How mini Makes the Perfect Nanny Match

Finding the perfect nanny match begins with you. We encourage families to get tactical when it comes to hiring a nanny and we want to help you make an informed decision. After all, childcare solution is an important matter considering your future nanny will also be partially responsible for raising your children. Weigh your options carefully and make sure it’s a decision your family feels good about.

Every client-family has a different idea of their perfect nanny, and it’s our mission as a nanny agency to uncover both the family and nanny’s values to make that perfect match. You can rest-assured that every nanny we represent has gone through the mini Nanny Agency screening process. We curate your nanny candidate shortlist based on your values and mini's high standards. 

Mini Nanny Agencies Nanny Requirements:

1. Love for Children

We only entertain the candidates that share our love for children. These people are inherently kind, nurturing, and creative. mini Nanny Agency employs a psychometric test that determines how suitable candidates are to the nannying field. This gives us a better idea of who the candidate is beyond their resume. 
 

2. Responsible

It’s essential for all nannies to have the right skills to make good judgment calls and know how to communicate with their employers. This includes being reliable and taking ownership of their actions. It’s the understanding that nannying is not a glorified babysitter and it’s certainly not a ‘slacker’ job.
 

3. Experience

All of our nannies will come to your short list with First Aid and Blue Card certifications, as required by the state of Queensland. They will also have previous experience working with children although the extensiveness every candidate's experiences vary. 

Preparation from the Family:

Communication 

Every family will have a different version of their perfect nanny. Communication with both your nanny recruiter and your candidates is essential. Tell us everything we need to know about your household and expectations to provide us with insight into what you’re looking for in a nanny. Think about your family’s routines and where you can use an extra pair of helping hands when it comes to supporting your children. 

Values

Consider what your values are. This is mini’s starting point for matching the perfect nanny for our clients. Values are inherently learned in the household and are passed on from generation to generation. These values might look like a family’s structure, function, roles, beliefs, attitudes, and ideals. Values create the foundation of how you want to live your family life and can solidify the bond your family has. We believe the key to a successful match is finding a nanny who shares your values.

Age vs. Experience

Both younger and older nannies have their advantages and disadvantages. Younger nannies tend to be livelier and much more energetic which is great if you have active kids. Since younger nannies are looking to gain more experience, they also tend to be the most cost effective option. 
 
The downside to hiring a younger nanny is that they may lack the maturity and experience for dealing with discipline and difficult situations. The university students and traveler candidates might have taken on nannying as a way to make extra cash so their level of dedication and availability might be limiting for your requirements, so keep all of this mind. 
 
While older candidates might lack in energy and relatability to your kids, they make up for in experience, especially moms who have dealt with the same matters as yourself first hand and tend to be much more understanding and can offer a different kind of support to you as parents. 

Budget 

Your budget can oftentimes determine the candidates available to you. The more experienced nannies have made a career out of caring for children and come at a higher cost for their services. While we can guide you on how much you should compensate your nannies, it’s really a conversation to be had between you and your nanny. 
 
mini Guide: Nanny Employment Agreement

Trial Period

Once you think you’ve met the perfect nanny for your family, you’ll still need see how you work as a team. It may take 2 weeks to see if you’ve made the right decision with your nanny. Remember to be fair, and give them a chance. After all, it is a new job and new routine for the nanny, children, and you, as parents, to adjust to. Use your instincts to determine if you’ve hired someone whose values don’t quite line up with yours. We will always respect your decision. Our nanny recruitment services include a satisfaction period; we’re determined to get that perfect match. 

The information you need to tell your nanny recruiters:

• When and how many hours will you be requiring nanny services? 
• What area will you be required a nanny in and what are their expected duties? 
• Will the nanny need a driver’s license and their own vehicle? 
• How many children and what ages? 
• Do your children have special medical requirements, allergies, dietary restrictions that your nanny needs to know about? 
• Do you have household pets?
• What is a day in the life like with your family? 
• Do you require your nannies to have special skills or additional qualifications? Ie. Tutor, child care development courses, speak additional languages, etc.. 

