically, there will be a small increase in premium to secure the appropriate coverage. Parents will often cover or split the cost of increasing policy coverage for work.
4. Car Seats. The nanny should have appropriate car seats properly installed for each child. Resist the urge to move seats back and forth between the parents and nanny’s vehicle to prevent installation errors. Nannies should have the car seat installations inspected by a Certified Passenger Safety Technician. Visit www.cert.safekids.org to connect with one of the several certified techs in the Houston area.
5.  Reimbursement. Nannies should be reimbursed for using the vehicle on the job. The IRS standard mileage reimbursement rate, effective January 1, 2019, is 58 cents per mile. This reimbursement covers gas and normal wear and tear and is only valid for miles used during work, not on commuting miles.

When parents provide the nanny a vehicle to use during working hours, they should be sure to add the nanny to their automobile policy as an additional insured driver and be sure a petty cash fund or other system is established to ensure that the vehicle always has gas.

 

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Creating a Well-Rounded Day

In addition to naps, meals and snacks, snuggles and laughter, personal attention and gentle guidance, nannies should engage children in several core areas to give the children in their care a well-rounded experience each day.

One way nannies can do this is by engaging children in age-appropriate physically, intellectually and socially stimulating activities.

These include:

Reading. Children of all ages can benefit from being read to. Nannies should set aside time each day to share a book with the children in their care. While babies and young children will enjoy looking at picture books, readers may enjoy reading to themselves or their caregiver.

Music. Nannies can do more than sing and dance with their charges; they can also encourage children to make their own music by playing kid-friendly musical instruments or even crafting their own. If there aren’t any instruments or supplies to make them around, don’t worry. With just their voices, pots and pans and a couple of wooden spoons children can create their own symphony.

Art. In addition to providing children the opportunity to create, engaging in arts and crafts can help children develop fine motor skills. Older babies can even eat their creations if they finger paint with pudding on their highchair trays. Older children can paint with cotton swabs or brushes, cut and glue on their own embellishments to their artwork or use soft dough to create their own three dimensional masterpiece.

Imaginary play. From dressing up as a teacher or police man to playing restaurant or architect, children should be encouraged to let their imaginations run wild. Get out the cash register, pretend food or building blocks and welcome the kids into the magical world of make pretend.

Outside time. Unless the weather won’t allow for it, make an effort to spend time outside each day. Whether it’s talking a walk or playing in the backyard, fresh air and an opportunity to experience the great outdoors is an essential part of a child’s day.

Free play. Simply giving children a time to explore and play in a safe environment can provide for new and natural learning opportunities. A child’s work is truly their play.

Social opportunities. By talking the children to age-appropriate venues like the local library or indoor playspace or by hosting or attending playgroups or mommy and me type classes, children get to interact with their peers and others in their community. Playing with other children provides an opportunity to build friendships and learn to get along well with others.

When nannies make time to engage children in these core areas they are helping to provide a stimulating early childhood experience and fostering the development of a well-rounded child.

At Morningside Nannies we encourage our nannies to spend their time with children wisely. As early childhood educators and advocates we expect our nannies to provide children with rich, hands-on experiences. To learn more about the nannies we place, contact a Morningside Nannies placement specialist today at (713) 526-3989.

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7 Factors That Influence Nanny Wages

At Morningside Nannies, one of the most frequently asked questions of both parents and nannies is “What is the going rate for nannies?”

While there is no set formula you can use to determine a fair wage for a nanny, there are several important factors that can be used to help determine a fair, competitive nanny wage. These seven factors strongly contribute to a nanny’s earning potential and can help you determine how much to pay your nanny.

1. The current market. When considering hiring a nanny or accepting work as one, it’s important to understand the current market.  Across the country nanny wages vary significantly based on geographical location. Nannies who work in major metropolitan markets like New York or Los Angeles, for example, earn more than those who work in smaller markets like Rhode Island or Milwaukee. In the Houston area, nannies generally earn from $16 to $18 per hour, however depending on the job requirements and nanny’s qualifications, the hourly rate could rise to $20 per hour particularly for competitive positions such as for part-time after school jobs.
2. Experience. When it comes to determining a nanny’s earning potential, experience is king. A well-referenced nanny with ten years of experience has a higher earning potential than a well-referenced nanny with two years of experience. The more experience and the more experience a nanny has that is specific to a family’s care needs, the more a nanny will earn.
3. Education. A nanny’s education will also impact her earning potential. A nanny who has a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education can command more per hour than a nanny who does not. Nannies with advanced education and specialized training will also earn more than nannies who do not.
4. Skillset. When considering a nanny’s earning potential her skillset will also come into play. If a nanny can teach a child a second language or teach a child how to ride a horse or play an instrument, for example, a family who is looking for a nanny who is qualified to do teach those things is prepared to pay a premium.
5. Job duties and responsibilities. Nannies are responsible for providing attentive, quality childcare and undertaking all of the tasks related to providing that care. If the parents require their nanny to take on additional household or housekeeping duties and responsibilities, they’ll be expected to pay more.
6. Living status. Nannies who live with their employers receive room and board as part of their compensation package. While live-in nannies used to earn less than their live-out counterparts, the current trend is that they are earning the equivalent or more. This is because the living arrangement typically is a benefit to the family and not the nanny.
7. Wage laws. All nannies are required to be paid at least minimum wage for each hour worked and live-out nannies are required to be paid overtime at the rate of 1.5 times their hourly base rate for all hour worked over 40 in a 7-day period. As of 2017, the minimum wage in Texas is $7.25, the same as federal minimum wage. For parents who require more than 40 hours of service from their nanny and wish to pay their nanny a set “salary” per week, the amount must be broken down into a base hourly wage and an overtime hourly wage and both wages must comply with wage and labor laws.

Parents who pay fair wages and offer a competitive salary package are better able to attract and retain qualified household staff. Parents who offer non-taxable benefits like contributions towards their nanny’s health insurance premium are likely to pay less per hour than those who do not.

When considering nanny care, it’s important for parents to remember that unlike in daycare, nannies get paid per family and not per child. While nannies typically receive a modest pay increase if a child is born during their contract, their rates are based per family, not per child.

Morningside Nannies represents qualified caregivers who have a range of wage requirements. Contact a Morningside Nannies placement specialist today at (713) 526-3989 to discuss your childcare needs and budget.

 

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