By Dara Yates 2025.09.20

Setting Professional Standards and Daily Expectations in Your Nanny Contract

Professional nanny agencies recognize that clearly defined expectations and standards create the foundation for successful long-term childcare relationships. Your contract should establish comprehensive guidelines for daily routines, child-rearing approaches, and professional conduct that align with your family’s values while supporting your children’s development and well-being.

Discipline and Positive Guidance Methodologies

Leading nanny agencies emphasize the critical importance of aligned discipline approaches that support consistent child-rearing between parents and caregivers. Your contract must specify approved discipline and redirection techniques that reflect your family’s philosophy while providing your nanny with effective tools for managing challenging behaviors.

Document your preferred approaches to behavior modification, whether you favor positive reinforcement strategies, natural consequences, time-out procedures, or specific therapeutic techniques recommended for children with special needs. Include detailed descriptions of approved redirection methods such as offering choices, environmental changes, distraction techniques, or structured problem-solving conversations appropriate for each child’s developmental stage.

Clearly outline prohibited discipline methods that are never acceptable under any circumstances, including physical punishment, verbal threats, shaming techniques, or isolation procedures that might cause emotional distress. Specify consequences for discipline method violations and procedures for addressing incidents where inappropriate techniques are used.

Include protocols for communicating with parents about behavioral challenges, successful interventions, and ongoing concerns that require collaborative problem-solving. Establish expectations for documenting significant behavioral incidents and strategies that prove effective for future reference.

Screen Time Management and Technology Guidelines

Professional nanny agencies understand that modern families require comprehensive technology policies that balance educational benefits with appropriate limits on device usage. Your contract should specify daily screen time allowances for each child, including weekday versus weekend differences, educational versus entertainment content distinctions, and circumstances that warrant modified screen time rules.

Document approved applications, websites, and streaming services that align with your family’s content standards and educational goals. Include age-appropriate content guidelines, co-viewing expectations, and protocols for handling inappropriate content that children might encounter accidentally.

Address device usage protocols, including when personal devices such as phones, tablets, or gaming systems may be used, whether devices should be used in common areas versus bedrooms, and expectations for device storage during non-screen time periods. Include guidelines for educational technology such as learning applications, virtual tutoring sessions, or school-related video calls.

Establish communication protocols for screen time decisions, including circumstances when your nanny may modify established limits and procedures for consulting with parents about technology-related questions or concerns that arise during care.

Nutrition and Meal Planning Responsibilities

Reputable nanny agencies stress the importance of nutrition guidelines that support children’s health while accommodating family preferences, dietary restrictions, and cultural considerations. Your contract should specify meal and snack planning responsibilities, including whether your nanny will prepare fresh meals, heat pre-prepared foods, or follow detailed meal plans provided by parents.

Document any dietary restrictions, food allergies, or medical conditions that affect food choices, including specific ingredients to avoid, emergency procedures for allergic reactions, and approved alternative foods for various situations. Include information about portion sizes appropriate for each child’s age and appetite, strategies for encouraging healthy eating habits, and approaches to managing picky eating behaviors.

Address kitchen usage expectations, including which areas and appliances your nanny may use, food storage requirements, and cleanup responsibilities after meal preparation. Include guidelines for grocery shopping, whether your nanny will purchase food items, use family grocery lists, or coordinate with parents about needed supplies.

Establish protocols for special nutrition circumstances such as sick day foods, celebration treats, food-related activities like cooking projects, and eating away from home during outings or activities.

Guest Policies and Social Interaction Guidelines

Professional nanny agencies recognize that clear guest policies protect children’s safety while enabling appropriate socialization opportunities. Your contract should specify who may visit your home during care hours, including other families with children, nanny friends, extended family members, and service providers who might need access to your property.

Document procedures for planned playdates and social activities, including advance approval requirements, supervision expectations, and protocols for activities that occur outside your home. Include guidelines for spontaneous social opportunities that might arise during outings such as playground interactions or community activities.

