Leaving a child with someone they barely know is often a source of anxiety for many parents. The new TV series “All Her Fault” has reignited this fear by showing the dangers of neglecting basic precautions when hiring a nanny. The plot, starring Sarah Snook and Dakota Fanning, involves a mother arriving to pick up her son after a meeting with her children, only to discover that her son has been kidnapped by a family caregiver.
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Although such cases are rare, episodes involving nannies and caregivers do occur and can be avoided with simple measures. This is explained by expert Monique Dupree, known online as Miss Monique, who has been working in the field for over 25 years.
In an interview with the Today program, she highlighted the most common and potentially dangerous mistakes parents make when hiring someone to care for their children.
The first mistake, Monique says, is lack of information. Many parents give instructions in a vague manner and fail to provide basic details about their child’s routine, schedule, meals, and house rules and habits.
“Parents and caregivers need to communicate. Mom and dad know what’s best,” he says. “It’s important to spell out mealtimes, screen limits, and permitted activities.”
She points out that another common mistake is assuming that nannies know how to handle equipment and accessories that are essential to a child’s daily life. Before you leave, Monique says it’s essential to demonstrate how items like bottle warmers, strollers, white noise machines, and even complicated house keys work.
You must also notify them of the location of your first aid kit and provide a list of emergency contacts. The sooner guidance is given, the better, experts explain. Monique added that parents should take a few extra minutes to explain the medications their child should take, including times and doses.
The last point she raised concerns the caregiver’s own health, something many families ignore.
“If your nanny went by car, check later to make sure she got home safely. And if you went on foot or by public transport, give her a ride or pay for the car on the app,” he advised.
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