Children are often better at adjusting to change than adults are. However, when it comes to a change in a regular schedule, such as starting daycare or hiring a nanny, children may not snap back as quickly as you might think. Fortunately, there are things that you can do ahead of time to prepare your child or children for being with a new nanny.

Prior to the nanny’s start date, talk with your child. Explain why he will have a nanny, and what he will do while the nanny is there. Ask the nanny to come and visit at least one time before she starts working. If possible, schedule an entire “play day” where your child can spend time with the nanny while you are around.

For the first few days that your child is with the nanny, spend some time with him before leaving him. Ery to get him involved in a play activity of some sort with the nanny. Perhaps even engage in some activity with both the child and your nanny.

When it is time to leave, tell your child that you are leaving. Give him a good-bye hug and kiss; this will help him to understand that you are going to return. Then, once you say that you are leaving, leave. Don’t wait to see how he will handle it, as this will make it worse for him (and you!) Your child may cry, throw a tantrum, or ignore your attempts to say goodbye; his reaction will depend on his age and his mood at the time. The nanny has probably seen these reactions before, and is equipped to help your child get through the process of you leaving him with the nanny for the first time.

Sometimes, a child will repeatedly have difficulty when you leave him at with the nanny. If this is the case, be loving and firm with your child. Talk with him about what exactly is making him anxious. You may discover that he is afraid of something, such as a scary shadow out the window; or, you may find out that he just misses being with you. Talk with your child, identify what is bothering him, and try to work through it. Eventually, he will realize that his fears and concerns arent necessarily real, and that you will be coming back to him every day.

Discuss any apprehensions that you or your child may have ahead of time with the nanny, as this will help her to better deal with the situation as it arises. Hopefully, within just a few days or weeks, your child will adjust to having a nanny, and perhaps even enjoy it.

Posted in Child Care Issues

Related Articles:

• What Rules Should We Outline For Our Nanny?
• Live-In Nanny versus Non Live-In Nanny Pros & Cons
• What Expectations Should We Have of Our Live-In Nanny?
• How Should We Start the Process of Finding a Nanny?
• Hiring a Nanny for the summer
• Drawing Up a Contract for Our Nanny
• What are The Differences between a Nanny and a Babysitter?
• Does an Au Pair Have To Live in Our House?
• Researching Potential Nannys
• Comparing Au Pairs and Nannys