What Your Babysitter Wishes You Knew

Giannini's way worked, and the parents remain grateful. At first, Giannini read stories to the little girl in her parents' bed and moved her to her room after she fell asleep. Gradually, she moved the entire bedtime ritual to the child's room and stayed by her side until she fell asleep. Ultimately, with Giannini's promise to check in on her, the little girl learned to fall asleep by herself. Giannini believes her success with bedtime and with enforcing rules in general is all about putting her foot down and keeping it there.

Nanny Cams: Get One

Want to make the daily transition from parent to caregiver smoother for everyone? Cameras can give parents a better sense of what goes on in their absence, making them feel more at ease, says Brenda Freeman Jeudy, who has over a decade of experience as a caregiver. During job interviews, Freeman Jeudy suggests that parents invest in surveillance. "I actually like video cameras," she says. "[The parents] actually get to see just how great I am. There's nothing worse than a parent with anxiety. And, when a parent can get a little glimpse into what goes on day to day when you have their child, then they feel more comfortable with you."

She believes that the benefits also go beyond a matter of comfort. "Your interaction with the child is better," she explains, because the parents are apt to give a monitored caretaker more freedom to improvise and add her own input into the child's care.

Freeman Jeudy also advocates a lower-tech type of surveillance. She tells her clients to feel free to pick up the phone whenever they have a question or concern, saying open lines of communication are key to a successful working relationship. She remembers one mother who, during the job interview, expressed hesitation about returning to work. Freeman Jeudy encouraged her to call often so she could be a part of each day's milestones. Whereas some caregivers may get offended by too many calls, Freeman Jeudy says she could see the situation for what it was, thanks to the sense of trust established by open lines of communication. The mother simply missed her child.