Even the best-matched nanny and child need time to build trust. Expecting an instant bond puts unnecessary pressure on everyone — a more realistic timeline helps you tell the difference between normal adjustment and a genuine mismatch.
Expect an adjustment period
Most children take somewhere between a few days and a few weeks to settle with a new caregiver, depending on age, temperament, and how much change they’re used to. Clinginess, testing behaviour, or a quieter-than-usual first few days are common and not usually a red flag on their own.
Consistency from parents helps enormously
Children pick up on parental hesitation quickly. A calm, confident handover — even if you feel uncertain yourself — reassures a child far more than reassurance in words does.
Overlap time in the first days
Where possible, arrange for a parent to be present, even quietly in the background, for part of the first day or two. It gives the child a bridge, and gives the nanny a chance to learn routines directly from you rather than guessing.
Bonding isn’t a switch that flips — it’s built through dozens of small, repeated, reliable moments.
Signs it’s going well
- Your child mentions the nanny, or something they did together, unprompted
- Handovers get calmer over time, not more difficult
- The nanny can describe specific details about your child’s preferences and moods
If things aren’t settling after a reasonable period, it’s worth an honest conversation — with the nanny, and with us if the placement came through Little Penguins Nannies.