How to build and maintain professionalism in the nannying field

Finding professionalism within the in-home caregiving industry can be overwhelming at first; it's not a regulated career (compared to standards set in place for daycare centers, schools, ect), there's no nanny union, and each nanny job varies depending on many different circumstances. That being said, you can still maintain a higher level of professionalism as a nanny, and you should.

Employers want to see that you take your profession seriously, and having high standards for yourself and carrying yourself as a professional is one way to convey that. You're also helping better the nannying field as a whole when you take your career seriously. People have a hard time differentiating between nannies and babysitters, and it's up to us to educate them on the differences. If the only difference you can name is that you're scheduled regularly, then you should consider reevaluating what exactly makes you a professional. 

Without further ado, here are some ways you can bring more professionalism into your nannying career:

• Be organized
• Keep a Daily Care Report that details the type of care you provide throughout the day. The one I made can be seen here.
• A nanny binder can be a really useful tool. In mine I keep past Daily Care Reports, blank Daily Care Reports, resources for things like milestones and development, emergency contact info, and a communication section where the nanny can write notes to the parents and vice versa. It should be left at the families house so they can reference the information whenever they want/need to.
• Plan what you are going to do and why you are going to do it. I make sure to allow plenty of time for free-play because that's something that's beneficial to the ages of children I work with, but things like playdates and outings should be planned (unless, of course, the parents prefer otherwise). 
• Join nanny organizations and use them to network
• While the International Nanny Association is probably the most widely respected nanny support organization, there are plenty of options to choose from. I would recommend joining a few - one international or national organization (like the INA), and at least one local organization. Both groups are great for staying up-to-date on industry information and upcoming conferences, and local groups will help tremendously with networking. 
• Professional development
• Attend conferences: this is probably one of the most beneficial things you can do to become a better and more professional nanny. Conferences provide it all: workshops and speakers to educate, a great atmosphere to network in both planned and organic environments, and an opportunity to speak to the most successful nannies in the field and get insider knowledge. 
• Get certified: Aside from First Aid and Infant/Child/Adult CPR (which all nannies and childcare workers should have), there is a multitude of other certifications and classes you can take to help you better understand the needs of the children you are caring for and what to do in emergency situations. 
• Get a membership to Coursera. This is a website that provides free online education for accredited universities. There are other similar websites, but this one is by far the most popular. Search for any classes having to do with child psychology, nutrition, or early childhood education. If there aren't any currently being taught, search that database and read over class descriptions; a lot of times different subjects can be applicable to childcare. If you work for a family who values organic food and a natural lifestyle, for example, and find a class that aligns with that, take it! You will never be penalized for being more knowledgeable about a particular subject, so by all means use this free education to your advantage. 
• Get a membership to Better Kid Care. This is an on-demand education platform from Penn State Extension and it has been tremendously useful in my career as a nanny thus far. Most early education classes are geared toward preschool or elementary education, which is fine, but a lot of nannies like to work exclusively with infants, babies, and toddlers. Better Kid Care has a lot of classes that focus on these ages and teach you useful information about caring for these young ages. I am a better nanny because of what I have learned in these classes and feel more confident in my childcare abilities because of them. I would highly recommend these classes not to just nannies, but to everyone who would like to learn more about caring for young children. 
• Seek out local and national classes and workshops. Many hospitals or recreation centers will have classes that are usually geared toward parents, but are still useful to nannies. Local community colleges also have classes that you might be able to sit in on, just email the professors or advisors and ask. The only way to find about about these classes, though, is to actively research what's going on in your local area; I set aside time every Monday to do this, and suggest that others try to find a little bit of time each week that they can do the same.
• Use a contract
• I can not stress this enough. Having a contract forces the nanny and the parents that s/he works for to be on the same page. There are so many different types of nannies, so one person's assumptions of what a nanny's duties are could be completely different than their neighbors, which is why it's so important to not only verbally discuss expectations, but also have them written down and agreed upon. A very popular and thorough contract is the A to Z Nanny Contract written by Lora Brawley, and industry expert.