By Dara Yates 2025.06.20

Building the Foundation: Essential Contract Elements for Your New Nanny

When working with a professional nanny agency to find the perfect caregiver for your family, creating a comprehensive contract is crucial for establishing clear expectations and protecting both parties. A well-structured nanny agreement serves as the roadmap for a successful long-term relationship between your family and your childcare provider.

Personal Information and Basic Details

Your nanny contract should begin with fundamental identification information that any reputable nanny agency would recommend including. Start by documenting the full legal name of your nanny, complete residential address including zip code, primary phone number, and emergency contact information. This emergency contact should be someone other than immediate family members who can be reached if your nanny cannot be contacted directly during work hours.

Include your family’s complete contact information as well, ensuring your nanny has multiple ways to reach you during emergencies. List all family members’ names, ages, and any relevant medical information that might affect daily care routines.

Comprehensive Job Duties and Responsibilities

Working with a nanny agency often means you’ll receive guidance on industry-standard job descriptions, but your contract should specify exactly what duties your nanny will perform. Primary childcare responsibilities should include supervising children during designated hours, preparing age-appropriate meals and snacks, engaging in educational and recreational activities, maintaining children’s bedrooms and play areas, and handling basic hygiene routines including bathing and diaper changes when applicable.

Additional responsibilities might encompass light housekeeping directly related to childcare, such as washing children’s clothing and dishes, organizing toys and books, preparing bottles and sippy cups, and maintaining a clean and safe environment in areas where children spend time. Transportation duties should clearly outline whether your nanny will drive children to activities, school, or appointments, and specify which vehicle will be used.

Work Schedule and Time Expectations

Professional nanny agencies emphasize the importance of clearly defined work schedules to prevent misunderstandings. Specify your nanny’s regular working hours, including start and end times for each day of the week. Address how you’ll handle schedule changes, whether advance notice is required, and how flexible arrangements will be managed.

Include expectations for guaranteed hours, which many nanny agencies recommend to provide income stability for professional caregivers. If your family guarantees forty hours per week, your nanny should receive payment for those hours even if you occasionally need fewer hours of care.

Compensation Structure and Payment Schedule

Transparent compensation discussions are hallmarks of relationships facilitated by reputable nanny agencies. Your contract should specify the hourly or weekly rate, payment schedule (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly), and method of payment. Include overtime rates that comply with your state’s labor laws, as many states require overtime pay for domestic workers who exceed forty hours per week.

Address additional compensation for special circumstances such as travel with the family, holiday work, or care during children’s illnesses. Many families also include annual bonuses tied to performance reviews or holiday gifts, which should be outlined in the contract if applicable.

Benefits and Perquisites

Modern nanny agencies often advise families to offer competitive benefits packages to attract and retain quality caregivers. Consider including paid time off allowances, starting with a reasonable number of vacation days and sick days that increase with tenure. Health insurance contributions, professional development opportunities, and use of family vehicles for work-related transportation are additional benefits that demonstrate your commitment to your nanny’s well-being.

If your nanny will have access to family property such as credit cards for child-related expenses, house keys, garage door openers, or car seats, specify these items in the contract along with expectations for their care and return upon employment termination.

Professional Development and Performance Reviews

Following best practices recommended by leading nanny agencies like Seaside Nannies, include provisions for regular performance evaluations to ensure ongoing communication about job satisfaction and areas for improvement. Schedule formal reviews every six months during the first year, then annually thereafter. These reviews provide opportunities to discuss salary adjustments, additional responsibilities, and career development goals.

Address continuing education expectations, such as maintaining current CPR and first aid certifications, attending child development workshops, or pursuing additional training relevant to your children’s specific needs.

Contract Termination and Transition Planning

Even the most successful placements arranged through professional nanny agencies may eventually end due to changing family needs or career advancement. Include a termination clause that outlines notice requirements for both parties, typically two weeks for the nanny and four weeks for the family. Specify how final payment will be calculated, including any accrued vacation time or severance pay.

Detail the process for returning family property, transferring important information about children’s routines and preferences, and providing letters of recommendation for nannies who leave on good terms with proper notice.

Your contract should protect both your family’s interests and your nanny’s professional rights while fostering a positive working relationship. Consulting with experienced professionals from a trusted nanny agency can help ensure your contract covers all necessary elements while remaining fair and legally compliant.