Covid testing protocols for Nanny

Our nanny (who is also triple vaxxed and very covid cautious) takes a rapid test immediately before coming on Mondays and Wednesdays (we provide her with the rapid tests in advance).  I’m not sure this is a perfect solution but think it’s our best bet considering the circumstances. Our daughter is also six months old.

I would recommend adopting some of the protocols teachers in grade schools use. They are around children all day who are too young to be vaccinated. My sister is a first grade teacher in the Bay Area. They are tested once a week or twice a week I believe. You can get rapid result test kits from CVS. 2 tests per kit. They provide results in 30 minutes. It's easiest to order these online. Shipping only takes a few days. They are about $25 per kit. My wife and I run a maid service called Spring Into Clean and our employees use these as well. We also ask them to complete daily health checks such as taking their temperature and checking for symptoms that the cdc has said could be indicators of Covid. Hope that helps! 

I assume that you have confirmed both the nanny and everyone in her household is fully vaccinated and boosted as age-appropriate? If you haven't, that's step one. Next, my child's private school is doing weekly testing and that seems reasonable here too. I'd have her do the home tests once a week at the nanny share location, and one of the parents sticks around and verifies the results. (and it's paid time for her)  Having her go to an offsite testing facility seems burdensome and expensive. FYI, at my government workplace with a vaccine "mandate", the unvaccinated employees have to go get tested once a week offsite and provide the employer the results via secure portal, but it is paid time including their travel to/from the testing site. I really doubt you'd want to do that in your situation.

Hi Caitlin, I think it’s great you want to make this as worry free for your new nanny. I would start out by recognizing that though you view her as having a somewhat higher exposure level at home, please realize she is accepting that huge risk by entering your home, your families, and caring for your unvaccinated children. Yes she has children in school, but lately I’m feeling like some of us hide behind our “covid consciousness” when in fact we are just as exposed as someone else might be. (Enter in all the many people who come in contact with contactless pick ups etc), sorry to vent. I’m an essential worker much like your nanny who has been out in this for the entirety.

It seems reasonable to me that you would provide her, and your entire families, with weekly rapid tests that can be done from home, good quality masks, etc. Sending home 5-10 rapid tests for her to have on hand at home would be helpful to in event one of her kids or she has a symptom. It would be good practice for you to do the same. Much like a school, it should be agreed upon that neither baby will participate in the share if symptoms are present (how many symptoms could be decided upon by your nanny and both families). 
 

Perhaps most important, working to have a blame free, non judgemental and open dialogue when situations do come up (birthday parties, is she comfortable going to library/music lessons/socializing with other babies etc). 
 

You are fortunate to have found a nanny amidst all of this and it seems essential to protect and support your caregiver as best you can.