Nannies and Children's Safety

Here are some tips on how to alleviate concerns with nannies and children's safety.

We understand the thought of leaving your precious little ones in the care of someone else is more than stressful. While we know complete trust is hard to establish, we do our best to thoroughly check the wonderful nannies and mannies that apply to your family.

At My Girl Friday, we run a complete background check on all candidates in the final interview stage. Additionally, we extensively reference check with multiple phone calls from all stages in the nanny’s background. And guess what, you’re allowed to call those same references! If you would like to get  a feel for your nanny applicant’s previous child caring experience, we provide you with all reference information.There is much more to assuring your children’s safety outside of the hiring process, however. We recommend that all of our nannies obtain CPR and first aid safety certification within a probationary period upon employment. We will help you set up classes in your North Carolina city so you ensure that your nanny acquires all certifications that can assist if there is ever an emergency under her care. CPR and first aid/safety certifications are nothing to take lightly and should be required by any caregiver you have for your children.Preparation extends pass certifications. Have you ever considered a nanny bag? We highly recommend that you create a book bag of sorts that your nanny is required to carry around anytime she is out of the house with the children. A nanny bag should be packed with multiple activities for children to kill time, entertain themselves in the car, or in other situations they may find themselves in that aren't necessarily “kid-friendly.” Snacks are always good to have on hand for reasons you already know. Hangry children make for a bad day for everyone.In addition to the fun activities and snacks, be sure to provide your nanny with any first aid supplies she may need. Kidshealth.org recommends a list of all the items you should keep in your household first aid kit:

• first-aid manual
• sterile gauze pads of different sizes
• adhesive tape
• adhesive bandages in several sizes
• elastic bandage
• a splint
• antiseptic wipes
• soap
• antibiotic ointment
• antiseptic solution (like hydrogen peroxide)
• hydrocortisone cream (1%)
• acetaminophen and ibuprofen (adult and children versions)
• extra prescription medications (if the family is going on vacation)
• tweezers
• sharp scissors
• safety pins
• disposable instant cold packs
• calamine lotion
• alcohol wipes or ethyl alcohol
• thermometer
• tooth preservation kit
• plastic non-latex gloves (at least 2 pairs)
• flashlight and extra batteries
• a blanket
• mouthpiece for administering CPR (can be obtained from your local Red Cross)
• your list of emergency phone numbers

This may sound like a lot. And it is. Small quantities of each is key. I was able to store everything in a large freezer Ziploc bag that never left my nanny bag.Kidshealth.org also provides a ton of great resources on different illnesses your children may acquire from falls, nose bleeds, cuts, and bug bites. This site is a great reference for any of the problems you or your nanny may be seeing for the first time!The main thing to remember is that accidents happen. Whether or not the falls, scrape, or bruise occurs on your watch or the under the care of your nanny, kids are inevitably going to get injured. Preparation is necessary and shouldn't be taken lightly in the event of an emergency situation.Alexandria Smith - Co-Founder, Former Nanny