Are Nannies Worth It?
In cities like Chicago where most of the parents are working, their children are left to other child care providers such as babysitters, nannies, day care centers, or even an au pair. Some people think that having a nanny is the most expensive form of childcare and is a luxury that not everyone can afford. There may be some truth in that context, so are nannies really worth it? First, having a nanny is not the most expensive form of childcare since there are high-end day care facilities all around Chicago that cost more than having a nanny. Second, daycare and nanny services are entirely different forms of child care though both are focused on supervising and providing care for children. Lastly, there are many benefits on hiring a nanny that are not only beneficial to the children in their care but also the parents who employ them.
Are nannies worth it?
Absolutely! A good nanny can actually have a positive impact on a child’s cognitive and social development. Having a constant care provider who is warm, sensitive, and positively engaged to your children will benefit them in the long run. Younger children tend to experience less stress when they receive quality care at home. Younger children who come from a divorced family tend to cope better when there is a consistent adult available to provide care for them. Nannies also help in this transition because they alleviate the custodial parent’s stress from single parenting.
Special needs children who require more specialized attention will certainly benefit from having a nanny. Families who have children with special needs face different challenges than other families. Oftentimes, nannies of children with special needs have more experience than their peers since these children may have varying communication abilities, dietary concerns, or behavioral differences. Special needs nannies took courses that are focused on working with specific special needs children so you are confident that when you leave your child under her care, she is equipped to provide him with the most competent care possible.
The convenience of having a nanny far outweighs the cost you have to shell out from having them. In a live-out setting, your nanny comes to your home either on a full-time or part-time arrangement. It’s less chaotic at home because you would not have to worry about dropping off your child to daycare and packing his lunch. Many nannies also grocery shop for the family they work for and they help maintain a smooth household. Depending on your contract with your nanny, she may also do your laundry so that is one house chore off your list and less bill to pay.
When you have a newborn, having at least two hours of sleep is precious and no amount of money can buy that. Imagine having a night nanny to take care of your little one for the entire evening so you can rest. According to studies, sleep deprivation can cause postpartum depression and also affects the quantity of breast milk a mother produces. This is why it is important that new moms get as much sleep as possible. This is where nannies come in to help. Is it costly? It can be, but so is the hourly rate of a psychiatrist you will consult for treatment of postpartum depression and not to mention the formula milk you will have to buy because of low breast milk supply.
Now that there are many people who are working from home, some may opt to eliminate the idea of having a nanny’s help. While this may seem cost effective, eliminating outside childcare may have a negative drawback on your career as it may make you less productive at work. Home-life distractions, such as a crying child, may creep into your professional realm. Employing a nanny while you are working from home will help you be more focused at work and increase your productivity by a clear mile. If you only work part time, you probably will need only part-time nannies to assist you on child care while you work. For others who work full-time, having a full-time, or even a live-in nanny will benefit them. For work-at-home parents who labor in the evening hours while children are sleeping, a day time nanny might be suitable so the parents can rest in the morning. Another reason to get a nanny’s help is if your job requires you to go to the office sometimes or travel. Having a set childcare arrangement adds a level of comfort and flexibility.
A nanny is essentially a third parent; she is an extension of you. If you are raising your children in a certain way, your nanny fills in and raises them and loves them when you can’t be there. A nanny provides a more focused, individual care to your children and ensures they are reaching milestones. You get to ask them to take photos of your children, do facetime when you can, and record videos of your children for you and your relatives to watch. These are things you cannot get from a daycare. Furthermore, daycares won’t restock your diaper bags, tidy your child’s toys, take your child to the doctor, plan daily outings , and schedule play dates. And sure, daycares cost less than nanny services but on snow days, sick days, or school holidays, daycares will not be there to help you take care of your children. One other thing daycare staff can't do for you? Clean dirty bottles! That’s right, the tedious task of having to clean dirty bottles will be off of your list when you have a nanny who takes care of that for you. So, is it worth it to hire a nanny? Definitely.
Having a nanny can positively impact the children under her care, the parents’ lives, the community, and the economy. It’s true that they only help individual families but their impact has a ripple effect that extends beyond just one family. Parents who have a good nanny get to perform their duties in their chosen field where the society and economy benefits. Working parents such as doctors, researchers, lawyers, firefighters, and teachers, have a huge impact on our society. Imagine if they can’t perform their job well because of childcare predicaments. Could they have pulled it all off without having to hire a nanny? Sure, with sweat and tears. But many parents decided that a relatively high price of a nanny was worth the reduction in stress and addition of sanity in their lives.
To find a nanny, there is an option for you to get referrals from your friends and family, go to websites like care.com or, utilize nanny agencies such as Karen’s Nanny Agency. The latter may cost you extra fees but having someone to help you screen candidates, conduct background checks, and employment verification, it will be worth your money and peace of mind. Karen’s will also assist you with determination of an appropriate job offer which includes the nanny’s salary and benefits.