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This Expert Column is sponsored by Not Just Babysitters Family vacations may feel more like work than fun, especially if you have children of different ages. Many parents come back from a vacation more exhausted than they were before they left. Hiring a travel nanny can alleviate some of the stress and also allow parents to have some time alone together.

Why hire a travel nanny?

A travel nanny goes with you on vacation to provide care for your children. A vacation may be as short as a week or two but it may last much longer. If your children are of different ages with varying interests, hiring a nanny will allow you to have valuable one-on-one time with each one separately. It’s inevitable when traveling that certain activities, you enjoy are not suitable for children and having a nanny means you and your spouse can enjoy time together without having to worry.

The right nanny

A nanny will be spending time at close quarters with your family so it’s very important to have the right person who will fit in well with your family. Some of the qualities you can expect from a top professional nanny are a love of children, organizational skills, communication skills, flexibility, trustworthiness and the ability to take initiative. It helps if they are friendly and full of fun too so that your children will enjoy being with them. Being a great nanny often requires patience, stamina and the ability to remain calm under pressure so it’s not a job for the over-sensitive or faint-hearted. For parents, having someone else care for their children is often stressful. A great nanny will understand this and work hard to establish trust.

Discuss your expectations

Your expectations as a client need to be discussed before you even think about packing your car or boarding a plane. Every family is different so communicating what you expect upfront is essential to prevent misunderstandings from occurring. When hiring a travel nanny some of the issues that will need to be discussed include accommodation (will she sleep with the kids or have her own room?), daily routine (will she accompany you all over or stay with the children), eating times, and activities for the children. Unless your budget is unlimited, you need to be very clear about what you expect when covering expenses for meals out and so on. You will need to figure out what you’re comfortable spending and spelling this out beforehand so there is no awkwardness when it comes to ordering. It is also important to see how the nanny interacts with you and your children before going on vacation. You will be spending time in close quarters and you need to have someone who meshes with the family.

A contract

Once all the conditions have been discussed, putting it in writing is important. This will include hours, responsibilities, compensation, additional expenses you will be responsible for and details of the trip. In addition to the hourly wage, families usually pay for the nanny’s airfare, meals, accommodation and activities with the children or family.