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Home › Articles › Newborn Care › Need a Nanny?

Need a Nanny?

How to Make In-home Childcare Work for You

By Melissa Granberry

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Remember how it felt to be dumped by a teenager?

For Lisa Earle McLeod, it wasn't that long ago. "We had an au pair from South Africa who was wonderful with the baby, but not so great about picking up after herself," says the mother of two from Georgia and author of Forget Perfect (Perigee Books, 2001). The 18-year-old au pair was used to having someone tidy up after her. "After a day at work, I didn't want to come home and clean up the mess made by my two kids, much less the babysitter!" says McLeod.

What's a mom to do? "Negative behavior is hard to address with the nanny – you don't want to upset her then leave her to care for your children all day," says McLeod. Instead, McLeod kept quiet, content that her children were being well cared for, even if the house was a wreck.

Eventually it was the au pair who decided to approach McLeod. "She sat me down and told me that she wasn't happy and was going to work for another family," she says. "I was devastated! I just wanted to go upstairs, get under the covers and hide in my room."

That's one of the disadvantages of in-home childcare – who is the backup when the babysitter says "goodbye"? As with all childcare options, the advantages and disadvantages must be weighed before deciding which method is right for your family.

"We knew in-home childcare was right for us," says McLeod. "We have continued to use au pairs and babysitters and have had good experiences ever since."

In-home Advantages
One advantage of in-home childcare is a healthy baby. Keeping your child at home may cut down on time spent in the pediatrician's office. This is especially true with babies who would not normally come in contact with other children on a regular basis. Once they get older and start climbing up the McDonald's play structure, there's really no protecting them from germs!

Convenience is also a big factor. There's nothing harder than trying to pack a diaper bag while making bottles and dodging oatmeal being slung by your 10-month-old. Having someone to help watch the little ones while you get ready for work will make your morning less hectic and start your day (and your child's day) on the right track.

Don't forget about flexibility. Any mom who has been stuck in a late afternoon meeting will sing the joys of a nanny who can be flexible. Before hiring someone, discuss his or her ability to work early mornings or late evenings.

The Downside

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