Benefits of Having a Nanny
One-on-One Attention
A nanny interacts with children one-on-one, focusing on their needs and encouraging their strengths and interests. A dedicated in-home childcare provider enriches children’s lives through activities like arts and crafts, reading, sports, and music.
Individualized Schedule
Mornings can be chaotic. Packing diaper bags and meals can be stressful, especially while feeding and grooming little ones. With a nanny, you eliminate the stress of rushing out of the house to get to daycare on time. A nanny gets children ready in a calm, leisurely way, adjusting to their mood and pace. During the day, children can eat, nap, and play at the times most appropriate for them, without having to conform to a group schedule.
Flexibility
A nanny is flexible and accommodates changes in parents’ work schedules, staying late or arriving early once needed. Like any other business, daycare centers have fixed hours of operation and are closed on holidays, leaving parents with little flexibility if any issues arise.
Health
In general, children are more susceptible to colds, flu, and other illnesses. On average, infants catch nine colds per year and preschoolers catch twelve. Children attending daycare tend to get sick more often, as germs spread quickly among a busy classroom—and daycares do not provide care for ill children. A nanny cares for and comforts your sick child, so you do not need to take time off work or find a babysitter at the last minute.
Proper Nutrition
A nanny understands children’s nutritional needs and encourages them to follow a healthy meal plan provided by parents in accordance with any food restrictions and allergies. At a daycare, there is no individualized nutrition plan and parents have very little control over the meals and snacks that are given to their children.
Outdoor Activities
Getting fresh air is essential to children’s health and happiness. Rain or shine, a nanny takes children on daily outdoor excursions, such as the park, playground, sports, swimming pool, hikes, and playing in the snow. In a daycare center, children are only permitted to spend a limited amount of time outside.
Individualized Activities
A nanny offers activities tailored to each child’s interests, skills, and energy level. For a high-energy child, this can include team sports, play dates, and trips to the park or playground. For a curious child, this can include visiting the library, reading books, or going to the zoo or museum. With a customized activities schedule, parents know their children are having fun and learning new things every day. At a daycare, activities are generally group-oriented and not individualized.
Learning
A nanny helps children with homework and provides patient guidance geared to their learning style. A nanny also encourages development in music, writing, or art, building confidence and creativity. In a crowded classroom, most children do not get the individual attention they need.
Communication
Most daycares do not allow personal calls between parent and child. With a nanny, you can check in via phone or Skype anytime during the day. This can be especially comforting during illness, travel, and back-to-work transitions.
Children thrive when they are well cared for by a nurturing and attentive child care provider in the comfort of their own home. The one on one care and interaction that a nanny provides gives children a deep sense of self-worth and security. Since nannies typically stay with a family for a minimum of one year, the consistent relationship that children have with their caregiver allows them to develop a meaningful bond with a caring adult that has the child’s best interests at heart.
For parents who need flexible childcare arrangements, or wish to direct their child’s daily activities and care structure, nanny care can be the perfect solution. Since the parents are the nanny’s employer, they define the nanny’s role and responsibilities and manage how the nanny spends her time with their children.
And because the children are cared for in their own home, parents don’t have to rush to get everyone out of the house in the morning and off to daycare (which often leads to a chaotic and stressful start to the day for everyone), providing the ultimate in child care convenience. Children cared for by nannies are also less likely to become sick because they aren’t exposed to the many germs that large groups of children bring into a traditional daycare environment. And unlike child care centers, nannies are able to provide child care for mildly ill children, therefore parents don’t have to rearrange their work schedules or find last-minute backup care should their child become sick.
For parents with more than one child, nanny care can be cost-effective. Unlike traditional daycare, parents don’t have to pay a large additional fee for each child. Nannies are paid one rate to care for all the children in their employer’s family.