Things You'll Need:
- Contracts
- References
- Recommendations
- References
- Nanny agencies
- Job description
- Contracts
- Background checks
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Step 1
Decide if you want your nanny to live with you or not--there are potential benefits and drawbacks to both choices.
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Step 2
Contact local nanny agencies. Discuss your requirements and find out what's involved in the placement process. Ask how background checks are done and how applicants are screened. Find out what the fee schedule is and what the cancellation fees are.
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Step 3
Read up on prospective candidates. Ask for re'sume's, references and evidence of background checks.
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Step 4
Schedule in-person interviews. Go over your job description, air any concerns you have, and ask each applicant to do the same. Discuss potential behavioral and discipline issues to get a feel for how various situations would be handled and how each potential nanny would respond to your child's disposition. Watch how each candidate interacts with your child, and how your child responds to him or her. Discuss a few hypothetical situations that require good judgment and see how each applicant responds.
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Step 5
Call the references provided and have an honest conversation about the prospective nanny. Most parents have similar concerns for their children and are happy to discuss their experiences.
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Step 6
If you've met your match, call the agency to arrange for a contract and pay your final fee. Most agencies have a trial period of five days or so before finalizing the contract.
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Step 7
Alternatively, advertise for a nanny yourself to avoid agency fees. You'll save money, but you'll have to deal with the phone calls, background checks, interviews and contract issues yourself, which requires considerable time and effort. Agencies have procedures in place in the event a nanny doesn't work out; find out what they are.
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Step 8
Consider a nanny-share if footing the costs alone is too difficult and you don't require a live-in nanny. See How to Find Fabulous Childcare.
Comments
ercin said
on 7/23/2009 I disagree that you don't need to use a nanny agency. In rare cases yes you can find a nanny on your own. However, a well established nanny agency finds its nannies through referrals which is the best and only way to trust a nanny or child care provider. An agency like ours www.metronannies.com also does full background, driving and reference checks and face to face interviews for all candidates before even being considered for employment. Unfortunately, it's not hard to find horror stories of independent nannies, babysitters and Au pairs.
nannytoyou said
on 4/22/2009 Hello peeps!, I would like you to know that there is no need for you to go pay a nanny agency. For free search of nannies in your area, please feel free to visit NannyToYou.com.I recently got help from this site and now it's like I've been relieved to see my nanny and kid live harmoniously each day!!Good luck
momoftriplea3 said
on 4/21/2009 I found our nanny who has been with us for a year now, without paying for any agency even $1. Thanks to nannytoyou.com I posted our requirements, searched their database, interviewed those that I liked and chose my favorite one. As I said, she has been with us for a year and I didn't spend even $1. You have to check it out, what do you have to lose? It's free...
shaycohen said
on 3/27/2009 There's this website which absolutely free to both nannies and parents with no time limits:http://www.nannytoyou.com
mary154458 said
on 9/16/2008 I recommend that those of you looking for a Nanny check out http://www.NannyShopper.com. It is free for Nannies and families. I agree with a previous poster. There is no need to pay an agency to look at their candidates, especially when there is no guarantee you will find one you like. It is just as easy to post an ad online. Nanny Shopper also has the advantage that you don't have to give out your email address. You can read any responses directly on Nanny Shopper.