10 Things You Need to Know Before Hiring a Nanny
Hiring a nanny can be an incredible decision to make for your family. A nanny can offer personalized care and undivided attention - something you can’t find in a daycare. Finding a trustworthy in-home care provider can be a stressful task, but it helps to be prepared before you begin your search. This article will guide you through the 10 most important things you need to know before hiring a nanny for your family.
Hiring a nanny can be one of the most impactful decisions you make for your family.
Should I Hire a Nanny?
To decide if hiring a nanny is right for you, start by considering your family’s schedule, budget, and values. Although nannies are one of the more expensive child care options, they work in the comfort of your home, offer 1:1 attention to your children, help with other household responsibilities, and give you more control.
A nanny may be the right fit if you:
want one-on-one attention for your kids
work a schedule that doesn’t align with traditional child care hours
prefer the control of care in your home on your terms
have multiple children or a child that requires special care
have the financial means for private child care
While daycares and preschools work for some families, a nanny provides a more personalized and flexible approach to child care. When your days are full and you want to get the most out of your child care arrantments, hiring a trusted nanny can make all the difference.
How Do I Hire a Nanny?
Finding someone to care for your children can feel like a daunting task and a huge responsibility. The good news is, you have options when it comes to locating the best caregiver for your family. Know that each method comes with its own risks and benefits, and no matter which method you choose you should always conduct thorough background and reference checks for safety and peace of mind.
Ask your friends, family, and neighbors: Word of mouth referrals can be a great way to connect with safe, reliable care providers. Ask people in your circle if they have any recommendations.
Facebook: Write a Facebook post or ask in local groups if there are any nannies seeking employment. It’s free, but keep in mind that scams are possible and there are no quality or safety regulations when hiring someone this way.
Online locators: Online caregiver locators, like SitterCity, offer an affordable way to browse the profiles of local babysitters and nannies. This can be a decent option if you’re on a budget, but overwhelming and time-consuming for many busy parents.
Nanny Agencies: This is my preferred method for hiring household help due to the structure and safety. The Parent Concierge partners with many agencies to help our clients find private child care providers. Nanny agencies facilitate the entire hiring process from start to finish. They’ll determine your needs, source and match you with the best candidates, run thorough background checks, help you draw up an employment contract, and sometimes even take care of the payroll and taxes on your behalf.
Consider your budget, how much time you have to invest, and how thorough you want the search to be. This will help you determine the most appropriate method of hiring.
10 Things You Should Know Before Hiring a Nanny
1 - Define your family’s needs.
Outline your schedule, budget, expectations, and desires before approaching the search so you know exactly what your new hiring needs to fill.
2 - Create a clear job description.
Detail hours, responsibilities, travel requirements, and rules to avoid any misunderstandings from the start.
3 - Know your legal obligations.
Since nannies are household employees, familiarize yourself with household employee taxes and contracts ahead of time.
4 - Check references thoroughly.
Personally call past employers to verify reliability, care style, punctuality, and professionalism.
5 - Run a background check.
Include criminal history, DMV, and identification to ensure peace of mind.
6 - Prioritize compatibility.
A nanny can have all of the experience in the world and still not be a proper fit. Make sure the nanny aligns with your parenting style and home values.
7 - Set expectations up front.
Be open and honest about boundaries, responsibilities, and communication preferences so everyone is on the same page.
8 - Conduct a trial period.
From a few days to a few weeks, a paid trial gives both sides a chance to confirm the relationship works.
9 - Offer fair compensation.
Competitive pay, time off, and benefits can help you attract top talent and reduce turnover.
10 - Trust your instincts.
The right nanny should feel like an extension of your family. If that’s not the case, don’t feel bad letting that person go in order to find a better fit.
These hiring principles can you help make a confident decision and reduce the risk of onboarding someone who doesn’t work out.
How The Parent Concierge Can Help
For working parents, time is the most valuable resource. Managing the hiring process yourself might not be feasible without adding to your burnout.
The Parent Concierge simplifies the process by connecting you to the top nanny agencies in your area. These agencies, already vetted by us, will take care of all of the legwork of hiring a trusted, experienced professional.
Our approach isn’t just about finding child care, it’s about creating trusted partnerships and connecting you with resources that save you the most time.
Conclusion: 10 Things You Should Know Before Hiring a Nanny
Hiring a nanny is about more than just filling a time slot. It’s about building a relationship with an experienced caregiver so you can take care of business with total peace of mind. By preparing ahead of time and approaching the process thoughtfuly, you can find a nanny that fits in your family beautifully and helps your children grow.
And if you’d like to be connected with nanny agencies that make the process ridiculously simple and thorough, contact us.
