How to Prepare for Your Nanny's Arrival at Home

You have found the ideal nanny, the contract is signed, and the arrival date is approaching. But the adventure is only just beginning: the first few weeks largely determine the success of a placement. A well-prepared integration lays the foundations for a calm and lasting collaboration for the nanny, for you, and above all for your children. Here is the complete guide to preparing for a nanny's arrival at home in the best possible conditions.

Before the First Day: Laying the Foundations

Prepare the Essential Documents and Information

Even before the nanny arrives, gather everything she will need on a daily basis in a single document:

• Emergency contacts: parents, family doctor, paediatrician, trusted neighbour, emergency numbers

• The children's medical information: allergies, treatments, important medical history, accessible health records

• Current routines: meal times, nap times, bedtime, special rituals

• House rules: screen time, outings, snacks, permitted activities

• Practical details: access codes, how the equipment works, useful addresses (school, activities, usual park)

This reference document will save the nanny from having to memorise everything on day one, and will save you from repeating the same information several times.

Prepare the Nanny's Space

If your nanny is live-in, her private space must be fully ready when she arrives: a clean, furnished bedroom, empty storage at her disposal, and household linen provided. Taking special care over this first welcome shows the respect you have for her role. To understand everything about a live-in placement, read our guide Live-in nanny.

Prepare the Children

Children need to be prepared for this change, whatever their age:

• Talk to them about the nanny beforehand: her first name, what she likes, what they will do together

• Present the change positively. The nanny is not a replacement for the parents, but a new caring person in their daily life

• If possible, arrange a short meeting before the first day: a snack, some playtime. The children should not be welcoming a stranger on day one

The First Week: A Period of Mutual Observation

Plan a Smooth Handover

Ideally, arrange your schedule so you can be present, at least partially, during the first few days. This transition period allows you to:

• Show the routines in practice rather than explaining them

• Reassure the children with your presence while they build the bond

• Observe the interactions and adjust what needs adjusting

• Answer the nanny's questions in real time

Be careful not to stay around permanently, however: the nanny needs space to establish her own relationship with the children. The ideal is a gradually decreasing presence: very present on day 1, progressively stepping back over the week.

Clarify Daily Communication

From day one, agree together on the communication style that works for you:

• A daily check-in: 5 minutes at the end of the day for a recap (meals, nap, activities, mood)

• The channel to use: messages, calls, a liaison notebook, a shared app

• What justifies immediate contact: fever, a fall, unusual behaviour

• The rhythm of fuller reviews: a calm conversation every week or fortnight during the first months

Clear, structured communication is the best antidote to misunderstandings. It is one of the pillars we detail in our placement process.

The First Month: Building Trust

Let the Bond Develop at Its Own Pace

Every child reacts differently to a nanny's arrival. Some form a bond within two days, others need several weeks. A few guidelines:

• Do not force the attachment. It is built through regularity and the quality of shared moments

• Avoid comparisons with a previous nanny in front of the children

• Highlight the positive moments: "You did some painting with [first name]? Show me!"

• Accept temporary regressions. A child testing boundaries with a new person is completely normal

Respect the Professional Framework

The family-nanny relationship works all the better when the framework is clear and respected on both sides:

• Respect the agreed hours. Repeated unplanned overruns weaken the relationship

• Raise adjustments quickly and kindly. A small concern expressed early prevents accumulated frustration

• Do not change her responsibilities unilaterally. Any evolution of the role should be discussed

• Treat the nanny as the professional she is. Her expertise deserves attention and consideration

Hold a First Structured Review

At the end of the first month, set aside a calm moment, without the children, for a mutual review: what is working well, what needs adjusting, how the children are experiencing the transition, and how the nanny feels in her role. This simple meeting is one of the best predictors of long-term success.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Delegating everything without a handover. A nanny, however experienced, cannot guess your habits and expectations

• Being ever-present. Watching every move prevents the nanny-child relationship from developing

• Neglecting the children in the preparation. An unprepared child may experience the arrival as an intrusion

• Letting things go unsaid. Small unexpressed frustrations turn into conflicts

• Changing the rules along the way. The framework defined together should remain stable, or evolve by mutual agreement

Magic Nannies' Support During the Integration

At Magic Nannies, our role does not end when the contract is signed. We remain present throughout the integration period: follow-up with the family and the candidate during the first weeks, availability for any questions, and mediation if an adjustment is needed.

And because every placement comes with a replacement guarantee, you are never alone if the collaboration does not work out despite a well-managed integration. To learn more about our guarantees, visit our Terms & Fees page.

Every profile we present has already been through a rigorous selection: only 5% of applications are retained. Discover our recruitment process to understand what sets our nannies apart.

Haven't Found Your Nanny Yet?

If you are still searching, two resources can help: our guide How to choose the right bilingual nanny and our article on the questions to ask when interviewing a nanny.

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Questions? Visit our FAQ or contact us directly.