There’s no denying that being a nanny is a tough job, and nanny burnout is more of an issue in this industry than you might think. But as an employer, there are burnout symptoms to watch for to ensure that your nanny isn’t overworking themselves into exhaustion. This article will explain what nanny burnout is and how to prevent nanny burnout in your valuable household staff member.
What Is Nanny Burnout?
It is in the nature of caregiving work to continuously give to others, but this can come at the expense of neglecting one’s own needs. It is practically impossible to take care of someone else well if you don’t take care of yourself well too, which is why nanny burnout is a serious problem. Nannies are expected to always be “on” and put other’s needs and wants first. Yet a nanny that is overworked and underappreciated is more likely to quit and leave you desperately in need of childcare with little notice.
Examples of Nanny Burnout Symptoms
As an employer, it is important to know what the common burnout symptoms are so that you can acknowledge them early with your nanny and keep lines of communication open and honest. You may notice changes in your nanny’s behavior, such as shifts in the nanny’s patience, irritability, or distraction levels. Your nanny may also appear to be tired more often or begin forgetting things unexpectedly. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on your kids’ behavior around your nanny and listen to what they have to say about nanny interactions. If your child’s attitude towards your nanny has suddenly changed, consider whether nanny burnout could be to blame.
Tips to Prevent Nanny Burnout
These kinds of burnout symptoms are very common, but that doesn’t mean that your nanny has to experience them. Assess your nanny’s schedule and abilities on a regular basis and don’t assign more tasks than your nanny can reasonably handle. Encourage your nanny to have a life outside of the nanny job and allow time off for occasional personal endeavors when possible. It may also help if your nanny gets to know other nannies and establish a professional social network to discuss industry-related concerns and even vent to someone who understands the position better than anyone else.
Discuss the benefits of work-life balance with your nanny so that they understand the importance of personal nutrition, exercise, and self-care. Aim to minimize stress in your household as much as possible and ask your nanny for feedback about what could be improved to make life happier, healthier, and more stress-free on a regular basis. Setting boundaries and sticking to them can go a long way in managing both employer and employee relations. Also, giving nannies a much-needed break when it’s warranted can do wonders for these household staff members’ mental and physical health, as well as their self-esteem. Overall, do your best to communicate openly and honestly with your nanny about your needs, the nanny’s needs, and the children’s needs so that no one feels exhausted or frustrated with the caregiving arrangement.
At Household Staffing International, we work with many wonderful nannies and would love to introduce you to the candidate who would be the perfect addition to your home. Whether you’re looking for a nanny for the first time or need a replacement for a previous nanny who became burned out and quit, we can help. Please complete our family application or give us a call to speak to one of our placement specialists to find an amazing nanny to meet your needs and to put these nanny burnout tips into practice for the wellbeing of your entire household.