Onboarding 6-min read · Updated 31 May 2026

The first week with your new yaya

You found a great yaya, signed the contract, and she starts Monday. The hire is the easy part — the first week is where the relationship is actually made or broken. Here's how to set expectations, build trust, and give everyone the smoothest possible start.

A new yaya settling into a Filipino family's home during her first week

Most yaya relationships that fail don't fail because the yaya was bad. They fail because the first week was chaotic — no clear expectations, no routine, no real introduction — and both sides spent the next three months quietly frustrated. A calm, intentional first week prevents almost all of that.

Here's a simple plan.

Before day one

Two things should already be done before she walks in:

The written contract is signed. Batas Kasambahay (RA 10361) requires it, and it protects both of you. If you haven't done this yet, use our free Kasambahay employment contract template and read the plain-English guide to the law first.
Her space is ready. For a live-in yaya, that means a clean, private, decent place to sleep, with somewhere to keep her things. For live-out, it means a clear spot for her bag, a place to rest on breaks, and access to water and a bathroom.

Day 1 — Welcome & the tour

Make her feel like a person, not staff

Spend the first morning with her, not handing her a list and disappearing. Walk her through the home: where things are, how the appliances work, where cleaning supplies live, the WiFi password, what's off-limits. Introduce her to everyone by name — including the kids and any pets.

Then sit down for 15 minutes and go over the basics together: working hours, her rest day, meal arrangements, and how she'll reach you during the day. First impressions run both ways — a warm welcome earns loyalty faster than any salary.

Days 2–3 — Shadowing

Do the routine together before she does it alone

Don't expect her to read your mind on the nap schedule, the picky-eater workarounds, or how your toddler likes to be soothed. For the first couple of days, do the daily routine alongside her — the morning, the meals, the nap, the bath, the bedtime. Let her watch, then let her lead while you're nearby.

Write the routine down on one page and stick it on the fridge. A new yaya juggling a new home and new kids will forget verbal instructions — a simple written routine removes the guesswork and the friction.

Days 4–5 — Light independence

Step back, stay reachable

Now let her run the routine on her own for stretches while you're in another room or out for short errands. Resist the urge to hover or correct every small thing. Note what needs adjusting and raise it calmly at the end of the day, not in the moment in front of the children.

Day 6–7 — The first check-in

Talk honestly, both ways

End the first week with a short, two-way conversation. Ask her: What's working? What does she need? Is anything unclear or uncomfortable? Then share your own gentle feedback — specific and kind. This single habit, repeated weekly at first and then monthly, is the biggest predictor of a yaya who stays for years.

The expectations to set early (and clearly)

Ambiguity is the enemy. In week one, make sure you've both explicitly agreed on:

Hours and rest day — exact start/end times, the weekly day off, and how overtime (if any) works.
Phone use — when it's fine and when it's not (e.g., not during bath time or while supervising near water).
Discipline — how you do and don't want the children corrected. Be explicit; styles differ enormously between families.
Food — what she can eat, meal times, and any allergies or rules in the household.
Visitors, errands, and going out with the kids — what needs your prior okay.
Emergencies — your number, a backup contact, the nearest clinic, and what to do first if a child is hurt or sick.

Tip: put all of this on one printed page — a simple "house & routine" sheet. It's not bureaucratic; it's a kindness. It lets a new yaya succeed without having to ask (or guess) twenty times a day.

Building trust (it goes both ways)

Trust isn't a switch you flip once she's verified — it's built in small moments. A few that matter more than people realise:

Pay on time, every time. Nothing erodes goodwill faster than a late or short salary. Pay her directly and on schedule.
Respect the rest day. Her day off is hers. Calling her back "just this once" too often is how good yayas quietly start looking elsewhere.
Enrol her in benefits. SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG aren't just legal requirements — they tell her you see this as a real, respected job. (See our benefits enrolment guide.)
Assume good intent. In week one, mistakes are almost always about unclear instructions, not bad character. Correct the system, not the person.

What's normal in week one (don't panic)

A few rough edges are completely expected and not a sign you hired wrong:

The kids test her — especially toddlers. They're checking if the rules still apply. They settle within a week or two.
She's quiet or formal at first. New home, new family — warmth comes once she feels safe.
The routine isn't perfect yet. It takes a couple of weeks to click. Adjust, don't abandon.

If, after an honest first week and a calm check-in, something still feels genuinely off — safety, honesty, or basic care — trust that instinct and address it directly. But give the relationship the fair, structured start it needs first. Most great long-term yaya relationships started with an awkward, imperfect week one.

Haven't found your yaya yet?

Browse identity-verified yayas, nannies, and housekeepers across Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao. Chat securely, interview, and hire direct — ₱699 for 30 days, no placement fee.

Get the Pinoyaya app →