Customer Reviews

The Nanny Book: The Smart Parent's Guide to Hiring, Firing, and Every Sticky Situation in Between

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I really enjoyed the no-nonsense approach that the authors took in this book--particularly their willingness to focus on things that can go wrong in a relationship. Not all nanny-parent relationships are made in heaven!

While I enjoyed the chatty style, the book was sometimes a little lacking in specifics. That's why I recommend that parents also consider picking up a copy of The Unofficial Guide to Childcare--a fabulous book that covers the do's and don'ts of hiring a nanny in considerable detail and that boasts the best nanny contract I've ever found anywhere. Armed with these two terrific books, a parent can't go wrong.

The book isn't organized very well. A list of good questions to ask during an interview would have been very helpful, but you won't find it in this book, nor will you find many pages that summarize the authors' tips (What were those forms again that I need to fill out? ) While the chatty Q & A style works for the What to Expect books, it does not work for this Nanny book. It could benefit from more substance and less chat. I suppose you could say, like the other reviewers here, that reading the book is like talking to a friend -- if you have a really vapid, annoying, and culturally insensitive friend. The mothers interviewed for this book are supremely irritating (One woman, for example, wanted to discourage the nanny from talking about the child she had to leave in another country to become a nanny.) The mothers also seem too helpless and unable to work through the most basic problems. I am truly hoping these interviewees came from the writers' imagination. Lastly, the book seems to have a peculiar East-coast slant. Here in California, most of the nannies are Spanish-speaking with very limited English skills. A little lesson in blending two cultures would have been nice. Rather than relying on this book, we're better off using good old common sense.

This terrific handbook is user-friendly and easy to read. The authors pose and answer questions that most nanny employers have struggled with, but have been afraid to ask. I read the book in one sitting, just as I was about to switch nannies, and it greatly reassured me about this monumental decision. I would highly recommend this book to other nanny employers -- it reads as if you are having a conversation with a wise girlfriend!

We had just started our nanny search when I stumbled upon this book. I'm glad I read it before we got any further into the search. As much as I knew a nanny was the right childcare option for us, the whole process was overwhelming to me. I feel armed with so much more insight and confidence now. It's a must-read if you're thinking of going the nanny route. I found it VERY easy to read and I really enjoyed the structure and tone.

This book is a "Must Have" for anyone with or looking for a nanny or long-term childcare provider. Carlton and Myers offer no nonsense coverage of a vast array of the issues and dilemmas one faces in hiring a caregiver and creating a satisfactory, workable relationship. Anecdotal "real life" examples are discussed in a clear, concise manner giving useful advice enabling the parent to apply the approaches suggested to many situations that may arise. The information on the rules of dealing with a nanny, including pay, overtime, family vacations,transporation costs, etc. have been enormously helpful to me - a busy lawyer and first time mom! The book is a fabulous resource sure to come in handy over and over again.

This book was not bad, but left me wanting a few more answers. It's a nice introduction to the nanny hiring process, if you are completely new to the idea of paid childcare. The style is easy to read, and much of it is written in a Q&A format (like the What to Expect books you read when you were pregnant). There were at least a few areas that I thought were too thin, however. I could have used more guidance on interview questions and questions to ask a reference. I could have also used a little more guidance on payroll taxes, FICA, etc. I had to turn to other sources for that kind of information. It was fairly readily available, and I think it should have been included in the book.

The relationship between nannies and their employers is both incredibly important and complicated. I actually disagree with the previous reviewer about this book's approach. I found the conversational "structure" easy to navigate. I've been continually struck by how little consensus there is about some of the most basic ground rules in the nanny-employer relationship. It's really hard not to feel as if you're winging it. And I thought this book is a good antidote to that feeling. I found the tone really accessible, and not fussy. The idea of including both perspectives-of employer and employeee-also seems crucial, and useful.

What a great idea! A book that helps parents get along with their sitters. I've seen others, but they're so dry and boring. This book is not only informative but entertaining. The authors address the kinds of issues that my girlfriends and I actually talk about, plus some we hadn't thought of. The tone is very friendly. Even my nanny has been avidly reading the book. This guide is a must for both parents and their caregivers.

Two weeks ago, my favorite nanny/housekeeper gave me notice. What a shock. Coincidently, I spotted a rave review of this book in the May issue of "Mirabella" magazine. Even though I consider myself an experienced employer (three nannies in nine years), I thought the timing was too good to be true and I checked it out. I can't get over how on-target the advice is and how easy it is to read. I feel like the book was written by a group of my most savvy friends. It's amazing how many of the situations they highlight have actually happenned to me or a friend of mine. And since their advice as to how to reconcile those situations is so close to how I eventually handled them, I know I can trust them on those experiences I've yet to have. This book is a gem. A must-have for anyone even considering hiring a nanny. The "Mirabella" reviewer was right when she said it deserved a place right next to Dr. Spock, Penelope Leach and the "What To Expect When You're Expecting" books.

I have read a lot of "Nanny Books", and this one is by far my favorite. A lot of important information.