Helping Your Child Adjust to a New Nanny: 5 Practical Steps for Parents

Adjustment is a process, not a first-day test. Children build trust with a new person through repeated, short, and predictable interactions.

Five Steps

1. Have the first meeting with the parent present for 30–40 minutes, without separating from the child.
2. During the second meeting, let the child go for a short walk or play with the nanny while you remain at home.
3. Keep the same greeting, the same toy, and the same goodbye phrase.
4. Do not leave secretly. The goodbye should be short, clear, and genuine.
5. In the evening, ask the nanny for specific details about sleep, food, and mood rather than simply asking, “Did everything go well?”

When to Slow Down

If the child remains very upset for several days even after you leave, shorten the time you are away and return to shared play. Rushing does not build trust faster. A calm parent communicates to the child that the new person is safe.