Good nanny book: how to find, hire, and keep t, th [Paperback]

P. Michelle Raffin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1996

A comprehensive guide to finding dependable in-home child care provides concrete methods for screening and interviewing applicants, determining a fair salary, developing household rules, and fostering a healthy nanny-child relationship.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (March 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425151336
• ISBN-13: 978-0425151334
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #514,324 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Good starter book, but needs updating, August 20, 2011

By 

medic2001 "medic2001" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Good nanny book: how to find, hire, and keep t, th (Paperback)

I've read the Good Nanny Book twice--once when I first started looking for a nanny in 2003 and again this year. After having 2 wonderful nannies who stayed for a combined 6 years, we went through 4 nannies in a year and I felt I needed a refresher on how to find someone who would stick.

The book is a good starter text for someone who has no idea how to select an employee, but the advise details are clearly showing their age. For example, there's lots of reference to mailing out application forms and having the nanny mail them back. A nanny who doesn't have Internet access is going to have issues dealing with a 21st century child. There's also a great deal of text devoted to posting positions in newspapers. The idea is solid and the rules apply more or less to electronic posting, but I would not recommend placing paper ads unless (again) you want people who don't have access to a computer.

The book focuses on the process of choosing and managing a live-in nanny, and while that is presumably a harder search, there's quite a bit missing about finding a nanny who can be relied upon to show up every morning when her commute is longer than a staircase.

I also think there's a great call for sourcing and interviewing part-time nannies for those of us who have school-aged children and demanding jobs. The selection process is no less important, and the pool of qualified applicants is considerably slimmer.

I understand that this author is drawing on her own experiences and those of families she interviewed, but the sample size is very homogeneous. It would have been more helpful to look at the array of nanny options rather than to focus exclusively on a full-on, live-in caregiver who needs constant management. That is, unless she is a Nanny from Heaven.

5.0 out of 5 stars best nanny book ever, September 28, 2007

By 

R. L. Malley (chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Good nanny book: how to find, hire, and keep t, th (Paperback)

A working mom recommended this book to me when I was pregnant with my first child. It is the best book! I followed the interview steps (ad, then mailed questionnaire, then interviews for qualified candidates, background checks and references) and we found the absolutely best nanny ever. Even the teachers at our park district told me in all their yrs they had never seen such a wonderful caregiver as my nanny! I have been recommending this book for 10 yrs. Follow the advice in the book and read about different types of Nannies and you will find a great nanny!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential book to read before you hire a nanny, April 24, 2001

By 

Kelly P (Hobe Sound, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Good nanny book: how to find, hire, and keep t, th (Paperback)

I highly recommend this book to any mom (or dad) looking for a nanny. It gave great examples of the many types of nanny situations you can find yourself in... as well as how to avoid the unpleasant ones. We found the perfect nanny after following many of the tips provided in this very helpful book.