As families begin planning for the summer holidays, Maid4U founder and CEO Lindiwe Shibambo is urging parents to make emergency readiness part of everyday childcare arrangements. A nanny may know a child’s routine well, but parents should also ensure the caregiver knows how to summon help, share the home’s location and follow a clear handover plan.
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Trust needs practical support
Experience and references matter, but they do not replace practical preparation. Parents should explain the child’s needs, household routines and emergency contacts, and make sure the caregiver can ask questions. A clear handover should cover the full home address, access instructions, a backup adult to contact and any relevant health information or clinician-issued care instructions.
Shibambo also advises families to discuss supervision and household responsibilities. If a caregiver is expected to watch a young child while cooking, cleaning and managing other tasks, those competing demands should be addressed openly. Parents and caregivers should agree on priorities and a realistic workload.
Seven questions for parents and caregivers
Maid4U recommends discussing these points before the holidays:
What childcare and emergency training has the caregiver completed, and when? Ask what the training covered, including first aid and CPR for infants and children, and clarify whether certificates indicate attendance, completion or an assessed qualification.
What should happen if an emergency occurs and a parent cannot be reached? Agree on when to call for urgent help and which backup adult to contact.
Can the caregiver direct responders to the home? Keep the full address, unit number, access details and contact information somewhere accessible, including on paper.
What does the caregiver need to know about the child? Share relevant allergies, health conditions, routines and care instructions, and check that the information is understood.
Have supervision and household tasks been agreed? Discuss age-appropriate supervision around meals, outdoor play, water and outings, and identify tasks that could distract from childcare.
Who is authorised to collect the child or enter the home? Set out how unexpected changes will be verified.
What changes during travel or temporary childcare? Repeat the handover whenever the location or caregiver changes.
Training is one part of preparation
Maid4U’s six-day Nanny & Child Minding Course covers child safety and observation, hygiene, child development, nutrition, age-appropriate activities and behaviour guidance. Its published curriculum also includes basic first aid, CPR for infants and toddlers, and emergency response preparation. Shibambo says this learning should be connected to the practical details of each household, such as gate keys, backup contacts and changes in a child’s routine.
Families can use October to review their arrangements, identify training needs and prepare clear handover information ahead of the holidays. Maid4U provides childcare placement and training services at maid4u.co.za.
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