What you need to inform your nanny:

• Be clear on your expectations and scope of work
• Does your child have any health issues, allergies, or dietary requirements? 
• Give your nanny a tour of your home and where they can find medicine, first-aid kit, and important contacts
•  Write down all the children’s habits from everything they like to eat, temperaments, and daily schedule

 Try to keep an open mind. Everyone has something unique to offer to the role. We are Brisbane’s favourite boutique nanny agency and finding the right solution to your childcare needs is our specialty. Your nanny is a decision we ultimately want to make sure you feel good about. To ensure the most streamlined process, try to keep these tips in mind when embarking on your nanny search. 
 

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A Note to the Hardworking Nannies Out There

Dear nannies, 

What makes a great nanny is not something you find on a CV, but is found in the nanny's story, personality, and values. Many nannies we recruit have post-secondary education in childcare, a long history of experience in professional nannying and are parents themselves, but it's truly your patience, compassion, and ability to anticipate the family's needs that make a great nanny. Every person has a unique set of skills, experience, and outlook they can bring to a family and the great thing about nannying as a career is freedom to let your personality and nannying style shine through. 

Childcare workers are one of the most undervalued career options; It's no doubt a problem in our society. Let's all work together to debunk this conception with a positivity and being informative. Nannying can be an under-appreciated job, and it's probably because most people's general conception of nannying is a glorified babysitter, paid to hang out with kids all day, or thought of as house-cleaners. We know, of course, these people could not be more wrong (have they ever cared for a child all day long?-- it's full on work, physically and mentally draining!) 

Never underestimate the significance of your role. As a nanny, you wear many hats in the household. Your role is to shape the next generation through patient guidance and role modelling in your everyday actions. Nannies are the cultivators of our future, chefs for some of the pickiest eaters, the chauffeurs for the kids' busy schedules, the nurses, the story-tellers, the teachers, the counsellors, the mediators, and the cheerleaders. 

When mom and dad are out of commission, it's your job to be the best version of their parents you can be. It's very rare that you're sitting around on the job because there is always something to do around the house to help the family's schedule run more smoothly. Mom and dad have entrusted you with the most important role, and that is being one of the pillars of support in their children's' lives. 

Caring for children is one of the most rewarding careers. Children look up to you as their hero, their confidant, and run to you in need of comfort. Nannies become honourary family members. The intimacy of caring for children in the family's home is a huge privilege, and families will never forget your commitment and love for their children. 

Thank you to the brilliant, big-hearted, hard-working nannies that make mini Nanny Agency one of the best nanny recruitment agencies in Brisbane. The most rewarding aspect of a recruiter's day at team mini is receiving that phone call from a happy family letting us know that we've found their perfect nanny. 

We have some interviews of some of the mini's best nannies on our blog so have a read! Each nanny has their own unique journey to tell and it's been such a privilege to share these stories and have them represent Mini Nanny Agency to such lovely families. 

Cheers to you nannies! 

xx
Mini Nanny Agency
 

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How to Introduce Your Pets to Your Baby

By: Katrina Lubiano

I think most pet owners (myself included) consider their cats and dogs their fur-babies. You fall into this category if your pets are spoiled with attention and can often be seen spammed throughout your social media feed (of which I am also guilty). Increasing your family size with two little feet will undoubtedly be a stressful transition. Making sure your pet is ready for the baby will help with this transition go much smoother.

For happier pets and less stressed out parents, it’s best to begin integrating new routines and training for your pet gradually and as early as possible.

It's going to be challenging for your pets to understand that they'll no longer be the centre of your world. To avoid jealous pets, you can begin making changes around the household during pregnancy. Early preparation will help reduce the anxiety animals can experience when drastic changes happen. Consider how your routine will change when the baby arrives and moderately begin to alter your pet's routine.

