{"id":5219,"date":"2026-05-07T21:35:47","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T21:35:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.momsbestfriend.com\/dallas\/?p=5219"},"modified":"2026-05-11T21:44:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T21:44:21","slug":"what-to-do-if-your-nanny-is-unreliable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.momsbestfriend.com\/dallas\/2026\/05\/07\/what-to-do-if-your-nanny-is-unreliable\/","title":{"rendered":"What To Do if Your Nanny is Unreliable"},"content":{"rendered":"

We often get calls from potential clients telling us that they are looking for a new nanny because the nanny they hired on their own, or through another agency, has been unreliable. Hiring a nanny is meant to make your life easier, not more stressful!! That\u2019s why we only work with professional, experienced nannies with a history of reliability (and references that back that up!).<\/span><\/p>\n

If you find yourself having issues, here is how to handle the situation professionally while protecting your family\u2019s needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Start with a Conversation<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Before assuming the worst, sit down for a dedicated check-in. Sometimes unreliability is a symptom of a fixable problem, such as a misunderstanding of the schedule or a temporary personal hurdle. Be clear and objective rather than emotional. Use specific examples, such as noting they arrived fifteen minutes late three times in one week, and explain the impact it has on your ability to get to work.<\/span><\/p>\n

Review and Amend the Contract<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Take a look at your original work agreement to confirm the schedule, and if needed, add an addendum to your agreement with the protocol for calling out, and how much notice is required for time off (each family can have their own preference, but reach out if you want to run yours by us). Having a clear record of expectations makes it much easier to hold someone accountable.<\/span><\/p>\n

Identify the Root Cause<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Listen to their perspective during your meeting. If the nanny is struggling with burnout, personal issues, or has a long commute, you might be able to make adjustments. However, if the reasons feel like recurring excuses or a lack of professional boundaries, it may be a sign that the role is no longer a good fit for them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Set a Firm Probationary Period<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

If you want to give the relationship one last chance, set a clear improvement period. Let the nanny know that for the next 30 days you need to see total reliability. This gives them a fair chance to course-correct while signaling that you are taking the issue seriously.<\/span><\/p>\n

Know When to Move On<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

If the trust is broken or the stress of wondering if they will show up outweighs the benefit of having them there, it is time to part ways. You deserve a caregiver who respects your time and provides the stability your children need to thrive.<\/span><\/p>\n

If we can help you with any advice, or if you would like to search for a new nanny, please book a call with\u00a0Kimberly<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We often get calls from potential clients telling us that they are looking for a new nanny because the nanny they hired on their own, or through another agency, has been unreliable. Hiring a nanny is meant to make your life easier, not more stressful!! That\u2019s why we only work with professional, experienced nannies with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5220,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[51,226,239,240],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5219","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nanny-communication","category-nanny-employment-agreements","category-should-i-fire-my-nanny","category-should-you-fire-your-nanny"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.momsbestfriend.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5219","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.momsbestfriend.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.momsbestfriend.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.momsbestfriend.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.momsbestfriend.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5219"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.momsbestfriend.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5219\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.momsbestfriend.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5220"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.momsbestfriend.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5219"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.momsbestfriend.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5219"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.momsbestfriend.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5219"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}