Dedicated Domestics Weblog

There are many misconceptions about the differences between live-in and live-out Nannies and other household staff.  First, it is important to remember that anyone working in a home is covered by the same laws as any other employee in any other business.  While in-home workers are usually more flexible and the guidelines are not as strictly adhered to, the reality is that any Nanny, Babysitter or Chauffeur that is working in a home is an employee.  There are strict guidelines for employers to follow, especially in California, that require a set amount of breaks and rest time for every employee.  Keeping that in mind, a family can now determine what their real needs are and which type of employee will serve them best.

There are many benefits to hiring a live-in but there are also drawbacks that many people do not always consider.  A live-in is typically going to be more flexible than live-out since they are always in the home.  But, they need to have time off and an eight hour sleep period during every 24 hour schedule.  So while a live-in Nanny can help take care of the night feeding for a newborn, they must be then given time off during the next day to rest.  So while the flexibility sounds great, if you do not need someone to be available for odd or changing shifts, you may find a live-out Nanny serves your purpose just as well.

An important drawback for hiring a live-in for some families is the fact that they are now going to have another person living in their home even on days off.  While most get used to the arrangement, some find the loss of privacy too high.

Another misconception with live-in help is the salary.  Many years ago a live-in would be happy to accept a lesser salary in return for room and board.  An arrangement that helped both the family find affordable help and the Nanny or Housekeeper would have a roof over their head while they saved their salary.   Today there are much fewer Nannies, Housekeepers and other staff that are willing to be live-ins so they tend to charge the same or more than there live-out counterparts.  The live-ins also learned quickly that they could command a premium just for being so flexible.  The higher wages for live-ins is not all bad news for families since they are getting that extra flexibility that an 8 to 5 Nanny may not be able to give.  The unique schedules that can only be achieved by a live-in are very important to many professionals with varied schedules like Doctors or anyone that has to travel often. 

The most important thing to remember when selecting a schedule for your domestic staff is to really understand what your needs are first, so you can find the right fit for your unique situation.

With so many titles how does a Mom know who to pick for what?  Over the years many people doing similar jobs have been labeled with so many different job titles that even the industry has difficulty making a distinction between some positions.   All of the positions involving the care of children can and often is referred to as simply “child caregivers”.  But most families will request the services of a Babysitter or Nanny.  The two titles are so intertwined that most families, caregivers and even agencies have been using the terms interchangeably. 

In general a Babysitter is a person that is hired for a temporary situation, like having someone watch your child on Saturday night so you can go out.  Whereas, a Nanny is the title used most frequently when wanting to hire a person for full or part time child care so you might go back to work.  The title Mothers’ helper is much easier to understand since as the name implies, it usually will refer to a person who is helping mom take care of her kids while she is around.  Many times “stay at home moms” with multiple children have found that a little extra help can be very useful.  While occasionally a Mothers’ helper might watch the children for short periods of time, their job is mainly to provide additional support for a mom.  Mothers’ helpers tend to be entry level positions or positions for a person that prefers not to have all of the responsibility themselves. 

Another title that is often overlooked in the United States but is still very important around the world is a Governess.  Generally, a Governess will be equivalent to a private teacher.  They will usually have the added responsibility of etiquette training as well. 

While Nannies remain the most flexible of titles the important part is determining what your family needs and not being as concerned with the title.  While some Nannies are college educated with teaching credentials others may barely speak English but have many years of experience handling young children.  It is important to remember that a Nanny is not a replacement for a Mom.  A Nanny with teaching credentials might be perfect for helping with homework or for home schooling but they generally will not help with housekeeping too.  Then there are some Nannies that have little formal education but have a wonderful way with kids.  Some Nannies may also specialize in newborn or infant care.  While other Nannies will prepare dinners for the whole family but may not be able to drive. 

There are way too many possible areas that a Nanny can help a family with to list here.  The most important item of course is peace of mind.  Whatever your needs are, never hire anyone that you do not feel comfortable with.  Since you and your family will be working closely with the caregiver and you will entrust them with the care of your son or daughter, you need to know that you can trust and rely on the person you choose above all else.

Welcome to Dedicated Domestics Weblog.

As our agency has grown we want to share our knowledge of the in-home staffing industry with all of you.  Families hiring for the first time and professional Estate Managers seeking additional staff all want to find the best candidates that will fit their individual needs.  Of course, candidates are also looking to match up their skills with a family that will respect them and treat them fairly.  By working with an agency that takes the time to understand the individual needs of both parties, the quality of care and the length of service are dramatically improved.  The right care can give you and your family the peace of mind that you need to tackle life’s other little obstacles.