Settling in with a nanny: plan the trial and first weeks

How the starting plan works

Responsibility increases only when the previous stage is sufficiently clear. Observations matter more than a rigid number of days.

• Safety: Emergency contacts, allergies, permissions and responsibility are clear before solo care.
• Familiarity: The child experiences known routines with the new carer.
• Handover: Parents and nanny use a short, repeatable information structure.
• Adjustment: An agreed feedback rhythm allows early changes.

Before the first day: explain the home, role and responsibilities

Prepare a concise starting folder with current contacts, address, paediatrician, allergies, medication under written instructions, insurance details, authorised collectors, house rules and the nearest safe place for help. Store it securely but within the nanny’s reach.

Walk through exits, keys, buggy, car seats, safety devices, first-aid supplies and permitted play areas. Show what is out of bounds. Agree whom to call first and when the appropriate emergency service should be called directly.

• Both parents’ details and at least one backup contact
• Allergies and health instructions without dose interpretation
• Authorised collectors and limits on delegation
• Rules for photographs, messaging, location and data
• Keys, alarm, pets, visitors and leaving the home

Plan settling-in as adaptable stages

There is no universal number of settling-in days. Give each stage an observable aim instead. An older child who already knows the nanny may move faster than an infant with little previous non-parental care.

Example plan, not a professional rule: a parent and nanny first share a familiar routine. Next, the nanny leads while the parent remains reachable and initially nearby. A short, clear separation follows. Build to normal care only when handovers and communication work.

Make handovers short, honest and predictable

Tell the child in age-appropriate language who is staying and when the parents will return. Do not promise a time you may miss; for a young child, connect the return to an understandable part of the day. Say goodbye clearly rather than disappearing.

Cover current mood, sleep, food, medication under instructions, unusual events, the day plan and reachability. Avoid a long discussion of worries in front of the child. Agree one brief update after separation if useful without continually interrupting care.

• What has happened since the last period of care?
• What does the child particularly need today?
• Which appointments and permissions apply?
• Who is reachable, and when?
• What must be handed back to the parents?

Read the child’s response without rushing to judgement

Seeking closeness, crying, withdrawal or extra control can accompany change. One difficult goodbye proves neither a bad fit nor that everything should continue unchanged. Record the timing, trigger, duration, adult response and the child’s recovery.

Look for patterns across several handovers. Can the nanny comfort without crossing boundaries? Does the child return to play, food or rest? Are observations reported factually? Parents should consult the relevant paediatric or other professional about persistent major changes, health or development concerns.

Build short, concrete feedback into the routine

Schedule brief check-ins away from rushed handovers. Ask what worked, what was unclear and what to change next time. Separate urgent safety matters from preferences that can be tried together.

Give feedback from observed situations. Ask equally what information or equipment the nanny lacks.

Keep permissions and medical boundaries explicit

Record who may collect the child, permitted routes and transport, photograph rules and activities needing approval. Changes should come only through the agreed parent channel, never an unexpected message from an unknown person.

For allergies, medication and other health needs, parents provide written instructions that reflect the treating professional’s plan and include the relevant professional contact. The nanny should not guess or change doses or diagnose. In an acute emergency, follow the emergency plan and call the appropriate emergency service, whose directions take priority.

If settling-in is not going well, name the problem and adjust

Distinguish a missing detail, unfamiliar routine, solvable working conflict and serious safety concern. Add information, shorten the next stage or hold a separate adult conversation as appropriate.

Pause solo care while an immediate safety question remains unresolved. Document events and review the contract and professional advice before employment action. A longer transition cannot guarantee fit, and an early stop is not a judgement of the child.

• Describe the event rather than applying a label
• Separate immediate action from long-term resolution
• Keep the child out of adult conflict
• Set a date to review the adjustment
• Use professional help for legal or medical questions

Settling-in care is still working time

Supported care and trial sessions are not automatically leisure or unpaid introductions. When the nanny performs work, agree duration and payment beforehand. Private households generally have to account for household employees through the compensation office and arrange accident insurance.

Planning information, 2026: confirm the exact process with the cantonal compensation office and insurer. The Zürich Gold Coast Nannies profile helps structure start, hours, needs and budget; it does not replace an employment contract or individual legal advice.

Sources for this section: AHV/IV-Informationsstelle

Your next step

A durable settling-in period needs clear information, small understandable steps and honest feedback rather than a perfect first week. Prepare the starting folder, staged plan and handover structure. If you are still looking for the right nanny, record these needs directly in your childcare profile.