Address overnight care situations if applicable, including whether guests may stay in your home during extended care periods and any modifications to normal routines that overnight care requires. Include emergency contact procedures and decision-making authority for situations that arise during extended care arrangements.

Establish communication expectations for social activities, including information parents should receive about playmates, activity locations, and any incidents or concerns that occur during social interactions.

Household Rules and Environmental Management

Leading nanny agencies understand that consistent household rules create predictable environments that support children’s sense of security and behavioral development. Your contract should document specific house rules that your nanny must enforce, including areas where children may play, noise level expectations, cleanliness standards, and respect for family property.

Specify expectations for maintaining children’s spaces, including bedroom organization, toy cleanup routines, art supply management, and general tidiness standards that children should maintain with age-appropriate assistance. Include guidelines for managing children’s belongings, such as clothing selection, toy rotation systems, and procedures for handling lost or broken items.

Address environmental considerations such as indoor versus outdoor play preferences, weather-related activity modifications, and seasonal adjustments to daily routines. Include specific guidelines for managing pets, plants, or other household elements that require special attention during childcare hours.

Document expectations for common area usage, including living room activities, kitchen access, and any family spaces that have specific usage rules or restrictions during care hours.

Communication Protocols and Professional Boundaries

Professional nanny agencies emphasize clear communication expectations that maintain appropriate boundaries while ensuring effective collaboration between families and caregivers. Your contract should specify preferred communication methods for various types of information, including daily updates, schedule changes, concerns, and emergency situations.

Establish expectations for daily communication, such as end-of-day summaries, activity reports, meal and nap documentation, and significant incident notifications. Include guidelines for communication timing, such as appropriate hours for non-emergency contact and preferred methods for urgent versus routine information sharing.

Address confidentiality expectations regarding family information, children’s behaviors, household details, and any sensitive family circumstances that your nanny might observe during employment. Include social media guidelines, photography permissions, and expectations for maintaining professional discretion about family matters.

Document professional development expectations, including participation in family meetings, input on childcare strategies, collaboration on activity planning, and feedback sessions that support continuous improvement in care quality.

Travel Expectations and Extended Care Arrangements

Experienced nanny agencies understand that many families require travel support and extended care arrangements that require detailed planning and clear expectations. Your contract should address whether travel with the family is expected, optional, or prohibited, including domestic versus international travel considerations and compensation adjustments for travel time.

Document travel-related responsibilities such as packing assistance, transportation duties, accommodation arrangements, and modified schedules that travel requires. Include expectations for care responsibilities during family vacations, business trips, or extended visits with relatives.

Address travel-related compensation including overtime considerations, per diem allowances, accommodation preferences, and transportation arrangements for your nanny’s travel to and from trip destinations. Include guidelines for travel-related expenses and procedures for handling unexpected travel changes or extensions.

Establish communication protocols during travel, including emergency contact procedures, daily check-in expectations, and coordination with extended family or friends who might be involved in travel arrangements.

Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth

Professional nanny agencies advocate for regular performance discussions that support professional development while ensuring continued alignment with family expectations. Your contract should specify evaluation schedules, performance criteria, and procedures for addressing concerns or recognizing exceptional performance.

Include specific performance metrics such as punctuality, communication effectiveness, child engagement quality, safety compliance, and professional development participation. Document procedures for performance improvement when concerns arise and recognition programs for outstanding performance that exceeds expectations.

Address professional growth opportunities such as training reimbursements, conference attendance, certification maintenance support, and career advancement discussions that benefit both your nanny’s professional development and your family’s childcare quality.

Establish procedures for contract modifications, salary adjustments, responsibility changes, and other professional developments that might occur during long-term employment relationships.

Working with an experienced nanny agency ensures your professional standards and expectations are clearly communicated, legally appropriate, and designed to support positive outcomes for both your family and your childcare provider.