How to Onboard a New Nanny: A 30-Day Checklist

The first month sets the tone for the entire placement. Here's how to start it right.

Hiring the right nanny is only half the work — how you onboard them in the first 30 days has a lot to do with whether the placement lasts years or falls apart in months. Here's a simple framework we walk families through.

Before day one

• Put the basics in writing: schedule, pay rate and schedule, PTO policy, and job duties, even if you already discussed them verbally. A short written agreement prevents the most common early misunderstandings.
• Prepare the essentials: house keys or alarm codes, emergency contact list, allergy/medical information, and where to find first-aid supplies.
• Walk through logistics ahead of time: parking, where to park a car seat, which entrance to use, wifi password, and any household rules (shoes off, screen time limits, off-limits rooms).

Week one: overlap and observe

If you can, plan for at least a few days of overlap where you or a previous caregiver are present. Use this time to:

• Walk through a full daily routine together, not just describe it
• Introduce the nanny to your children's routines around meals, naps, and transitions
• Share the small details that don't make it into a job description — how your toddler likes to be put down for a nap, which snacks are off-limits, how your 7-year-old prefers to be picked up from school

Weeks two through four: build the communication habit

Decide together how you'll communicate day to day — a quick end-of-day text, a shared note, or a longer weekly check-in — and stick with it consistently during this period, even once things feel comfortable. Early weeks are when small issues are easiest to catch and correct.

It's normal for a new nanny to ask more questions in the first few weeks than later on. That's a good sign, not a red flag — it usually means they're paying close attention rather than guessing.

Set a 30-day check-in

Schedule an actual conversation — not just a passing hallway chat — around the one-month mark. Ask how things are going from their side, not just how your kids seem to be doing. This is also a natural point to revisit anything from the written agreement that needs adjusting now that the role is real instead of theoretical.

Give it real time

A placement that starts a little rocky in week one often settles once routines are established — that's part of why we build a guarantee period into every placement, so families and nannies have real runway to work through the normal adjustment period rather than restarting the search at the first bump.

How we help

Robin and our team personally oversee every match — if something feels off in the first weeks, that's exactly the point to call us rather than wait it out.

Ready to start your search? Begin your family application or contact Robin directly for a private consultation.