1. Setup Your babies Digs As Soon As Possible

Baby gear will introduce new sights and smells to your pet; set up the baby’s digs as soon as possible so your family can adapt to the new space.  Remember, dogs and cats are much more sensitive to scents and the energy surrounding them-- keep it a positive one! When you have fashioned the baby's new space, you can begin to establish boundaries by keeping the baby's belongings and room off-limits.

2. Ensure Your Pets Understand basic Obedience

Teaching your pet some basic obedience skills seems like the obvious, but it’s crucial to ensure your pet has the control and behavioural skills to be around the baby. Being confident that your pet will not bring any harm to your baby, will reduce your anxiety for when your baby comes home. Your pet needs to know that it is not okay for them to jump into the crib, or chew on the baby’s new things.  

3. Consider Crate Training your Dog

The ASPCA suggests that you crate train your dog: “If you crate train your dog, you’ll know that she’s safe when you can’t supervise her, and she’ll have a cozy place of her own to relax when things get hectic.” Command your dog with the word “crate” or “bed” (hand signals may be helpful) and show your dog to their crate. Once in the crate, reward your dog with a treat and praise them. When beginning the training, leave your dog in the crate for 10-15 minutes, and as training progress, and they begin to feel comfortable with their space, you can leave them alone for longer periods.

3. Prep Your Pet For Your Babies Touch

It’s also recommended that you prepare your pet for the baby’s touch and movements. When your child is old enough, teach them to handle the household pet gently. In the meantime, you can help your furry friend anticipate the clumsy touch of a young child by introducing your pet to these sensations yourself. Infants will pinch, poke, pull, and push your furry friend-- it’s an inevitability. Teaching your pet to tolerate these new sensations with a reward, will help your pet tolerate it when your pet and infant begin to play together.

You can also invite your friends’ infants over to introduce your pets to children. It also would be great if your little helpers are experienced around animals, so they’ll know how to be gentle. It's all about imprinting the positive experiences for your pet, and rewarding good behaviour and immediately rooting out the bad.

4. Tire-Out Your pup Before The First Encounter

Upon the first encounter between dog and baby, if possible, ask a friend or family member to take your dog out for a long walk to exercise off some energy and have the baby in the house for when your dog returns home. Animals are very perceptive to the emotions and energy of their owners so be mindful of your body language and feelings. If you’re jumpy around your dog in anticipation of your dog harming your baby, your dog may feel your anxiety. The ASPCA suggests, “[You] choose a quiet room, and sit down with the baby in your arms. Have a helper leash your dog and bring her into the room. Again, avoid any nervous or agitated behaviour. Talk to your dog in a calm, happy voice as you invite her to approach. Convince her that meeting and interacting with her new friend is fun, not stressful.”

5. "Claim Your Babies Scent"

Caesar Milan encourages parents to “claim” their baby's scent. The practice maintains your alpha status to the dog and establishes boundaries. Milan recommends you do this before you introduce your baby to meet your pet. The idea is that you are giving your dog permission to sniff an item with the baby’s scent to demonstrate that its importance to you: “this [scent] belongs to me, you will need to follow my rules when around it." This helps start the process of creating respect for the baby.”

6. Give Your Pets Enough Attention

The new baby will take up a lot of your attention, but try your best to not cut out on the quality time with your fur babies. You may be tempted to catch up on the cuddles with your pets while your baby is asleep or away, but try to avoid exclusively giving your pet attention during these times. Your pets may begin to recognize the pattern of their cuddle sessions with you and that of the baby’s presence and develop jealousy. Give your pet a lot of attention while the baby is around by talking to your pet or tossing them a toy. You can keep rewarding your pet’s good behaviour as well as positively affecting your pet’s experience with the baby. Interacting with your pet around the baby will help teach your pet to love the new baby.

7. Don't Leave Them Alone

I think this next piece of advice is common sense, but please don't leave your babies alone with your pet! Life will no doubt, be chaotic upon the arrival of your baby, but remember to give to give your fur-babies some love too!

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If you need an extra pair of hands or a sitter for a well-deserved date night keep mini Nanny Agency in mind for your all your nanny needs.

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