Deciding to hire a nanny is always a big decision, and one that will greatly impact any family. Both the parents and children often have a lot to get used to when it comes to switching up the normal childcare routine. Beginning with a nanny when a child is an infant can be challenging enough, but starting with a nanny when a child is a toddler presents special challenges. A child care nanny must have basic care skills down to a T, and adding professional educator, first aid administrator, and child psychologist to the resume couldn’t hurt either. More so than with an infant, it is important to make a good child nanny match when considering a caregiver for a toddler that has already developed certain strengths, weaknesses, and preferences. Some of the following points will be the most important to consider when picking the best nanny for your toddler.

Can the child care nanny candidate help your toddler develop a daily routine? For toddlers routine can be important in creating a safe, stable environment in which they feel free to expand physically and mentally. If a nanny is unable to maintain regular hours, or is subject to frequent absences, the strain may be harming your toddler.

Is the child nanny prepared with First-Aid and CPR training, and willing to assist in basic toddler healthcare needs? The healthcare needs of a toddler can range from dealing with bedwetting and toilet training, to suffering from common toddler ailments like constipation, rashes, problems sleeping, stuffy noses and sneezing, and vomiting. There’s a bit more of an “ick” factor when dealing with toddler messes than with those of an infant, and a new nanny should be prepared. Finding if a new nanny has experience potty training will be paramount, as will determining past experience specifically caring for toddlers.

Will the child care nanny stimulate the child mentally? By the age of 3 children are more than ready to begin expressing themselves verbally, artistically, emotionally, you name it. An appropriate nanny will be excited and encouraging when it comes to directing your toddler’s educational progress. A nanny should be willing to do projects and crafts with your child, to engage in playtime activities, and spend time reading or working with educational toys on shapes, letters, colors and numbers.

Can the nanny keep up with a toddler physically? This particular query has more to do with ambition than age. Many younger nannies just don’t have the chops to stay on their feet running around with a toddler for hours on end, whereas many retirement-aged candidates might. Keep the individual in mind, and make sure that the child nanny will be willing to engage in physically beneficial activities like playing outside or going to the park with your toddler.

Finally, does your toddler like the nanny? Although many children will initially undergo separation anxiety, especially when they aren’t used to being away from Mom and Dad, within the span of a nanny trial period it is possible to know whether toddler and nanny are getting on well. This will generally have a lot to do with how the nanny handles issues like separation anxiety, discipline, daily frustrations, and developing emotions and interests in the life of your toddler. Make a point of spending some time all together every few weeks to get a good reading on how things are going with your new toddler-nanny matchup.

By: Steve Lampert

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