Here is a list that I created detailing what I would like our nanny to do. This is just one example of nanny responsibilities and may be used as a guide for other families. Please note the responsibilities that are nanny share specific.
Provide three references
Must have infant and toddler experience
Must have some twins experience (nanny share specific)
Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm, with occasional evenings
52 weeks of pay
Weekly salary
Paid each Friday
10 days vacation: 5 days own choice; 5 days family chooses (may need to be adjusted due to nanny share)
Provide at least one month notice for week long vacation
Provide backup babysitter when not available (this is especially hard because the back up care has to be comfortable taking care of two kids at once)
Must be comfortable with parent working from home occasionally
Experience with working moms
Familiar with neighborhood
Must be comfortable with participating in nanny share with another
family (nanny would watch two children at once)
Must be comfortable with other people in apartment (cleaning lady,
grandparents stopping by, parents coming in/out of apartment)
Light housekeeping and running errands
Walking baby in stroller
Playground when age appropriate
Singing
Reading
Arranging playdates - if you want your nanny to arrange playdates, it's helpful for her to be friendly and social
Attending activities including: music class, Story hour at library, nearby bookstores
Keep baby on sleep schedule, 2-4 naps a day (a nanny share requires the nanny to accommodate two different sleeping schedules)
Keep baby on feeding schedule (a nanny share requires the nanny to accommodate two different feeding schedules)
Prepare bottles and food (when age appropriate) (for both kids)
Cleaning bottles and all items related to feeding (for both kids)
Changing baby's diaper and throwing diaper away in garbage can in kitchen
Bathe and feed baby each evening before parents arrive (this may only apply to one of the kids) Stock diaper bag
Clean stroller
Clean up after play
Maintain baby's room
Do baby's laundry (washer/dryer in apartment)
Letting each family know when an item is needed (i.e. formula)
Nanny should not talk on cell phone for any extended period of time while baby is awake
Nanny should not watch TV when baby is awake
Trial period - $15/hour
Some very specific nanny share things to consider:
*Nanny must be comfortable taking direction from two different families who may have varying opinions on sleeping, eating, activity and gd knows what else
*Nanny must be able to communicate with each family separately; One family should not be communicating with the other family on behalf of the nanny (this happened to me; not good!)
*Each family must decide on how they will communicate with nanny (either text, email, phone, whatever works) and nanny must be aware and comfortable with this arrangement
* Nanny must have lots of energy; taking care of two walking, active toddlers takes a lot of stamina; there is not really a time to just sit and relax
*Nanny must keep track of when supplies are running low for both families (i.e. diapers, wipes, formula, jarred food, etc)
*If nanny is doing pick up and drop off for one family, the other family should not be involved at all except to know when they should expect the nanny each morning and when a parent needs to be home in the evening