What may have started out as a good relationship with a nanny doesn’t always end that way. There may be issues that develop after the initial hire that you didn’t expect from this person. Sometimes, things can change over time, and the nanny who was formerly a trusted part of the household, no longer garners that same peace of mind. Here are ten signs that it may be time to hire a new nanny.

1. Late for work – Whether she is a live-in nanny or not, you should expect her to ready an available to take on her duties at the agreed upon time each day. Just as with any other job, a pattern of tardiness should not be accepted.
2. Neglect of duties – If your nanny continually leaves things undone that she has been assigned as part of her regular duties, a discussion of the situation should be your first course of action. If the neglect continues, you may need to look for a new nanny.
3. Missing items – Are items like jewelry, electronics or cash missing? In spite of careful background screening, it is possible for a nanny to become a suspect in these kinds of incidents. Repeated issues may require a change in nannies.
4. Child-nanny relationship – Issues between your child or children and their nanny may mean it is time for a new nanny. Always allow some time for a nanny work out these relationship issues herself, but if the situation does not improve in time, a new nanny may be your only solution.
5. Parent-nanny relationship – Occasionally, parent personalities and nanny personalities can clash and become strained over time. These situations are not necessarily to be faulted in either direction. The nanny position is one where personality compatibility is more important than many other types of employment.
6. Challenges to authority – If a nanny is not supportive of parental authority and parental decisions regarding the children, a rift can quickly develop in the relationship. Parents have every reason to expect that their nanny be supportive of their parental authority.
7. Safety issues – Any instances where the nanny has endangered the safety of the children, unnecessarily, would be cause to consider the replacement of your nanny. There is nothing more important than the safety of your children. The consequences of providing a ‘second chance’ in this area could be devastating.
8. Gossip trails – If you hear rumors about your private affairs surfacing in the neighborhood or among friends, your nanny be sharing your family’s private life with others. This should be considered a breach in confidence and may be a reason to begin looking for a replacement.
9. Failure to comply – If your nanny has been asked to change some of her behaviors or attitudes and fails to follow through on those changes, it may be wise to look for a replacement, rather than continue the frustration of dealing with a difficult situation.
10. Call from the County Jail – Although there can be mitigating circumstances, which might land your nanny in jail; having your nanny call you from the county jail to inform you that she won’t make it to work that day, or to ask for bail money, it generally isn’t a good sign.

When it comes to your children, their safety and happiness should always take priority over any perceived commitment to a nanny. These types of possibilities should be taken into consideration when drawing up your initial employment contract.